The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro is not trifled with; they are high-quality true wireless earbuds that perform admirably and look great. If you own a Galaxy smartphone, you should think about these.
In today’s market, earbuds are a dime a dozen, and there are some really good options for not much money. So, why should anyone think about spending $230 on Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2 Pro? Let us investigate.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro specs
| Galaxy Buds 2 Pro | Specifications |
| Noise cancellation | Active noise cancellation with three microphones |
| Speaker driver | Two-way woofer and tweeter |
| Earbud battery life | Five hours with ANC or eight hours without |
| Charging case battery life | Up to 30 hours total |
| Audio codecs | SSC HiFi codec and 24-bit audio support |
| Water resistance | IPX 7 |
| Voice control | Bixby |
| Dimensions | 19.9mm x 21.6mm x 18.7mm (W x H x D) |
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro Software
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro from Samsung works best with a Samsung phone, not only because of the scalable codec but also because of the software integration.
“Easy Pair” will detect nearby earbuds and open a pairing dialog on your phone or tablet. A Samsung account enables the earbuds to connect to your phone and tablet simultaneously and intelligently switch between the two, but only if they are both Galaxy devices. This is now also compatible with Samsung televisions. SmartThings Find can also easily locate misplaced earbuds.
It’s all pretty cool, but it breaks if you use a Pixel, Motorola smartphone, or anything else. These features are built on the back of Samsung’s ecosystem and can’t be used anywhere else. Especially since Samsung isn’t doing anything that Google isn’t. Fast Pair is available on many earbuds and works with every Android phone – and it now supports intelligent switching as well. Fast Pair earbuds also support the “Find My” integration. Samsung is the current volume leader in Android, but that is no excuse to ignore choice, which is what makes Android great in the first place.
It also appears that these could support Google’s method and Samsung’s. After all, these devices support Windows’ fast pairing version and Samsung’s “Easy Pair.” Why not include a third?
At the same time, it’s difficult to ignore the minor details in Samsung’s software that can only happen with this in mind. You can control ANC settings from your wrist if you have a Galaxy Watch. The same is true for the Galaxy Z Flip 4’s outer display.
All of this is made possible by the Galaxy Wearable app, which includes an equalizer, the ability to read notifications aloud, and access to Bixby.
Useful gestures that still trigger anytime you adjust the fit
Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2 Pro feature a touchpad on either earbud. A tap pauses or plays music, and a long press toggles between ANC and ambient modes. That’s how it’s configured by default, but there are more options. You can switch tracks by double tapping or triple tapping. The long-press gesture can also be set to activate Bixby, change the volume, or start Spotify playback.
These are fairly standard gestures that work well. But my issue is the same as it is with most earbuds. You can’t adjust the fit of the earbuds without accidentally activating the gestures. Only Sony’s LinkBuds have effectively addressed this issue, but the sensitivity of Samsung’s touchpads makes this particularly useful.
Hardware
Better comfort
In terms of hardware, Samsung’s latest earbuds are similar to previous generations. It employs a matte version of the same rounded square case as the Galaxy Buds Live, Buds Pro, and Buds 2. And, like those models, it’s a fantastic case! It’s small enough to fit in your pocket, has a solid and easy-to-open lid, and magnets that make charging alignment a breeze.
The bigger changes, rather, are in the earbuds themselves.
The Galaxy Buds Pro these replace were notorious for issues with comfort. Our review stated that the comfort was superior to the Galaxy Buds+, but this did not last. In the 18 months since the Galaxy Buds Pro have rarely been my go-to earbuds because I couldn’t wear them for long without experiencing ear strain.
This complaint is addressed by the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, which has a new earbud shape and contour that fits much better in the ear. I wouldn’t say these are the most comfortable earbuds on the market, but I can wear them for a couple of hours without getting tired. Pixel Buds Pro and standard Galaxy Buds 2 are far more comfortable in my ears, with the former currently being my gold standard for earbud comfort. Read Also; Google Pixel Buds Pro: Everything You Need to Know
When it came to staying in my ears, these also performed admirably. The Buds 2 Pro did not budge during a round of disc golf, which requires quick head movements.
