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Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro Review: 24-bit Audio FTW!

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The Galaxy Buds2 Pro is the latest AKG-tuned TWS earbuds with active noise cancellation from Samsung!

Find out just how good it really is, and why its 24-bit audio support is something audiophiles will love!

 

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro : 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 Buds2 Pro
  • Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro storage + charging case
  • Guide Start Guide
  • USB-C to USB-C charging cable
  • Two sets of extra ear tips (small and large)

 

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro : Key Features

The Galaxy Buds2 Pro is the latest AKG-tuned TWS earbuds from Samsung, with a slew of improvements.

Despite its name, it is the second generation version of the ultra-premium Galaxy Buds Pro, and not an improved version of the Galaxy Buds2 we reviewed last year.

Comfort

These are amongst the lightest and smallest earbuds I ever tried. Each earbud weighs just 5.5 grams and are 15% smaller.

They feel less intrusive, and are also more discreet than the last generation Buds Pro – fitting snugly into your ear.

The earbuds come with medium ear tips fitted, but the package includes small and large ear tips, allowing you to swap them out for a snug fit.

IPX7 Water Resistant

Unlike the Galaxy Buds2, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro are IPX7 water-resistant, so you can carry on using them even in the rain!

While they are officially rated to withstand submersion in up to 1 metre of fresh water for up to 30 minutes, Samsung do not advise you use them at the beach or in the pool.

I should also point out that the charging case itself is NOT water-resistant, so please make sure you keep it dry. In addition, you must dry the Galaxy Buds2 Pro before you put them back into the charging case.

Even so, water-resistance is one of the things I love about Samsung wearables and smartphones. As a rather clumsy person, I’ve dropped my fair share of gadgets, and more often than not – into pools of rainwater, or even swimming pools!

Active Noise Cancellation

Budget ANC earbuds use one microphone, with mid-range ANC earbuds like the Galaxy Buds2 use up to two microphones to receive ambient noise for cancellation.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro uses three microphones with high signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio to expand the amount of ambient noise it can cancel, and you can tell the difference. Its ANC performance is markedly improved from the last generation.

I managed to test them out on two turboprop flights which are noticeably louder than your typical airliner, and they worked great! The noise outside the planes was greatly muted, and once onboard, it’s like you are in your own oasis of peace and quiet.

If you need to listen to someone speak, there is an Ambient mode that temporarily disables ANC and lets you listen to the outside world. When you take out one earbud, the other earbud cleverly switches to Ambient mode so you don’t get disorientated, and switches back to ANC when you put the earbud back on.

You don’t even have to turn Ambient mode manually like with the Galaxy Buds2. The Galaxy Buds2 Pro comes with the Voice Detect feature, which automatically activates Ambient mode when you start talking! Just make sure you enable it in your Galaxy Wearable app first!

24-bit Audio

If you are an audiophile, you will love the 24-bit audio support in the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro.

24-bit audio has been around for a while, offering higher audio resolution and fidelity. However, adoption has been limited so far to expensive music players and audio devices.

After all, the entire chain – from the music file to the music player (software or hardware) and the earphones / headphones, plus the connectivity between them – must support 24-bit audio.

So it’s great to see Samsung driving the 24-bit audio effort forward by making sure that its mobile devices support 24-bit audio. Just make sure you upgrade to the One UI 4.0 or higher, to enable its proprietary Samsung Seamless Hi-Fi codec.

Built on the Scalable Codec it introduced several years ago, the Samsung Seamless codec is able to encode full 24-bit audio to transmit to the Galaxy Buds2 Pro wirelessly.

The only downside is that it’s proprietary, and will only work with Samsung Galaxy devices running One UI 4.0 or higher.

360 Audio

The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro also supports 360 Audio, which is basically their version of the spatial audio feature in Apple AirPods. It’s not enabled by default, because you may not want to turn it on all the time.

The 360 Audio feature only works with apps and content that support Dolby Atmos surround sound. When enabled, it delivers a 360-degree surround sound effect for a more immersive experience.

