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Samsung's new $170 wireless earbuds feature noise cancellation and a unique bean-shaped design — here's how and where to buy them

Written by Steven Cohen
Galaxy Buds Live_All Colors_Front
Samsung
  • Samsung's new Galaxy Buds Live are now available for $169.99.
  • The true wireless earbuds feature a unique bean-shaped design geared toward comfort.
  • Unlike the company's cheaper Galaxy Buds Plus ($149.99) and Galaxy Buds ($129.99), the Galaxy Buds Live include support for active noise cancellation (ANC).
  • This feature is typically found on more expensive earbuds and could help the Galaxy Buds Live compete with pricier models, like Apple's AirPods Pro.
  • For more headphone recommendations, check out our regularly updated roundup of the best headphone deals and our guide to the best true wireless earbuds.

After weeks of rumors and leaks, Samsung has officially revealed its latest pair of true wireless earbuds, the Galaxy Buds Live. The earbuds were announced alongside several other products as part of Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event on August 5. Other new Galaxy devices include the Galaxy Note 20, Galaxy Watch 3, and Galaxy Tab S7.

Marked by their decidedly unique shape, the Galaxy Buds Live resemble a high-tech jelly bean more than a typical pair of earbuds. This ergonomic design offers a clear distinction from the company's previously released Galaxy Buds and Galaxy Buds Plus, which both have a more conventional look. You can read our review of the Galaxy Buds Plus here.

Apart from style, the Galaxy Buds Live also separate themselves from Samsung's other earbuds thanks to some upgraded specifications, including bigger speaker drivers and an active noise cancellation option. That latter feature helps put the Galaxy Buds Live more in line with pricier models, like the AirPods Pro, though it remains to be seen just how well Samsung's new earbuds actually perform. 

Below, we've broken down all the details you need to know about the Galaxy Buds Live, including purchase options and technical specifications.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live price

Galaxy Buds Live_Mystic Black_Side_Closed Case
Samsung

Samsung's Galaxy Buds Live are now available for purchase from Samsung, Best Buy, Amazon, and other major retailers. The earbuds cost $169.99 and come in Mystic Bronze, Mystic White, and Mystic Black color options.

Compared to Samsung's other earbuds, the Galaxy Live Buds are priced slightly higher than the company's Galaxy Buds Plus, which go for a regular retail price of $149.99, and the company's Galaxy Buds, which carry a regular retail price of $129.99.

The higher price tag is a result of the Galaxy Buds Live's improved specifications and extra features, which are all detailed below. Whether the new design and extra features, like noise cancellation, end up offering better performance over the Galaxy Buds Plus remains to be seen, but the earbuds do look intriguing on paper.  

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live, $169.99 at Best Buy

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live, $169.99 at Amazon

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live specs and features

Galaxy Buds Live_Mystic Bronze_Side_One In Case
Samsung

The Galaxy Buds Live are Samsung's new flagship wireless earbuds, and as such, they offer upgraded specs compared to the company's other earbuds. They also feature a rather unique bean-shaped design, which demonstrates a clear break from the comparatively conventional style of the Galaxy Buds and Galaxy Buds Plus.

Samsung says that this shape is designed to provide a comfortable fit. With that said, the earbuds can't provide an in-ear seal like more traditional designs. Whether this ends up affecting playback quality remains to be seen. 

Under the hood, the Galaxy Buds Live incorporate a 12mm speaker in each earbud with sound tuned by AKG. The earbuds also feature a bass duct, which Samsung says should help provide deep sound. Three microphones are integrated to help enhance speech during calls. Though not waterproof, the Galaxy Buds Live do feature an IPx2 water-resistant coating like the Galaxy Buds Plus.

Improving upon the Galaxy Buds and Galaxy Buds Plus, the Galaxy Buds Live include support for active noise cancellation (ANC). This is a feature that's missing from many earbuds in this price range, as it's typically reserved for more expensive models, like the Apple AirPods Pro and Sony WF-1000XM3. The noise cancellation can be toggled on and off. 

The earbuds are rated for eight hours of continuous playback without ANC or 6.5 hours with ANC. The included wireless charging case offers up to 29 hours of battery life, and a five-minute charge in the case can provide up to an hour of playback time. 

steven cohen author photo
Steven Cohen
Senior Tech Editor
Steven is a home entertainment product expert with over a decade worth of service journalism experience. He oversees coverage around home entertainment products, including TVs, streaming devices, headphones, and soundbars.ExperienceSteven is a Senior Tech Editor for Business Insider’s Reviews team. He is responsible for developing buying guides, reviews, and deals coverage for all of the latest TV, video, and audio products. Steven works with a team of experienced freelancers to establish testing methodologies, test products, and select the best of the best for our buying guides. He also has a background in film criticism, having reviewed over 400 movies and TV shows. Steven studied filmmaking and uses his knowledge of video and audio production workflows to help inform his testing parameters when reviewing home entertainment devices.  Before joining Business Insider in 2019, he was High-Def Digest's Gear Editor. His work has appeared on Ben's Bargains, Steve's Digicams, Big Picture Big Sound, and Consequence. Why you can trust StevenSteven is not only passionate about TVs, he is also one of the industry’s foremost experts in display quality. In 2019, he was one of a select number of journalists invited to get a hands-on first look at LG's debut 8K OLED TV. He was also among the earliest journalists to demo Dolby Atmos and DTS:X technologies for home theaters in 2014 and 2015, respectively.In 2018, Steven served as a judge for TV Shootout, the premier annual display competition that crowns the best TVs of the year. He also attends yearly industry launches and reviewer workshops for new TVs and audio products from top brands, like LG, Samsung, Sony, and Sonos.Steven knows that it’s easy to get overwhelmed by tech jargon and premium prices on high-end gear, which is why he is passionate about recommending quality options for all price ranges and explaining which features are really worth the money. ExpertiseHis expertise includes:
  • Televisions
  • Soundbars
  • Speakers
  • Streaming devices
  • Headphones
  • HDR video formats
  • Spatial audio technologies
EducationSteven holds a bachelor of fine arts degree from the University of Central Florida.Outside of workSteven lives in Orlando, Florida, with his girlfriend, their dog, and cats. When he’s not covering tech products, Steven loves to explore the theme parks of Orlando and watch movies on his dream home theater setup, complete with the biggest Dolby Atmos speaker system he could fit in an apartment.Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here.Learn more about how we test tech and electronics.

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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at [email protected].

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