Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review

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$229

Best Prices Today: Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro

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Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2 are a very good pair of reasonably reasonably priced true wi-fi buds, entire with lively noise cancellation (ANC), wi-fi charging, and nice sound. That left Samsung with an issue, even though: what to do to make this yr’s Pro improve stand out. 

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro resolution that query with area of interest niceties like 24-bit and 360-degree audio – options that glance excellent at the field, however aren’t prone to see a lot use from mainstream customers.  

The Buds 2 Pro nonetheless pack nice audio high quality and a relaxed are compatible – the latter particularly a lot stepped forward from the first-gen Pros – however for most of the people the common Buds 2 will make the simpler purchase. 

Design and construct 

• Compact, relaxed are compatible 
• Sensitive contact controls 
• IPX7 water-resistance 

The Buds 2 Pro glance with ease of a work with the remainder of the Galaxy Buds vary. Available in graphite, white, or crimson, those are easy rounded earbuds with a matt plastic end – an unlimited growth at the shiny subject matter Samsung has used on maximum of its different earbuds. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

These are light-weight and compact, designed to nestle inside your ear with a low profile. That makes them refined while you’re out and about, and in addition saves from the danger of knocking an earbud out or catching it on a bag strap. 

The drawback of that compact design is that it’s near-impossible to regulate those with out hitting the contact controls, which quilt the entire outer fringe of each and every bud. This has been the case for principally all the Galaxy Buds up to now, and Samsung is but to discover a repair, however the result’s that any try to modify the are compatible finally ends up pausing your track or skipping a monitor – or even simply fiddling along with your hair can do the similar. 

The excellent information is that not like the former Buds Pro, those do are compatible beautiful with ease. The Buds 2 Pro are lighter and a slightly smaller than their predecessors, and between the 3 possible choices of silicon tip I used to be ready to discover a are compatible that works for me.

The loose Galaxy Wearable app handily features a ‘are compatible take a look at’ too, which makes use of the buds’ microphones to test for sound leaks and mean you can know whether or not you’re dressed in the buds proper or now not. Get the are compatible proper first time, and the over-sensitive contact controls will have to be much less of a subject. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

One particular sure is that the Buds 2 Pro have an IPX7 ranking, which indicates excellent water-resistance (however no coverage from mud). That’s now not the hardest round – the likes of the Jabra Elite 7 Pro offer protection to from mud too, with IP57 – but it surely’s nonetheless on the higher finish for earbuds. Note that that is for the earbuds most effective even though, and the lift case is now not secure from splashes. 

Speaking of the case, it’s within the acquainted Samsung sq. form. It’s slender, compact, and the magnetic hinge feels protected, so there’s now not actually a lot to bitch about right here. 

Specs and sound 

• Warm, well-rounded sound 
• Powerful ANC 
• 24-bit audio, however with limits 

Thanks to assist from its in-house audio emblem AKG, Samsung hasn’t ever struggled in terms of ensuring the Galaxy Buds sound excellent, and the Buds 2 Pro aren’t any exception. 

Let’s get started with the core audio revel in earlier than we get onto the bells and whistles. These are the most efficient sounding Galaxy Buds but, with a heat, balanced sonic profile that fits nearly the whole lot I’ve thrown at it. 

There’s sufficient bass to force home or hip hop like the brand new Beyoncé album, however with out shedding the readability and openness wanted at upper registers for poppier fare like Carly Rae Jepsen’s Beach House. Of path this doesn’t be offering this sort of huge, expansive sound level that over-ear cans ship, however for buds you’ll be able to’t do a lot better. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

The flagship new characteristic this yr is the creation of improve for 24-bit audio – a better bitrate than the business usual 16-bit. There are caveats even though: for now no less than this most effective works with a suitable Samsung Galaxy phone operating One UI 4 or later, and also you’ll additionally want a supply of 24-bit audio – for streaming that suggests the likes of Tidal or Apple Music, however now not Spotify. 

Samsung’s 24-bit improve is courtesy of its personal proprietary Samsung Seamless Hi-Fi Codec (SSC), even though AAC and SBC are supported along it – even though there’s no aptX HD, LDAC, or LHDC improve. 

I went in sceptical, now not anticipating buds this dimension to be able to capitalising at the further solution and element anyway. Switching from my same old Spotify to high-res streaming provider Qobuz, I’ve to confess I used to be stunned: there’s a marked distinction intimately and intensity, a degree of readability missing from 16-bit assets. 

It’s nonetheless refined even though, and I think most of the people received’t in finding sufficient of a distinction right here make the additional price profitable. Audiophiles who already personal a Samsung phone will have to see some get advantages, however the audio growth isn’t sufficient to justify most of the people grabbing new headphones, a brand new phone, and swapping their streaming provider. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

There are fewer hoops to leap thru for the buds’ 360 audio, which creates a digital encompass sound level, together with improve for Dolby Atmos content material. 