On top of that, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro supports head tracking, so the 360 audio you hear will actually change with your head movement!

While it doesn’t do much for music (very few are encoded for Dolby Atmos), you should enable it for movies and games.

Connectivity

The Galaxy Buds2 Pro connects wirelessly to your devices using Bluetooth 5.3, with support for AAC, SBC and Samsung’s new Seamless codec, but not aptX, LDAC or LHDC. Again, please note that the Samsung Seamless codec is proprietary, and will only work with their devices running on One UI 4.0 and above.

These earbuds do not offer Bluetooth multipoint connectivity, which means they can only be connected to one device at any one time.

They support automatic switching between Samsung Galaxy devices using the same Samsung account, but if you want to switch from your Samsung Galaxy smartphone to your laptops you need to manually switch using the Bluetooth menu.

Battery Life

The biggest problem I have with the Buds2 Pro though is its short battery life of about 5 hours with ANC enabled. I can get about 8 hours with ANC disabled, but that’s still on the low side for premium earbuds.

This is really a trade off – a larger battery (and consequently, longer battery life) would mean a heavier and more obtrusive earbuds. There is only so much Samsung can squeeze out of the tiny 61 mAh battery in each earbud.

The charging case with an internal 515 mAh battery provides another 13 hours of extra battery life (ANC enabled), or 21 hours (ANC disabled) – roughly 2.5 full charges.

They support quick charging though – a 5 minute charge will get you about an hour of battery life.

Pro Tip : Get into the habit of popping these earbuds into their case whenever you are not using, and you will never run out of battery life.

 

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro : Our Verdict

If you want the very best TWS earbuds with active noise cancellation technology from Samsung, there can be no doubt – the Galaxy Buds2 Pro is it.

It is amazing that such a small package comes with so many great features – 24-bit audio with 360 Audio, active noise cancellation with three SNR microphones, and IPX7 water resistance.

While the Galaxy Buds2 Pro is not cheap, those features do really make a real difference in the enjoyment of your music, videos and games.

For those reasons, I think it deserves no less than our Reviewer’s Choice Award!

Just be aware of its relatively short battery life, lack of Bluetooth multipoint connectivity, and reliance on a proprietary codec which limits 24-bit audio to Samsung devices.

If you are in the Samsung ecosystem and would like to enjoy 24-bit audio and/or surround sound, you can’t go wrong with the Galaxy Buds2 Pro.

But if you are not using a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, or do not need 24-bit audio support, then these are not the earbuds you are looking for. You are better off buying the cheaper Galaxy Buds2!

 

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro : Where To Buy?

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 is priced at RM899 / S$328 / US$229 / £189 / A$349.

Here are some online purchase options (prices accurate as of 11 November 2022) :

 

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Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Review : Great Bang For Your Buck!

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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) :

 

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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vivo TWS 2 ANC + TWS 2e Earbuds : All You Need To Know!

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vivo just introduced the TWS 2 ANC and TWS 2e true wireless stereo earbuds that offer studio quality audio!

Find out if the new TWS earbuds are what you have been looking for!

 

vivo TWS 2 ANC + TWS 2e Earbuds : All You Need To Know!

vivo just introduced two new true wireless stereo earbuds – the TWS 2e and the TWS 2 ANC with active noise cancellation!

They both come with 12.2 mm speakers offering super strong bass, in a pair of feather-light earbuds.

Here is what you need to know about the new vivo TWS 2 series earbuds…

Comfortable Fit

Both vivo TWS 2 ANC and TWS 2e earbuds are ultra-light at just 4.7 grams. But more importantly, they were designed with a G3 curvature that conforms to the contours of your ears.

They also feature an innovative vent design, with front and rear chamber flow to help equalise pressure. You will hardly remember they are there!

Super Strong Bass

Both vivo TWS 2 models come with a large 12.2 mm speaker, which features a carbon fibre composite diaphragm to deliver powerful bass, with crisp mids and highs.