Sound quality
24-bit is overhyped, but they do sound great
Samsung bills the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro as the first earbuds to support 24-bit audio, offering users a “studio worthy,” “ultimate Hi-Fi sound” experience. That sounds very exaggerated to my ears in practice.
Don’t get me wrong: the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro sound great, but they’re not significantly better than most other earbuds at this price point. You may notice some background sounds that other earbuds cannot accurately reproduce. When listening to “If It All Goes South” by Sammy Rae & The Friends on Spotify’s highest quality settings (320 kbps), I definitely picked up some background sounds better than with my Pixel Buds Pro.
“Come to Your Senses” by Tick Tick Boom has been my go-to earbuds test this year, and the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro easily pass. The highest notes felt a little “shrieky,” but it was still a pleasure to listen to overall – one of the better models I’ve tested this year.
24-bit audio isn’t a gimmick, but it’s something that most people overlook. Unless you’ve curated a collection of local music files, you probably won’t be able to appreciate the boost these earbuds are capable of delivering. Even using Tidal, the difference in quality between it and Spotify on the Buds 2 Pro is minor, with Tidal just offering a little more depth to the sound. Read Also; Apple AirPods Pro 2: What We Know So Far
As is customary with Samsung earbuds, switching the EQ settings to the “Dynamic” preset resulted in the best sound balance. Dynamic gives the audio more depth, whereas “Standard” is too flat and “Bass boost” is too heavy on the lows.
The main issue with the sound quality is that it only works with a Samsung device. If you have a Galaxy Z Fold 4, an S22, or even a Galaxy A-series device, you’ll get the most out of these earbuds, but you won’t find them anywhere else. Samsung’s proprietary codec is only functional when paired with Samsung’s phones and tablets.
To some extent, this is fine, but it also means that no one should buy these if they already own a Google Pixel smartphone, a OnePlus device, or any other smartphone. Purchase Pixel Buds Pro. Get the Sony LinkBuds S instead of the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro because your $230 will be wasted if you intend to use them without a Galaxy device.
Whether paired with a Samsung device or not, latency has been excellent. I tested the Buds 2 Pro with a Steam Deck and found that latency was not an issue while playing Spider-Man Remastered. The sound was in sync even during dialogue scenes. The situation is obviously even better on Samsung’s own devices.
ANC gets the job done
Active Noise Cancellation on earbuds will never be as good as in a pair of over-ear headphones, but it can come in handy in many situations.
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are adequate in this regard, but they aren’t going to win any awards. ANC couldn’t keep up with drowning out my electric lawnmower, which many other earbuds have done better. However, ANC did save my sanity on a trip to the car dealership, where a one-hour wait in a room with an extremely obnoxious HVAC unit would have been excruciating without the earbuds.
Transparency mode also works well, with a long press on your earbud switching modes and piping audio from the environment around you through the microphone when activated. It’s not as natural as some of the other earbuds I’ve tried, such as Google’s latest, but it’s also not offensive. I also like how Samsung activates this mode and pauses your music when it detects you are having a conversation.
Both modes also performed admirably in some minor wind tests. Transparency took a moment to adjust to block out the breeze, but it worked perfectly in the end.
Battery life
To be blunt, the battery life on the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro is perfectly adequate. Samsung claims five hours of battery life while using ANC or Ambient modes, which I found to be completely accurate in my testing.
Final thoughts
Don’t buy into the hype, but do pick up these excellent earbuds
Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are identical to any other pair of high-priced earbuds sold in recent years. They sound good, have a solid feature set, and work well with their company’s smartphones.
However, as previously stated, earbuds with much better sound quality and features can be found for much less money. So, why pay $230 for Samsung’s own option? It comes down to a couple of things, in my opinion. If you own a Samsung smartphone, you simply will not find better integration or sound quality to use with it, at least not at this price point.
The other advantage is that Samsung provides some excellent deals. For example, if you trade in an old pair, Samsung.com offers up to $75 off these earbuds. You’ll get a significant discount if you have the Buds Pro from 2021 or even the aging Galaxy Buds+ from 2020. You can also get $50 off by trading in any “wireless audio headset,” including Apple’s AirPods. These are a much better value at $150-175, making an excellent upgrade. Furthermore, if Samsung’s past performance indicates, that will be the going retail price in a matter of months.
