Having trouble charging your Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro? You're not alone
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Users report that one of their earbuds just won't charge
Lots of suggested solutions don't seem to work
Some users reported burn marks near charging pins
It looks like the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro aren't out of the quality control woods just yet. Last summer the buds were delayed due to quality control issues of multiple kinds; now, it seems there are still serious issues with at least some users' earbuds.
According to Sammyfans, multiple Buds 3 Pro users are reporting that one of their earbuds simply won't charge.
While several users have suggested things that may have helped them to get things started, there doesn't seem to be any trick that's working more broadly.
According to the report, users have tried restarting their phones, resetting the earbuds to factory settings, checking for debris and, of course, checked the really basic stuff such as ensuring the charging case is charged. But it seems that these attempts haven't been successful in finding a consistent fix.
There's one bit in the report that's particularly worrying. "Some users have even noted burn marks near the charging pins," which is not something you want to see in your expensive electronics, though obviously we'll have to take it with a grain of salt at this time as to whether this is totally accurate, or related.
The strongest culprit so far is that the issue may be due to imperfectly positioned charging pins: some users have reported successfully charging their errant earbuds by holding them carefully in position rather than just sitting them in the case, or even by gently adjusting the charging pin position with a small screwdriver.
If you're affected by the charging issue, I wouldn't recommend getting the screwdrivers out, or at least I wouldn't if your DIY skills are as destructive as mine: if this is a fault, it should be a warranty fix under Samsung's standard 12-month warranty, so your first port of call should be Samsung support.
We rate the Samsung Buds3 Pro as being among the best wireless earbuds for those with Samsung phones, but we'll be keeping an eye on this story to see if it develops.
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This screen shows an overall health indicator, an estimated capacity percentage, and tips for improving battery life. Google says this feature is missing on older Pixels due to 'product limitations.' True HDR Screenshot Android 16 adds proper support for capturing HDR screenshots. Previously, taking a screenshot of HDR content would either result in clipped highlights or a tone-mapped image, neither of which preserved the full dynamic range. Android 16 now saves screenshots as PNG files that can embed an HDR gain map, allowing them to appear in full HDR on compatible displays while still looking like a standard SDR image on other devices. Customizable Keyboard Shortcuts Android has many keyboard shortcuts for system actions and launching apps. In past releases, these were not customizable. Android 16 now lets you edit them, so for example, you could add 'Meta + Shift + B' as an alternative key combination to launch the Chrome browser. 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For hearing aids, Android 16 adds a new ambient volume control feature, letting users of LE Audio hearing aids adjust the volume of sound picked up by the hearing aid's microphones. The update also adds the ability to use the phone's microphone for calls instead of the hearing aid's, which can improve call quality in noisy environments. Google Android 16 also notably adds better support for Auracast, which allows owners of LE Audio-compatible devices to broadcast or listen in on nearby audio streams. This feature is only supported on the Pixel 8 and later (excluding the A-series) and is currently disabled by default in the stable release. Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority Left: When an Auracast-enabled headset is connected, the Bluetooth panel shows a "share audio" button. Middle: The audio sharing settings page when "share audio" is enabled. Right: The dialog that appears when you start an audio stream. For physical keyboards, Android 16 improves upon the accessibility options added in Android 15. You can now adjust the threshold for the Bounce Keys and Slow Keys features, while the Mouse Keys feature now includes instructional images. A new Repeat Keys toggle prevents a key from repeating when held down. Lastly, a new two-finger double-tap gesture now activates the screen magnifier. Everything else new in Android 16 I didn't mention It's incredibly difficult to cover everything new in a major Android release simply because there are far too many small changes. I've covered the biggest and most impactful minor updates here, but there's a lot more I didn't get to. For example, Android 16 also: Adds a new setting to make the Pixel Fold work better with magnetic cases. Expands Ultra HDR support to the HEIC format. Upgrades the Linux Terminal with a tabbed interface and improved storage use. Adds home screen and lock screen shortcuts for note-taking. Introduces a button to minimize windows in desktop mode. Expands regional preferences with a new measurement system setting. Adds support for seven new emoji from Unicode 16.0. Picks up support for Samsung's APV codec. Prepares for future devices with 16KB page size kernels by adding a compatibility mode. Makes the media player slightly darker and adds new buttons to the Pixel Launcher's context and Recents menus. I also didn't mention the features that were available in the Android 16 betas but didn't make it to the stable release, such as the multiuser widget, the 'even dimmer' mode, and the screen-off fingerprint unlock setting. I even neglected to mention the new Easter egg, as it's supposed to showcase the new Live Updates feature… which isn't fully enabled yet. It's oddly fitting that the Easter egg is only partially available in an Android release that itself feels like just a stepping stone to what comes next. Android 16 review: A lot to get excited about for such a 'boring' release The groundwork Google laid in Android 16 will pay dividends in future releases. The Live Updates feature standardizes how ongoing alerts