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Apple-centric headphones and earbuds, such as the Apple AirPods 2, the AirPods Max and the Beats Fit Pro, are pretty popular. And while they do work with Samsung Galaxy devices for audio listening and making calls, those devices don’t have Apple-exclusive extra features like spatial audio and always-on Siri. So if you’re a Samsung devotee, you’ll want a set of earbuds or headphones that’s either platform-agnostic or geared towards Galaxy devices (yes, Samsung, like Apple, plays the exclusive features game).
You may also want to get earbuds or headphones that feature support for the aptX or LDAC audio codecs, which may offer better audio quality when streaming via Bluetooth. Samsung and other Android phones support aptX and LDAC, but you have to enable support for those codecs by going into developer mode in the settings and activating the codec you want. It can be a little tricky.
What are the best earbuds and headphones for Samsung smartphones right now?
So what are the best earbuds for Samsung devices? If you’re looking for earbuds geared to your Galaxy smartphone or tablet, the answer is easy: The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are arguably the best earbuds you can get for your Galaxy device. They not only sound very good but offer good noise canceling and work well for making calls. They’re also equipped with some special extra features for users of Galaxy devices, including spatial audio and hands-free Bixby.
As for full-size headphones that work well with Samsung mobile devices, we like the Sony WH-1000XM5, a 2022 CNET Editors’ Choice winner. But there’s a slew of other headphones geared toward both Apple and Android users, several of which I’ve out on this list.
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro offer improved noise canceling along with very good sound and voice-calling performance, plus support for high-resolution wireless audio streaming if you’re a Galaxy device owner with the right setup. That said, their biggest upgrade may their new design and smaller size, which make them a better fit for more ears (they’re also fully waterproof).
Earfun has put out a series of wireless earbuds over the last couple of years with one important commonality: They’re very good values, made more so by frequent discounts. The company’s new-for-2023 Earfun Air Pro 3 earbuds feature the latest Qualcomm QCC3071 system-on-a-chip with aptX Adaptive for Android and other devices that support the new LE Audio standard and LC3 audio codec, which is superior to the SBC codec (they also support AAC for Apple devices).
Battery Life Rated up to 32 hoursNoise Canceling Yes (ANC)Multipoint YesHeadphone Type Over-ear wireless headphonesWater-Resistant No IP rating
When you have a product that a lot of people love, change can be risky. Such is the case for Sony’s WH-1000XM5, the fifth generation of the 1000X series headphones, which were first released in 2016 as the MDR-1000X Wireless and have become increasingly popular as they’ve improved with each generation. Over the years, Sony has made some tweaks to the design, but nothing as dramatic as what it’s done with the WH-1000XM5. Other than the higher $349 price tag, most of those changes are good, and Sony’s made some dramatic improvements with voice-calling performance as well as even better noise canceling and more refined sound.
Battery Life Rated up to 8 hoursNoise Canceling Yes (ANC)Multipoint NoHeadphone Type Wireless earbudsWater-Resistant Yes (IPX7 — can be submerged for 30 minutes up to 1 meter)
If you can’t afford the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, the standard Galaxy Buds 2 are a good option for Galaxy users. Released in 2021, they don’t sound as good as the newer Galaxy Buds 2 Pro or have quite as effective noise canceling. But they offer decent sound and noise canceling along with very good voice-calling performance and often are discounted to around $100.
Over the years, JBL has put out some decent true-wireless earbuds, but nothing that really got me too excited. That’s finally changed with the arrival of the Samsung-owned brand’s new Live Pro 2 and Live Free 2 buds. Both sets of buds — the Live Pro 2 have stems while the Live Free 2 have a pill-shaped design — offer a comfortable fit along with strong noise canceling, very good sound quality and voice-calling performance, plus a robust set of features, including multipoint Bluetooth pairing, an IPX5 splash-proof rating and wireless charging.
Sennheiser’s previous-generation Momentum Wireless headphones have always had a pretty distinct look that was part retro, part modern, and stood out for the exposed metal on their headband. For better or worse, that’s all gone now, and the new Momentum 4 Wireless, Sennheiser’s flagship noise-canceling headphones, look a bit more subdued and also a bit more like some of their competitors.
Sony’s improved entry-level noise canceling headphones, the CH-720Ns, have a bit of a plastic-y budget vibe, but they’re lightweight and very comfortable. Part of me was expecting them to sound pretty mediocre, but I was pleasantly surprised. No, they don’t sound as good as the WH-1000XM5s. But they sound more premium than they look (and feel), and their overall performance is a nice step up from their predecessor, the CH-710Ns. Are they worth $150? Maybe — or maybe not. But the good news is that, like the CH-710N and WH-XB910 before them, these should see some nice discounts in the not-so-distant future, which is what you may want to wait for.
Battery Life Rated up to 25 hoursMultipoint YesHeadphone Type Over-ear wireless headphonesWater-Resistant No IP rating
The QuietComfort 45 has virtually the same design as its predecessor, the QuietComfort QC35 II, which many people considered one of the most comfortable over-ear headphones — if not the most comfortable. It has the same drivers, according to Bose, and the buttons are in the same place. However, there are small but notable changes. First off, we’re pleased that these have USB-C instead of Micro-USB.
Featuring excellent sound, improved noise canceling and voice-calling performance as well a smaller, more refined design that includes stabilizing fins (so the earbuds stay in your ears more securely), the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 were among the best new true-wireless earbuds of 2022. They’re also one of the best true-wireless earbuds overall, giving the Sony WF-1000XM4 a run for the money.
Battery Life Rated Up to 6 HoursNoise Canceling Yes (ANC)Multipoint NoHeadphone Type Wireless EarbudsWater-Resistant Yes (IPX4 — Splash-Proof)
Bose’s second-generation QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are not only about 30% smaller than their predecessors, but their case is about 40% smaller and truly pocketable. They feature best-in-class noise canceling and improved sound, thanks to Bose’s new CustomTune sound calibration system that customizes the sound for your ears. Voice-calling performance is also significantly better than that of the original QuietComfort Earbuds.
Battery Life Rated up to 8 hoursNoise Canceling Yes (ANC)Multipoint NoHeadphone Type Wireless earbudsWater-Resistant Yes (IPX2 — sweat-resistant and protection against light splashes)
Say what you will about the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live’s bean-shaped design, but it is innovative. Like the standard AirPods 3, they have an open design — you don’t jam an ear tip into your ear — and they’re quite comfortable to wear and fit my ears more securely than the AirPods. That said, they won’t fit everybody’s ears equally well. These wireless buds are discreet and basically sit flush with your ear without a little white pipe extending out from them.
Watch this: Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro Review: Best Galaxy Buds Yet
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