Samsung has introduced its new flagship ANC in-ears with the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. The earphones are full of new technology, more compact, and lighter, but at a price of €230, they are not a cheap pleasure either.
Very similar design but smaller
The new Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are 15% smaller than the original Galaxy Buds Pro. The earphones aren’t particularly light or hefty, weighing 5.5 grams per unit. They measure 19.9 x 21.6 x 18.7 mm in length, width, and depth
What amazes me, even more, is that Samsung has also reduced the size of the charging case. The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro, Buds 2, and Galaxy Buds Live all had dimensions of 50.1 x 50.2 x 27.7 mm. To cut costs, it’s likely that they shrank the size again to save on production expenses. The case weighs in at 43.4 g, which isn’t too bad considering that there are four components inside (that I just listed).
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro is available in three color versions. In addition to graphite gray and white, there is a purple variant that matches the Samsung cell phone.
With the protection against shit and water, Samsung skimped on the normal Galaxy Buds 2, so they were only certified with IPX2. However, the new Pro model, like the previous one, is again provided with IPX7 protection.
What is technically in the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro?
Dual speaker drivers
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pros have the same dynamic two-way speaker system as their predecessors, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. One driver is responsible for bass, while the other is responsible for high and mid-range sounds. The wireless in-ear is Hi-Res certified, and it also includes a 360° audio mode that is supposed to give you the sensation of being on stage.
Hybrid ANC technology
Two external and one internal microphone are used per listener, as usual. The Samsung Galaxy S9’s ANC top-tier models, such as the Sony WH-1000 XM4, will see if Samsung can annoy them with the arrangement in their new flagship earbuds.
Samsung has a conversation mode, which allows you to change between ANC and transparent modes manually. The listeners register when you begin speaking yourself if this is switched on. They instantly switch the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pros to transparent mode so that you can comprehend the person you are conversing with without removing your headphones from your ears if this is the case.
Bluetooth 5.3 unfortunately without no LDAC
Samsung uses a Bluetooth 5.3 chipset in the Galaxy S10e. While there were rumors that Samsung would add extra codes this time around, as well as AAC and in-house SSC codecs, we were informed differently after the presentation. The handset’s full potential can only be utilized with a Samsung phone.
Average run-time only
The handset’s operating time is 5 hours when the ANC is switched on, according to Samsung. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are not alone in this regard because of this manufacturer data. The wireless ANC in-ears have a battery life of 4-6 hours, which I would describe as above average.
With the charging case, you can listen to music for up to 18 hours before requiring a socket. Of course, Samsung’s new wireless in-ear headphones can not only be charged using USB-C, but also wirelessly.
Assessment: at this price, you have to deliver
The technical data of headphones is so complex that evaluating them based on it is almost impossible. I’m looking forward to seeing how the sound differs from the Pro version. The driver configuration, at least on paper, appears to be quite similar. Active noise cancellation has also remained unchanged.
I’m hoping that Samsung has improved upon the issues with their proximity sensors in this generation. In the past, Samsung’s wearer detection hasn’t been very reliable. I’m a little disappointed that Samsung only offers its own SST codec and does not include any more open codecs such as the LDAC or LHDC codec. Non-Samsung cell phone users would have found it much more appealing if Samsung had implemented more universal codecs, such as AptX Bluetooth Wireless Stereo Music Streaming -> I’m concerned about Samsung’s wearable detection since it has historically been quite unreliable. I am disappointed that Samsung does not support additional open codecs like AptX Bluetooth Wireless Stereo Music Streaming.
Source: samsung.com