Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2 are excellent wireless headphones: with active noise cancellation (ANC), wireless charging and sublime sound quality. However, Samsung has a problem: how to bring out this year’s Pro update.
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro answer that question with niche details like 24-bit 360-degree audio, features that sound good out of the box but are unlikely to get much use from mainstream users.
The Buds 2 Pro still have excellent audio quality and a comfortable fit – the latter in particular is much improved over the first-gen Pros – but for most people the regular Buds 2 will be the better buy.
These are the best wireless headphones available, in case you want to take a look at the best options on the market.
Design and build
- Compact and comfortable fit
- Responsive touch controls
- IPX7 water resistance
The Buds 2 Pro seem comfortably comparable to the rest of the Galaxy Buds line. Available in graphite, white or purple, these are a simple, rounded earbud with a matte plastic finish, a big improvement over the glossy material Samsung has used in most of its other headphones.
They are lightweight and compact and are designed to fit in the ear with a low profile. This makes them unobtrusive when you’re on the go and also avoids the risk of a headset falling off or snagging on a bag strap.
The downside to this compact design is that it’s nearly impossible to adjust without touching the touch controls, which cover the entire outer edge of each earbud. This has been the case with virtually all Galaxy Buds so far, and Samsung has yet to find a fix, but the result is that any attempt to adjust the setting ends up pausing the music or skipping a track. , and even just playing the violin with hair can do the same thing.
The good news is that, unlike previous Buds Pro, these fit quite comfortably. The Buds 2 Pro are lighter and slightly smaller than their predecessors, and of the three silicone ear tip options, I was able to find a fit that worked for me.
The free Galaxy Wearable app also includes a “fit test,” which uses the headset’s microphones to check for sound leaks and lets you know if you’re wearing the headset correctly or not. If you get them right the first time, the overly sensitive touch controls shouldn’t be a problem.
On the plus side, the Buds 2 Pro are IPX7 rated, which means good water resistance (but not dust). It’s not the most rugged thing around – the Jabra Elite 7 Pro are also dustproof, with IP57 – but it’s still the top of the range earphones. However, note that this is only for the headphones and the case is not splash proof.
As for the case, it takes the well-known square shape of Samsung. It’s slim, compact, and the magnetic hinge is secure, so there’s not much to complain about.
Specifications and sound
- Its warm and round
- Powerful ANC
- 24-bit audio, but with limitations
Thanks to the help of its in-house audio brand AKG, Samsung has never had a problem getting the Galaxy Buds to sound great, and the Buds 2 Pro are no exception.
Let’s start with the basic audio experience before moving on to the bells and whistles. These are the best sounding Galaxy Buds yet, with a warm and balanced sound profile to match just about anything I’ve thrown at it.
There’s enough bass for house or hip-hop, like Beyoncé’s new album, but without losing the clarity and openness in the high registers needed for more pop tracks like Carly Rae Jepsen’s Beach House.
Granted, it doesn’t offer the kind of wide, expansive soundstage that over-ear headphones do, but for the buds you can’t do much better.
The main new feature this year is the introduction of 24-bit audio support, a higher bit rate than the industry standard 16-bit. However, keep in mind that, at least for now, this only works with a compatible Samsung Galaxy phone running One UI 4 or later, and a 24-bit audio source is also required, that is- i.e. streaming, Tidal or Apple Music, but not Spotify.
Samsung’s 24-bit support is provided by its own Samsung Seamless Hi-Fi Codec (SSC), although AAC and SBC are supported there, although there is no aptX HD support, LDAC or LHDC.
I was skeptical, I didn’t expect a headset of this size to take advantage of the extra resolution and detail. Switching from my usual Spotify to the hi-res streaming service Qobuz, I have to admit I was surprised: there’s a distinct difference in detail and depth, a level of clarity that 16-bit sources lack.
It’s subtle though, and I suspect most people won’t find enough of a difference to make the extra cost worth it. Audiophiles who already own a Samsung phone should see some benefits, but the improvement in audio isn’t enough to justify most people getting new headphones, a new phone, and changing their streaming service.
The headset’s 360 audio, which creates a virtual surround soundstage, is less hassle because it supports Dolby Atmos content.
