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Samsung is known for its high-quality TVs and smartphones, but it’s also an established player in the earbuds market. Samsung earbuds debuted in 2019 with the Galaxy Buds, and since then, several upgrades have been released almost annually.
We analyzed various Samsung earbuds to better understand the lineup's features: comfort, fit, active noise cancellation (ANC), battery life and, of course, the all-important sound quality. We also checked whether Samsung earbuds worked with non-Samsung devices, such as Apple's iPhone.
There are three product lines: the base Buds, offering balanced sound; the Buds Pro, which offer the best specs but are also the most expensive; and the Buds FE, the most budget-friendly model. Samsung also offers wired earbuds, called the Type-C Headphones, featuring AKG audio that plug into devices with a USB-C port.
Our top choice is the sleek Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, which offers premium sound quality and superior comfort for long listening sessions. But if you want to learn more about the differences between models and which would be best for you, keep reading.
Editors’ Favorite
Active Noise Cancellation: Yes | Battery Life With Case: 30 hr | 360 Audio: Yes | Water-Resistance Rating: IP57 | Controls: Touch
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are among the best high-end wireless earbuds, offering advanced technology and superb sound quality no matter what you’re listening to. With long-lasting battery life and convenient onboard controls, these earbuds are a must-have for private listening and hands-free calls.
They boast Active Noise Cancellation 2.0 that automatically adjusts based on your environment and habits, effectively drowning out external noise when most convenient. HD Voice ensures crystal-clear phone calls, and the intuitive touch controls make it easy to control music playback, volume and more. The battery life is impressive, lasting up to 30 hours with the charging case, and the IP57 protection rating makes them suitable for workouts, the beach and more.
A sleek metallic design gives these earbuds a premium look, and combined with balanced sound quality, you’re in for a treat whenever you want to listen to your favorite tunes. Plus, the equalizer lets you customize the audio to your preferences.
Great Value
Active Noise Cancellation: Yes | Battery Life With Case: 30 hr | 360 Audio: Yes | Water-Resistance Rating: IP54 | Controls: Touch
If you want a more affordable pair of Samsung earbuds with comparable sound quality to the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro, the base-level Galaxy Buds 4 are a fine choice. They’re lighter and more comfortable to wear for extended periods and offer exceptional audio quality across various genres.
Active Noise Cancellation adjusts levels so you can focus on what you’re listening to, and you’ll get up to 30 hours of listening time with the charging case. The IP54 rating makes them suitable for everything from workouts to beach listening, and spatialized head tracking delivers immersive 360-degree sound. Phone calls are super-clear thanks to HD Voice technology, and the integrated AI provides answers straight to your ears whenever you ask.
At a significantly lower price, the Galaxy Buds4 are the best option for anyone who wants balanced sound in earbuds for everyday use. Whether you’re commuting to work or school, exercising at the gym or running errands, the Galaxy Buds4 keep you connected to the music and your contacts.
Best for Budget-Conscious Buyers
Active Noise Cancellation: Yes | Battery Life With Case: 30 hr | 360 Audio: No | Water-Resistance Rating: IPX7 | Controls: Tap Button
Wireless earbuds can be expensive, especially if you want a pair with high-end features. The Galaxy Buds FE are Samsung’s answer for those seeking quality buds at a super affordable price. They offer excellent sound quality and a handful of neat features.
Designed for comfort, these earbuds let you listen to music, audiobooks, podcasts and more all day. They feature active noise cancellation to drown out ambient noise and onboard tap controls to manage music playback, volume and phone calls. They sync easily with all Galaxy smartphones and have an Interpreter feature that translates conversations so you can communicate with others in different languages.
With a wingtip design and sweat- and water-resistant build, the Galaxy Buds FE are designed for those with an active lifestyle. They’re not as durable as the Galaxy Buds4 or Galaxy Buds4 Pro, but for under $100, they’re a terrific value pick.
Best for Water-Resistant Design
Active Noise Cancellation: Yes | Battery Life With Case: 26 hr | 360 Audio: Yes | Water-Resistance Rating: IPX7 | Controls: Touch
If you don’t mind going backward to an older model to save on a pair of high-quality earbuds, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are absolutely worth your consideration. These earbuds offer outstanding sound quality and terrific noise cancellation with a comfortable fit for all-day listening.
With spatialized head tracking, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro deliver spectacular 360-degree audio for an immersive experience, whether you’re listening to hip-hop, rock, reggae or any other genre. Active Noise cancellation effectively reduces external noise so you can focus on what’s playing, and the battery life offers up to 26 hours of total listening time. Dual drivers deliver near-lossless audio for a crisp sound, and the stem design gives them a modern look.
