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We judge all headphones and earbuds on a scale of 10, analyzing the categories we think are most important: sound, comfort, design, battery performance, and, if applicable, special features. Here's how the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro wireless earbuds stack up.
Last year, Samsung released the Galaxy Buds Pro earbuds as an alternative to the Apple AirPods Pro — and they instantly became a must-have for all Galaxy smartphone owners. With the release of the new Galaxy Buds2 Pro wireless earbuds, Samsung brought significant design improvements and stepped up its audio performance and noise cancellation.
Priced at $230, the Buds2 Pro are slightly costlier than their predecessor. After spending more than a week using them as my go-to earbuds, they exceeded my high expectations for them in today’s crowded market — making their updated design and next-level sound well worth the $30 price increase. Here’s a breakdown of Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro’s everyday performance and usability.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro True Wireless Earbuds
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro True Wireless Earbuds
SCORES
• Sound: 9/10
• Comfort: 9/10
• Design: 8/10
• Battery Performance: 7/10
• Overall Score: 8/10
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro at a Glance
- Fantastic audio quality and strong noise cancellation
- Lightweight and super comfy
- IPX7 waterproof
- Up to 8 hours of battery life
SOUND: 9/10
As I mentioned above, my expectations for a pair of wireless earbuds that cost upwards of $200 are pretty high, especially regarding audio quality — and the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro delivered. They produced some of the best and most vibrant sound of any earbuds I've tested, thanks to a sophisticated dual audio driver setup with a tweeter and a woofer tuned by AKG.
You can tune the sound by choosing from several equalizer presets in the Galaxy Wearable app: bass boost, clear, dynamic, and treble boost. The default normal setting brings the most balanced sound and is the best setting for most users.
When I paired the earbuds with a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra and streamed content from Apple Music, the Buds2 Pro made for serious competition to the Sony's WF-1000XM4 earbuds — my industry benchmark for audio quality. Regardless of the genre, every track I played — from classic rock anthems to vocal jazz to bass-heavy downtempo — sounded incredibly clear and detailed.
Unlike the outgoing model, the new buds can stream 24-bit Hi-Fi audio via a proprietary Samsung codec when connected to a compatible Galaxy phone. They support multi-channel 360 audio with head tracking, too. Thanks to high-tech sensors in each bud, head tracking allows the sound to seamlessly shift as you move your head (e.g., it moves to the left bud when you look right and vice versa), for a lifelike sonic experience.
Playing enhanced spatial audio albums and playlists on Apple Music (there are tons of such content on the service) with head tracking switched on made me feel like I was listening to the artists live in the recording studio. The Buds2 Pro made familiar tracks sound more immersive and more enjoyable.
When it comes to noise cancellation, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro's is significantly stronger than the Buds Pro's — 40%, according to Samsung. It is second only to the serenity brought by the pricier (and bulkier) Sony WF-1000XM4 and the Bose QuietComfort wireless earbuds.
When I put the Galaxy Buds2 Pro’s noise cancellation to the test, it performed in line with the expectations their price tag carries. The earphones successfully made the consistent traffic noise accompaniment to my at-home working routine go away, allowing me to remain focused, productive, and sane when I wore them.
Its ambient sound mode, which is a must-have feature for all noise-canceling earbuds, allowed me to remain aware of my surroundings without removing the Buds2 Pro. Better yet, a feature dubbed voice detect activated ambient sound by simply detecting my voice. The impressive feature was available on the Galaxy Buds Pro, and it rivals Speak-to-Chat on top-shelf Sony headphones and earbuds.
As I expected, my phone and video calls sounded clear with the Buds2 Pro. Participants heard me loud and clear, and I did too, including during noisy outdoor calls. Each earbud packs three microphones like the previous iteration, but upgraded design for improved clarity. The Bluetooth 5.3 (the most futureproof version of the wireless connectivity standard) product maintained a flawless link with Samsung hardware during my testing.
COMFORT: 9/10
The Galaxy Buds2 Pro earbuds are lighter, comfier, and more compact than the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro. Each bud weighs 5.5 grams — on par with the just-as-feature-packed Apple AirPods Pro. Pricier earphones by Bose, Sony, and Master & Dynamic are bulkier in comparison.
I ran through full battery charges with the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro without discomfort and fatigue. The product’s retail package has ear tips in various sizes, and its companion app has a fit test. Combined, they make finding the right fit quick and effortless.
The buds’ touch-sensitive controls work well, and you can customize them in the Galaxy Wearable app. The app also has tools for fine-tuning the buds’ call experience and ambient mode. It also has an incredibly convenient Android widget with quick-access buttons for toggling between noise cancellation and ambient mode and for disabling the touch controls.
Pairing the Galaxy Buds2 Pro with a Samsung phone is easy as can be — all you need to do is bring the earphones close to your phone and open the case. The buds will then connect to all gadgets that use the same Samsung account, much like the AirPods will with Apple hardware.
DESIGN: 8/10
Available in Bora purple, graphite, and white with a matte finish, the colorful housings of the Galaxy Buds2 Pro are more elegant and more toned-down than the glossy ones of the previous generation. Each shade has contrasting black vents, a la Apple AirPods and Google Pixel Buds Pro.
The official IPX7 rating for water resistance of the Galaxy Buds2 Pro is higher than the IPX4 of big-name Beats, Bose, and Sony rivals, making them great for exercising. However, you should know that the earphones can't handle exposure to dust or sand — so if you love exercising outside, you should consider a set of earbuds with a higher rating for durability.
BATTERY PERFORMANCE: 7/10
With noise cancellation turned on, the Buds2 Pro have a 5-hour maximum battery life. At first glance, this might seem underwhelming, but given how lightweight and compact the earphones are, their battery life is solid. Plus, if you disable the noise-cancellation feature, you'll up your buds' battery endurance to 7 hours between trips to the charging case.
For comparison, the slightly cheaper Google Pixel Buds Pro earbuds I recently tested have a longer battery life with and without noise cancellation. However, they are heavier and incapable of streaming immersive spatial audio, at least for the time being.
The bundled charging case of the Galaxy Buds2 Pro holds more than two additional charges. The USB-C accessory can get you an hour's worth of tunes after just 5 minutes — and, of course, it's also compatible with wireless charging.
OVERALL: 8/10
The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro wireless earbuds are worth their considerable price and are a must-have if you own one of Samsung's Galaxy S or Galaxy Z phones. You'll get phenomenal sound quality and stellar noise cancellation in a sleek and comfy package with colors that can pair nicely with your phone.
As far as alternatives go, the under-$200 Google Pixel Buds Pro is the first that comes to mind, offering longer battery life and seamless Google Assistant integration. The Sony LinkBuds S earbuds are a solid, cheaper rival with great sound but lesser durability and no wireless charging case. The entry-level Samsung Galaxy Buds2 is a good option if you want to keep your budget below $200.
Stefan is the senior technology editor for BestProducts.com, where he’s been covering the tech industry and testing the latest gadgets since 2015. He has more than a decade of experience covering consumer tech products, especially smartphones, tablets, laptops, and audio gear. He was previously the US editor for GSMArena.com; his work can also be found on Popular Mechanics and other Hearst publications.In the rare moments when he’s not playing with a new gadget, Stefan likes to watch live Premier League games or hang out with his cat and rabbit. He’s also an espresso snob.
