Samsung's Galaxy S21 phones are some of the best Android devices to date, available in three models (regular, Plus, and Ultra), and starting at only $800. The recent Galaxy S21 deals have even brought the phones down by $200, and you can expect more discounts in the coming months. No matter how much you pay for any of the phones, there aren't many downsides, except that the headphone jack is long gone.
Samsung's flagship series lost the beloved 3.5mm jack with last year's S20 series, and it hasn't made a return on the S21 lineup. That means if you don't want to deal with an adapter, and if you don't have a pair of wired USB Type-C headphones, you'll need a pair of wireless earbuds to enjoy music. Even if you have wired headphones, true wireless earbuds might be a worthwhile upgrade.
In this guide, we'll look at some of the best wireless earbuds for the Galaxy S21 series. If you haven't already purchased a case for your new phone, have a look at our roundup of the best Galaxy S21 cases as well.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro
By most accounts, the best pair of earbuds for the Galaxy S21 series is Samsung's own Galaxy Buds Pro. Not only do the earbuds sound great, but they also support Active Noise Cancelling (ANC), and their internal batteries last around five hours. When it's time to charge them up, you can use a USB Type-C cable or a Qi wireless charging pad.
Specification |
Galaxy Buds Pro |
---|---|
Battery life |
Around 5 hours, 18 hours with the case |
Charging |
USB Type-C, Qi wireless |
Codecs |
Scalable (Samsung proprietary), AAC, SBC |
Water resistance |
IPX7 |
Colors |
Phantom Violet, Phantom Silver, Phantom Black |
The Galaxy Buds Pro have a few extra features when paired with Samsung devices. The buds support Samsung's proprietary Scalable audio codec, which "prevents audio chopping by changing the bit-rate according to the strength of the Bluetooth connection" according to Samsung. You can also charge the earbuds' case wirelessly on the back of any recent Galaxy S or Note phone, though that also works for any Qi-compatible earbuds.
The most noticeable downside to the Galaxy Buds Pro is that the touch controls are a bit finicky — it's easy to accidentally pause music or skip to the next track by adjusting the buds in your ear. You can turn the touch controls off completely (as well as change other options) if you want. The buds also use Samsung's Bixby voice assistant when paired to a Galaxy phone, but it's easy to switch the buds to Google Assistant.
If you're curious about our full thoughts, check out our Galaxy Buds Pro review for all the nitty-gritty details.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro
These are the ultimate earbuds for the Galaxy S21, complete with ANC and support for Samsung's Scalable audio codec. However, at an MSRP of $200, they are on the expensive side.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2
This is yet another product from the house of Samsung itself which means you're going to get the best compatibility with the Galaxy S21 series. Generally, Samsung's earbuds work the best with Samsung smartphones since all the required apps and services come pre-installed with One UI.
Specification |
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 |
---|---|
Battery life |
5 hours (20 hours w/ charging case) |
Charging |
USB-C, Qi Wireless |
Codecs |
Scalable (Samsung proprietary), AAC, SBC |
Water resistance |
IPX2 |
Colors |
White, Olive, Graphite, Lavender |
The Galaxy Buds 2 replace the Galaxy Buds+ which were easily one of the best pairs of TWS earphones on a budget. There are some much-needed improvements on these earbuds like ANC which make them all the more enticing, compared to the last-gen Buds+. The sound quality is very close to what you get from the Galaxy Buds Pro which is the top pick in this list and are among the best pairs of wireless earbuds you can get.
The Galaxy Buds 2 have an IPX2 rating and come with three microphones to allow for clear audio even while taking calls. Samsung has also put in place some machine learning algorithms to help cut down on ambient noise by up to 98%. The only downside to these earbuds is that you don’t get in-ear detection, so if you remove the earbuds from your ears while you’re playing music, the track won’t pause by itself. If you’re okay with that, then the Galaxy Buds 2 are a great option.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2
The Galaxy Buds 2 have all the core features that you would expect from a premium pair of TWS earbuds but at a reasonable price making them an ideal option for most people.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Live
If you're usually not a fan of in-ear earbuds (like me), or the Galaxy Buds Pro are just too expensive, the Galaxy Buds Live might be for you. The buds' unique shape has earned them the nickname 'Galaxy Beans,' but they fit well in most people's ears and have most of the features found on the Buds Pro.
