Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are ideal for traveling and on the go. These well-made buds have a lightweight design that is easy to carry around and comfortable enough to wear on long trips. They are equipped with an ANC system to cancel out the low rumble of bus and airplane engines.

While Samsung has long produced wireless earbuds, the Galaxy Buds Pro model from last year was the first time the South Korean tech giant truly produced a superb pair of wireless earbuds. The Galaxy Buds Live, which we liked but had the world’s most useless “active noise cancellation,” were unpolished prior to the release of the Buds Pro. These earbuds did not even remotely cover the wearer’s ear canals.

With a more streamlined, lighter design that feels more comfortable in my ears during extended listening sessions, better active noise cancellation, and end-to-end 24-bit audio support though the latter comes with significant caveats the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, which were introduced alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 last month, maintains that momentum. we also appreciate Samsung’s decision to forgo the AirPods’ elongated stem design, partly because the earbuds are more covert in my ear and partially because I find it offensive when companies overtly imitate Apple.

Some people might think the $230 asking price for the Buds 2 Pro is a bit excessive considering that you can purchase equally good earbuds like the Nothing Ear 1 for less than half the cost or the Google Pixel Buds Pro for $30 less. But among all wireless earbuds, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro has the best ANC and my favourite transparency mode. Additionally, the price is comparable to Apple’s new AirPods, which is the target market for Samsung as it creates an impressive ecosystem of its own products.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review: Design

Recent years saw the release of the original Galaxy Buds Pro, which featured glossy earbuds. They were bigger, edgier, and, at least to me, weren’t really that appealing. The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, on the other hand, have a sleek, streamlined, and contemporary design, and their case and earbuds are entirely covered in matte plastic. The old Buds Pro’s rougher corners and glossiness have both vanished.

A matte charging case that resembles a wedding ring has a USB Type-C charging port on the back and an LED light up front. The new, stylish Buds 2 Pro earbuds are revealed when you open that and begin immediately pairing with nearby smartphones, tablets, and laptops. The earbuds are held magnetically inside the case and continuously charge from it. “Sound by AKG” branding is proudly displayed over them.

As you can see in the photos, there is one color that stands out, mullet purple, and the other two colors are basically black and white. The ear tips come in white instead of purple for some reason, but various sizes of purple ear tips are included as well. Also included is a black charging cable for the case. So there is no matching color, but that’s okay.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review: Comfort

After extensive testing, here is our review of those. Thanks to Samsung’s ability to reduce weight and get rid of the glossy finish, the Buds2 Pro are now more aesthetically pleasing as well as more comfortable. In contrast to earlier models, the colour of the earbuds’ square case matches the colour of the interior.

We chose the third color out of three available options Bora Purple, Black, and White and it looks classy but isn’t terribly impressive. The numbers don’t lie; the case and the buds both feel lighter in the hand. Although the slots for the individual buts are a little out of alignment, powerful magnets take care of that. Every bud in its nest has two pogo pins.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review: Connectivity

The Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity offered by the Galaxy Buds2 Pro is the most recent Bluetooth technology available right now. The earbuds support AAC, SBC, and SSC codecs (which stands for Samsung Seamless Codec). The Galaxy Buds2 Pro can stream up to 24-bit audio using this SSC codec, but only with Samsung devices running OneUI 4.0 and higher.

Unfortunately, neither Qualcomm’s AptX nor LDAC codecs are supported. Given that these are “Pro” earbuds, higher quality codecs that are compatible with non-Samsung devices ought to be supported. Although Samsung promised that the Buds2 Pro would support Bluetooth LE later this year, it has not yet appeared as of the writing of this review.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review: Noise Cancellation

There are some noticeable differences in the design from the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro. The earpieces see some significant design improvements that make them much more comfortable to wear, while the charging case has a similar shape and size but a nicer looking matte finish. The Buds 2 Pro’s secure fit and adequate noise isolation support the efficiency of the active noise cancellation.

The earpieces are now a little bit lighter and smaller than before, with a wear-detection sensor on the inside and microphones for ANC and voice functionality on both the inside and outside. The earpieces’ useful IPX7 rating for water resistance means they should be able to withstand prolonged exposure to water. In addition to a USB Type-C to Type-C cable for charging, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro’s box includes three pairs of silicone ear tips for an adjustable fit.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro have touch controls that can be customised through the companion app and, if necessary, completely disabled. Normally, you can use the touch controls on your device to control playback, active noise cancellation and transparency mode, and accepting or rejecting calls. However, the app’s “Labs” experimental feature also allows you to adjust the volume by double-tapping the edge of your earpieces.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review: Sound Quality

The sound quality of Samsung’s earbuds has never really impressed me. They’ve been fine to good, but never truly great. This jaded headphone reviewer has been wowed for the first time by the company. The Buds 2 Pro deliver a powerful bass punch with a pleasantly open sound that is full of details and clarity. The low-end is also deep and nuanced, rather than just a wall of thundering boom.

