Two of Samsung‘s best earbuds right now are the Galaxy Buds 2 and Galaxy Buds Live — but which is the best overall purchase? True wireless earbuds have been on a constant rise since AirPods’ debuted in 2016. There are seemingly countless models to choose from, various features to look for, and prices that range from $20 all the way up to $300 and more.

In the case of Samsung earbuds, specifically, the company has crafted a wide array of options to choose from. There are the Galaxy Buds+, Galaxy Buds 2, Galaxy Buds Live, and Galaxy Buds Pro — each equipped with its own unique features and specs. Among all of them, two of the most interesting options are the Buds 2 and Buds Live. Available for $150 and $170, respectively, the earbuds are extremely close in price while simultaneously delivering vastly different user experiences.

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Starting with the design, the Galaxy Buds 2 and Galaxy Buds Live are immediately different. For folks who prefer a traditional in-ear fit, the Buds 2 are a great choice. They form a secure in-ear seal, come with multiple gel ear tips, and the companion app has a fit test to help folks choose the best sizes for their ears. They’re also slightly lighter than the Buds Live, coming in at 5g compared to 5.6g. Speaking of the Buds Live, the in-ear experience is completely different. Rather than forming a seal in the wearer’s ears, the Buds Live rest in the outer part of the ear. This is great for listening to music and still hearing the surrounding environment, but it doesn’t offer anything in the way of passive sound isolation. The one-size-fits-all approach could also be a roadblock. This writer personally finds the Buds Live quite comfy, but since everyone’s ears are shaped differently, that won’t be the case across the board.

 Galaxy Buds 2 Vs. Buds Live Specs & Features

Digging into the functionality of the earbuds, the Galaxy Buds 2 and Galaxy Buds Live have more in common. Both deliver solid sound quality for the price, have 3 microphones with a Voice Pickup Unit for good audio during phone calls, and active noise canceling. While audio playback and microphone quality are similar across the two pairs of buds, ANC performance varies considerably. The Galaxy Buds Live are advertised as having active noise canceling, but a more appropriate name would be ‘active noise reduction.’ Enabling ANC does help quiet some surrounding background sounds, but the effect is very minimal because of the open-ear design. Comparatively, the in-ear form factor of the Galaxy Buds 2 makes their ANC noticeably stronger. It’s not on the same level as AirPods Pro or the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, but it’s good enough for most use cases. And when someone does want to hear what’s happening around them, the Galaxy Buds 2 also ship with Ambient Sound to increase the volume of those things.

In regards to battery life, the Buds 2 and Buds Live return to a level playing field. The former touts up to 7.5 hours of listening time while the latter gets up to 8 hours. When the charging case is included, both the Buds 2 and Buds Live are promised up to 29 hours of total endurance. Both earbuds also feature the same charging options, including USB-C wired charging and Qi wireless charging

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For most people, the Galaxy Buds 2 will likely stand out as the best overall option. They have a familiar and customizable design, good ANC performance, Ambient Sound to reverse that effect, and the MSRP is $20 cheaper. The Galaxy Buds Live are still quality earbuds in their own right, but they’re a more niche recommendation. For the person who’s tried every pair of wireless earbuds and hasn’t found something comfortable for them, the bean-like shape of the Buds Live could be a great fit. For everyone else, however, there’s more value to be found with the Buds 2. Once you’ve decided which pair is right for you, it’s important to be on the lookout for frequent sales. The Galaxy Buds 2 are often discounted to around $130, while the Buds Live can sometimes be found for just $100.

How Samsung Galaxy Buds Work With iOS & Android

Along with all of the above info, there’s one more big factor to consider — and that’s the phone you have. If you choose the Buds Live and have an iPhone, you’ll be able to pair the earbuds with the Samsung Galaxy Buds companion app and access all of their smart features. The Galaxy Buds 2, unfortunately, are not supported by the companion app at all. They’ll still connect to an iPhone via Bluetooth, but there’s no way to change their playback controls, access their equalizer, etc. That makes the Buds Live the default choice for iPhone users — or another pair of earbuds like AirPods 3.

Thankfully, it’s a much more level playing field for Android users. The Buds 2 and Buds Live automatically connect to any modern Samsung phone and don’t require any additional apps to use. You’ll need to download the companion app for non-Samsung Android phones, but the Buds 2 and Buds Live work just the same.

Is all of this annoying? Absolutely. But it’s also the norm for wireless earbuds in 2022. AirPods work best with the iPhone. Galaxy Buds work best with Samsung phones. Pixel Buds work best with Pixel phones. This ecosystem lock-in can be frustrating for someone not entrenched in one company’s product portfolio, but unless something dramatic changes in the near future, it isn’t going anywhere any time soon.

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Source: Samsung

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About The Author


Joe Maring
(1516 Articles Published)

Joe has been actively writing and talking about consumer tech since 2012. His biggest passion lies with smartphones, but he’s happy to talk your ear off about just about anything with a CPU. He lives in Kalamazoo, MI with his wife, two cats, and pit bull/boxer mix.

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