are shown, and the App Functions API paves the way for Gemini to integrate with more apps. The enforcement of edge-to-edge displays, predictive back, and app adaptivity will make Android apps more immersive, predictable, and useful across new form factors. Advanced Protection will help shield at-risk users, while improved hearing aid support will make Android accessible to more people. The rest of the changes, while minor to some, will be essential to others. Today's Android 16 update may seem boring on the surface, but if you dig deeper, you'll find a bottomless well of changes. That's what every Android release boils down to: a collection of smaller changes that appeal to different people, joined by larger platform shifts that everyone can agree are necessary. Yet, almost every time Google releases a new version, I hear people call the update 'boring.' The last version that people widely agreed was a 'big' update was Android 12, largely because of its major Material You UI overhaul. While it's true that Android 16 lacks a comparable redesign, calling it 'Android 12.5' as some people mockingly do misses the point entirely. Rita El Khoury / Android Authority Android's quarterly release schedule masks just how many new features Google develops in a year. If Google stuck to a yearly cycle like Apple, major features like Modes, the Linux Terminal, desktop windowing, and lock screen widgets would have all been part of this 'Android 16' release. Instead, the company ships updates quarterly, and yet it still manages to pack so much into each one. From a marketing standpoint, it might be nice if Google saved some of these bigger features for the major Android release, but that would make the quarterly Pixel Drops less exciting. It would also be great if Google provided better changelogs that actually detailed what's in each release, but then I might be out of a job. Android 16 stable release: Hot or not? 0 votes Hot NaN % Not NaN % Today's Android 16 update may seem boring on the surface, but if you dig deeper, you'll find a bottomless well of changes. Had I decided to cover every single change in detail, this review would be, without exaggeration, at least three times as long. And even with today's release, Google isn't done with Android 16. It still plans to ship two more quarterly updates this year: QPR1 in September and QPR2 in December. I'm looking forward to seeing what Google has in store for us, especially since QPR1 is already confirmed to bring major changes like the Material 3 Expressive redesign and the new Desktop Mode.
Android Authority
38 minutes ago
- Android Authority
Google has released Android 16's source code, but Samsung fans won't need to wait long for One UI 8
TL;DR Google has officially released the Android 16 source code, allowing developers to build their own versions of the operating system. Major smartphone manufacturers like Samsung have already had prerelease access, though, which allows them to expedite their Android 16 updates, with some planning rollouts as early as this summer. The full Android 16 source code is being uploaded today to AOSP, a full three months earlier than when Android 15's source code was released. Alongside the update for Pixel devices, Google today released the Android 16 source code, allowing everyone to learn how the new platform features work and build the operating system for themselves. While this release is most developers' first exposure to the Android 16 codebase, major smartphone makers like Samsung, Xiaomi, and OPPO have already had access to prerelease versions. This head start allows them to prepare their own Android 16 updates, with some companies promising a rollout as early as this summer. The Android operating system you know and love is based on an open-source project called AOSP, or the Android Open Source Project. AOSP provides the core OS framework, platform APIs, system apps, and other foundational components for nearly every Android-based operating system on the market. It is licensed under Apache 2.0, a permissive license that allows individuals and companies to freely modify and distribute it. Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority To ensure a consistent app experience across Android devices, Google requires OEMs to follow a set of compatibility requirements. The company enforces these requirements by tying them to the license for its Google Mobile Services (GMS) package, which includes essential components like Google Play Services and the Google Play Store. OEMs that license GMS receive prerelease access to the source code for the next Android version, enabling companies like Samsung to release their Android 16 betas early. With the release of the Android 16 source code, Google will allow OEMs to roll out their own Android 16 updates, assuming they're ready to do so. However, even with prerelease access to Android 16's source code, some OEMs like Samsung have not had enough time to fully port their changes, fix all identified bugs, and integrate new features to make their updates exciting. The duration of this entire process depends on the OEM. Samsung's Android 15-based One UI 7 update rolled out slowly to its devices, but the company promises a significantly faster rollout for its Android 16-based One UI 8 update this time. In fact, Samsung has already confirmed that One UI 8 will debut this summer on its upcoming foldables, gradually expanding to more Galaxy devices soon after. The company has already launched a One UI 8 beta program for its latest S series device, demonstrating its commitment to this promise. The full Android 16 source code will soon be available in AOSP. Google began uploading the source code today, but it may take a few hours for the complete release due to its size. Once the android16-release branch appears in the Android Platform Manifest, the full code should be ready for download. Today's Android 16 source code release is happening much earlier than usual. For reference, Google released Android 15's source code on September 3, 2024, meaning Android 16's source code is arriving almost three months early. Google shifted Android's release cycle to better align with summer device launches, which explains this earlier release. We can expect a similar timeframe for the Android 17 source code release next year. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