Specification |
Galaxy Buds Live |
---|---|
Battery life |
Around 6 hours, 20 hours with the case |
Charging |
USB Type-C, Qi wireless |
Codecs |
Scalable (Samsung proprietary), AAC, SBC |
Water resistance |
IPX2 |
Colors |
Mystic Bronze, Mystic White, Mystic Black |
Just like the Galaxy Buds Pro, the Buds Live can be charged over USB Type-C or Qi wireless, and there's support for Samsung's special Scalable audio codec when paired to a Galaxy device. The earbuds also have limited water resistance but don't go swimming with them. The controls and audio are customizable with the Samsung Wearable app.
The main drawback here is the Active Noise Cancellation. While the earbuds technically have ANC, you need an in-ear design for proper noise isolation, so ANC has little effect when turned on. If blocking the outside world is an essential feature, go for the Buds Pro or below-mentioned Sony earbuds instead. Check out our review of the Galaxy Buds Live for our full thoughts.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Live
The Galaxy Buds Live is a great cheaper alternative to the Buds Pro, with most of the same software features and a unique design. However, the ANC doesn't work well.
Sony WF-1000XM4
The Sony WF-1000XM4 replace their predecessor - the WF-1000XM3 - in this list, which are a great pair of earbuds. Sony’s new earbuds are smaller than their predecessor and come with IPX4 water resistance. Moreover, you’ll get amazing active noise cancellation (ANC), like the WF-1000XM3 on the buds, and superb audio quality.
Specification |
Sony WF-1000XM4 |
---|---|
Battery life |
Around 8 hours, 24 hours with the case |
Charging |
USB Type-C, Qi wireless |
Codecs |
AAC, SBC, LDAC |
Water resistance |
IPX4 |
Colors |
Black, Silver |
The Sony earbuds can last up to 8 hours, and come with Fast Pair support. So these earbuds will pair seamlessly with your Galaxy S21 series phone. You can charge the Sony WF-1000XM4 using a Type-C cable or wirelessly.
Sony WF-1000XM4
Sony's WF-1000XM4 are arguably the best wireless earbuds for ANC on the market.
OnePlus Buds Pro
The OnePlus Buds Pro are one of the most impressive pairs of TWS earbuds that you can buy. Initially, OnePlus didn't really get its audio products right, especially in the TWS category. However, they bounced back strongly with the OnePlus Buds Pro which are among our favorite pairs of TWS to launch in 2021.
Specification |
OnePlus Buds Pro |
---|---|
Battery life |
5 hours (23 hours w/ charging case) |
Charging |
USB Type-C, Qi wireless |
Codecs |
LHDC, AAC, SBC |
Water resistance |
IP55 |
Colors |
Black, White |
The original OnePlus Buds weren't the best-sounding earphones in the market. The Buds Z that were launched later surely improved on them while reducing the cost but still lacked some important features like ANC. The OnePlus Buds Pro fixes all of those shortcomings. The Buds Pro is one of the best TWS earphones that you can buy under the price of ₹10,000. The audio quality on these earbuds is great with a sound signature that leans towards a slightly bass-heavy side.
If you're looking for a pair of earphones that sound fun and appeal to probably everyone who tries them, this is a good pair to consider. It also has all the important features you expect like in-ear detection, ANC, touch controls, etc. They work best when paired with a OnePlus phone, but you can use them with just about any Android or iOS device by installing an app. You can read more about it in our OnePlus Buds Pro review before you decide whether or not to buy them.
