Samsung Galaxy Buds R170

The Galaxy Buds R170 are cheap refurbished earbuds with a surprisingly good mic but weak sound and battery life. Our overall score is 48.1 out of 100, with battery at the 16th percentile and sound at the 29th. At USD 60 they're a decent gamble for Samsung users who take calls, but at USD 85 you should look at newer options.

The 16Ω dynamic driver tuned by AKG sounds fine for casual listening, but it's not a standout. Our sound score puts these at the 29th percentile, which means most modern earbuds in this category outclass them. Bass is present but not punchy, and the overall tuning feels dated compared to newer options. Battery life is the real weak spot: 6 hours from the buds and 7 more from the case puts them at the 16th percentile. The 15-minute quick charge giving 1.7 hours is nice, but it doesn't save the overall picture. The three-mic setup with noise cancellation for calls is genuinely good, landing at the 87th percentile, so if you take a lot of calls these punch above their weight. Connectivity is solid at the 70th percentile with BT 5.0, and comfort sits at 72nd, which is respectable. But IPX2 water resistance is basically splash-proof only, and the fitness score of 29.3 out of 100 tells you these aren't workout buds.

Against the Sony WF-C700N, the Galaxy Buds R170 lose on sound and battery but win on mic quality. The Soundcore P31i offers better value new with similar or better battery life. The EarFun Air Pro 4+ brings ANC and better water resistance for not much more. And the Technics EAH-AZ80 is in a completely different league on sound, though it costs significantly more. The Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Generation obviously outclass these in every way, but that's an unfair fight at this price point. The Galaxy Buds R170 only make sense if you specifically want Samsung integration and find them at the bottom of the price range.

At USD 60 to USD 85 depending on which Amazon listing you grab, these are cheap. The best deal in our data is the renewed Black version, which tends to sit at the lower end of that range. For USD 60, you're getting a competent pair of earbuds with a solid mic and wireless charging. But you're also rolling the dice on refurbished condition, and several buyers report one earbud dying after a few months. If you can find them closer to USD 60, it's a reasonable gamble. At USD 85, you're too close to better new options to justify the risk.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds R170 are the original Galaxy Buds, and in 2025 they're mostly showing up as refurbished units floating around Amazon. The pitch is simple: AKG-tuned sound, wireless charging case, and that seamless Samsung pairing experience. At USD 60 to USD 85 depending on the listing, they're cheap enough to be tempting.

But our database tells a different story. These sit at 48.1 out of 100 overall, which is rough. The sound quality lands in the 29th percentile, battery in the 16th, and build quality in the 34th. The only thing keeping them relevant is the mic, which hits the 87th percentile, and the fact that 36,806 Amazon reviews average 4.5 stars. That gap between our scores and the customer rating is worth digging into.

Skip these if you care about sound quality or battery life, because both are bottom-quartile in our database. Also skip if you need real water resistance for workouts, since IPX2 won't survive anything beyond a light splash. And if you're not comfortable with refurbished electronics, the condition lottery on these Amazon renewed units is a real risk. Anyone buying new earbuds in the USD 80 to USD 100 range has better options from Soundcore, EarFun, or Sony.

If you're a Samsung user who wants cheap earbuds for calls and casual listening, and you're okay with refurbished, the Galaxy Buds R170 at USD 60 are a defensible buy. The mic is genuinely good, the fit is comfortable for most ears, and the wireless charging case is a nice bonus. But if you care about sound quality, battery life, or durability, look elsewhere. These are aging hardware being sold mostly as renewed units, and the 17th percentile user sentiment score in our database reflects the mixed experiences buyers report.