Apple and Samsung are two leading smartphone manufacturers worldwide. Both brands have forayed into the wireless earbud industry, with the AirPods Pro 2 and Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, respectively, released within a month of each other.
Both earbuds are excellent, and comparisons between them reveal that they are the closest ones yet.
AirPods Pro 2 vs Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Design
The AirPods Pro 2 look like their predecessor, but Apple has added a new XS earcup size that provides a better fit and seal for smaller ears. Apple retained the force-sensing stem and added a capacitive touch sensor to adjust volume without using the mobile device. The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, on the other hand, do not have a stem or force sensor for operation; rather, they use tactile controls. The Galaxy earbuds have higher water resistance (IPX7) than the AirPods Pro 2, which have IPX4 protection. The AirPods Pro 2 are lighter (5.3g) than the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro (5.5g). The AirPods Pro 2 are available only in white, while the Galaxy earbuds are available in black, white, and purple.
Controls
The force sensor of the AirPods Pro 2 is responsive and allows for single, multiple and long hold pressure gestures. Scrolling to increase or decrease the volume is also available on it. Skin sensing sensors activate automatic pause/pause immediately when the earbuds are removed/put on. “Hey Siri” is unbeatable for voice command accuracy. Siri can also send incoming updates directly to your ear via Announce Messages and Announce Notifications. The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro have touch- and voice-activated controls. The touch gestures are responsive, and features like Double Tap Earbud Edge make it easy to reduce (left ear) or increase (right ear) the volume by double-tapping the ear’s top. Voice detection lowers the volume to 15% when the ear detects voice. Bixby integration is reliable for hands-free voice commands, and the sound quality control system supports Google Assistant and Siri.
Sound Quality
Both the AirPods Pro 2 and Galaxy Buds 2 Pro offer excellent sound quality with amazing bass and clear mids and highs. Apple has an edge over the competition with the immersive surround sound feature, head-tracking spatial audio. The Personalized Spatial Audio feature in iOS 16 customizes the 3D surround sound based on the shape of the ear, further improving the AirPods Pro 2’s sound quality.
Noise Cancellation
The AirPods Pro 2’s powerful H2 chip offers “2x better” active noise cancellation, making them nearly as effective as the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II. AirPods Pro 2 has its selling point, its transparency mode, and a new feature Adaptive Transparency. Adaptive Transparency monitors outside noises and tries to filter out very loud, intrusive sounds, thus making them safer, more acceptable levels. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro’s noise cancellation works better than their predecessor, but the AirPods Pro still has the upper hand in this feature.
Battery Life
The AirPods Pro 2 provides a longer battery life than their predecessor, with a full charge providing 6 hours of ANC use. The battery life increases to 7 hours when the feature is switched off, while headtracking and other functions bring down the battery life to 5.5 hours. The charging case lasts between 30 and 34 hours. Quick charging generates 1 hour of use within 5 minutes. However, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro has a lower ANC battery life of 5 hours, which increases to 8 hours when ANC is switched off. The charging case lasts between 20 and 30 hours. Their quick charging technology produces 2.5 hours of use in 10 minutes or 1 hour in 5 minutes. Both the AirPods Pro 2 and Galaxy Buds 2 Pro cases support different charging solutions.
Final Words
Choosing between the AirPods Pro 2 and Galaxy Buds 2 Pro largely depends on the ecosystem you are in. The AirPods Pro 2 work best within the iOS ecosystem, while the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro realizes its potential with Galaxy products. Both brands have ensured that the performance is not as good if you do not use their products, making them more of an accessory to the iPhone or Samsung Galaxy devices than wireless earbuds that can work equally well with other products.
