But Samsung managed to outperform my expectations here. But I’ll take the barely there Buds 2 any day.Ĭonsidering how well concealed the Buds 2 are, I assumed voice call quality would suffer. If you’re more interested in earbuds as a fashion accessory, the Galaxy Buds Live still exude more unique style. Comparing them to the bulkier Galaxy Buds or Buds Plus, you’re left with an indisputable example of the leveling up Samsung has done in earbud design. Looking at someone wearing them straight on, you could miss the Buds 2 entirely. They’ve got a similar curved shape to the Buds Pro, but the reduced size makes the Buds 2 practically disappear into the crevices of your ear.
GALAXY BUDS 2 PLUS
The Galaxy Buds 2 replace the Galaxy Buds Plus in Samsung’s earbuds lineup.
GALAXY BUDS 2 PRO
In fact, Samsung did so well with the Buds 2 that the flagship Buds Pro just became a much harder sell.
GALAXY BUDS 2 FOR ANDROID
But Samsung got enough right that these could end up the new go-to pick for Android users who want an easy and reliable pair of wireless earbuds with satisfying sound. Still, they trail the Buds Plus in battery life, so not everything is necessarily better. And in my ears, the Buds 2 provide a flush, discreet fit that uniquely stands out among the company’s top competitors. These are the company’s smallest and lightest true wireless earbuds yet. But in the few days I’ve spent with them so far, I’d say the bigger, most impressive progress Samsung has made is with their design and fit. The Buds 2 improve upon their predecessors by adding active noise cancellation. That family now consists of the Galaxy Buds Pro, bean-shaped Galaxy Buds Live, and the Galaxy Buds 2. The $149 earbuds replace the Galaxy Buds Plus as the entry-level position in the company’s lineup. You’ll still sound better than if you were using your phone’s mic.Alongside the new Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3, Samsung is also introducing the Galaxy Buds 2. The onboard microphones work fine for calls and Zoom meetings, but they’re not quite as good as the AirPods Pro, Buds Pro, or Sony WF-1000XM4. In fact, they’re a bit more closed off than the Buds Pro, so you get less sound leaking in before noise-canceling takes over. You can spend more for better sound with the Buds Pro, but to be honest, the Buds2 offer some of the best all-around audio performance I’ve heard. The onboard noise-canceling does well to create a blank sonic canvas to enjoy your tunes, but even with it off, or with ambient mode turned on so you can hear friends, car horns, and coworkers, you still get a pretty accurate representation of your music. The drums sound perfectly punchy, with acoustic guitars and background vocals layering perfectly in the mid and high range.
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I’ve been on a ’90s singer-songwriter binge lately, and everyone from Alanis Morissette to Sheryl Crow plays with signature major-label sheen. They don’t have the same clarity and openness as on the more expensive older sibling, but the bass response is heads and shoulders better than other earbuds at this price.
GALAXY BUDS 2 DRIVERS
Samsung debuted its first pair with dual drivers in the still-awesome Buds Pro, and it's nice to see it in the Buds2. You can plug into a USB-C port on the case for quicker charging, but I never used it, since plopping it on a pad is so much more convenient, especially since the case almost always has some charge.ĭual-driver arrays, where you get one for treble and one for bass, are still relatively rare in wireless earbuds.
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The charging case itself comes with about four additional charges. No need to fuss with a cable! You’ll get an AirPods Pro–beating five hours of playtime with noise canceling on and 7.5 hours with it off. I have increasingly become a fan of wireless charging pads, so it’s nice that these Buds come with a wireless charging case. There aren’t a ton of controls in there, but I really love that you can turn off the touch controls on the buds-perfect on runs when my sweaty hair has a tendency to play and pause music. In Samsung's Wear app, you can dial up or down Ambient Sound (when you want to hear surrounding noises outdoors, like cars passing), or turn ANC off or on. The active noise-canceling (ANC) tech isn’t as good as I’ve heard from Sony or Bose, but it's as good as any I’ve heard from Samsung, aided by a great seal from the long-trunked buds.
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They have an IPX2 water-resistance rating and have held up perfectly fine on sweaty runs and my recent bout of indoor kettlebell workouts. Unlike the latest model from Sony, these should easily fit smaller ears as well as they fit my very average ear holes. They feel light and secure, even without earfins attached to them. Pull the egg-shaped buds out of their magnetic enclosure to reveal trunks that lead to soft silicone eartips, with sensors to tell them when they’re in your ears.