Updated Jan 22, 2024 at 12:47 pm
By Vanessa McCuaig
overview 7 comments
Samsung is a huge brand that makes stylish and feature-packed earbuds for casual everyday use. They used to have a larger lineup with more variety, but now they only make truly wireless earbuds. We've tested 13 pairs of Samsung headphones, and below, you'll find our picks for the best you can buy.
Updates
- 11/10/2023 Samsung Galaxy Buds FE Truly Wireless reviewed
- 10/17/2023 Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro True Wireless updated
- 07/17/2023 Samsung Galaxy Buds Live Truly Wireless updated
- 07/05/2023 Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Truly Wireless updated
- 10/18/2021 Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless updated
Best Samsung Headphones
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Best Samsung Earbuds
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro True Wireless 13
Neutral Sound
7.1
Commute/Travel
7.9
Sports/Fitness
8.1
Office
7.2
Wireless Gaming
5.5
Wired Gaming
5.4
Phone Calls
6.2
Type In-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Truly Wireless
Transducer Dynamic
Noise Cancelling Yes
Mic Yes
See all our test results
The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro True Wireless are the best Samsung earbuds that we've tested. These buds have an excellent ANC system that blocks out a significant amount of background noise, like the low rumble of bus engines, ambient chatter, and the hum of AC units. While they last under five hours continuously with the ANC on, their carrying case supplies roughly 2.6 additional charges, and you can use one bud while the other charges.
These buds are comfortable, sturdy, and certified IPX7 for resistance against water immersion, making them a solid choice for sports and exercise. They also have a fairly neutral sound profile, though a dip in their mid-range hurts the clarity of vocals and instruments. Luckily, their companion app offers EQ presets to help you adjust their sound. They also support Seamless codec, which is this manufacturer's proprietary wireless codec for hi-res audio. However, you'll need a compatible device to access this feature. Still, if you're looking for the best Samsung wireless earbuds, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro are the way to go.
See our review
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Best Mid-Range Samsung Earbuds
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Truly Wireless 3
Neutral Sound
7.4
Commute/Travel
8.0
Sports/Fitness
8.2
Office
7.2
Wired Gaming
5.6
Phone Calls
6.6
Type In-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Truly Wireless
Transducer Dynamic
Noise Cancelling Yes
Mic Yes
See all our test results
If you're interested in a pair of Samsung earbuds but don't need a top-of-the-line model, check out the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Truly Wireless. These are slightly more basic than the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro True Wireless. They have many of the same features as their pricier successor, like ANC and 360 Audio surround sound with head tracking via their companion app. While their ANC doesn't perform as well as the Buds2 Pro, it can isolate you from much of the low-frequency rumble from a bus or plane engine, as well as noisy chatter from coworkers and whiny PC fan noise. They're also rated IPX2 for protection against light rain, making them a decent choice for runs outside. However, they'll likely fall out of your ears during more intense exercise.
Out of the box, their sound profile is quite neutral but lacking in low-bass, so EDM and hip-hop won't have adequate rumble to compliment their thump and punch. Vocals and instruments sound clear and detailed but a bit dark due to an underemphasis in the mid-range. Fortunately, you can change the mix between a selection of EQ presets, giving you some customizability. They last nearly five hours on a single charge, which isn't a lot. Fortunately, there are three extra charges in their case, so you'll have power for the whole day if you remember to dock them at some point.
See our review
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Best Budget Samsung Earbuds
Samsung Galaxy Buds FE Truly Wireless 21
Neutral Sound
7.6
Commute/Travel
7.9
Sports/Fitness
8.2
Office
7.6
Wireless Gaming
5.9
Wired Gaming
5.8
Phone Calls
7.5
Type In-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Truly Wireless
Transducer Dynamic
Noise Cancelling Yes
Mic Yes
See all our test results
If you're on a budget but don't want to sacrifice a wireless design, try the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE Truly Wireless. Unlike the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Truly Wireless, they don't support 360 Audio for a more immersive audio experience. However, these comfortable buds still have a few handy features, like companion app support and an ANC system to help block out a very good amount of background noise, like chatty coworkers. With their ANC on, they also last over six hours continuously, and their carrying case holds an extra 3.5 charges.
These buds have a pretty neutral sound out of the box, making them a versatile choice for most audio content. You can use the EQ presets in their app to adjust their sound to suit your tastes, though. If you're looking for even cheaper buds, consider the Samsung AKG Type-C instead. The fact that these are wired headphones may be a drawback for some users, but they have a neutral sound that ensures clear vocals and instruments. Since they don't have ANC, they struggle to block out background noise.