The default settings sound good, adding depth and a sense of space to tracks, although for music you’ll probably want to turn off the optional head tracking feature, which mutes music in and out of each ear when you move your head, which is fine when watching a movie, but distracting when you just turn your head on the bus and your songs move.
Of course, like any high-end earphone today, the Buds 2 Pro also include ANC. It’s also great because it blocks out most outside noise as long as it fits well.
Samsung calls it “Intelligent ANC”, but it’s the same thing Sony calls “talk to chat”. This means that if the headphones detect that you’re talking – using a combination of microphones and jaw movement sensors – they automatically switch to transparent ambient mode, amplifying outside noise and lowering the volume of music so you can maintain a conversation comfortably.
This handy feature somewhat compensates for the fact that Samsung’s implementation of in-ear sensing is still odd. While most equivalent earbuds pause music when you remove one earbud, these only pause when you remove both, requiring a manual touch to resume playback once you put them back on. square.
Some will prefer that of course, but I wish there was an option to pause the playback when I take one of the headphones off, which is always my instinct when I need to talk to someone a.
battery and charging
- 4 to 5 hours of autonomy with the helmet
- Up to 18 hours with case
- Wireless or USB-C charging
Battery life is probably the big weak point of the Buds 2 Pro. It’s not bad, but it’s certainly not great, and rival buds do much better.
Samsung promises five hours of ANC-enabled listening, but I found it lasted just over four hours before packing up. It’s not enough to last an entire day or a long flight on a single charge, which will be limiting for some.
Of course, the battery life is longer when the case is included, which together with the headphones should provide up to 18 hours of battery life. That’s respectable, but some headphones offer 40 hours or more, and personally I’d accept a slightly larger charging case in exchange for a better battery.
However, charging is decent, as it has USB-C and wireless charging.
Connectivity and smart features
- Latest Bluetooth standard
- Personalization in the Galaxy Wearable app
- Limited iOS compatibility
The Buds 2 Pro pair with your phone via the latest Bluetooth 5.3 standard, which is part of what powers the enhanced audio features.
It’s also easy to connect, with near-instant pop-ups offering the ability to pair the headset with a Samsung phone or Windows laptop, though other devices are a bit more manual.
All Android users can install the Galaxy Wearable app, which lets you customize some controls, turn settings on and off, and manage earphone firmware updates.
Here you can enable or disable 360 audio and head tracking, adjust the equalizer, configure (or disable) Bixby, and more. You can even enable a setting to receive reminders to twist your neck if the headphones detect poor posture, but I found that as irritating as expected.
One downside is that this app isn’t available on iOS, so Apple owners will miss many of the headset’s features. You can pair the Buds 2 Pro with an iPhone via Bluetooth and use it without any issues, but you can’t access its more advanced features. Of course, the same would apply to the AirPods Pro, so it’s hard to blame Samsung too much in this case.
Price and availability
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are now available from Samsung.
They’ll cost you $239.89, slightly less than the AirPods Pro, but on the same level.
Still, that’s a hefty price tag for true wireless earbuds, especially since sets like the Nothing Ear (1), with ANC and wireless charging, are available from $99. Even the Galaxy Buds 2, officially priced at $149.89, usually cost less than a hundred dollars.
Most would settle for one of these cheaper pairs, and now more than ever the Buds 2 Pro should only be considered by audiophiles looking to get the most out of 24-bit sound on the go, but if that’s your goal, don’t do it. They’re not bad for the price.
Check out our ranking of the best true wireless headphones for more options, or the best budget wireless headphones if you’d rather spend less.
verdict
Price aside, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are Samsung’s best headphones yet. A comfortable design, compact size, and great sound make it a winner, and the average battery life is the only real disappointment.
With 24-bit audio limited to Samsung phone users and compatible audio sources, the value proposition here may not make sense unless you’re already on the hook for those.
This is especially true with Samsung’s competitively priced Galaxy Buds 2, and if you don’t like high-res sound, the other improvements probably won’t be enough to justify paying double for the pros.
specifications
- Wireless headsets
- 2-way dynamic speaker
- Active noise cancellation
- touch controls
- Accelerometer, Proximity, Hall, Touch, Ear on/off detection
- Bluetooth 5.3
- IPX7 water resistance
- Charging case with USB-C and wireless charging
- Earbud: 5 hour battery life / charging case: 18 hour battery life
- Graphite, White, Bora Purple
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