The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are the follow-up to the successful Galaxy Buds Pro and they come with many improvements such as improved design, better fit and improved performance overall. At their price point, they are competing with some of the more premium wireless ANC earbuds, most notably, against the AirPods Pro. If you are in the market for a pair of wireless noise cancelling earbuds, which pair should you go with? Are the newer Galaxy Buds 2 Pro worth buying? Or should you stick with the more established AirPods Pro? We compare them below.
Transparency, ANC, adaptive EQ, spatial audio, audio sharing, automatic switching, Find My, Hey Siri, MagSafe charging case, Ear Tip Fit Test
Bluetooth Version
5.3
5.0
Codecs
Samsung Scalable Codec, AAC, SBC
AAC, SBC
Battery
5 hours (ANC) 8 hours (w/o ANC) Up to 29 hours total with case
4.5 hours (ANC) 5 hours (w/o ANC) Up to 24 hours total with case
Charging
Wireless USB-C
MagSafe Wireless Lightning to USB-C
Colors
Graphite, White, Bora Purple
White
Design
Fit will depend on your ears, but we found the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro to have a more fit-friendly design than the AirPods Pro due to their lack of a protruding stem.
Looks-wise, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro (left) look like typical in-ears while the AirPods Pro (right) have stems that stick out from your ears.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro live up to the “buds” in their name as they have a standard in-ear bud design. These are improved over the previous iteration by being lighter and smaller, so they can fit better in your ears. They come with a selection of ear tips that you can choose from to get the best seal. Available in white, black (graphite) and purple (bora purple), Samsung gives you a bit of personalization options with these earbuds.
Meanwhile, the AirPods Pro have a tried and tested design that let them stand out from the crowd. They feature a white colorway with black accents that AirPods have been known for. Unfortunately, there are no other color options. Similar to the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, they come with several ear tips to choose from.
As for durability, we have to give the nod the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro since they feel more durable. You can feel the difference in build quality as the AirPods Pro’s plastic build is more prone to getting cracked. The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro also have an IPX7 rating, so they can survive even when submerged underwater. Contrast to this, the AirPods Pro have an IPX4 rating, so they are only water-resistant.
Their charging cases are built well, but once again, we have to give the advantage to the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro as their case feels sturdier. Both are pocketable since they are not that bulky.
Features
Most of the features of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and AirPods Pro are locked behind their respective ecosystems.
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro (left) and AirPods Pro (right) inside their charging cases.
Since these two earbuds are manufactured by two big brands with their own ecosystem, they are best used within the confines of these ecosystems. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are designed to work best with Android devices, but you’ll get more out of them if paired with Galaxy phones. When paired with Galaxy phones, you’ll get access to the Samsung Scalable Codec which allows the buds to play 24-bit HiFi audio. When used with non-Samsung Android devices, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro will use the SBC codec instead.
Other features of the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro include ANC and Ambient sound, 360 audio (Dolby Atmos support), SmartThings Find, Samsung TV connectivity and a gaming mode for reduced latency while gaming. The Samsung Wearable app is exclusive to Android.
As for the AirPods Pro, they are best used with iOS and MacOS since they don’t have a companion app that will work on Android. Most of their features are exclusive to Apple devices, features such as adaptive EQ, spatial audio, Find My, Hey Siri, audio sharing and Ear Tip Fit Test.
Noise Cancelling
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are much improved in this area when compared to their predecessor and the AirPods Pro. The Buds 2 Pro can attenuate noise more effectively than the AirPods Pro across the entire frequency range. It also helps that their form factor can provide a better seal for passive noise isolation.
The AirPods Pro also offer solid ANC performance, and they are better than most ANC earbuds in the market. However, when compared against the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, they are just a notch below.
Ambient Sound on the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and the AirPods Pro’s Transparency Mode are both reliable when you need to hear your surroundings.
Sound
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are Harman-tuned while the AirPods Pro have a more neutral sound profile.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro (left) fit snuggly in your ears while the stem of the AirPods Pro (right) will stick out.
Sound-wise, these two offer a very different experience. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are Harman-tuned, since Harman is a subsidiary of Samsung. They have elevated lows and highs, while still maintaining a flat and accurate mid-range. The result is a fun and lively sound that can also be a bit fatiguing if you are sensitive to treble. Overall, though, they sound good with good bass presence, forward mids and sparkly highs.
Meanwhile, the AirPods Pro have a more neutral sound profile where the lows and highs are not as elevated as those on the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. The result is a cleaner sound with less bloat in the mids, but they can lack sparkle and airiness in the upper range. If you prefer a neutral sound that’s less fatiguing, you’ll like the AirPods Pro better than the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro.
With that said, you can EQ the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro to tweak the sound to your liking. The same can’t be said with the AirPods Pro as Apple does not provide an easy way to EQ within iOS and MacOS. The best you can get is their adaptive EQ, but it’s not as customizable as Samsung’s graphic and EQ presets.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro offer better battery life than the AirPods Pro.
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro (image) come in three colors, whereas the AirPods Pro are available in their signature white with black accents.
When it comes to battery life, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro perform better than the AirPods Pro. When both earbuds have ANC enabled, the difference is minimal, with the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro having a battery life of five hours and four and a half hours for the AirPods Pro. However, when ANC is disabled, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro can last up to eight hours while the AirPods Pro can only give you five hours of music playback.
The charging case of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro is also superior to the AirPods Pro’s case. It holds additional charges that can give you up to 29 hours of music playback whereas the case of the AirPods Pro can give you 24 hours of runtime.
Both the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and AirPods Pro support wired and wireless charging. The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro support Qi wireless charging and they come with a USB-C cable for wired charging. Meanwhile, the AirPods Pro come with a MagSafe case and a Ligthning to USB charging cable. Similar to the Galaxy buds 2 Pro, they can also be wirelessly charged with Qi charging mats.
Verdict
For Samsung Galaxy and iPhone users, you should get the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and AirPods Pro, respectively. For non-Samsung Android users, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro will offer a better experience than the AirPods Pro.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
For Android users
AirPods Pro
For iOS users
If you are using a Samsung phone, it’s a no-brainer, you should definitely buy the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. And if you have an iPhone, then the AirPods Pro are ideal for you. If you have a non-Samsung Android device, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are better than the AirPods Pro since most of their features are still accessible. In comparison, the AirPods Pro are quite limited when used with Android devices. There’s no way to adjust their settings since they don’t have an Android compatible app and almost all of their features are exclusive to iOS and MacOS. You’re better off spending your money with the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro since most of their features are still available on non-Samsung Galaxy phones.
FAQs
📌 Which is better, Galaxy Buds 2 Pro or AirPods Pro?
Disregarding their platform compatibility, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are better overall than the AirPods Pro. They have better ANC performance and they also have a longer battery life. They have a more user-friendly design and you can at least EQ them if you don’t how they sound out of the box.
📌 Can I use the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro with an iPhone?
Yes, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro can be used with an iPhone, but they will be limited to basic functionalities since the Samsung Wearable app is not available on iOS. You won’t be able to use most of their features.
📌 Are the AirPods Pro waterproof?
They are not entirely waterproof. They are water-resistant, though.
📌 Can I use the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro in the gym?
Yes, they can be used for workout since they have an IPX7 rating. An IPX7 rating means that they are waterproof, so they won’t have issues even when draped in sweat.
