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Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro review: Design
On unboxing the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro you will the charging case with the earbuds inside, a USB-C charging cable, two pairs of extra ear tips, and a quick start guide. The box itself is pretty sleek and compact.
The square charging case has round edges and sides and sports a rubbery matte finish. A small notification light is housed at the bottom of the lid while the USB charging port finds its way at the back. The matte finish does feel quite premium, but the case has a tendency to attract dirt stains. Apart from that, the hinge and the lid are pretty strong, and the case can easily withstand rugged use.
Flipping the lid open, you’ll notice a notification light between the two charging pods. The earbuds are smaller in size compared to the previous avatar, which increases the quality of the fit by a significant margin. The earbuds also get the matte treatment. The similarity in texture elevates the feel of the product in your hand. Each earbud also houses a microphone and a vent to relieve ANC pressure.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro fit like a charm. Having reduced the size of the earbuds, Samsung has significantly improved the quality of the fit. The rubber texture coupled with the light weight of the buds provides a great level of comfort, and you can easily wear the earbuds for hours without even noticing they’re there. The fit was so snug and airtight that we didn’t even feel the need to adjust the buds that often. The Buds2 Pro is rated IPX7, which means they can endure light rainfall and sweaty workouts with ease. While working out, the Buds2 Pro proved to be one of the best TWS we’ve used. The rubber texture does not get slippery even when things get sweaty. The earbuds need minimal readjustments once you’ve put them on and you will barely feel them when they’re in.
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro review: Performance
While the Buds2 Pro are excellent when it comes to the build quality and comfort, what truly matters for most users is the audio performance and the level of ANC that they deliver. First off, the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro are incredibly easy to connect, more so for Samsung users. We used the Buds2 Pro with a Samsung Galaxy M31, and the ease of connectivity was unparalleled when we tried using the earbuds with other non-Samsung smartphones.
The ‘Samsung Seamless Codec’ is reserved for Samsung smartphone users while other Android users have to rely on the AAC or SBC codecs. The ‘auto-switch’ feature is also reserved for Samsung users exclusively. Samsung will also be rolling out LE audio support when it becomes available in the future. Android users will need to download the ‘Galaxy Wearable’ app to utilise all the functions of the earbuds. Since the app isn’t available on the App Store, iPhone users will have to settle for the most basic features. One of the better parts of using the Buds2 Pro with a Samsung smartphone is that it prompts you to connect the earbuds every time you open the lid of the charging case, even if the Bluetooth on your smartphone is turned off. Moving on to the audio performance, Samsung has definitely upped its game on the Buds2 Pro. The output features a good mix of frequencies. The sound isn’t explicitly bass-driven, the lower frequencies mix in a very subtle manner, providing a very balanced sound profile. However, if you want your music to have a strong bass-y element, you can use the ‘Bass boost’ function from the equaliser in the Galaxy Wearable app. Overall, the Buds2 Pro delivered a rock-solid audio output. When it comes to ANC, the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro is arguably the best in the business right now. While wearing the Buds2 Pro indoors, we could easily tune out the general humdrum and the white noise looming in the house. The lower frequencies were totally nullified. Travelling with the Buds2 Pro in the ear proved to be a delightful experience as well. The noise of the engine and the traffic were muted to a great degree. The higher frequencies of the blaring horns still made through, but they didn’t prove to be an annoyance. The superior quality of ANC along with a comfortable fit means you can easily pop the earbuds in when on a long flight or a bus ride and experience the luxury of quietness while travelling. During phone calls, the performance of the Buds2 Pro was satisfactory, but Samsung can definitely make improvements in its future iterations. The earbuds do a great job of isolating the voice from the surrounding noise, but the quality of audio relayed on call still remains a bit boxy and flat. There is certainly room for improvement here.
If you want to get the most out of your Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro, you will need to download the Samsung Wearable app. The Wearable app gives you access to a wide range of functions and unlocks the true potential of the Buds2 Pro. Firstly, you can choose to turn the ANC off or set it to the ‘Ambient Sound’ mode. Samsung’s ‘Voice Detect’ can also be turned on from the app. This feature cuts off the ANC and lowers the music volume every time it detects your voice. The volume and ANC are restored when the earbuds don’t detect your voice for 15 seconds. This feature comes in extremely handy when you’re around people, but you will certainly need to turn it off when you want to sing along to the music with your earbuds in. Samsung has also incorporated the ‘360 audio’ on the Buds2 Pro. 360 Audio hits you with sound from all directions, creating an immersive experience. The Head tracking function adjusts the sound direction when you turn your head so it always sounds like it’s coming from the video source. We found the 360 Audio feature to be quite enjoyable while watching videos, but in its current form, it does not hold any purpose while listening to music. Lastly, you can find 5 presets in the equaliser, but there is no option to manually control the output. You can also customise the touch controls using the Wearable app. If you’re actively using your smartphone while listening to music, you can also choose to turn the touch controls off. With ANC enabled, Samsung claims you get up to 5 hours of playtime on the earbuds with an additional 18 hours in the case. When the ANC is turned off, you can get up to 8 hours on the buds with an additional 21 hours in the case. We used the Buds2 Pro with the ANC enabled at all times and got a steady 4 hours 55 minutes out of the earbuds. Compared to the competition in this particular price segment, Samsung should be looking to increase these numbers. However, if you’re mostly going to use these earbuds at home, the battery life won’t be an issue. Read Also: Redmi Note 11 Pro+ gets a price reduction of up to Rs 2,000
Verdict
After a week of thorough use, we have nothing but good things to say about the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro. The price tag of Rs 17,999 may be a little pricey but the audio output and state-of-the-art ANC more than makes up for it. If you’re looking to upgrade to a premium TWS with high-end ANC, you may want to consider splurging a little more for the Buds2 Pro. However, if you’re an iPhone user, we would suggest sticking with the AirPods as the range of features will be extremely limited on the Buds2 Pro.
Pros
Superior level of Active Noise Cancellation Very comfortable fit Significant improvement in sound profile
Cons
Some features are reserved for Samsung smartphones Battery life could be a little better For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App. You can find the latest car and bike news here.
