Samsung has been pushing its pedigree in the audio space, particularly with its growing line of earbuds as complementary pieces to its mobile devices. The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro stand out as the best Samsung earbuds you can buy right now, but if your ears are looking for something else, there are other options to think about.Here are the best Samsung Galaxy earbuds(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)Samsung’s finestReasons to buy+Excellent sound+Improved ANC+Rugged water and sweat resistance+Extremely comfortable+Spatial 360 Audio+Reliable microphone qualityReasons to avoid-So-so battery life-Finicky touch controls-Needs custom EQIn our review, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro proved to be both a combination of past features, with a newer look to raise the level of comfort for every pair of ears. As it stands, they are the best wireless earbuds from the company to date. They’re small, lightweight, and pretty easy to grip. The IPX7 rating also makes these buds Samsung’s most rugged for water and sweat resistance.It’s still unclear how much past issues with ear and skin irritation might factor in with the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro in the long term, but if your ears like them, then you get plenty to enjoy. They’re very comfortable to wear for longer periods, and with improved active noise cancelation (ANC), you get to block out more of the background noise than before. Ambient mode is always there when you want to do the opposite. Features like Voice Detect also stick around to take advantage of that. Sound quality isn’t radically different, though you will get a crisper tone out of the box, with the option to use one of the equalizer presets in the Galaxy Wearable app to tweak it further. Even call quality gets a nice boost in clarity. Just be careful with the touch controls, which continue to be finicky and overly sensitive at the wrong times.Spatial audio also returns to provide a virtual surround sound effect using Dolby Head Tracking technology. Not to mention these are the first Samsung earbuds to support 24-bit hi-res audio playback, so long as you have a device and service giving you audio at that level. All these goodies do take a toll on the battery, which will max out at up to five hours per charge when ANC is on, going up to eight hours when ANC is off. The case is good for an extra three charges, which charges via USB-C or wireless charging. Charge up quickly for five minutes through USB and you get up to an hour of playback.(Image credit: Android Central)All about balanceReasons to buy+Bold sound+Effective ANC+Very comfortable fit+Good battery life+Nice color optionsReasons to avoid-IPX2 rating isn’t very durable-Microphones are so-so-Finicky controlsThe Galaxy Buds 2 aren’t about going “back to basics” but rather forging a strong tie between comfort and performance. Granted, we reviewed these earbuds with that metric in mind, but in this case, it’s a worthy combination. By shaving off 10% from the build compared to the Galaxy Buds+, Samsung managed to find an equal balance between durability and features that doesn’t require too much compromise. You won’t want these if you plan to sweat a lot, but if it’s all about leisure time, then you’re fine.These are, for all intents and purposes, your standard earbuds, save for the fact they feel small and nestle easily into your ear for good, comfortable fit. Though they sport different drivers than the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, the idea is similar, which is to boost audio quality without going over the top. They do sound crisp and clear, even if the mids are somewhat restrained, and the included silicone tips are good enough to passively seal off outside noises.Adding ANC and Ambient Sound brings two features you’d now expect from earbuds in this range. The ANC is close to what the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are capable of, whereas Ambient Sound takes a step back. The onboard mics are fine, just not as efficient as what the Pro models have, and that’s one reason why call quality also isn’t at the same level.Battery life may seem like a step back from the Galaxy Buds+ as well, but with all the tech inside, it’s a decent result. You can expect up to 7.5 hours with ANC off, or five hours with it on, depending on volume levels. The charging case has three extra charges in it, and you can top it up via USB-C or wireless charging. As for colors, white, graphite, olive and lavender round out your choices.(Image credit: Joe Maring / Android Central)Samsung’s fittestReasons to buy+One-size-fits-all design+Compact and well-built case+12mm drivers kick out great audio+Long-lasting battery life+Extremely useful companion app+Supports Qi wireless chargingReasons to avoid-Touch controls can be finicky-ANC isn’t the best-Certain features exclusive to Samsung phonesYou can’t talk about the Galaxy Buds Live without mentioning the unique design first, much like we did when we tested them out. The bean-shaped earbuds are Samsung’s attempt at crafting something to conform to as many ears as possible. To pull it off, engineers cut off the driver sticking into the car and just let the earbud rest over the ear. Because nothing is sticking into the ear canal, it reduces any discomfort or fatigue in wearing them for longer periods, which could also benefit smaller ears.Despite the unusual design, these were also Samsung’s first earbuds to offer ANC support, except the open fit means it has to work harder to block out ambient noise. For that reason, it’s not going to be as effective as the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are. In addition, passive noise isolation is easier when there is an ear tip plugging into the canal — another thing the Buds Live can’t offer.That’s a big reason why Samsung equipped them with 12mm drivers to deliver stronger sound. They provide good clarity and better bass than you might expect otherwise. You do have some flexibility in the Galaxy Wearable app to adjust the sound, should you feel the need to. Even call quality is excellent, ensuring callers can hear you clearly because of the onboard microphones.Battery life isn’t bad, going up to eight hours when ANC is off or six if always on. The charging case is very small, and supportes both USB-C and wireless charging. Plus, color options are nice, especially Mystic Bronze, though you also have mystic black and white.