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Our picks for Samsung loyalists

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We’re willing to bet that the headphones that came standard with your Samsung device aren’t all that great. Upgrade to one of these top picks instead.

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Your Samsung smartphone might offer plenty of great features and abilities, but the headphones you’ve received bundled with it aren’t that great. Instead, it’s a better idea to upgrade them and buy separate earphones or headphones that offer a far superior listening experience. Before you do so, it’s worth having a think about how you intend on using your headphones.

Are you planning on commuting with them regularly? Do you travel frequently? Do you love using Samsung’s S-Voice assistant? It’s important to have a comfortable pair that work for you. Read on to find out more about what to look for with headphones for your Samsung smartphone.  

Are Beats headphones compatible with Samsung?

Apple bought headphone manufacturer Beats back in 2014 so it might seem like you can’t use Beats headphones with your Samsung smartphone. That’s not the case. You can definitely still use your Beats headphones with a Samsung smartphone, although you’ll miss out on things like Quick Glance to see your battery life. Some Beats headphones even support Samsung’s S-Voice assistant.   

Should I go wired or wireless?

When buying headphones, you can choose between wired headphones, wireless, or even truly wireless. Wired means you plug them into your headphone jack with cables trailing up to your ears. This can be an issue if you’re moving around a lot and don’t want to get tangled. However, they tend to be cheaper than wireless solutions.

Wireless earphones are typically connected via Bluetooth but there’s often still a cable between the two earbuds. This might sound like a nuisance but it’s useful if you’re working out and don’t want to risk having an earbud drop out while you’re on the treadmill.

Truly wireless earphones are exactly as they sound: two earbuds and no cables anywhere. They’re typically the most expensive type and you need to get a pair that fit comfortably so they don’t fall out. They’re particularly perfect for when you’re running but even on a commute, it can be useful to not be disrupted by cables. 

Recent Samsung smartphones such as the Galaxy Note 10 don’t have a headphone jack, so be aware of this when ordering an older set of headphones that aren’t wireless. 

Can’t I just buy the cheapest pair?

It’s pretty easy to find headphones for very little money, but there’s a reason why they’re cheap. Typically, you get what you pay for and it’s important to research your purchase beforehand. You want to make sure you’re getting headphones that will last a long time, otherwise it’s false economy and a waste of cash. The more you spend, the more features you tend to get too, like active noise cancellation. 

If the sheer number of headphones options have you feeling overwhelmed, fret not dear reader — read on to see our top picks for the best headphones for Samsung devices.


Very simple to set up • Well-rounded sound • Comfortable fit

Only simple to setup with Samsung phones • Limited charging via case

Want the Samsung equivalent of AirPods? These Samsung Galaxy Buds are what you’re looking for. They’re super simple to use too.

1. Samsung Galaxy Buds

They’re great all-around headphones, especially if you don’t want to spend a while tweaking.

  • Colors:
    Black, White, Yellow, Silver
  • Battery life:
    6 hours (doubled when using carrying case)

The nearest thing that Samsung has to its own form of AirPods, the Samsung Galaxy Buds do a ton of things well, especially for Samsung smartphone users. Pairing is a simple and speedy matter of opening up the case and waiting for your phone to do the hard work for you. The rest of the experience is just as simple too, with easy-to-use touchpad controls on the earbuds, and useful bonuses like music that automatically pauses once you take both earbuds out of your ears. The sound quality is good for the price too, being well balanced and allowing for upscaling. They’re great all-around headphones, especially if you don’t want to spend a while tweaking.


Ambient sound detection • Long battery life • Fantastic noise cancellation

Large design • Touch controls won’t be for everyone

Traveling doesn’t have to be noisy when you’re using the Sony WH1000XM3 to block out all sounds as and when you need to.

2. Sony WH-1000XM3

These super smart noise cancelling headphones can detect ambient noise around you and adjust as needed.

  • Colors:
    Black, Silver
  • Battery life:
    30 hours (with active noise cancellation on)
The Sony WH1000XM3 are the best headphones out there for noise cancellation. Sure, there are plenty of options already out there but you can’t beat these for getting to the point. Much of that is thanks to their ability to be smart about it. They can detect the ambient sounds around you, automatically adjusting how much they block out to fit your situation. It’s a useful ability wherever you are but it’s extra useful if you’re traveling far, and potentially moving between different modes of transport. It saves you having to constantly tweak settings, and simply enjoy the music instead. 

