Galaxy Buds2 Pro hands-on: why they are better than the AirPods Pro for me

The Galaxy Buds2 Pro look like their predecessors and cost €220 RRP, which is quite a lot of money. Still, I love them: the technical progress surprised me from the very first second. I reach for neither the Galaxy Buds2 nor my beloved AirPods Pro.

Setup and sound

Pairing is simple and quick. In the Wearable app you set everything up and, above all, run a fit test to check whether the ear tips fit. That is hugely important for the active noise cancelling.

The sound has improved significantly compared to the predecessors. For me, it is the best I have ever experienced on Bluetooth earbuds: clear, rich, with really deep bass. The new 24-bit hi-fi sound through two-way speakers makes that happen. It only unfolds its full power with a Samsung Galaxy device running at least One UI 4.0. I recommend also turning on Bass Boost in the app.

Noise cancelling and features

• ANC: Active noise cancelling existed on the predecessors already, but here it takes it to a new level. You feel shielded from everything, even from children screaming in the neighborhood or loud music at the gym. For that alone, the Buds2 Pro are worth their weight in gold.
• 360-degree audio: With Direct Multichannel, the sound comes from the direction of your smartphone, tablet or TV even when you move your head. At home, that’s almost a cinema experience. I mostly leave it off, because when I walk the dog it sounds like the sound is coming from my handbag.
• Battery: 5 hours of music in a row.
• Conversation mode: It detects when you speak and drastically lowers the volume.
• Neck stretch reminder: If you look down for several minutes in a row, you get a notification and an exercise is shown. As someone who sits at a desk, I find that very smart.
• Device switching: You switch seamlessly between a Samsung smartphone and a Galaxy tablet.

On calls, I understand the person on the other end loud and clear, and he understands me too.

Comfort, protection and controls

The buds are light and comfortable to wear. They are supposed to be 15% smaller than the predecessors, which is hard to judge from the outside. For the first time with Bluetooth earbuds, I have to use the large ear tip, but then they sit well and firmly, and after a few minutes I forget about them.

There is now IPX7: the buds are protected against water for up to 30 minutes at a depth of up to 1 m. I still wouldn’t take them swimming.

You operate them by tapping the earbuds. If you press and hold one side, you switch noise cancelling or ambient mode. Alternatively, you can assign Bixby to it. They come in black (my version), Bora Purple and white, all matte, which makes the buds look more premium in your ear.

Ad: Lark M1 by Hollyland

I owe the sound of this video to the sponsor Hollyland, who provided me with its wireless microphone, the Lark M1. You’ll find the link in the video description.

Verdict

At €220 RRP, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro are worth it in my view: they are the best buds Samsung has made so far. I even find them better than the AirPods Pro, not least because of wireless charging. As usual, they will certainly get much cheaper over the next few weeks, so it may be worth waiting a few more days or weeks.