Wireless earphones have become a must-have accessory for anyone who is active and on the go, including music lovers, students, and office workers. Even though people have been listening to music through wired earphones for decades, the advent of wireless earphones has brought about a rapid change in people's behavior, as they offer freedom of movement, ease of connection, and a host of features packed into their compact frame.
Samsung's Galaxy Buds series sets itself apart from other wireless earbuds on the market with its superior sound quality, comfortable fit, and a smart sound experience powered by Galaxy AI. Samsung Newsroom looks back at the history of the Galaxy Buds series – a device that has become a must-have alongside a smartphone.
[2019] Galaxy Buds
Focusing on what's important: The Galaxy Wireless Earbuds debut
In February 2019, Samsung launched the wireless Galaxy Buds for consumers who value a more convenient and exciting lifestyle. With a glossy texture and rounded design, the wearable was compact enough to fit easily in a user's pocket. The earbuds can be secured with wingtips once they are placed in the ear, so they don't fall out during intense exercise.
However, the most impressive feature was the sound quality – the essence of the earbuds. Samsung focused on enriching the audio so that users can hear crystal-clear sound regardless of their surroundings. The Galaxy Buds incorporated technology from Harman's premium acoustic brand AKG, which delivers a rich listening experience that resembles the original sound. Adaptive Dual Microphone technology was another important key to clear sound quality, by which the two mics located inside and outside each earbud adjust according to the ambient noise. Users can expect smooth sound quality even when making phone calls in noisy public places.
The portable Galaxy Buds boast of long-lasting battery life. On a single charge, these earbuds offer up to 6 hours of play 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. The Galaxy Buds can also be charged using a smartphone, thanks to the Galaxy S10's Wireless PowerShare feature.
[2020] Galaxy Buds+
Clear sound, long time use
Introduced in February 2020, the Galaxy Buds+ showcased outstanding sound quality. Featuring 2-way speakers with a tweeter for crisp, clear highs and a woofer for powerful bass, these earbuds produced balanced sound. Three mics – one inside and two outside – reduce external noise while accurately capturing the user's voice to ensure clear communication in any environment.
Galaxy Buds+ deliver up to 11 hours of play time on a single charge. Users can enjoy 11 additional hours with the charging case, for a total of 22 hours. Through Android and iOS device compatibility, more people can enjoy the latest features of Galaxy Buds+.
[2021] Galaxy Buds Pro
Made of durable materials, advanced noise cancellation
Responding to the growing market for wireless earbuds, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Buds Pro in January 2021. Offering top-notch performance, these wearables highlight the intelligent Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) feature – which significantly reduces background noise so users can dial the world up or down. When the Buds Pro recognizes a user’s voice, the device automatically switches to ambient sound and adjusts the music volume. By reducing unnecessary noise, users can hear what they really want to hear.
For unmatched sound quality, Samsung has innovated both the interior and exterior design. The new structure reduces wind effects for clearer sound, and the 2-way speaker delivers dynamic audio across the entire sound range. By incorporating recycled polycarbonate (PC) in some of the earbuds' components, the Galaxy Buds Pro deliver the same performance and durability as the original, but in a new, durable design.
[2021] Galaxy Buds2
Small, lightweight earbuds that keep up with life
Samsung launched the smallest and lightest earbuds in the Galaxy Buds series with the Galaxy Buds 2 in August 2021. Each earbud weighed just 5 grams, making it a perfect wearable for users with an active lifestyle. Equipped with 2-way dynamic speakers, Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) and a new machine learning-based solution that responds to different noise levels, the Galaxy Buds 2 effectively blocked out background noise during phone calls to deliver a clear voice to the person on the other line.
Since earbuds are meant to be used all day, Galaxy Buds2 offered three sizes of ear tips and an earbud fit test to ensure users can wear the device comfortably for extended periods of time. If the earbuds do not fit properly, the test results will indicate “poor fit” and instruct users on how to make adjustments. The Auto Switch feature allowed users to freely and conveniently switch connections between their Galaxy devices, including smartphones, watches, or tablets, without having to disconnect their Galaxy Buds2 each time.
[2022] Galaxy Buds2 Pro
Taking immersive sound to the next level: expanding seamless connectivity
Released in August 2022, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro delivered the most immersive sound experience in the Galaxy Buds series. With high-dynamic range and wireless 24-bit high fidelity (Hi-Fi) audio, the earbuds redefined the way users listen to music. The 360 audio recording feature allowed users to clearly capture surrounding sounds on smartphone-recorded videos, delivering multi-dimensional audio that makes users feel like they are actually inside the video.
The Galaxy Buds2 Pro earbuds are designed to be 15% smaller with an ergonomic design, so users can watch media content more comfortably. Moving beyond the realm of a mobile device, the wearable can be connected “to” a Samsung TV, but can automatically connect to a paired smartphone if a call comes in while watching. When the call is “over,” the earbuds seamlessly reconnect to the TV.
The next-generation Galaxy Buds will be…
This 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 many other hands-free AI features on the Galaxy Buds series. Moreover, the update 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 cannot be seen, it has the power to evoke emotions, trigger memories and move people. As the Galaxy Buds series continues to evolve to reflect users' values and needs, Samsung is transforming the listening experience by providing comfortable wearable earbuds that produce quality sound and expand connectivity. The Galaxy Buds series will continue to serve as an adaptive medium – allowing users to enter a new world of sound every time they wear their earbuds.