During the last several years, Samsung has been aggressively updating its TWS earbuds portfolio as well as its TVs and smartphones. We saw the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro launched in India earlier this year, offering “intelligent active noise cancellation” that can switch seamlessly between ANC and Ambient Sound.
Design
OnePlus Buds Pro, Nothing Ear(1), Jabra 75t, and Sony WF-XB700 earbuds are among products that compete with Galaxy Buds 2. Here’s our breakdown of Samsung’s latest true wireless earbuds.
Samsung, at this point, is not shying away from trying new designs, whether it is smartphones or TWS earbuds. Even if some may not see any significant changes in the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, they demonstrate Samsung’s commitment to quality.
Galaxy Buds 2 charging case looks much like the charging case for Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Live and Galaxy Buds Pro in India, which are already available. Instead of the standard white finish, the square-shaped case features a dual-tone finish, in which the outer shell matches the color of the earbuds and the inner shell is white.
Additionally, a green LED light indicates full charging. Unlike the earphones, the new ones have a smooth glossy finish that hugs your ears tightly.
The colors available to customers are Graphite, Olive, Lavender, and White. It includes two pairs of ear tips – one small, one large – as well as the graphite color option.
In the box are medium silicone ear tips for the earbuds. Unlike many TWS and wireless earphones that come with adapters, customers will get a USB-C charging cable instead.
Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2 and the charging case have a glossy finish that makes them look premium. In addition to the earbuds, the case is also light at 41.2 grams, which is easily pocketable.
Polycarbonate builds make this charging case scratch-prone, and third-party protective covers (at about Rs 1,000) are equally expensive. While the design and build of the buds won’t disappoint, the charging case must be handled with care.
Fit And Performance
Sound is a key area that interests many buyers before we get to fitting. The concerns can be justified when a product costs over Rs 10,000, as in the case of the Galaxy Buds 2. Even while running, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 provided an excellent fit.
If you are laying sideways in bed, the earbuds still fit comfortably in your ears. The majority of people prefer over-ear headphones over in-ear canal earphones when it comes to wireless audio products.
The Galaxy Buds 2 are unwearable for more than an hour since I have small ears and generally prefer over-ear headphones. The concha – the area surrounding the ear canal – can be particularly painful in my case.
As a precaution, I asked someone with naturally large ears to test the Galaxy Buds 2 after an hour of use, and they weren’t fatigued at all. This is good news for those with smaller ears, like mine.
The Samsung Galaxy Wearable application for Android, Windows (via the Microsoft Store), and Apple makes it possible for users to connect and manage the earbuds. When paired with Samsung devices, they work best.
With the new Galaxy M52 5G, we tested these buds, and you can place a widget on the home screen to access your wearable app quickly. The earbuds were tested with the iPhone 12 as well, but the app for iOS does not support Galaxy Buds 2.
You cannot alter the earbuds’ settings or manage equalization modes. Using the Samsung Galaxy Wearable app Windows with a Windows PC should also be no problem since the app offers the same options as the Android counterpart.
Samsung Galaxy Wearable App
In addition to being able to see battery status, Galaxy Buds 2 users will be able to switch between ANC, regular, and Ambient Sound modes with the Samsung Galaxy Wearable app. After tweaking settings according to preferences, users can manage these directly from the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2.
Despite working seamlessly, the touch controls on the buds are often too sensitive. An IR sensor in the Galaxy Wearable app allows users to find their earbuds using the ‘Find My Earbuds’ feature.
A beeping sound will be heard when the earbuds are close to a smartphone, essentially aiding in location. Beeps from the bud are, however, not entirely reliable and can sometimes be too faint.
Sound Quality
It is arguably the audio quality that is the soul of any earbud. Even at a price point of Rs 10,000, the Galaxy Buds 2 ticks off almost all the areas that one might consider when it comes to sound quality.
There are usually two drivers in each earbud, a woofer and a tweeter. This allows the earbuds to deliver a superior sound while consuming less power.
The Galaxy Buds 2 offers a punchy bass and equally clear sound, which should be welcomed by buyers. There is also a branding inside the charging case, which indicates the earbuds were tuned by AKG, a subsidiary of Harman International.
In addition to the popular AAC and SBC codecs, Samsung’s Scalable codec is also included on the Galaxy Buds 2. No matter which platform you use – Android, iOS, or Windows – the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 delivers good audio output.
A total of six microphones (three on each earpiece) enable voice communication and active noise cancellation. There is no guarantee that the calling quality will be perfect in all noisy settings, but it should get the job done.
Because the earbuds cannot intelligently filter out external noise, do not expect too much. The buds are IPX2 rated for water resistance, which is not that impressive at this price point.
Battery
Neither the case nor the earbuds are fully charged in less than 2.5 hours. With ANC, the Galaxy Buds 2 offered decent battery life, but not as much as Samsung claims. The buds lasted 4.5 hours, and we were able to recharge them three times with the case. Furthermore, we were unable to test Qi wireless charging in the charging case. You can also charge the 472mAh battery in case if your phone supports reverse charging.
Verdict
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 are clear winners based on headlines and initial impressions. Although the buds don’t disappoint in terms of both appearance and sound quality, it may not matter to many users, especially for people who spend almost Rs 10,000 on them.
It is possible to feel a bit fatigued within an hour if you have small ears like me. Give the Galaxy Buds some time if you’re a new customer of the premium headphones that feature touch controls and gestures, as it will take some getting used to. As a result, you won’t regret purchasing the Galaxy Buds 2.
edited and proofread by: nikita sharma