Although the sound quality isn’t quite as refined as the newer Galaxy Buds4 Pro, these earbuds are an excellent value pick with a comparable design, feel and look. They’re designed for superior comfort and convenience thanks to integrated touch controls and multiple eartips.
Active Noise Cancellation: No | Battery Life With Case: NA | 360 Audio: No | Water-Resistance Rating: NA | Controls: In-line button
With tuning by Samsung’s subsidiary, the legendary audio brand AKG, the Type-C Headphones are in-ear buds with silicone eartips and a Y-cable ending in a USB-C jack.
There are a couple of reasons to choose wired earbuds over wireless. First, wire cables are better at transmitting high-quality audio, although wireless is definitely catching up. Second, wired headphones are more affordable than wireless buds. (Until recently, a pair of wired earbuds were included with most Samsung smartphones.)
Like other USB-C headphones, the Type-C Headphones earbuds include a DAC (digital to analog converter) in their connector. Among other things, this allows them to play higher-quality music files than wireless earbuds. Their cord sports an inline remote with audio controls and a fabric jacket that makes them less prone to tangling than wired earbuds with rubbery plastic jackets. Note: Type-C Headphones don’t support ANC.
Fit and comfort depend on various factors, including the earbuds' design and your ear shape. Brands take both into account and constantly refine the shape of their earbuds to ensure they are as comfortable as possible. However, what can make a big difference in comfort is the eartip. Most earbuds include at least three eartip sizes so you can try on different sizes and use the one you find most comfortable. You won’t really know how comfortable earbuds are until you wear them for at least 20 minutes, but the right ear tips go a long way toward ensuring comfort.
Earbuds offer adequate sound quality given their miniature size. However, sound quality varies greatly across models, and depending on the type of music you enjoy, you might find it challenging to determine how good it is. For example, some earbuds reproduce excellent highs and lows, but the mids may be lacking, while others may prioritize bass, with more liberties with the treble. In any case, it’s best to look for earbuds with multiple drivers for a broader, more balanced soundstage that lets any genre sound crisp.
Active noise cancellation (ANC) uses a combination of microphones and sound waves to block out unwanted external noise. It’s one of the most desired features in earbuds, but there’s also passive noise cancellation (PNC), which uses the earbuds' shape to mute ambient noise. ANC is superior because it can effectively drown out loud noises, such as engine and traffic noise. PNC is acceptable for casual use, but it works well only to tune out voices and chatter.
Wireless Samsung earbuds usually last four to six hours on a single charge. However, the included case has charging capabilities that can extend battery life by up to 24 hours. That means that, in total, you’ll get up to 30 hours of listening time out of your Samsung earbuds. Keep in mind that battery life drains faster if you have ANC enabled on a model that supports it.
Not all earbuds are water-resistant, but those that are let you use them while exercising or even at the beach. If you’re unsure how water-resistant they are, it’s a good idea to look for an IP rating, which indicates their resistance to dust and water. The most common IP ratings are IPX7, IPX4 and IP57, all of which can handle light splashing and sweat without any issues.
The best onboard controls to look for are touch controls, which let you control music playback, volume and phone calls with gentle taps or swipes. Galaxy earbuds also offer access to voice assistants, which you can set up through your phone, and a neat Interpretation feature that picks up foreign conversations and translates them right to your ear.
Samsung wireless earbuds connect to devices via Bluetooth. Although the codec may vary by model, this wireless connectivity lets you stay 10 to 30 feet from your device without interruption to playback. Some earbuds can sync with multiple devices simultaneously, and setting them up with Samsung devices takes just a few seconds.
After researching all of the earbuds Samsung has to offer as well as some of their discontinued models, we tested the Galaxy Buds Live to see how they did in these areas.
A. Everyone has differently shaped ears, and what fits well for one person may not fit well for someone else. Samsung’s earbuds are in-ear buds, while Apple’s original AirPods 3 and 4 are on-ear buds.
Some people can’t stand in-ear buds, while others dislike on-ear buds. Comparisons of in-ear Buds models to Apple’s in-ear AirPods Pro 2 and Pro 3 are inconclusive and seem to reflect individual ear shape and preference.
A. No! The Galaxy Buds4 specifically should not be worn in the shower. In the IPXX scale of water resistance, the Buds4 are rated IP57: resistant to occasional splashes. They should not be worn in the shower.
The Buds3 have an IPX7 rating: resistant to full immersion for 30 minutes. But Samsung still recommends not using them in the shower, spa, sauna, or swimming pool.
A. Thanks to their design, it’s possible to lie in bed with Galaxy Buds models, even on your side. In general, they nestle in the outer ear without sticking out too much. The Cleveland Clinic offers tips about whether you should wear earbuds to bed and how to do so safely.
