Earbuds · Model guide · Maker specs
Samsung Galaxy Buds2
Get Galaxy Buds2 if you find a pair cheap for a Galaxy phone: they're small, light noise-cancelling earbuds with two-way speakers, but only splash-resistant.
Product images
Samsung Galaxy Buds2, from its Amazon listing.
Credit: Amazon.com (Associates Program). Amazon listing
Product image from the Amazon listing.
In short
Get Galaxy Buds2 if you find a pair cheap for a Galaxy phone: they're small, light noise-cancelling earbuds with two-way speakers, but only splash-resistant. Each bud weighs 5.0 grams and, by Samsung's count, runs 5 hours per charge with noise cancelling on, or 20 with the case. Skip them for an iPhone or for sweaty training, where the IPX7-rated Buds Pro and Buds2 Pro hold up better.
Who it is for
- People who find most earbuds heavy or bulky. Samsung called Buds2 its smallest and lightest Galaxy Buds when they launched, and each bud weighs 5.0 g.
- Commuters who want quiet on the train and awareness on the street. Samsung says the noise cancelling removes up to 98% of background noise, and Ambient Sound has three levels.
- Galaxy households. Auto Switch moves Buds2 between your Galaxy devices, tablets and a Galaxy Watch4 included, and Bixby is supported.
Who should skip it
- Anyone on an iPhone. Buds2's requirements stop at Android: 7.0 or later, with 1.5 GB of RAM or more.
- Gym regulars and runners who sweat. IPX2 covers dripping water at up to a 15° tilt, not submersion.
- Anyone who wants Samsung's newer models. Buds2 Pro, Buds3 and Buds3 Pro all came after it.
What sets it apart
- 5.0 g per bud and a 41.2 g case, with buds measuring 20.9 × 17.0 × 21.1 mm.
- Noise cancelling that's on by default and, by Samsung's UL-verified claim, cuts up to 98% of background noise.
- Dynamic two-way speakers in each bud.
- Bluetooth 5.2, a step up from the original Galaxy Buds Pro's 5.0.
Caveats
- Samsung's battery ratings assume noise cancelling is on: 5 hours per charge, or 20 with the case. It gives no figures with it off.
- Keep the case out of the rain: unlike the buds, it has no water rating.
Key specs
In the same order on every earbuds page, so you can compare pairs.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | Sealed in-ear bean, no stem, with a curved shell | Samsung Global Newsroom, 2021-08-11; Samsung India product page |
| Fit and tips | Ear tips in S, M and L; earbud fit test in Galaxy Wearable | Samsung India SM-R177 specs and product page |
| Drivers | Dynamic two-way speakers; driver sizes not published | Samsung Global Newsroom, 2021-08-11 |
| Noise cancelling | Yes, on by default; Samsung says it cuts up to 98% of background noise, verified by UL (footnote 3) | Samsung India SM-R177 product page |
| Ambient sound | Ambient Sound with three levels | Samsung India SM-R177 specs and product page |
| Spatial / 360 audio | 360 Audio not listed for Buds2 | Samsung India SM-R177 specs |
| Hearing features | None listed | Samsung India SM-R177 specs |
| Battery, buds | Music: up to 5 hours with ANC on (Samsung India's spec lists 5 hours of use). Calls: up to 3.5 hours. 61 mAh typical | Samsung India SM-R177 specs and footnotesSamsung tested with default settings and ANC on, paired with a Galaxy phone. |
| Battery, with case | Up to 20 hours with ANC on (footnote 6); case 472 mAh typical | Samsung India SM-R177 product page and specs |
| Charging | USB cable in the box; Samsung India mentions a 5-minute quick charge but gives no playback figure for it | Samsung India SM-R177 specs |
| Wireless charging | Not in Samsung India's specs; Samsung Canada describes charging Buds2 wirelessly on compatible phones, without naming Qi | Samsung India SM-R177 specs; Samsung Canada Buds2 vs Buds+ article |
| Water and dust, buds | IPX2: dripping water at up to a 15° tilt, not submersion (Buds Pro and Buds2 Pro are IPX7) | Samsung Canada — Differences between Galaxy Buds+ and Galaxy Buds2 |
| Water and dust, case | No rating; assume the case isn't water-resistant | Samsung India SM-R177 specs |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2; A2DP, AVRCP, HFP | Samsung India SM-R177 specs |
| Microphones and calls | 6 mics | Samsung India SM-R177 specs |
| Controls | Touch; hold for noise cancelling, remappable in Galaxy Wearable (footnote 3) | Samsung India SM-R177 specs and footnotes |
| Device switching | Auto Switch between Galaxy devices, including tablets and the Galaxy Watch4; no general Bluetooth multipoint listed | Samsung India SM-R177 product page |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, Hall, proximity, touch, voice pickup unit (VPU) | Samsung India SM-R177 specs |
| Weight, one bud | 5.0 g | Samsung India SM-R177 specs |
