Wireless headphones have become a must-have accessory for anyone on the go and active, including music lovers, students and office workers. Although people have been listening to music with wired headphones for decades, the advent of wireless headphones has quickly changed people’s behavior thanks to the freedom of movement, ease of connection and wealth of features built into their compact frame.
Samsung’s Galaxy Buds series stands out from other wireless earbuds on the market with improved sound quality, a comfortable fit, and a smarter sound experience powered by Galaxy AI. Samsung Newsroom revisits the history of the Galaxy Buds series, a device that has become a staple in smartphones.
[2019] Galaxy Buds Headphones
Focus on the essentials: the debut of the Galaxy wireless earbuds
In February 2019, Samsung launched the wireless Galaxy Buds for consumers who value a more convenient and exciting lifestyle. Accented with a glossy texture and round design, the wearable was compact enough to easily slip into the user’s pocket. The earbuds could also be secured with wing tips once placed in the ear, so they wouldn’t slip out during intense exercise.
However, the most impressive feature was the sound quality, the very essence of the earbuds. Samsung focused on enriching the sound so that users could hear crystal clear audio regardless of their surroundings. The Galaxy Buds featured AKG technology, Harman’s premium acoustic brand, to deliver a rich listening experience that resembled the original sound. Another key element of the clear sound quality was the Adaptive Dual Microphone technology, where two microphones located inside and outside each earbud adapted to the ambient noise. Users could expect smooth sound quality even when taking phone calls in noisy public places.
The portable Galaxy Buds feature a long-lasting battery. On a single charge, these earbuds provide up to 6 hours of playback time or up to 5 hours of talk time. Additionally, users can enjoy up to 13 hours of music playback with a dedicated charging case. Thanks to the Galaxy S10’s Wireless PowerShare feature, the Galaxy Buds can also be charged using the smartphone.
[2020] Galaxy Buds+
Clearer sound, longer hours of use
Launched in February 2020, the Galaxy Buds+ featured improved sound quality. Featuring 2-way speakers with a tweeter for clear, crisp highs and a woofer for powerful bass, these earbuds created a balanced sound. The three microphones, one inside and two outside, reduced external noise while capturing the user’s voice accurately to enable clear communication in any environment.
Galaxy Buds+ deliver up to 11 hours of battery life on a single charge. Users can enjoy an additional 11 hours with the charging case, for a total of 22 hours. With compatibility across Android and iOS devices, more people can enjoy the latest features of Galaxy Buds+.
[2021] Galaxy Buds Pro
Advanced noise reduction, dressed in durable materials
In response to the expanding wireless earbuds market, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Buds Pro in January 2021. Delivering premium performance, these wearables featured intelligent Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) that dramatically reduces background noise so users can adjust the volume of the world. When the Buds Pro recognized a user’s voice, the device would automatically switch to ambient sound and adjust the volume of the music. By reducing unnecessary noise, users could focus on what they really wanted to hear.
For unmatched sound quality, Samsung has innovated both the interior and exterior design. The new structure minimizes wind noise for clearer sound, and the 2-way speaker delivers dynamic sound across the entire sound range. By incorporating recycled polycarbonate (PC) into some earbud components, Galaxy Buds Pro delivers the same level of performance and durability as the original, but in a new sustainable design.
[2021] Galaxy Buds2
Smaller, lighter headphones that keep up with life
In August 2021, Samsung launched the smallest and lightest earbuds in the Galaxy Buds series with the Galaxy Buds2. Each earbud weighed just 5 grams, making it a perfect accessory for users with an active lifestyle. Equipped with two-way dynamic speakers, Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), and a new machine learning-based solution that responded to different noise levels, the Galaxy Buds2 effectively blocked out background noise during phone calls to deliver clear voice to the person on the other end of the call.
As the earbuds are used throughout the day, Galaxy Buds2 come with three sizes of eartips and an earbud fit test to ensure users can wear the device comfortably for extended periods of time. If the earbuds do not fit snugly, the test result will indicate a “poor fit” and provide users with instructions on how to adjust them. The Auto Switch feature allows users to freely and easily switch connections between their Galaxy devices, including smartphones, watches or tablets, without disconnecting their Galaxy Buds2 each time.
[2022] Galaxy Buds2 Pro
Immersive sound goes to the next level: an extension of seamless connectivity
Launched in August 2022, Galaxy Buds2 Pro delivers the most immersive sound experience in the Galaxy Buds series. Featuring high dynamic range and 24-bit high-fidelity (Hi-Fi) wireless audio, the earbuds reinvent the way users listen to music. The 360° audio recording feature allows users to vividly capture surrounding sound on smartphone videos, delivering multi-dimensional audio that makes users feel like they are actually inside the video.
The Galaxy Buds2 Pro earbuds have been designed to be 15% smaller and feature an ergonomic design, so users can watch media content more comfortably. Beyond the realm of mobile devices, the wearable “can” be connected to a Samsung TV, but can automatically connect to a paired smartphone if a call is received while watching. Once the call is “ended,” the earbuds seamlessly reconnect to the TV.
The next-gen Galaxy Buds will be…
Back in February, Samsung released a software update for the Galaxy Buds series. Now, users can enjoy the AI technology of the Galaxy S24 series along with various other hands-free AI features on the Galaxy Buds series. Additionally, the update has strengthened the Samsung device ecosystem experience by connecting the Galaxy Buds series to more products, including the Galaxy Book4 series, Samsung TVs, and more.
Although sound is invisible, it has the power to evoke emotions, trigger memories, and motivate people. As the Galaxy Buds series continually evolves to reflect users’ values and needs, Samsung is changing the listening experience by delivering comfortable earbuds that deliver quality sound and expand connectivity. The Galaxy Buds series will continue to serve as a user-friendly medium, allowing users to enter a new world of sound every time they wear their earbuds.