The Galaxy Buds 2 is the latest AKG-tuned TWS earbuds with active noise cancellation from Samsung!
Find out just how good it really is, and why it offers such great bang for your buck!
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 : What’s In The Box?
First, let’s take a quick look at what’s inside the box.
Samsung kindly provided us with a better unboxing video than we could have done ourselves.
Inside, you will find the following items :
- A pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds 2
- Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 storage + charging case
- Guide Start Guide
- USB-A to USB-C charging cable
- Extra ear tips (small and large)
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 : Key Features
The Galaxy Buds 2 is the latest AKG-tuned TWS earbuds from Samsung, and the lightest pair they ever made.
Despite its name, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 is not really a second-generation Buds, but a more affordable version of the ultra-premium Galaxy Buds Pro.
Comfort
These are really the lightest and smallest earbuds I ever tried. Each earbud weighs just 5 grams, and if you fit them right – you can hardly feel them.
They come with three sets of ear tips – small, medium and large, allowing you to fit them snugly.
But please note that the Galaxy Buds 2 are not IPX7 water-resistant like the Buds Pro. These earbuds are only IPX2 sweat-resistant, so you should avoid wearing them in the rain.
Active Noise Cancellation
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 has two microphones to constantly monitor ambient noise, 98% of which Samsung says will be cancelled by its Active Noise Cancellation technology.
Its noise cancelling performance is good, delivering much clearer audio while driving (haven’t been flying lately!) and in noisier surroundings. However, don’t expect the same level of noise cancellation as premium over-ear ANC headphones like Sony WH-1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort 45.
If you need to listen to someone speak, it has an Ambient mode (with 3 levels) that temporarily disable ANC and lets you listen to the outside world.
And when you take out one ear bud, the Buds 2 cleverly switches to Ambient mode so you don’t get disorientated, and switches back to ANC when you put the ear bud back on.
Audio Quality
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 has decidedly better audio quality than the original Galaxy Buds, but I suspect audiophiles will say that it lacks the refinement and richness of more premium earbuds like the Buds Pro or Sony’s WF-1000MX4.
That would not be a fair comparison, and it doesn’t really matter unless you are comparing them side-by-side. The Buds 2 sounds great, and you can further adjust it to suit your proclivities using its equaliser setting.
Instead of worrying about how it compares against its far more expensive competitors, it’s best to learn how to get the best fit possible for the best sound and active noise cancelling.
Connectivity
The Galaxy Buds 2 connects wirelessly to your devices using Bluetooth 5.2, with support for AAC, SBC and Samsung’s proprietary Scalable codecs, but not aptX.
The earbuds support automatic switching between Samsung Galaxy devices, but does not offer true Bluetooth multipoint connectivity – switching from your phone to your computer, for example.
Battery Life
There is a downside of the reduced weight though – a battery life of 5 hours with ANC enabled, and up to 7.5 hours with ANC disabled.
That may seem a little short for some, but it’s really not so bad because the ear buds support quick charging – popping them into the charging case for 5 minutes gets you another hour of use.
The charging case, incidentally, has enough juice for three full charges. That’s 20 hours of battery life in your pocket.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 : Our Verdict
The Galaxy Buds 2 is the cheapest and lightest pair of TWS earbuds from Samsung, and it boasts many of the best features from the far more expensive Galaxy Buds Pro.
Unless you have plenty of cash to splash, the decision is simple – just get the Galaxy Buds 2 and enjoy it!
Battery life is shorter and it’s not water-resistant, but the Buds 2 has a better fit and is both lighter in weight and on your wallet!
For those reasons, I think it deserves no less than our Reviewer’s Choice Award!
Frankly speaking, the Buds2 will kill a lot of budget TWS earbuds. Why settle for less when you can get an affordable pair of AKG-tuned ultra-light earbuds from Samsung?
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 : Where To Buy?
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 is priced at RM499 / S$248 / US$149.99 / £139 / A$219.
Here are some online purchase options (prices accurate as of 28 October 2021) :
- Malaysia : RM439 | RM469 | RM499
- Singapore : $190 | $192 | $209
- United States : $123.49 | $129.99
- United Kingdom : £134
- Australia : $197 | $197 | $197
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