Active Noise Cancellation

The vivo TWS 2 ANC can continuously monitor and cancel the background sound, eliminating up to 40 dB of noise!

You can rely on its smart noise algorithm to intelligently adjust the degree of noise cancellation, or manually choose from three levels – high, normal and low.

It doesn’t matter how loud traffic gets – you will always hear every song and conversation crystal clear!

And a single tap activates the Transparency Mode which lets you clearly hear outside sounds, letting you hear announcements and chat with people as if you were not wearing the earbuds at all.

Microphone Noise Cancellation

Both models come with two external beam forming microphones to eliminate background noise while picking up your voice.

Their duct design also improves wind noise reduction by an astounding 148%, so your voice will always be clear even if you are running or cycling.

The TWS 2 ANC model has an additional microphone hidden within the earbud.  This microphone has a high SNR to help pick up your voice even in the noisiest environment.

Multipoint Connection

Both vivo TWS 2 models can simultaneously connect to two devices, and switch seamlessly between them – like your vivo X70 smartphone and a laptop, for example.

If you receive a call on your phone while watching a video on your laptop, the earbuds will automatically stream the call and switch back to the video after you hang up.

Ultra-Low Latency

Both models have been enhanced with vivo’s dual-coupled antennas to reduce wireless latency, which is critical for online games.

The TWS 2e has a wireless latency of just 117 ms, while the TWS 2 ANC goes as low as 88 ms!

Battery Life

Both models have a battery life of about 7 hours, and 29-30 hours when used with the charging case.

With active noise cancellation enabled, the TWS 2 ANC has a 4 hour battery life on a single charge.

 

vivo TWS 2 ANC + TWS 2e Earbuds : Specifications

To make it easier for you to decide between the two models, we created this table to compare their key specifications :

Specifications TWS 2 ANC TWS 2e
Design In-Ear Earbuds
IP Rating IP54
Speaker Unit 12.2 mm voice coil
Frequency Range 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz
Active Noise Cancellation Yes No
Microphones 3 2
Voice Call Noise Cancellation Yes, 3-Mic Yes, 2-Mic
Wireless Connectivity Bluetooth 5.2
Dual-Channel Transmission 2.0
Wireless Latency 88 ms (min.) 117 ms (min.)
Wireless Codec aptX Adaptive / AAC / SBC AAC / SBC
Wear Detection Two capacitive sensors None
Google Fast Pair Yes
Controls Pressure +
Touch		 None
Battery 45 mAh (each earbud)
505 mAh (charging case)
Battery Life
(Noise Cancellation Off) 		7.3 Hours 7.6 Hours
Battery Life
(Noise Cancellation On)
 4.1 Hours –
Charging Time 60 minutes (earbuds)
110 minutes (charging case)
Charging Port USB Type C
Earbud Dimensions 23.8 x 22.2 x 30.2 mm
Charging Case Dimensions 60.0 x 24.3 x 45.4 mm
Earbud Weight 4.7 g per earbud
Charging Case Weight 41.9 g

 

vivo TWS 2 ANC + TWS 2e Earbuds : Price + Pre-Order Deals

The vivo TWS 2e is priced at RM269 – approximately US$64 / £47 / A$88 / S$87.

But it only costs RM68, if you purchase it with a vivo X70 series smartphone!

The vivo X70 Pro is priced at RM369 – approximately US$88 / £65 / A$121 / S$119.

But it only costs RM98, if you purchase it with a vivo X70 series smartphone!

 

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Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Galaxy Buds Live | Galaxy Buds+ : Malaysia Deals!

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Take a look at the official October-November deals for the Samsung Buds Live and Galaxy Buds+ TWS earbuds in Malaysia!

 

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live | Galaxy Buds+ : Premium TWS Earbuds

Announced together with the Samsung Galaxy S20 family of smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus or Galaxy Buds+ is their second-generation TWS earbuds design.

Improving on last year’s Galaxy Buds, it boasts a new 2-way speaker design by AKG, and an adaptive 3-microphone system.

