Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro Review: Good Sound and Great ANC

Samsung launched the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro alongside the new Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4.

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro costs Rs. 27,999 in Nepal and replaces the Galaxy Buds Pro in Samsung’s lineup of TWS buds. These buds are now available for purchase via Samsung Stores.

I have been using it for more than a week and it’s one of the best earbuds. Why? I’ll tell you all about it in this review of Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro Review

Design & Fit

• 19.9 x 21.6 x 18.7 mm, 5.5 g (each earbud)
• 50.1 x 50.2 x 27.7 mm, 43.4g (Case)
• IPX7 rating

Samsung Buds 2 Pro is 15% smaller than the original Buds Pro. Thanks to that, the Buds 2 Pro has a much better fit than the Buds Pro. It doesn’t stick out of the ear as much as the Buds Pro and feels more comfortable than the Buds Pro.

The original Buds Pro used to slip out of my ear while working out but I did not face that issue with the Buds 2 Pro. Moreover, the buds are now lighter at 5.5 gm each.

About the fit, Samsung provides 3 ear tip sizes, and once you find the right one for you the fit is quite good. The provided ear tips provide a better seal than the ones that came with the Galaxy Buds Pro.

The Buds 2 Pro are IPX7 rated so you don’t need to worry about slight splashes and sweat.

While the charging case of the Buds 2 Pro has a similar shape as the Buds Pro’s case, it is now smaller and lighter. Also, it has a matte finish instead of the glossy finish. Likewise, the buds themselves have a matte finish which I prefer over the glossy look.

Sound and Mic Quality

• Custom Coaxial 2-way (10mm woofer & 5.3mm tweeter)
• ANC + 2 high SNR microphone (2 outer + 1 inner)

The sound quality feels much better compared to the original Buds Pro. The sound stage feels really wide and there’s much more depth compared to Buds Pro. The clarity in the highs has been improved as well and the bass feels nice. The overall sound quality is really nice and the upgrade is significant.

One of the more interesting things about the Buds 2 Pro is the Hi-Fi audio. With Samsung’s new seamless codec, Buds 2 Pro can wirelessly stream 24-bit 48kHz audio over Bluetooth. But, this only works with Galaxy phones running One UI 4.0 or later. To experience the Hi-Fi audio, you will either need offline music or streaming platforms like Tidal, Deezer, and Amazon Music.

I tested the Hi-Fi audio using Amazon Music on Samsung S20 FE and I was not impressed.

The Hi-Fi quality has a bit more depth but I did not feel a significant difference.

As for the latency, you won’t notice it while watching videos. However, you will notice audio lag while playing games. You can reduce the lag with the Gaming mode from its companion app. But, the lag won’t vanish totally.

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ANC and Transparent Mode

• Active Noise Cancellation
• Transparent Mode

Samsung claims a 40% improvement in ANC compared to Buds 2 Pro’s predecessor. The Buds 2 Pro depends on a combination of isolation and ANC to quiet the ambient noise.

The isolation depends on having a good in-ear fit and it was not a problem for me. You can still hear people talking on the street but the ANC filters out the majority of low mechanical noises like traffic noise. Take the buds out for a second, and the contrast in loudness will make you realize just how inundated our ears are with environmental noise.

Samsung Buds 2 Pro is definitely one of the best ANC buds out there.

As for the transparency mode, it is quite good. You can clearly keep track of the traffic if you’re on a run and even keep track of conversations. There’s a voice detection feature that automatically stops the music if you start the conversation and it works pretty well. Likewise, the ANC will automatically turn off if you take one earbud out of your ear.

Touch Controls

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro uses touch controls. The touch response is quite good but I felt it was a bit too sensitive. You will accidentally skip songs while adjusting the buds.

• Single Tap: Play/ Pause
• Touch and Hold: Switch Between ANC and Ambient Sound
• Double Tap: Skip
• Triple Tap: Previous

You can modify the touch and hold control on either side to use it as a dedicated Spotify control, volume control, or Bixby wake-up.

Connectivity

• Bluetooth® Version 5.3
• SBC, AAC, Samsung seamless codec Hi-Fi (Samsung Proprietary)

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro uses Bluetooth V5.3 so it boasts a standard range of 10m. And, I haven’t had any problem with its connectivity. I haven’t had any connection drop within its range and I haven’t had audio drops as well. It supports seamless connection on Samsung devices as you can switch between Samsung devices easily. However, it doesn’t support multipoint.

For a premium set of TWS, this is definitely a bummer. Also, it doesn’t support AptX but the SBC codec is good enough as it works almost like the Adaptive AptX. It also supports AAC and Samsung’s scalable codec.

ALSO READ: Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Review: Small Buds with Powerful Sound

Battery

• 61mAh (earbud), 515mAh (charging case)
• Qi-certified wireless charging

In terms of battery, Samsung claims that the Buds 2 Pro can provide a battery life of up to 8 hours with ANC turned off and up to 5 hours with ANC turned on. The case can provide 3 full charges taking total endurance to 24 hours with ANC on.

During my usage, I was getting around 7 hours with ANC off on full volume.

It also has fast charging via USB-C which can provide 60 mins of playback with just 5 mins of charging. This comes in very handy when you are in a rush. On top of that, you can also charge it wirelessly if you’re into that.

Should You Buy Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro?

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro provides a significant improvement in terms of audio quality. Likewise, it is one of the best ANC buds out there.

The battery life is average and some of its features are limited to Samsung devices. But, it is definitely one of the best earbuds you can buy if you use an Android device.

What do you think about the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro? Let us know in the comments!

Also, watch our review of the Samsung Buds 2 Pro in Nepali.