See our review
Compared To Other Brands
- Lots of active features.
Samsung makes earbuds with lots of active features like Bluetooth support, active noise cancelling, power-saving modes, and customization options that you can access via different companion apps. - Decently well-balanced, customizable sound.
Samsung's earbuds reproduce audio fairly accurately, and you can usually customize their sound profile a bit with their companion app's EQ presets. - Stylish designs.
Samsung has a lot of sleek-looking earbuds that are comfortable to wear. Their designs often include features like touch-sensitive control schemesto reduce the number of visible buttons. In addition to offering subdued color schemes like black or white, they can come in eye-catching colors like cloud blue or red.
- Plasticky build quality.
Although earbuds from Samsung look good, they tend to have a slightlyflimsy build quality. They feel less durable than similarly-designed earbudsin their price range. - Poor variety.
Samsung doesn't have a lot of variety in its models. They often release Pro or Plus versions of their original lineup with more features, but they don't offer different types for different listeners. - Limited OS compatibility.
While all their earbuds will work with all Bluetooth-enabled mobile devices, their companion apps aren't all universal. Some only work on Android, while others only provide benefits when used with Samsung devices.
Samsung vs Google
Both Samsung and Google produce a small lineup of mostly truly wireless earbuds. You'll need to use one of their associated smartphones to get the most out of either brand's products, as some features are only available within their native ecosystem. Both brands' current offerings are alike as most of their in-ears have neutral sound profiles and features like virtual soundstage. Google tends to have better continuous battery life, though.
Samsung vs OnePlus
OnePlus is a manufacturer of phones and related accessories like smartwatches and earbuds. Like Samsung, you need a compatible device from that manufacturer to access all their features. Most of their offerings also have a stem design and support 'OnePlus Audio ID', a test that creates personalized sound profiles. That said, Samsung has an edge when it comes to noise cancelling, especially when it comes to the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro True Wireless.
Samsung vs Apple
Like Samsung,Applehas a small but curated lineup designed with their own ecosystem in mind. Generally, their products have a high-end feel and support unique features like Spatial Audio and adaptive EQ. They also have a pair of premium over-ears available, which is unique between both brands. Samsung's earbuds, in comparison, are slightly more customizable, even if their companion app offers only presets. Check out our article on the best Apple headphones for more info.
Samsung makes sleek-looking earbuds that have lots of active features for their price. Since acquiring Harman and its subsidiary AKG in 2017, their products have sound profiles that closely follow the Harman curve; this is an industry standard advertised as the sound profile most users prefer. It results in a neutral, balanced sound that's versatile enough for a variety of audio content. However, while you can find different headphones like over-ears sold under theAKG brand,under its own name, Samsung sells a limited line of truly wireless earbuds.
Lineup
Over the years, Samsung's lineup has been pared down and simplified. They now mainly focus on truly wireless earbuds, which all fall under theGalaxy Budslineup. In addition to this lineup, Samsung also produces headphones in collaboration with AKG. Their selection is quite limited and doesn't fall under one singular lineup. For example, theAKG N700NC M2 Wirelessare wireless over-ear noise cancelling headphones, while theSamsung AKG Type-Care wired in-ears with a type-C connection.
There were a couple of lineups that are now discontinued, though you may still find these headphones via some retailers:
- Gear= The first lineup of truly wireless headphones.
- Level= Comprisesdifferently-designed wireless headphones, including an over-ear, neckband, and on-ear headphones.
Recent Updates
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Jan 22, 2024: We've updated this article's text to ensure it's still up-to-date and accurate. We haven't changed our recommendations.
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Nov 29, 2023: We've replaced the Samsung AKG Type-C with the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE Truly Wireless, as the FE offer a more well-rounded performance and have features like ANC and a companion app.
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Oct 02, 2023: We've checked our article for accuracy and product availability. There hasn't been a change in our recommendations, though.
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Aug 08, 2023: Made minor updates to the text and checked that the products are in stock.
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Jun 14, 2023: Added the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 as our pick for the 'Best Mid-Range Samsung Earbuds'.
Conclusion
Samsung is a big brand that makes stylish, versatile audio products. While there isn't much to choose from when looking for the best Samsung headphones, their truly wireless models perform well overall. They're not only stylish but sound well-balanced and have good battery performance. Unfortunately, they're not built as sturdily as similar models from other brands, and their companion app could offer even more customization options.
