In fact, I'd go as far as to say that these are among my favorite earbuds from a fit and comfort perspective. This sounds uncomfortable on paper, but believe me when I say that the Buds Live feel great. I've been rocking the Galaxy Buds Live as my go-to earbuds, and even long after this review's initial publication, I don't see myself leaving them anytime soon. Samsung has once again crafted a pair of top-notch earbuds that nail all of the fundamentals, but with a couple of twists to consider if you're thinking about buying them. One look at the Buds Live is all it takes to realize that these are earbuds unlike anything else we've seen before, and while that's true in some regards, they're also very familiar. The Buds+ made their debut back in February 2020, and less than a year later, Samsung returned with its latest creation, the Galaxy Buds Live.
They sound great, have long-lasting battery life, are super compact, and ship with one of the better companion apps around. Samsung's worked to perfect its earbud formula, and the Buds+ are the culmination of everything it's learned over the last few years.
GALAXY BUDS LIVE ANDROID
The $149 Galaxy Buds 2 are the sweet spot for most Android users, while the $199 Buds Pro offer slightly better features for those willing to pay up.If you have an Android phone and are shopping for wireless earbuds, it's hard to do much better than the Samsung Galaxy Buds+. Folks seeking the cheapest options out there should go for the Buds+ or Buds Live, which are also your best bets if you use an iPhone. It’s hard to go wrong with any version of the Galaxy Buds - they all sound great, are super comfortable and deliver pretty strong battery life. And yes, it matches the Galaxy S21 and S21+. And if color options are a priority, the Buds Pro come in an attractive Phantom Violet in addition to black and white. The Buds Pro mostly get things right, responding well to various combinations of taps for controlling music playback and activating noise cancellation. We’ve found the Galaxy Buds lineup to have pretty finicky touch controls across the board, with some models being too sensitive to touch and others being not receptive enough. You care about on-ear controls (and the color purple). You can still switch between ANC and Ambient Noise modes using on-ear controls when paired to an iPhone, but you won’t be able to customize the buds in any way.
GALAXY BUDS LIVE SOFTWARE
Like with the Galaxy Buds 2, the Buds Pro’s many useful software features are limited to the Android-only Galaxy Wearable app. That’s in addition to Samsung’s usual software features, including a sound equalizer, customizable controls and hands-free Bixby control (sorry, no swapping for Google Assistant here) for summoning Samsung’s virtual assistant.
These buds have the most refined ANC and Ambient Sound modes of the whole lineup, doing a solid job both blocking and letting in noise while providing multiple levels of intensity for each. At $199 (but often on sale for less) the Galaxy Buds Pro are the most premium member of the Buds family, and you get what you pay for. You’re willing to pay up for ANC and lots of features.
GALAXY BUDS LIVE BLUETOOTH
(Yes, these $149 buds have ANC, but it’s not stellar.) While the Buds 2 pair fine to an iPhone via Bluetooth (and let you switch between ANC and Ambient Noise using onboard controls), you’ll need an Android phone to get the most out of them. This software lets you tap into some of the Buds 2’s most useful features, including the ability to customize the controls, perform a fit test and tweak the Ambient Noise and ANC modes. The Galaxy Buds 2 are especially ideal for folks with an Android phone, which you’ll need to utilize Samsung’s Galaxy Wearable app. You’re an Android user who wants lots of features for a reasonable price. They’re also Samsung’s lightest earbuds yet, complete with silicone ear tips that make them a joy to wear for hours at a time. They come in some beautiful colors, including lavender and olive on top of the more traditional white and graphite.
These ovular earbuds are the perfect mix of stylish and subtle, with a rounded design that’s slimmer than the Buds Pro and less conspicuous than the bean-shaped Buds Live. Samsung has a knack for crafting attractive buds that are easy on the ears, but the Galaxy Buds 2 stand above the rest in the design department. You want the best-looking (and most comfortable) Galaxy Buds.