Galaxy Buds Plus Guide

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus makes important improvements over the original Galaxy Buds. You get Spotify integration, greater battery life, Qi wireless charging functionality, and improved mic quality, all of which make these true wireless earphones a compelling buy.
A skeptical eye may roll at what appears to be an iterative upgrade from Samsung with the new Galaxy Buds Plus, but I’m here to tell you that this is worth its asking price. The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus may be nearly indistinguishable from the original Galaxy Buds, but don’t let that discourage you. Samsung makes a host of improvements to the Galaxy Buds Plus like extra-long battery life and better microphone quality.

With the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 and Galaxy Buds 2 Pro out now, you can snag this headset at a steep discount nowadays. We spent a week with the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus to learn everything you need to know before buying.

Editor’s note: this Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus review was updated on October 12, 2022, to address the earbuds’ discontinuation and the release of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro.

Samsung noted the Galaxy Buds’ wild success and took a calculated approach to the Buds Plus: this is virtually identical to last year’s model with most of the changes taking place under the housings.

The all-plastic build feels cheap, but has its benefits by keeping the earphones lightweight, comfortable, and lest we forget: affordable. One welcome change to the Galaxy Buds Plus has nothing to do with the earbuds’ design, but with the included accessories. Listeners get the pre-installed medium ear and wing tips along with three extra pairs varying in size. This is great news for all, as a solid fit rewards listeners with better audio quality.

Another under-the-hood change has to do with the dual-driver system; each earbud contains a dedicated woofer and tweeter. AKG tuned the frequency response which reproduces impressively clear audio for the price.

The Galaxy Buds Plus are the perfect AirPods alternative for Android users.
A glossy finish adorns the whimsical charging case and collects more fingerprints than the FBI. Despite the sleek exterior, it’s easy to grip and never slipped from my hands when opening. Lifting the lid reveals a rubberized strip with “L R” to indicate which earbud is which. At first, I thought this was a button that would share the remaining battery life for each earbud, but alas, it’s just a fancy label.

One of the most unique features of the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus is Spotify integration (Android only), something we’ve seen more recently from Skullcandy too. In order to directly access the popular streaming service from the earphones, you have to download the Galaxy Wearable app, which happens to be one of the better apps accompanying true wireless earphones. Just remap the tapping gesture on the earbuds to receive recommended songs.

There are other great functions from the Galaxy Wearable app, too, including ambient sound adjustments, find my earbuds (similar to Find My AirPods), software updates, EQ presets, and more. Gamers who enjoy beta testing things should consider giving Game Mode a shot for reduced latency. The Apple App Store now has Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Plus app available; however, the application does not support the original Galaxy Buds, which is ridiculous. You get all of the same features as the Android app provides, save for Spotify integration as of app version 1.1.2.001.

iPhone users can access general software features and updates for the Galaxy Buds Plus through the iOS Samsung Galaxy Buds app.

How do you connect the Galaxy Buds Plus?
If you have a Samsung Galaxy smartphone running Android 7.1.1 or later with the SmartThings app installed, then you’ll be met with a pop-up window when initially pairing the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus. Otherwise, you can pair the earbuds by removing them from the case, going into your phone’s Bluetooth menu, and selecting “Galaxy Buds+.”