Many earbuds offer a balanced sound with good bass. The difference between good and great headphones is usually in the fine details, which are difficult to reproduce in such small headphones. Samsung achieves this with a combination of a 10mm woofer for the bass and a 5.3mm tweeter that allows the treble to shine through. This combination provides exceptional clarity and depth across a wide range of genres, making songs sound layered and involving, rather than compressed and unclean. For example, Amanda Shires’ vocals seem to float above each song on her latest album, Take It Like A Man.

The 24-bit/48 kHz Hi-Fi sound processing is an essential part of the improved audio quality. With Samsung’s new Seamless Codec (SSC), you can send 256 times more audio data from your device to the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. With the previous model, 24-bit audio data was converted to 16 bits by the time it reached the earphones. A look into the Android developer settings confirms that the Galaxy S21 FE 5G, which I used to test the Buds 2 Pro, does indeed deliver 24-bit/48 kHz. This number would represent the overall quality.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review: Performance

As our playlist moves on to Daddy Yankee and Snow’s Con Calma, we notice that the soundstage is spacious for a pair of in-ear headphones and that it is the most dynamic and agile performance of the track we have recently heard thanks to the grippy bassline. With the new “Samsung Seamless Codec,” Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2 Pro support Bluetooth 5.3 and high-definition 24-bit music when paired with compatible Samsung devices. No matter the numbers, the performance is impressive, with high-frequency treble instruments coming through with clarity and nuance, along with a rock-solid midrange.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review: Battery Life

Thanks to their IPX7 water resistance, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro can be fully submerged in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. They didn’t fall out of my ears when I walked with them, and I didn’t have any problems with them either. Battery life on these units is rated at five hours with noise cancellation enabled, eight hours without noise cancellation at moderate volume, and you get about three additional charges through the case (it charges via USB-C and wirelessly).

You could argue that five hours is pretty average and that battery life hasn’t improved, but it’s a challenge to reduce the size of the bud while extending battery life. There’s also a quick charge feature that offers an hour of use after a five-minute charge, and double that after a 10-minute charge if you put the earbuds in the case.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review: Price

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are available for $229, AU$349, or £219 at launch. Although we reviewed it for less, the UK pricing is in line with the previous Galaxy Buds Pro’s launch price, and it’s refreshing to see a company defy the current trend of rising costs and higher prices for once. It’s encouraging that you can get new features and better specs for the same price.

Competitors Apple AirPods Pro, Sony WF-1000XM4, and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are all priced higher (£249, $249, and AU$399), but good deals are beginning to appear for all of these models. For instance, the Sony XM4 is currently available for as little as £199. The old Galaxy Buds Pro no longer have their glossy plastic finish. The new Buds 2 Pro have an all-matte, smooth finish that is more upscale looking and feeling, and the charging case is also more svelte. It seems like everything has been streamlined to provide a more upscale and slick profile.

Graphite, white, and Samsung’s distinctive Bora Purple are the available colours. We adore the updated finish; it has a more mature appearance appropriate for its price tag of over $200. The actual earbuds are now 15% smaller and are made to fit even more snugly in your ears without protruding very much, if at all. Our set fits snugly and is difficult to remove from the recess of our ears. The buds are so small, though, that it can be challenging to get your fingers around them to position them properly if they don’t fit well. The earbuds did start to press against our ears noticeably after prolonged use, which did cause a slight amount of ear fatigue.

Final Words

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are the best premium true wireless earphones to choose from if you currently own a Samsung smartphone or soon intend to purchase one. The ecosystem advantages are really clear in this case, with a focus on sound quality because of the enhanced 24-bit Hi-Fi codec. This makes the pair of earphones fairly comprehensive when you take into account the excellent active noise cancellation, respectable design, and comfortable fit.

Look somewhere else if you don’t own a Samsung smartphone. Although excellent, Samsung’s most recent true wireless earphones aren’t as versatile as rival models from Sony and Sennheiser. Additionally, it might be worthwhile to take into account the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, which are less expensive but nearly as good.

Lucas Simonds
Lucas Simonds
Lucas Simonds is a skilled content editor at Bollyinside, specializing in "How to" and "Tips & Tricks" articles focused on Gaming, Software, and Apps. With a genuine passion for video games, he not only writes about them but also actively engages in gaming. His commitment to providing insightful and approachable content has earned him a trusted reputation within the online community.

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The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are the best premium wireless headphones you can choose if you own a Samsung smartphone or plan to buy one soon. The benefits of the ecosystem are clear in this case, with the focus on sound quality thanks to the improved 24-bit HiFi codec.Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review