Samsung has been known to launch wireless earbuds quite frequently, and being an ardent supporter of Samsung products; I have followed all their launches with bated breath. The latest introduction to the market is the Galaxy Buds 2, an upgrade in the Galaxy Buds Pro.
Wireless earbuds are a must-have because of their convenience and ease of use. You do not have the wires hanging down your neck, and you do not have to keep adjusting the earphones.
But the question remains which of the two are better and if you already have a Galaxy Buds Pro should you upgrade to Galaxy Buds 2.
The first thing that you must consider is the price. The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro is priced at $308 in Singapore, while the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 is priced at $248. When you think of the price, you might wonder why Galaxy Buds 2 is less than Galaxy Buds Pro is.
Does the former offer fewer features compared to the latter? It is not really so. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 offers numerous features that makes it better than its predecessor, which is Galaxy Buds Pro.
There are distinctive differences between the two wireless earbuds. While the Galaxy Buds 2 offers better audio quality the Galaxy Buds Pro has better durability. Let us explore some of the features of these two earbuds, and then you can conclude whether you need to place an order for the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 immediately.
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Is it worth going for the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 in Singapore?
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro, the predecessor Galaxy Buds 2, is the original wireless earbuds introduced by the company with active noise cancellation. The Pro has three levels of ANC, while the Buds 2 has two levels of ANC.
Samsung takes it up a notch by offering four levels of ambient mode in Buds 2 compared to the three levels of ambient mode that you had in Samsung Galaxy Pro.
If you plan to wear your earbuds during workout sessions or while going for a jog in the evening, then you will need ones that offer better noise cancellation. You will need to ensure that there is no ambient noise to enjoy music without any external disturbance and continue with your workouts.
But before you purchase the two, there are several things that you must consider. The price of the Galaxy Buds 2 is less than that of the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro. However, that does not mean Galaxy Buds 2 is any less efficient than Galaxy Buds Pro.
I feel that there are several factors that you need to consider before you make a choice. For example, you have more choice of color with the Galaxy Buds 2 compared to Galaxy Buds Pro.
Although it was never a significant concern for me, if you want to choose an earbud with a brighter color, you can go for the Galaxy Buds 2 Ultra Violet or the BTS edition. This is a unique offering of Samsung and is a limited edition earbud. Samsung makes it easy to choose earbuds depending on your style and personal preference.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Design
The designs of both Galaxy Buds remain essentially the same. You will get these encased in boxes of colors, the same as that of the earbuds. The earbuds themselves are entirely smooth and have a pebble like a shape.
The original Galaxy Buds Pro had a fin-like structure for better attachment but Samsung has done away with it in Galaxy Buds 2. But there is more to the two earbuds’ design, dimensions, and features, and I have discussed these at length.
For example, the design of both earbuds does not fall out of your ears even when you do strenuous activities.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Size
If you compare the size of the two earbuds, they are essentially the same. The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro weighs 0.2 ounces, while Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 weighs 0.17 ounces. This slight difference in weight and minor changes in size will not make much difference when you wear the earbuds for long hours.
But if you are looking for a better fit, then the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 has a better fit than its predecessor. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 is 15% smaller and 20% lighter than its predecessor. Though the weight does not make much difference, the size sometimes does.
If you are looking for a pair of earbuds that are smaller in size and fit more snugly in your ears, then you should go for the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2. The Galaxy Buds 2 is designed for comfort.
This is a significant upgrade from the Galaxy Buds Pro. These earbuds are designed to ensure that the earbuds stay fixed in the position even when you do strenuous activities.
For example, if you plan to wear the earbuds for a run or a high-intensity workout session, you must wear earbuds that will not require adjustments and stay well fitted in your ears. In such a scenario, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 is the best option.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Appearance
The look and appearance of both Galaxy Buds 2 and Galaxy Buds Pro are excellent. You cannot deny that both are designed to be sleek, and you can wear these almost everywhere.
These buds can be worn to official gatherings and unofficial get-togethers as well. The Galaxy Buds 2 are available in four different colors, Lavender, olive, graphite, and white. If you want to purchase a statement piece, then buy the BTS edition of the Galaxy Buds 2.
The Galaxy Buds Pro is available in three colors: phantom black, phantom violet, and phantom silver. The entire series makes sleek-looking earbuds that can make wearing earbuds attractive and sophisticated. If you prioritize appearance, then Galaxy Buds 2 has more choice in the matter of color.
Specs and Performance
Battery life
For earbuds, battery life has always been a significant factor. You do not want to be charging your earbuds regularly, especially when you are in the middle of a workout session or playing a game. Here the winner undoubtedly is the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2.
I tested the ear bus under several conditions. If you have the ANC feature enabled, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 will last for approximately 5 hours without being recharged. When you disable the ANC feature, then the earbuds have a battery life of 7.5 hours.
Compared to this, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro needed to be recharged after 4 hours with the ANC feature turned on. Another factor that you will need to keep in mind is the total runtime combined with charging the case and the additional charges. The total runtime for Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro was 28 hours, while for Galaxy Buds 2, it was 29 hours. Thus, hands down, when it comes to battery life, the winner is Galaxy Buds 2.