| Weight, case | 41.2 g | Samsung India SM-R177 specs |
| Size, one bud | 20.9 × 17.0 × 21.1 mm (height × width × depth) | Samsung India SM-R177 specs |
| Size, case | 27.8 × 50.0 × 50.2 mm (height × width × depth) | Samsung India SM-R177 specs |
| Colors | Graphite, White, Olive, Lavender | Samsung Global Newsroom, 2021-08-11 |
| Phone compatibility | Android 7.0 or later with 1.5 GB of RAM or more; Bixby Connection supported | Samsung India SM-R177 specs |
| App and updates | Galaxy Wearable; firmware updates through the app | Samsung India SM-R177 product page |
| Price band | Midrange ($100–$200 US class) | Based on its place below the $199.99 Galaxy Buds Pro |
| Announced | 11 August 2021, at Galaxy Unpacked | Samsung Global Newsroom, 2021-08-11 |
| Availability | Previous model | Samsung Galaxy Buds lineup |
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 extras
Specs only this model has.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| IPX2 rating | IPX2 is a dripping-water test, not submersion (Samsung Canada); the original Buds Pro is rated IPX7 | Samsung Canada Buds2 vs Buds+ article |
| Model number | SM-R177 | Samsung India SM-R177 |
| Battery capacity | 61 mAh per bud and 472 mAh case (typical) | Samsung India SM-R177 specs |
| In the box | Charging case, earbuds, ear tips (S, M, L), Quick Start Guide, USB cable | Samsung India SM-R177 specs |
Small, light and two-way
Buds2 is a stemless bean with a curved shell, and it’s small: each bud weighs 5.0 grams and measures 20.9 by 17.0 by 21.1 millimeters, and the case weighs 41.2 grams. S, M and L tips come in the box, and Galaxy Wearable has an earbud fit test to help you choose. Inside each bud, Samsung fitted dynamic two-way speakers.
Noise cancelling and Ambient Sound
Noise cancelling is on by default, and Samsung says it removes up to 98% of background noise, a claim verified by UL. Touch and hold a bud to switch modes; Galaxy Wearable lets you remap that. Ambient Sound has three levels, for hearing announcements or traffic without taking the buds out.
Battery and charging
| Mode | Buds | With case |
|---|---|---|
| Music, noise cancelling on | Up to 5 hours | Up to 20 hours |
| Calls | Up to 3.5 hours | Not published |
| Capacity (typical) | 61 mAh | 472 mAh |
Samsung tested with default settings and noise cancelling on, paired with a Galaxy phone. Samsung India mentions a 5-minute quick charge without saying how much listening it buys.
A USB cable comes in the box. Samsung Canada describes charging Buds2 wirelessly on compatible phones, but Samsung doesn’t call the case Qi-certified.
Galaxy extras and calls
Auto Switch, which works only between Galaxy devices, moves the buds from your phone to a Galaxy tablet or a Galaxy Watch4. Bixby is supported, and Galaxy Wearable handles the fit test, the controls and firmware updates.
For calls, Buds2 has six mics and a voice pickup unit. It connects over Bluetooth 5.2.
Where Buds2 sits in Samsung’s lineup
Buds2 was Samsung’s 2021 mid-range pair, below the $199.99 Galaxy Buds Pro. That Pro adds IPX7 buds but has older Bluetooth 5.0. Galaxy Buds2 Pro followed in 2022, also IPX7, with a 5.5 g bud. Galaxy Buds3 and Galaxy Buds3 Pro came later still, so Buds2 only makes sense at a clear discount.
Price and colors
Samsung announced Buds2 at Galaxy Unpacked on 11 August 2021 in Graphite, White, Olive and Lavender. Its launch announcement and Samsung India’s page don’t give a US price, so check what a pair sells for today before you buy.
Sources
- Amazon product listing — accessed 2026-09-20
- Samsung Global Newsroom — Galaxy Buds2 infographic (11 August 2021) — accessed 2026-09-19
- Samsung India — Galaxy Buds2 SM-R177 specifications — accessed 2026-09-19
- Samsung Canada — Galaxy Buds2 vs Galaxy Buds+ (IPX2) — accessed 2026-09-19
Frequently asked questions
Are Galaxy Buds2 rated IPX7 like Galaxy Buds Pro?
No. Buds2 is rated IPX2, which Samsung Canada describes as a dripping-water test, not submersion. The original Buds Pro and Buds2 Pro are the IPX7 pairs.
Should I get Galaxy Buds2 or Galaxy Buds2 Pro?
Buds2 Pro if you want IPX7 water resistance; Buds2 if you'd rather have the lighter bud, at 5.0 g against 5.5 g. Buds2 came out in 2021 and Buds2 Pro in 2022.
How much noise does Galaxy Buds2 block?
Up to 98% of background noise, Samsung says, in a claim verified by UL. It doesn't give a decibel figure, and noise cancelling is on by default.
Will Galaxy Buds2 switch between my Galaxy phone and Galaxy Watch4?
Yes. Samsung India lists Auto Switch between Galaxy devices, with footnotes covering tablets and the Galaxy Watch4.
Official product page: Samsung Galaxy Buds2. Tech specs: Samsung Galaxy Buds2 specs.