Comfortable fit • Alexa and Google Assistant support • Great sound quality

For those times you want to sit back and relax listening to music, there’s the Bose QuietComfort 35 with their fantastic sound quality.

3. Bose QuietComfort 35

Besides offering a balanced audio experience, they have three levels of noise cancellation so you can block out the world.

  • Colors:
    Black, Silver, Rose Gold
  • Battery life:
    Up to 20 hours wireless, 40 hours wired

Simply put, the Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones sound fantastic. They’re a little bulky, which means they don’t entirely fit into your lifestyle when commuting, but when you just want to relax at home and listen to music via headphones, they’re near flawless. Besides offering a balanced audio experience, they have three levels of noise cancellation so you can block out the world. There’s also Alexa and Google Assistant support, which is great for those times when you don’t mind talking to yourself at home. A comfy and snug cushioned fit means you can wear them for hours with no discomfort, too.


Stylish • Good battery life • S-Voice support

Not the best sound quality

With fast battery charging, a stylish look, and useful features, the Beats Solo 3 are a good choice for those that want a bit of everything.

4. Beats Solo 3

You’ll get a bit of everything with these: fast battery charging, a stylish look, and useful features.

  • Colors:
    Black, Red, Club Navy, Club Red, Club White, Club Yellow, Rose Gold, Satin Gold, Satin Silver
  • Battery life:
    40 hours

The Beats Solo 3 look super stylish and are ideal for fashionistas. They’re also good if you want high quality active noise cancellation thanks to their ability to match with your surroundings. Elsewhere, we’re impressed by the Beats Solo 3’s S-Voice support. It’s Samsung’s dedicated voice assistant and it can be pretty useful when you want more information without having to type. A tap of the button is all that’s between you and using it. Also, a mere 5 minute charge can provide you with up to 3 hours of playback, which is sure to be convenient. 


Inexpensive • Good sound quality • Comfortable

If you don’t mind wires, you won’t find better sound quality at this price than the 1MORE Triple Driver in-ear headphones.

When you’re on a budget, you need to make a few sacrifices. Fortunately with the 1MORE Triple Driver in-ear headphones, the only sacrifice you need to make is to stick with wired headphones over Bluetooth connectivity. Other than that, these are impressively high quality for the price. The audio quality is fantastic thanks to the use of two balanced armatures and a separate dynamic driver, and they’re very comfortable to wear with a choice of nine different sets of ear tips. Just make sure you have a Samsung phone with a headphone jack. Newer phones like the Note 10 don’t, but then if you can afford that, you should be able to afford wireless earphones. 


Amazing battery life • Super X-Fi audio technology • Sweatproof

Not the smallest of earbuds

With a very impressive battery life, and some great sound quality, the Creative Outlier Golds are great for active users.

6. Creative Outlier Gold

Great for active people thanks to sweatproofing capabilities and an impressive 14-hour battery life.

  • Colors:
    Gold, Black
  • Battery life:
    14 hours

When out running, you want to enjoy punchy sound and that’s what the Creative Outlier Gold offers extensively. That’s in part to its Super X-Fi technology that provides you with personalized sound by mapping your head beforehand. In our experience, it works a little more effectively via the Android app rather than the iOS app, making it a perfect choice for Samsung owners. Sound quality is notably improved once mapped correctly, plus there are other benefits like smart assistant support, sweatproofing, and that impressive 14 hour battery life. Just bear in mind they’re a little bulkier to wear than some other earbuds. 


Wrap around design • Foldable • Decent battery life

Ugly looking • Not the best sound quality

If you’re in need of a comfy fit that won’t slip while you lift, the Samsung U Flex are the best option, even if they don’t look great.

7. Samsung U Flex

Thanks to a magnetic design, they easily snap and fold together so they’ll store well.

  • Colors:
    Black, Blue, White
  • Battery life:
    8 hours

With a wraparound neckband, the Samsung U Flex headphones are perfect for when you’re working out and don’t want your earbuds slipping out or wires getting in the way. Thanks to a magnetic design, they easily snap and fold together so it’s easy to store the Samsung U Flex in your gym bag. There’s a companion app that only really works well with Samsung smartphones, so you’ll need to stay brand loyal. The app allows you to tweak the equalizer so while your music won’t sound quite as good as with a more expensive pair, it’s not bad at all. 

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