Announced together with the Galaxy Note20 smartphones, the Galaxy Buds Live extends that with active noise cancellation (ANC), and a more spacious soundscape.

This is the first time ANC is offered on an open type TWS earbuds by Samsung. It also boasts 12 mm speakers by AKG, with a large driver and bass duct.

It has a 6 hour battery life, which is extended to 21 hours with its charging case.

 

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live | Galaxy Buds+ : Malaysia Deals For Oct-Nov!

Here is the official price list for both TWS earbuds in Malaysia :

  • Galaxy Buds Live : Mystic Bronze, Mystic White :  RM 699 (about US$168 / £130 / A$238 / S$230)
  • Galaxy Buds Plus : Black, White :  RM 599 (about US$144 / £111 / A$204 / S$197)

From now until 22 November 2020, every purchase will come with a FREE case worth RM 99.

 

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Jabra Elite 75t + Elite Active 75t Get FREE ANC Upgrade!

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Jabra is introducing a FREE ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) upgrade for all Elite 75t and Elite Active 75t true wireless earbuds!

 

Jabra Elite 75t + Elite Active 75t Get FREE ANC Upgrade!

On 21 October 2020, Jabra announced a FREE ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) upgrade for all Elite 75t and Elite Active 75t true wireless earbuds!

By taking advantage of the superior Qualcomm digital audio processor already built-into the Elite 75t, Jabra is able to introduce this free ANC upgrade via a firmware update in the Jabra Sound+ app.

The Jabra Elite 75t and Elite Active 75t with ANC as standard will be available for purchase in October 2020.

 

Jabra Elite 75t + Elite Active 75t : Now With ANC

The Jabra Elite 75t (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) is their fourth-generation wireless earbuds, offering two key improvements over last year’s Elite 65t.

Improved Comfort + Secure Fit

Jabra used thousands of ear scans from all over the world, to create a profile of the most optimal 3D shape and size for the Elite 75t.

They promise that they will offer an improved fit that is more comfortable and secure, allowing you to use them for long hours, and without fear of them falling out.

Better Battery + Charging Capabilities

Jabra extended the Elite 75t’s battery life by 50%, from 5 hours to 7.5 hours. They also extended its charging case’s battery capacity, allowing the Elite 75t to offer a total battery life of 28 hours, versus 15 hours for the 65t.

The Jabra Elite 75t (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) also has fast charging capability – a quick 15 minutes charge in its charging case will give you an hour of battery life.

Incidentally, Jabra will offer an Elite 75t variant in Q2 2020 that will have a charging case with wireless charging capability, in addition to USB Type C wired charging.

MyControl + MySound (Coming In Q2 2020)

Jabra will introduce two new features through a future firmware update – MyControl and MySound.

MyControl lets you personalise the touch controls, with the option of using either left or right earbud by itself. Otherwise, you can only use the right earbud independently.

MySound lets you create and use a personalised hearing profile using a series of audio tests. This will offer you a significant improvement in audio quality.

4-Microphone Technology

Like the Elite 65t, the Jabra Elite 75t (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) comes with four microphones for clearer voice pickups and better wind noise reduction.

Bluetooth 5.0 Connectivity

The Jabra Elite 75t (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) supports Bluetooth 5.0, which allows for lower-latency audio with lower power consumption. That means longer battery life without the fear of audio dropouts!

IP55 / IP57 Dust + Water Resistance

The Jabra Elite 75t is IP55-rated for dust and water resistance. That means it is sweat- and splash- resistant, but not waterproof. Do NOT take it for a swim!

The Jabra Elite Active 75t, on the other hand, is IP57-rated, which allows for water submersion up to 1 meter deep for up to 30 minutes.

 

Jabra Elite 75t + Elite Active 75t : Price + Availability

The Jabra Elite 75t is priced at USD 179.99 / €169.99 / A$249 / S$288 / RM949.

The Jabra Elite Active 75t is priced at USD 199.99 / €189.99 / A$279 / S$318 / RM999.

 

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