Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro Review: Premium Wireless Earbuds for Samsung Users

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro represent the company's latest premium wireless earbuds, offering a blend of impressive audio performance, advanced noise cancellation, and a compact, comfortable design. Priced at NPR 27,999, these earbuds are tailored for Samsung smartphone users, with several key features locked exclusively for the ecosystem.

Design and comfort are standout aspects, with the Buds 2 Pro boasting a 15% smaller and lighter form factor compared to predecessors. The matte finish and lightweight build contribute to all-day wearability for most users, though ear shape variability may affect individual comfort. The IPX7 water resistance provides solid protection against sweat and light rain, though the charging case lacks any dust resistance rating.

The touch-sensitive controls are extensive and largely effective, allowing users to manage tracks, calls, noise cancellation modes, and volume levels through well-implemented gestures. Audible feedback enhances the experience, though the panel can be overly sensitive, sometimes reacting to minor movements like adjusting hair. Samsung's wear detection logic remains perplexing, requiring both earbuds to be removed to pause playback.

Connectivity is handled by Bluetooth 5.3, ensuring stable connections with low interference. While pairing is seamless with Samsung devices, non-Samsung users will miss out on key features like the Galaxy Wearable app, which is essential for customization and updates. The SmartThings Find support, which helps locate misplaced earbuds, is also limited to Samsung devices.

Noise cancellation is a highlight, with the Buds 2 Pro offering a 40% improvement over the original Buds Pro, effectively reducing low-frequency noise like HVAC systems and fan sounds. High-frequency noises, such as keyboard typing or passing vehicle horns, are less effectively blocked. The "Intelligent ANC" label doesn't reveal any noticeable difference in effectiveness between quiet and noisy environments. The Ambient Sound mode has been significantly improved, offering a natural listening experience, though the AirPods Pro's Transparency Mode still sets the standard. The Voice Detect feature, which activates ambient mode when you speak, can be overly sensitive, sometimes triggering from surrounding conversations.

Audio quality is exceptional, with a dual-speaker setup featuring a 10mm woofer and a 5.3mm tweeter. The sound is full, warm, and spacious, with a well-balanced frequency response that closely follows the Harman Curve. Bass response is tight and controlled, with the "Dynamic" equalizer preset offering the best balance. When paired with a Samsung phone running One UI 4.0 or higher, the Buds 2 Pro support 24-bit/48kHz Hi-Fi audio streaming, which offers a wider dynamic range compared to standard 16-bit audio. However, the difference is subtle, and most listeners may not notice a significant improvement.

Call quality is decent, with microphones that handle ambient noise reasonably well, though they can pick up more environmental sound than expected. Gaming performance is smooth on Samsung devices with Game Mode enabled, but latency remains an issue on non-Samsung phones.

Battery life is average, with up to 5 hours of playback with ANC enabled and 8 hours without. Real-world testing shows around 4.5 hours with continuous ANC use. A quick 5-minute charge provides 1 hour of playback, and the charging case adds another 18 hours.

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are best suited for users with relatively new Samsung smartphones, where features like 24-bit streaming, 360 Audio, and Auto Switch unlock their full potential. For existing Galaxy Buds Pro owners, the upgrades may not justify a full replacement, unless hi-res streaming and improved comfort are priorities. Non-Samsung Android users will still enjoy great sound and ANC, but face stiff competition from alternatives like the Pixel Buds Pro, Sony WF-1000XM4, and upcoming AirPods Pro models.