OnePlus Buds Pro
The OnePlus Buds Pro are one of the best pairs of TWS earphones at this price point and come with good sound quality, ANC, and some smart features.
Google Pixel Buds A-Series
If you don’t want to spend too much on your new wireless earbuds, the Google Pixel Buds A-Series are a great option. The earbuds can last up to five hours on a single charge, and can be charged using the Type-C port. There is no wireless charging support or active noise cancellation on the Pixel Buds A-Series.
Specification |
Google Pixel Buds A-Series |
---|---|
Battery life |
Around 5 hours, 24 hours with the case |
Charging |
USB Type-C |
Codecs |
AAC, SBC |
Water resistance |
IPX4 |
Colors |
Clearly White, Dark Olive |
But the Google earbuds provide good sound quality, and seamless pairing experience with Android devices, including the Galaxy S21 series. Also, given these are Google buds, you get Google Assistant integration. Lastly, there is IPX4 water-resistance as well.
Google Pixel Buds A
Google Pixel Buds A-Series are a toned-down version of the Pixel Buds. These are a great budget option for wireless earbuds.
Nothing ear (1)
Nothing started off just this year as a brand making smartphone accessories. Its first product is a pair of truly wireless earbuds called the Nothing ear (1). It's one of the best pairs of TWS earphones that you can buy on a budget and should be a good fit for most people. If you don't want any of the Samsung earbuds listed above, you should consider these.
Specification |
Nothing ear (1) |
---|---|
Battery life |
4 hours (28 hours w/ charging case) |
Charging |
USB Type-C, Qi Wireless |
Codecs |
AAC, SBC |
Water resistance |
IPX4 |
Colors |
White, Black |
The Nothing ear (1) is the latest entrant into the Indian TWS market under the ₹6k mark and is definitely a great pick for anyone looking for a pair of TWS earphones that gets most things right. It sounds great, it has ANC that's effective, it's got a clear, unique design that makes it stand out in a crowd of similar-looking earbuds, and it has all the important features you would look for on a pair of TWS earbuds.
The ear (1) app has also been made well and can be used to customize touch controls on the earbuds. You get in-ear detection, two levels of ANC, a transparency mode, and the ability to find the earbuds in case you misplace them. There's also wireless charging on the case which is a bonus.
There are a few shortcomings of course, like average battery life and a slightly bulky case design, but the sound quality and feature set makes up for it. If you're looking for a pair of TWS earphones that gets the basics right, this should be your pick.
Nothing Ear 1
The Nothing ear (1) are a pair of TWS earbuds that will make most people happy with their sound signature and is, therefore, a good option that gets the basics right.
Mobvoi TicPods 2 Pro+
If you want AirPods-style earbuds that work better with Android devices, including the Galaxy S21 series, the Mobvoi TicPods 2 Pro+ are one of the best options. They have a design similar to AirPods, but the case charges with USB Type-C, and all features are available on both Android and iOS.
Specification |
Mobvoi TicPods 2 Pro+ |
---|---|
Battery life |
Around 4 hours, 204 hours with the case |
Charging |
USB Type-C |
Codecs |
Qualcomm aptX, AAC, SBC |
Water resistance |
None |
Colors |
Ice, Navy |
The TicPods are the only earbuds on this list that support Qualcomm's aptX audio codec, which means you'll get excellent wireless performance on any Android device using a Qualcomm chipset (including the Galaxy S21). They might be the best choice if you're swapping between several different phones and tablets if most of them have Qualcomm hardware. However, the earbuds don't have ANC or wireless charging.
TicPods 2 Pro+
These earbuds closely match the design of Apple's AirPods, but can charge over USB Type-C and support Qualcomm's aptX audio codec.
These are the best wireless earbuds for Samsung Galaxy S21 series phones on the market. If you're looking for more options that go beyond targeting the Galaxy S21 series, you can check out our curated list of best true wireless earbuds for all phones.