The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro is arguably the best true wireless earbuds the company offers, but there’s a newer pair around: the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2. This recent iteration comes with just about everything you’d expect from the lineup, including impressive audio quality and plenty of features. In addition, it has active noise cancellation (ANC) too—all that at a lower price point.
At first glance, it may seem like the Galaxy Buds 2 is pretty much the same, except that it has a better price-to-performance ratio. However, the Galaxy Buds Pro’s extra features may justify its higher cost. In other words, choosing between the two really depends on whether those are worth forking over a couple of bucks more or not.
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Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 vs Galaxy Buds Pro Comparison Chart
| Model | ||
| Amazon product | Amazon product | |
| Price | Amazon product | Amazon product |
| Speaker | 2-way woofer and tweeter | 2-way 11mm woofer and 6.5mm tweeter |
| Microphone | 2 outer, 1 inner, and voice pickup unit | 2 outer, 1 inner, voice pickup unit, and wind shield |
| Codecs | Scalable, AAC, SBC | Scalable, AAC, SBC |
| Active Noise Cancellation | Yes | Yes, adjustable |
| Ambient Sound | Yes | Yes |
| Spatial Audio | No | Yes |
| Voice Detect | No | Yes |
| Water Resistance | IPX2 | IPX7 |
| Battery | Earbuds: 61 mAh Case: 472 mAh ANC on: Up to 5 hours of playback or 20 hours with case ANC off: Up to 7 hours of playback or 29 hours with case Fast charging: 1 hour of play time in 5 minutes | Earbuds: 61 mAh Case: 472 mAh ANC on: Up to 5 hours or 18 hours with case ANC off: Up to 8 hours or 28 hours with case Fast charging: 1 hour of play time in 5 minutes |
| Wireless Charging Case | Yes | Yes |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | Per earbud: 0.6″ x 0.8″ x 0.8″ Case: 1.9″ x 1.09″ x 1.9″ | Per earbud: 0.7″ x 0.8″ x 0.8″ Case: 1.9″ x 1.09″ x 1.9″ |
| Weight | Per earbud: 5g Case: 41.2g | Per earbud: 6.3g Case: 44.9g |
| Colors | Graphite, White, Olive, Lavender | Phantom Violet, Phantom Black, Phantom Silver |
Design and Build
The
To start things off, the Galaxy Buds 2 is more comfortable to wear, and it’s likely because it’s shaved off a few millimeters and has a slightly different form factor. Moreover, Samsung even introduced the Galaxy Earbud fit test alongside it to make sure you’re getting the best possible fit. That doesn’t automatically mean the Galaxy Buds Pro isn’t comfy, though. It’s just a bit more tiring to wear throughout the day in comparison.
In the Galaxy Buds Pro’s defense, it has the better build quality. Sure, like the newer model, it’s primarily made with plastic when it comes down to it, which partly consists of post-consumer materials or PCM (read: recycled plastic). However, it’s noticeably more premium to the touch. On top of that, it has a higher IPX7 water resistance as opposed to the Galaxy Buds 2’s IPX2.
These earbuds’ charging cases are practically the same, but the Galaxy Buds Pro’s is slightly heavier. The difference is just a few grams, and it’s really hard to tell, unless you’re really particular about weight.
The Galaxy Buds 2 is available in more colors, namely Graphite, White, Olive, and Lavender. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Buds Pro comes in Phantom Violet, Phantom Black, and Phantom Silver.
Audio and Noise Cancellation
The
Both can deliver excellent audio quality overall and feature an equalizer with six presets: Normal, Bass boost, Soft, Dynamic, Clear, and Treble boost. They support AAC and SBC as well, including Samsung’s proprietary Scalable codec. For the uninitiated, it ensures a stable connection by adjusting bitrate based on signal strength, but it only works with Galaxy smartphones. These earbuds also have ANC and ambient sound, but the Galaxy Buds Pro does just about everything better.
First off, the Galaxy Buds Pro is equipped with a two-way 11mm woofer and a 6.5mm tweeter, allowing it to offer detailed highs, clear mids, and rich bass. In terms of performance, the Galaxy Buds 2 is similar, but it’s noticeably a step-down.
As for their ANC, the Galaxy Buds Pro can reduce up to 99 percent of background noise, and it has High and Low levels that’s designed for different frequencies. On the other hand, the Galaxy Buds 2 can block out external noise up to 98 percent, and it isn’t adjustable.
The same goes for their ambient modes. The Galaxy Buds Pro has Low, Medium, High, and Extra High settings, while the Galaxy Buds 2 only has the first three. That might not seem much, but Extra High comes in real handy, as it can really let you hear your surroundings clearly without taking the earbuds off in case you need to.
Battery and Other Features
The
Under the hood, the two have the same 61 mAh battery and the same 472 mAh battery in their charging cases, which support wireless charging. On that note, they also have Wireless PowerShare, allowing you to charge them with a Galaxy smartphone that supports the feature.
Both can go up to five hours with ANC on, but the Galaxy Buds Pro can last up to eight hours with ANC off instead of the Galaxy Buds 2’s seven-hour playback time. Fast charging is the same, though. You can get an hour’s worth of play time in only five minutes on both.
These true wireless earbuds also have Gaming Mode that reduces latency when gaming, but the Galaxy Buds Pro has the upper hand in the features department. Unlike the Galaxy Buds 2, it can detect your voice and lower the volume of whatever you’re listening to so you can hold a conversation without even touching the earbuds. Additionally, it has 360 Audio for an immersive spatial audio experience, as well as SmartThings Find that’ll help you locate it via GPS if you misplace it.
Samsung did make improvements on the Galaxy Buds 2. For one thing, it feels more accurate and responsive. The two also have ear detection, and it works as advertised. However, that doesn’t automatically mean it’s good. You have to remove both left and right earbuds to pause playback, and you’ll have to manually play or resume the content you’re listening to. It’s not as polished as the AirPods Pro in this regard, but it’s something at least.
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Verdict
The
All in all, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro is still the best true wireless earbuds from the company. It has better sound and build quality and a stronger water resistance, and it’s packing more features, such as 360 Audio, Voice Detect, and SmartThings Find.
However, if your budget is tight, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 is a decent and affordable alternative. It’s an excellent pick if you’re only looking for reliable earbuds with no frills. Besides, it’s a comfy pair to wear, and it has more responsive controls to boot.
FAQs
Both have superb sound quality, active noise cancellation, ambient mode, and features like Wireless PowerShare and Gaming Mode. However, the
Yes, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro can deliver superior audio and better ANC performance than the Galaxy Buds 2. It also comes with more features, such as SmartThings Find.
The
Yes, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 is an excellent pair of true wireless earbuds. Besides having decent audio quality, it also has active noise cancellation and ambient mode, two of which aren’t common features in its price range.