The default environment right here sounds nice, including intensity and a way of area to tracks, even though for track you’ll almost definitely wish to disable the not obligatory head monitoring characteristic, which cuts the track out and in of each and every ear as you progress your head round – tremendous while you’re looking at a film, distracting while you’re simply turning your head at the bus and your tunes stay shifting about. 

Of path, as with all high-end earbuds at the present time, the Buds 2 Pro come with ANC too. This too is superb, blockading out maximum external noise as long as you have got the are compatible proper.  

Samsung calls this ‘Intelligent ANC’, but it surely’s the similar factor that Sony calls ‘speak-to-chat’. That signifies that if the buds hit upon you speaking – the usage of a combo of microphones and sensors for jaw actions – they robotically transfer to the clear ambient mode, amplifying out of doors noise and turning down your track quantity with the intention to grasp a dialog with ease.  

That to hand characteristic relatively makes up for the truth that Samsung’s implementation of in-ear detection remains to be extraordinary. While maximum an identical earbuds will pause track while you take away an earbud, those most effective pause as soon as you are taking each out, and require a guide faucet to renew playback after they’re again in. Some will definitely favor that in fact, however I want there used to be an approach to pause playback once I take one bud out – nonetheless my intuition once I want to communicate to any person. 

Battery and charging 

• 4-5 hours of battery at the buds 
• Up to 18 hours with the case 
• Wireless or USB-C charging 

Battery existence is almost definitely the massive vulnerable spot for the Buds 2 Pro. It’s now not unhealthy, but it surely’s on no account nice, and rival buds do a lot better. 

Samsung guarantees 5 hours of listening time with the ANC lively, however I discovered they lasted slightly over 4 hours earlier than packing it in. That’s nowhere close to sufficient to closing a complete day or an extended flight on a unmarried price, which will probably be proscribing for some. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Of path, you get extra existence whenever you issue within the case, which at the side of the buds will have to ship as much as 18 hours of battery. That’s decent, however some buds be offering 40 hours or extra, and I’d in my view thankfully take a somewhat greater charging case in alternate for higher battery. 

Charging is respectable even though, with each USB-C and wi-fi charging to be had.  

Connectivity and sensible options 

• Latest Bluetooth usual 
• Customisation within the Galaxy Wearable app 
• Limited iOS improve 

The Buds 2 Pro pair along with your phone over the most recent Bluetooth 5.3 usual, which is a part of what drives the enhanced audio options. 

It’s additionally a doddle to get those hooked up, with near-instant pop-ups providing to pair the buds to a Samsung phone or Windows pc, even though different gadgets will probably be a bit of extra guide. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

All Android customers can set up the Galaxy Wearable app, which helps you to customize some controls, flip settings off and on, and handles firmware updates for the earbuds. 

This is the place you’ll be able to flip 360 audio and head monitoring on or off, tweak the EQ, set-up (or disable) Bixby, and extra. You will even toggle on a environment to get reminders to stretch your neck if the buds hit upon unhealthy posture, however I discovered this about as frustrating as you’d be expecting. 

One drawback is this app isn’t to be had on iOS, so Apple house owners will fail to see a large number of the headphones’ capability. You can nonetheless pair the Buds 2 Pro to an iPhone over Bluetooth and use them tremendous, you simply can’t get admission to their extra complicated options. Of path, the similar can be true within the different path with the AirPods Pro, so it’s onerous to fault Samsung an excessive amount of right here. 

Price and availability 

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are to be had to reserve from Samsung now, or you’ll be able to grab them from Amazon and different outlets. 

They’ll set you again $229/£219/€229, very somewhat undercutting the AirPods Pro, however definitely in the similar ballpark. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

That’s pricey for true wi-fi buds even though, particularly with units just like the Nothing Ear (1) now to be had with ANC and wi-fi charging from simply $99/£99/€99. Even the extensively an identical Galaxy Buds 2, formally priced at $149/£139/€149, ceaselessly drop under the hundred line at the present time. 

Most can be completely proud of a kind of inexpensive pairs, and now greater than ever the Buds 2 Pro will have to actually most effective be a attention for audiophiles prepared to profit from 24-bit sound at the cross – even though if that’s your purpose, it’s now not unhealthy price in any respect.  

Check out our rating of the most efficient true wi-fi earbuds for extra choices, or the most efficient finances wi-fi buds in the event you’d quite spend much less.

Verdict 

Setting apart the fee, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are Samsung’s ultimate earbuds but. A relaxed design, compact dimension, and superb audio make those a winner, and the middling battery existence is the one actual letdown. 

With 24-bit audio restricted to customers of Samsung telephones and suitable audio assets, the worth proposition right here would possibly not make sense until you’re already at the hook for the ones.  

That’s very true with Samsung’s competitively priced Galaxy Buds 2 out already – in the event you’re now not fussed on high-res sound, the opposite upgrades almost definitely aren’t sufficient to justify paying two times as a lot to move Pro. 

Specs 

• Wireless earbuds 
• Dynamic 2-way 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 wi-fi charging 
• Earbud: 5-hour battery / Charging case: 18-hour battery 
• Graphite, White, Bora Purple