Samsung is a massive brand that has products in almost every product category you can think of: TVs, soundbars, monitors, you name it. So, it's no surprise that they also make consumer earbuds. While they once had a large lineup with a variety of entries, in recent years the brand has focused their product line on the Samsung Galaxy entries intended to pair with their popular smartphones. We've tested over 15 pairs of Samsung headphones, and below you'll find our picks for the best Samsung headphones you can buy.
Updates
- 04/07/2026Samsung Galaxy Buds4 reviewed
- 03/23/2026Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro reviewed
- 12/06/2024Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro reviewed
- 08/22/2024Samsung Galaxy Buds3 reviewed
- 11/10/2023Samsung Galaxy Buds FE reviewed
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You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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Best Samsung Earbuds
Noise Isolation - Full RangeTravelSports And FitnessSee all our test resultsContinuous Battery LifehrsThe Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro are the best Samsung earbuds we've tested. These flagship buds boast an incredible ANC system to block out a significant amount of background noise, like the low rumble of bus engines, ambient chatter, and shrill subway train brakes. While they keep the same in-ear stemmed design as the previous-generation Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro, build quality and mic performance have seen steady improvements, even if the ANC performance remains around the same. Similarly, battery life hasn't changed, clocking in at approximately six hours of playback time.
These buds are comfortable, sturdy, and certified for resistance to dust and water immersion, making them a solid choice for sports and exercise, especially thanks to their stable in-ear fit. Out of the box, their warm sound mostly follows our target curve, so there's plenty of bass on tap, as well as mid- and treble-range detail. If you like to tinker with tuning, their companion app offers a nine-band graphic EQ and EQ presets to help you adjust their sound to your taste. They also support the Seamless codec, which is the manufacturer's proprietary wireless codec for hi-res audio. However, you'll need a compatible Samsung device to access this feature.
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Best Budget Samsung Earbuds
Noise Isolation - Full RangeTravelSports And FitnessSee all our test resultsContinuous Battery LifehrsIf you want to spend less on earbuds, check out the Samsung Galaxy Buds3. They're an older model and have been replaced with a newer generation, but for the price, they still offer good value. Unlike the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro, which have ear tips for a snug yet deep fit, these buds have a less invasive one-size-fits-all design that sits outside of the ear canal. They're also open-back, offering a compromise between noise isolation and awareness, letting more surrounding noise reach you; you can maintain environmental awareness when working in a collaborative office space or monitoring your surroundings, especially when exercising outdoors. Their durable build also offers some resistance to dust and water exposure, so you can wear them in all sorts of dusty and wet situations.
Despite lacking ear tips, they're stable-fitting for most folks, but they don't give you that extra-secure feeling you get with deeper in-ear fits. However, they feel light and comfortable for long sessions. Overall, their tuning features a subdued bass, balanced mids, and a warm, albeit somewhat dull, top end. If you prefer a different sound profile, the app offers EQ presets or a graphic EQ. The ANC isn't nearly as effective as our top pick, though, and the continuous battery life is relatively short, at just over 4.5 hours. Nevertheless, an additional four recharges are stored in the case.
Compared To Other Brands
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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 a companion app.
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Decently well-balanced, customizable sound.
Samsung's earbuds reproduce audio fairly accurately, and you can usually customize their sound profile with their companion app's EQ presets.
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Stylish designs.
Samsung has a lot of sleek-looking earbuds that are comfortable to wear. They also tend to rely on touch-sensitive controls rather than physical buttons.
In addition to offering subdued color schemes like black or white, they can come in eye-catching colors like pink.
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Plasticky build quality.Although Samsung earbuds look good, they tend to have a slightly flimsy build quality. They feel less durable than similarly designed earbuds in their price range.
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Poor variety.
Samsung doesn't have a lot of variety in its models. They often release a Pro and standard version of their popular products, but they don't offer different types for different listeners.
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Limited OS compatibility.
While their earbuds will work with all Bluetooth-enabled mobile devices, their companion apps aren't all universal. Some only work on Android, with additional functionality often further gated unless you own a compatible Samsung smartphone.
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's earbuds tend to have a better continuous battery life, though. Check out our article on the best earbuds for Android.
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 OnePlus' offerings also have a stem design and support 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 Buds4 Pro.
Samsung vs Apple
Like Samsung, Apple has 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 a virtual soundstage for a more immersive sound experience and adaptive EQ. They also have a pair of premium over-ears available, which is unique among both brands. Samsung's earbuds, in comparison, are slightly more customizable. 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 often 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 balanced sound that's versatile enough for a variety of audio content. However, while you can find different headphones like over-ears sold under the AKG 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 the Galaxy Buds lineup. 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, the AKG N700NC M2 are wireless over-ear noise cancelling headphones, while the Samsung AKG Type-C are wired in-ears with a Type-C connection.
There were a couple of lineups that are now discontinued:
- Gear: The first lineup of truly wireless headphones.
- Level: Comprises differently designed wireless headphones, including over-ear, neckband, and on-ear headphones.
Recent Updates
Oct 20, 2026:
The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE have been discontinued; our new 'Best Budget Samsung Earbuds' pick are the Samsung Galaxy Buds3, which offer good performance at a low cost.
Jul 23, 2026:
We've updated text throughout the review to improve clarity for purchase decisions, but our picks remain the same as they're in stock and still relevant.
Apr 13, 2026:
We've added the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro as the new top pick due to improvements across the board, including mic performance and build quality. That said, the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 don't do enough to replace the current open-back pick; some areas, like IP rating, have actually seen a downgrade.
May 14, 2025:
Since the last update, we haven't reviewed any new Samsung earbuds, but our picks are still accurate and in stock at major retailers.
Feb 13, 2025:
This article has been updated with the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro replacing the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro as the top pick, and the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 were added as the open-back pick. Text edits have been made throughout for accuracy.
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 wireless earbuds, their models perform well overall. They're not only stylish but sound well-balanced and have good battery performance. Unfortunately, they're less sturdily built than similar models from other brands, and their companion app could offer even more customization options.