Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review
For Samsung, the mid-year release cycle has been quiet. At its August Unpacked event, Samsung unveiled a number of items that are strikingly similar to those it unveiled at the same event last year, following an eventful start to the year that saw the debut of popular devices like the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. That includes the $230 Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, the follow-up to the Galaxy Buds Pro released in 2021. They’re fantastic wireless earbuds, but if you have the previous model, you already get to experience the most of the positives.
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro from Samsung are the company’s greatest earbuds to date thanks to their rich sound, effective noise reduction, and modern, stylish appearance. They are a wonderful pair of premium earbuds for anyone on Android sporting an older or lower-end set despite the fact that they are not a significant increase over 2021’s Galaxy Buds Pro despite additional support for 24-bit audio.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Battery Life: 5 hours with ANC/8 hours without
- Noise Cancellation: Yes
- Mono Listening: Yes
- Bluetooth : 5.3
- IP rating: IPX7
- Supported codecs: SBC, AAC, Samsung Seamless
- Weight (earbuds): 5.5g
- Dimensions (earbuds): 19.9 x 21.6 x 18.7mm
- Charging: USB-C, wireless
- Driver size: 10mm driver + 5.3mm tweeter
- Price (MSRP): $230
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro resembles both the non-Pro and first-generation Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro in terms of appearance. The Buds 2 Pro come in a similar square, clamshell charging case as those earlier models, but this time, both the buds and the case have a gorgeous satin texture that appears far more elegant than the mirror finish on the exterior of the original Buds Pro. However, especially with the lighter colours, I do have some concerns about how well the finish will age. The Buds 2 Pro are available in Graphite, White, or Bora Purple—newest Samsung’s favourite colour.
Additionally, this iteration is noticeably less bulbous than the previous one. I believe Samsung’s claim that the Buds 2 Pro are 15% smaller than the original is accurate. Although the Buds 2 Pro’s new, slimmer form factor makes them feel more comfortable in my ears and don’t stick out as far, I personally never considered the size of the Buds Pro to be awkward. It’s impressive that Samsung was able to do this while employing somewhat smaller drivers and maintaining battery capacity. As little as aesthetics might matter in earphones, I believe the Buds 2 Pro seem far more stylish and sophisticated than the last set did.
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro’s audio is in line with what we’ve come to expect from earbuds at this price point. Mids and highs are crystal clear, sub-bass is rumbly and deep, and the bass is rich and lively. The bottom end is slightly overemphasised by Samsung in their default tuning, which isn’t really realistic. However, I don’t mind that because I myself love a bit additional bass in my headphones. In fact, I like Samsung’s Dynamic EQ mode, which amplifies lows and highs without significantly altering the midrange. If you want a more airy sound, the Clear setting reduces sub-bass and increases treble.
This place also has excellent noise cancellation. According to Samsung, the Buds 2 Pro have high signal-to-noise microphones, which should result in crisper audio collection and assist isolate and block the sounds you wish to keep out of your ears more precisely. The Buds 2 Pro’s ANC is, in my experience, superior to the industry standard for earphones. They perform a commendable job of minimising the amount of midrange sound that gets in, as well as all but mudding low drones like HVAC. High-pitched and abrupt noises can still be heard, however this is a general drawback of ANC technology.
