The voice commands of the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are a paradise for jokers

Samsung launched the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro with new, nifty features, including a real-time interpreter mode and improved call quality. One feature that went largely unnoticed, however, was the Voice Commands feature, which allows wearers to bark commands into the earbuds to perform numerous tasks. Despite its obvious usefulness, it seems this feature can be abused.

While Android expert Mishaal Rahman notes that the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro’s voice command system works well even in noisy environments, he has identified a potential issue with its execution.

People around you who know the Buds 3 Pro’s capabilities “can speak the commands and register them,” so even those not wearing them can control them. That means strangers, pranksters, and passersby can turn up your music volume simply by walking up to you and saying “volume up,” or stop your perfectly curated commuter playlist by saying “Next song.”

Notably, the voice control feature does not require a paired Galaxy smartphone and should work on most Android devices.

This rather comical but potentially annoying quirk is largely due to the lack of an activation word or directional training that would allow the buds to focus solely on commands from the wearer’s lips. One consolation is that the feature isn’t enabled by default and must be manually activated, so it doesn’t simply catch you off guard. You also have to remember the exact trigger phrase to perform a specific task.

However, voice controls do have their advantages. Skipping tracks or adjusting the volume while washing dishes, gardening, or climbing is now much easier. But you may want to use this feature with caution in a particularly crowded area like a train or bus.