- Impressive ANC for the price
- Clear and balanced sound quality
- Lightweight and comfortable fit
- Solid call performance
- IP54 water and dust resistance
- Limited app features on non-Samsung phones
- No wireless charging
- Glossy case attracts scratches easily
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Core deliver surprisingly solid performance for their low price. With decent ANC, balanced audio, and comfortable design, they punch well above their $50 tag. Some smart features are limited to Samsung phones, but overall, these budget buds prove that good sound doesn’t have to cost much.
Samsung quietly launched the Galaxy Buds Core, and almost no one noticed. No flashy launch, no celebrity marketing — just a simple $50 pair of true wireless earbuds quietly sitting on store shelves.
After testing them for a few weeks, I can confidently say they’re one of the best-kept secrets in budget audio right now.
Here’s why these low-cost buds deserve way more attention than they’re getting.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Core – Specifications
| Driver | 6.55 mm dynamic driver |
| Audio codecs | AAC, SBC, Scalable Codec (SSC) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Microphones | 6 (total, with noise reduction) |
| Active Noise Cancellation | Yes |
| Ambient / Transparency | Yes |
| Battery (earbuds) | 65 mAh (typical) |
| Battery (case) | 500 mAh (typical) |
| Playtime (ANC on) | Up to ~20 hours (with case) |
| Playtime (ANC off) | Up to ~35 hours (with case) |
| Charging | USB-C (no wireless charging) |
| Durability | IP54 (dust & splash resistant) |
| Weight | Earbud: 5.3 g · Case: ~31.2 g |
| Sensors | Hall sensor, proximity sensor, touch sensor |
Unboxing & First Impressions
The Galaxy Buds Core come in classic Samsung-style minimalist packaging. Inside, you’ll find:
- The earbuds and charging case
- Multiple ear tips (small, medium, large)
- Wing tips for a more secure fit
- User manual
Notably, no charging cable is included in the box, which feels stingy but somewhat expected at this price point. The good news? Any regular USB-C charger (10W–15W) works just fine.
Design & Comfort
When I first opened the tiny glossy black case, it immediately gave off a clean and modern vibe. It’s compact, fits easily in the pocket, and has a subtle Samsung logo on the front with a small LED indicator light.
On the back sits a USB-C charging port, and the magnetic lid has a reassuring snap. The plastic quality is decent — not premium like the Buds 3 Pro, but definitely not cheap either.
The Buds Core follow an in-ear design, not the stem-style you see on AirPods or the Galaxy Buds FE. They’re small, lightweight, and nestle securely in your ear canal.
During my tests — workouts, jogging, even some light rain — they never fell out. That IP54 water and dust resistance definitely adds peace of mind.
Fit-wise, they reminded me of older Samsung and boAt earbuds — small, rounded, and simple. Despite the low price, comfort is excellent, and I could wear them for hours without ear fatigue.
Features & Compatibility
I wasn’t expecting Samsung to include so many features at this price point.
- Bluetooth 5.4
- 6.55mm dynamic drivers
- Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
- Transparency (Ambient Sound) mode
- Touch controls (single, double, triple tap, and long press)
- AI Interpreter & live translation (Samsung-only)
- Low-latency gaming mode (Samsung-only)
- In-ear detection (for calls only)
- Battery life up to 7 hours (without ANC)
However — and this is crucial — some features only work with Samsung phones.
For example, the Galaxy Wearable app is where you get EQ modes, ANC toggle, transparency adjustment, and firmware updates. The app works fully on Samsung phones but partially on other Androids (like OnePlus, Realme, etc.). On iPhones, it doesn’t work at all.
So, if you’re an iPhone user, you’ll miss out on customization and some smart features. But on a Galaxy phone? It’s a surprisingly rich experience.
App Experience
Connecting the Buds Core to my Galaxy S23 Ultra was instant — open the case, and they show up automatically with battery levels for both the buds and the case.
Inside the Galaxy Wearable app, you get:
- ANC and Transparency toggle
- EQ presets (Balanced, Bass Boost, Dynamic, Clear, Treble Boost)
- Fit test for ear tips
- Ambient sound during calls toggle
- Read notifications aloud
- Accessibility options like left-right audio balance
- Diagnostics and firmware updates
One limitation: no custom touch control mapping. You can only enable/disable them — not reassign actions.
Still, for budget buds, this is a surprisingly complete setup.
Audio Performance
Let’s talk sound. The Buds Core house 6.55mm dynamic drivers with SBC and AAC codec support. No fancy LDAC or LHDC, but for this price, the tuning impressed me.
Sound Quality:
The sound signature is balanced, leaning slightly toward clarity and vocals. Trebles are crisp, mids are natural, and the bass — while not earth-shaking — is tight and controlled.
There’s zero sound leakage, even at full volume. You can blast your playlist in a quiet room and nobody around will hear it.
Bass:
Not for bassheads, but the low-end has decent punch without muddying vocals. If you like deep, clean bass instead of heavy thump, you’ll appreciate it.
Vocals & Instrument Separation:
Vocals are crystal clear, and instrument separation is surprisingly detailed for this price range. Listening to acoustic or live tracks felt almost premium.
Switching between EQ modes in the app also makes a noticeable difference — the Dynamic and Bass Boost modes are my personal favorites.
ANC & Transparency Mode
I went in with low expectations, but the ANC blew me away — especially indoors. It cancels around 80–85% of background noise in quiet environments. Even in traffic, the noise suppression is impressive.
The Transparency mode also feels natural. You can clearly hear voices and announcements without distortion or robotic tones. It doesn’t amplify background noise excessively, which I really appreciate.
Call Quality
Each bud packs three microphones, and Samsung’s tuning clearly pays off here.
In my HD call tests, even in outdoor conditions with vehicles passing by, the person on the other end heard my voice clearly with minimal background noise. Indoors, it’s almost perfect.
Gaming & Latency
While Gaming Mode appears only on Samsung phones, I tested the Buds Core on a OnePlus device, and latency still hovered around 50–60ms, which is perfectly fine for casual gaming.
In COD Mobile, gunfire and footstep sounds synced well with visuals. So even without a dedicated mode, low-latency performance is respectable.
Battery Life & Charging
Samsung claims around 7 hours of playback per charge, which matches my testing with ANC off. With ANC on, expect around 5 hours.
The charging case adds roughly 3 full recharges, taking total playback to about 20–24 hours. No wireless charging support here, but USB-C charging is quick and efficient.
My Final Recommendation
After using the Galaxy Buds Core, I’m genuinely surprised by how balanced, capable, and refined they feel for the price.
If you’re a Samsung phone user, it’s a no-brainer — you get full features, great ANC, solid sound, and reliable call quality for a fraction of what Buds 3 or Buds 3 Pro cost.
For Android users, it’s still a strong value — though you’ll miss some features.
For iPhone users, I’d skip these.
My Ratings:
- Sound Quality: 9.5/10
- Bass Quality: 8.5/10
- Call Quality: 8.5/10
- Gaming Experience: 8.5/10
- ANC Performance: 9/10
At the end of the day, Samsung Galaxy Buds Core are the kind of earbuds that make you question — why isn’t anyone talking about them?
Because for their price, they absolutely deserve the spotlight.
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Nick, the Co-founder of Earbuds Arena, is a seasoned freelance tech journalist with over ten years of experience covering wearables, apps, headphones, and gadgets. When he’s not immersed in the tech world, you’ll likely find him unwinding with video games, going for a run, or enjoying a game of soccer on the field.
