The Samsung Galaxy Buds are a line of wireless

Bluetooth Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology standard that is used for exchanging data between fixed and mobile devices over short distances and building personal area networks (PANs). In the most widely used mode, transmission power is li ...

earbuds designed by

Samsung Electronics Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (SEC; stylized as SΛMSUNG; ) is a South Korean multinational major appliance and consumer electronics corporation founded on 13 January 1969 and headquartered in Yeongtong District, Suwon, South Korea. It is curr ...

. They were first released on March 9, 2019, as the successor to the Gear IconX.

Models

Galaxy Buds

The original Galaxy Buds (SM-R170) launched on March 8, 2019. The launch price was $129.99, and included a wireless charging case. The Buds were discontinued when the Buds Plus was released.

Galaxy Buds Plus

The Galaxy Buds Plus (SM-R175) were announced on February 11, 2020, at the spring Galaxy Unpacked event. The Buds Plus were released on February 14, priced at $149.99, a $20 price increase from the original Buds. The Buds Plus maintained the same design as the original Buds, but reviewers praised the improved sound and microphone quality and significantly increased battery life. Additionally, a second driver for bass was included to enhance audio quality at lower frequencies.

Galaxy Buds Live

The Galaxy Buds Live (SM-R180) were announced on August 5, 2020, during a virtual Galaxy Unpacked event. The Buds Live were notable for their "bean" like on-ear design, a departure from the previous in ear design used in the Buds lineup. The Buds Live were the first Galaxy Buds device to launch with

active noise cancellation Active noise control (ANC), also known as noise cancellation (NC), or active noise reduction (ANR), is a method for reducing unwanted sound by the addition of a second sound specifically designed to cancel the first. The concept was first deve ...

. The Buds Live were praised for their design, but criticized for the ineffective active noise cancellation. Product review site, 'BestReviews' wrote "Unlike the rest of the Galaxy Buds lineup, the bean-shaped Galaxy Buds Live are on-ear buds that rest just outside the ear canal. People who have trouble with in-ear buds may find the Buds Live more to their liking. We found when we tested a pair of Buds Live that they ultimately felt more secure than competing earbuds after a short adjustment period."

Galaxy Buds Pro

The Galaxy Buds Pro (SM-R190) were announced on January 14, 2021, and launched the following day, on January 15. The Buds Pro improved upon the design of the Galaxy Buds Plus and included improved audio, head tracking technology, and active noise cancellation. They were praised for their improved design and sound quality, but criticized for their 5-hour battery life when active noise cancellation is on.

Galaxy Buds 2

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 (SM-R177) were announced on August 11, 2021, at Galaxy Unpacked alongside the

Galaxy Watch 4 The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 (stylized as Samsung Galaxy Watch4) is a smartwatch developed by Samsung Electronics. It is the first Samsung watch to run Google's Wear OS since the Samsung Gear Live, and the first watch to run Wear OS 3, co-develope ...

. The Buds 2 were seen as the successor to the Buds Plus, which were discontinued following the announcement. The Buds 2 include active noise cancellation, and cost less than the Buds Pro, and were praised for their all around performance for the price. Specifications:

Galaxy Buds 2 Pro

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro (SM-R510) were announced on August 10, 2022, at Galaxy Unpacked alongside the

Galaxy Watch 5 The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 (stylized as Samsung Galaxy Watch5) is a series of Wear OS-based smartwatches developed by Samsung Electronics Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (SEC; stylized as SΛMSUNG; ) is a South Korean multinational major appli ...

. The Buds 2 Pro were seen as the successor to the Buds Pro, which were discontinued following the announcement. The Buds 2 Pro include active noise cancellation, 24-bit Hi-Fi audio support (only for Samsung device with One UI 4.0 or above) and enhanced 360-degree audio. They were released on August 26, 2022, with a launch price of $229.99, a $30 price increase compared to the original Galaxy Buds Pro.

Galaxy Buds FE

The Galaxy Buds FE, short for "Fan Edition", were released on October 5, 2023 for , marketed as an affordable alternative to the other Galaxy Buds models. Its specifications include a 30-hour battery life with active noise cancellation disabled and the charging case and an IPX2 water resistance rating, as opposed to the 2 Pro's IPX7.

Galaxy Buds 3 Pro

The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro (SM-R630) were announced on July 10, 2024. The Buds 3 Pro are seen as the successor to the Buds 2 Pro, featuring a new stem design and enhanced audio technology with AI capabilities. The Buds 3 Pro include high-resolution audio support (24-bit/96kHz lossless quality, only for compatible Samsung devices), ultra-wideband call support, 360-degree audio, active noise cancellation (ANC), adaptive equalizer, and an instant translator. They were released on July 24, 2024, with a launch price of $249.99, a $20 price increase compared to the original Galaxy Buds 2 Pro.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Core

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Core (SM-R410) were announced in mid-2025. The Buds Core are seen as the successor to the Galaxy Buds FE, offering active noise cancellation (ANC), Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, and AI-powered features such as real-time language translation and interpretation. They have an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance and deliver up to 35 hours of total playback time with ANC off. The Galaxy Buds Core were released on June 27, 2025, in India and the UAE, with a launch price of approximately 189 AED, positioning them as an affordable option within Samsung’s wireless earbuds lineup.

References

{{Samsung Galaxy wearables Samsung wearable devices Bluetooth speakers Headphones