Active Noise Cancellation or ANC
If you purchase the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, noise cancellation must be high on your priority list. Samsung had the Galaxy Buds Pro with the feature of ambient noise cancellation. It offers two levels of noise cancellation with four ambient modes compared to the Galaxy Buds 2, which provides three levels of ambient mode.
To simplify it, you can increase the noise cancellation levels in the Galaxy Buds 2. Galaxy Buds 2 is better if you plan to use the earbuds in places with high noise levels when you think of noise cancellation.
If you turn on ANC, the Galaxy Buds Pro is sufficient to cancel out sounds like people speaking in a room or loud noise coming from another room. But if you are trying to reduce sounds like construction work or job sites that are likely to produce audible sounds, then the Galaxy Buds Pro will not be effective; here, you will have to opt for Galaxy Buds 2.
The same is applicable for flights. If you are a frequent flier and plant to use the earbuds on flights, consider purchasing the Galaxy Buds 2 instead of the Galaxy Buds Pro.
Audio performance
The most critical evaluation of any earbud lies in its audio performance. But when it comes to Samsung earbuds, it is difficult to fault with their audio performance. Both earbuds have excellent audio outputs, but there are differences between the two.
For example, the predecessor comes with only one dynamic driver. In contrast, in the Galaxy Buds 2, Samsung upgraded the audio performance and introduced a separate tweeter and a woofer. This ensures better audio quality and improves the output. With the Galaxy Buds 2, you will get more unmistakable sound, better bass, and almost call the sound quality powerful.
In addition, the audio output of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 ensures that there are no discordant sounds. The Galaxy Buds Pro too reduces dissonant sounds to provide clarity to ensure improved audio quality but compared to the Buds 2; you might feel that certain sounds get muffled in the Buds Pro.
The overall improvement was that you could now hear with clarity mid-level bass sounds, which would sometimes sound a bit blurry in the case of the Galaxy Buds Pro. Thus, if you are looking for better bass, you could opt for the Galaxy Buds 2.
One specific audio feature that I’d like to highlight is the 360-degree spatial audio. This feature probably makes the Samsung Galaxy Buds pro slightly better than the Samsung galaxy buds 2. The 360-degree spatial audio coupled with Dolby Head Tracking Technology gives you an immersive audio experience.
But this feature only works with Samsung Galaxy S21, Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus, and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. Which means that this feature isn’t applicable to most of the users.
When it comes to audio quality over a call, Galaxy Buds Pro is the better option. Though, I have to say that neither of them will give you an amazing call experience but if it’s not too noisy or windy around you, you can have a decent phone call with either of the galaxy buds but the buds pro will definitely give you a better experience. With the Galaxy buds 2 a lot of the wind and background noises leaks into the call but that’s not the case with Buds Pro.
Water resistance
If you are looking for earbuds that are water resistant, then both Galaxy Buds Pro and Galaxy Buds 2 can prove to be a disappointment. These buds are not designed to be worn in heavy rainfall. However, you can rest assured that the earbuds won’t get damaged if you wear these in light rain. You can also be assured that these do not get at all damaged due to sweat.
Verdict and Final Thoughts
The Galaxy Buds 2 has several upgrades from its predecessor and is priced lower than Galaxy Buds Pro. But you will have to pre-order the former, and it is essential to check the market viability of the Galaxy Buds 2. The latest earbuds launched by Samsung are relatively new, and it is not yet time to write off the Galaxy Buds Pro.
The only place where the predecessor seems to be ahead of the Galaxy Buds 2 is when it comes to durability. Durability is essential as this ensures the earbuds will last longer, and you will not have to worry about changing these after some time.
Along with that, you will not have to worry about the performance of the earbuds depreciating over time. Therefore, you can be assured that the Galaxy Pro is one of the better wireless earbuds available in the market.
Furthermore, having been in the market for a more extended period, you will find more users of the particular earbud. Moreover, the Galaxy Buds Pro is more robust and seems to last longer than the Galaxy Buds 2. But if you are looking for better performance, appearance, and audio quality, then the Galaxy Buds 2 wins.
Once you start using the Galaxy Buds 2, you will not want to switch back to the Galaxy Buds Pro. Another factor that you need to consider is that the price of the Galaxy Buds 2 is less than that of the Galaxy Buds Pro. If you want to purchase the Pro at a competitive price, you will have to wait for discount offers.
From the official stores, you will get the Galaxy Pro earbuds only at full price. Therefore, if you want to purchase the ear pods at a lower rate but offer better ANC and better audio quality, you should buy the Galaxy Buds 2. However, it would be best if you waited before you made the final call. If you have already purchased the Galaxy Buds Pro, you could wait before upgrading to the Galaxy Buds 2.
You should consider upgrading if you are sure that you need the ANC and audio quality upgrades. You should also opt for the upgrade if you are looking for better battery life. The final decision should be yours but take it after carefully considering the features of both wireless earbuds.
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