Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Black SM-R177NZKAXAC Earbud Headphone/Headset Review
The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 offer fantastic noise cancellation in a super comfortable shell, but you pay for it with shockingly short battery life. We break down who should buy them and who should look elsewhere.
The 30-Second Version
Elite noise cancellation trapped in a mediocre package. The battery life is a deal-breaker for most people at this price.
Overview
The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 are a classic case of a one-trick pony, but it's a really, really good trick. If you're looking for supremely comfortable earbuds with excellent noise cancellation for under $250, these are a top contender. Just don't expect them to be an all-rounder, because the battery life is frankly disappointing for the price.
Performance
Looking at our database, the performance story is a tale of two extremes. The ANC and comfort scores are in the 96th percentile, which is genuinely impressive and matches what you'd expect from a premium pair. But then you see the battery life sitting in the 12th percentile, and the sound quality only in the 41st. They're great at making the world go quiet and staying in your ears, but they're not going to wow you with audio fidelity or last through a long workday.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Noise cancellation is top-tier and punches above its price. 96th
- Extremely comfortable fit, even for long listening sessions. 93th
- Solid microphone quality for calls. 69th
- Reliable Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity.
Cons
- Battery life is poor for the category. 5 hours with ANC on is just not enough. 23th
- Sound quality is merely average and lacks depth.
- The case and buds feel a bit cheap and plasticky.
- They are not built for fitness at all, scoring terribly in that area.
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Design
| Form Factor | In-Ear |
| Ear Tips | S, M, L |
| Weight | 0.0 kg / 0.0 lbs |
Audio
| Driver Type | Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Black SM-R177NZKAXAC Earbud Headphone/Headset |
| Codecs | Your ears never had it so good.Tune out noises. Tune in voices.Feels good while looking good.Bluetooth Version: Bluetooth v5.2 Bluetooth Profiles: A2DP, AVRCP, HFPCompatible Specification of Smartphone: Android 7.0 up , 1.5 GB upSensors: Accelerometer, Gyro Sensor, Hall Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Touch Sensor, VPUEarbud Dimension (HxWxD): 20.9 x 17.0 x 21.1 mm Case Dimension (HxWxD): 27.8 x 50.0 x 50.2 mmNumber of MIC: 6 Ambient Sound: YesBixby Connection: Yes |
Noise Control
| ANC | Yes |
| Transparency | Yes |
Connectivity
| Wireless | Yes |
| Wired Connector | Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Black SM-R177NZKAXAC Earbud H |
Earbud Battery
| Battery Life | 5 |
Case Battery
| Capacity | 61 |
Microphone
| Microphone | Yes |
Features
| App | Android |
Value & Pricing
At $224, the value proposition is shaky. You're paying for elite ANC and comfort, but you're accepting major compromises in battery and sound. If those two features are your absolute top priorities, maybe. Otherwise, there are better overall packages for the money.
Price History
vs Competition
This is where it gets interesting. The Sony WF-1000XM5 is the direct competitor, and for a similar price, it offers better sound, similar ANC, and significantly better battery life. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are another benchmark; they're often more expensive, but their ANC is legendary and their fit is more secure for active use. If you're on a tighter budget, the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC or Nothing Ear (a) offer 80% of the ANC performance for half the price, making the Buds2 a harder sell.
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Black SM-R177NZKAXAC Earbud Headphone/Headset | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Bose QuietComfort Ultra True Wireless | Technics EAH-AZ80 Technics EAH-AZ80 Noise-Canceling True Wireless | Sony WF-1000XM6 Sony - WF-1000XM6 Best Truly Wireless Noise | Jabra Evolve2 Jabra Evolve2 Buds USB-C MS Earbuds with USB-C | Apple AirPods Apple - AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation - |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | In-Ear | In-Ear | In-Ear | in-ear | In-Ear | in-ear |
| Driver Type | Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Black SM-R177NZKAXAC Earbud Headphone/Headset | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Wireless | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Battery Life Hours | 5 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 5 |
| Case Battery Hours | - | 18 | 16 | 12 | 25 | 25 |
| Water Resistance | - | IPX4 | IPX4 | IPX4 | IP57 | Water-Resistant |
| Multipoint | - | true | true | true | true | true |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Anc | Mic | Build | Sound | Battery | Comfort | Connectivity | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Black SM-R177NZKAXAC Earbud Headphone/Headset | 96.1 | 64 | 36.8 | 43 | 35.9 | 93.2 | 69.2 | 23.2 |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds QuietComfort Ultra True Wireless Noise-Canceling Earbuds 2nd Gen Compare | 96.1 | 87.8 | 91.2 | 99.2 | 69.6 | 93.2 | 98.5 | 93 |
| Technics EAH-AZ80 Noise-Canceling True Wireless In-Ear Compare | 82.6 | 99.9 | 91.2 | 98.4 | 69.6 | 93.2 | 98.5 | 93 |
| Sony WF-1000XM6 Best Truly Wireless Noise Cancelling Compare | 82.6 | 87.8 | 91.2 | 99.1 | 92.1 | 69.2 | 98.5 | 97.1 |
| Jabra Evolve2 Evolve2 Buds Compare | 82.6 | 98.9 | 99.3 | 88.3 | 94.6 | 93.2 | 97.2 | 98.1 |
| Apple AirPods Noise-Canceling Compare | 96.1 | 87.8 | 81.4 | 92.1 | 91.5 | 93.2 | 97.7 | 98.4 |
Common Questions
Q: Are these good for working out?
No, not at all. They scored a 32/100 for fitness in our tests. They aren't sweat-resistant enough and the fit isn't secure for high movement.
Q: How's the call quality?
It's actually pretty good. The mic is in the 85th percentile, so people will hear you clearly, even in a bit of wind or background noise.
Q: Should I buy these or the Sony XM5s?
Get the Sonys. For roughly the same price, you get better sound, similar ANC, and way better battery life. It's not a close call.
Who Should Skip This
If you need earbuds that last all day or have rich, dynamic sound, skip these. Go get the Sony WF-1000XM5 instead. If you're on a budget but still want great ANC, the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC is a much smarter buy.
Verdict
We can only recommend the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 with a big caveat. If you are deeply embedded in the Samsung ecosystem and your main use is commuting or working in noisy offices where comfort and ANC are king, they're a fine choice. For everyone else, the combination of short battery life and mediocre sound for the price makes it easy to point you toward a Sony, Bose, or even a budget Anker model that gives you more for your money.