(Image credit: Android Central)Comfortably effectiveReasons to buy+Great sound quality+Comfy and secure fit+Improved call quality+Up to 11 hours of continuous use+Sleek, compact case+USB-C and Qi wireless chargingReasons to avoid-Glossy case finish doesn’t look amazing-No ANCIn lieu of the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, Buds 2, or Buds Live, you may still be able to find a pair of the Galaxy Buds+, despite Samsung discontinuing them. We liked them when we reviewed them, and they’ve become an affordable alternative within the same ecosystem that could still work well if you’re looking for something bearing a Samsung logo on a budget.They probably won’t retain the role of being the most comfortable of the lot, but they can still stake a claim to feeling snug. Samsung had done well to maintain the form factor of the original Galaxy Buds and only improved upon them in several key ways to make them viable even up to now. They lack ANC support, but passive noise isolation is great, with lightweight fit that doesn’t feel cumbersome at all. Audio quality stands up well, with call quality that represented a dramatic improvement from their predecessors. The Galaxy Wearable app still supports all the available features, including the EQ presets and Ambient mode.They’re also the longest-lasting per charge, playing up to 11 hours, depending on volume level. The case has an additional charge inside to double the total to 22 hours. You can also charge via USB-C or wireless charging for some extra convenience. If budget is a factor, and you want a more traditional design, the Galaxy Buds+ check off both of those boxes.(Image credit: Samsung)Samsung Type-C HeadphonesHow low can you go?Reasons to buy+Fantastic price for tight budgets+Connects via USB-C+Lightweight+Good sound for the price+In-line controlsReasons to avoid-Not as convenient as wireless earbudsFor those on tight budgets and who are willing to keep wires around, the Samsung Type-C Earbuds certainly fit the bill that way. You’re not looking at the flashiest or most exciting pair to put on, but it’s hard to argue with what you’re paying to get them. And the best part is they prove their value every time you play tunes on them afterward.Being wired earbuds, they connect to your phone using USB-C, which is great if your phone doesn’t have a headphone jack. Samsung claims the USB-C connection enables the separate left and right channels come out 10x better than traditional 3.5mm jack connections. But the real benefit comes from the high-quality DAC (digital-to-analog converter) that amplifies sound quality to be much better than what you’d expect for earbuds this cheap.The company also wisely went with a braided cable design to make them lighter to hold, and less susceptible to tangling when storing them away. The in-line playback controls are easy to find and nicely responsive when adjusting volume or play/pausing a song without having to reach for your phone to do it.(Image credit: Samsung)AKG Y100Nice balance of features and priceReasons to buy+Available in a few fun colors+Design is comfortable and durable+Can be paired with two devices at once+Up to eight hours of battery life+Fast charging speedsThe Y100 earbuds don’t have Samsung’s branding, but AKG is a subsidiary that you’ll often see as part of the audio engineering for Samsung’s products, including its phones and tablets. While the naming conventions may be different here, these earbuds are every bit a Samsung product.Beyond that, the AKG Y100 are solid, all-around wireless earbuds at a great price. They sport a simple, durable design available in multiple colors. Sound quality is good, with up to eight hours of battery life per charge, depending on volume. Plug in for 15 minutes and you can squeeze out about an hour of juice. It’s just unfortunate you’ll have to do it using Micro-USB rather than USB-C.One cool feature the AKG Y100 can do is pair with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and intelligently switch between them based on what you’re using. This is something a lot of earbuds don’t come with, so we’re thrilled it’s included on the Y100.Samsung has plenty of great choicesThis list shows the best Samsung earbuds are getting better at offering something for everyone. If we had to pick only one as our top choice, it would be the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro for the simple fact they cover so many bases the others don’t.Instead of being overly derivative, the company chose to improve upon existing features, while also cramming in everything it could to make the Buds 2 Pro as stellar as they are. They pursue a functional balance of feeling comfortable, sounding great, and being dynamic enough to fit into an everyday lifestyle. No easy feat, and with solid app support, there’s at least some customization to make them better.The market for the best wireless earbuds is getting pretty crowded these days, and with the Buds 2 Pro, Samsung managed to reach the upper echelon through solid craftsmanship. Give them a shot because we don’t think you’ll be disappointed.Round up of today’s best deals
