Style with a punch: Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro Earbuds Review

The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro are my favourite earbuds. I tested them in January 2022, and they've been by my side – and in my ears – ever since. Here's why: the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro earbuds excel in delivering high-quality audio with wide frequency coverage, complemented by powerful bass-driven woofers and support for 24-bit audio, catering to the preferences of lossless streamers.

The noise cancellation capabilities rival even the acclaimed Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones, providing an immersive 360-degree audio experience for streaming content.

With impressive battery life, comfort for extended wear, and a stylish design, these earbuds are compared favourably to Apple headphones in terms of solidity and refinement. Flawless connection speeds and seamless touch controls further enhance the overall user experience.

When I reviewed the earphones, I found that the only downside was the price - which was a tad high for most users. It's worth watching for deals during the sale season to save a few pounds. To find out more, read my full review below.

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro earbuds review

The wireless earbud market is saturated, from its highest price point down to its cheapest. Across the spectrum, the best headphone brands are producing wonderful products, and this means that it really takes some to stand out. Enter the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro which, in my book, is an earbud option that has landed and immediately established itself as the industry’s best. But how does it do it? By delivering fully on every feature, and then some.

The Buds2 Pro carry excellent audio drivers which cover a wide frequency range and are supported with bass-driving woofers, altogether offering rich high-fidelity audio across all mediums and music genres. The decoder supports 24-bit audio too – good news for lossless streamers.

The noise cancellation is the best I’ve tried in earbuds, even rivalling the powers of the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones. The 360-degree audio is immersive for streaming entertainment, and the battery life will see you through the day without worry. It’ll be a good day too, because not only are they comfortable – even after hours of wear - but they are also stylish, so you’ll look the business too. These are just as solid and refined as any of the Apple headphoneswe've looked at. The connection speeds are flawless and touch controls are seamless. Expensive? Yes. Worth it? Definitely.

Verdict: Simply the best.

This article was originally published on 06/01/2023. We’ve checked back to update the links and change some formatting, so the date at the top of the page may not match up. The words and score of the original review remain unaltered.

What’s good on the Galaxy Buds2?

The audio is top-tier. The overall tone is rich, clear and punchy, giving your music the respect it needs to bring out all of its colours. This is made even more impressive when coupled with the noise cancellation. Together, they silence the outside world completely, allowing you to focus in and get it done – whether ‘it’ is focusing on a work assignment, drowning out the screaming kids on the morning bus commute or hitting a deadlift PR.

Ideal in all situations, too, is the simple touch controls and their quick activation time. A quick tap to pause playback allows you to have a quick chat, while holding down an earbud for a few seconds and will switch the noise cancellation mode, allowing you to get a grip on your surroundings when you need to.

The ear fit is nice – the few times one has dropped from my ear, it’s been mid-workout when I’ve been doing a lot of up-down motions, like burpees. For basically everything else, including running, rowing, cycling and general weightlifting, they’ve been fine. Of course, this means that they are always staying secure when out and about, and working at a desk, too.

Style is great. Initially unsure of the white colour, I’ve turned around on it and much prefer it to my other black earphones. More importantly, the shape and size of the earbuds are perfect. Rival Bose has the QuietComfort, which while excellent in audio do look a bit on the dorky side, and the stems of Apple AirPods are knockable annoyances (not to mention ugly). The Buds2 Pro sit within the ear, visible but not protruding, easy to tap when needed, but out of the way enough to avoid knocks.

What’s okay about the Galaxy Buds2?

The case and the positioning of the earphones within it are a little fiddly. No matter how many times I go to the case, the earphone position is always the opposite of what I instinctually expect. This isn’t a problem unique to Samsung’s earbuds – it’s a bugbear I have with all true-wireless earphones.

Any negatives to the Galaxy Buds2?

There are no negatives to the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro. They are a field-leading example of wireless earbud technology and an absolute delight to use – so long as you can afford them.

With a retail price of £219, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro are expensive, sitting almost £100 higher than the standard Apple AirPods, and far higher than countless sub-£50 options that can be found online. However, in exchange for such an outlay, you are receiving some of the best earphones this reviewer has ever tested. And besides, within their immediate competition – the Sony WF-1000XM4 (£250 RRP) and Apple AirPod Pros 2nd Gen (£249) – the price seems more than fair.

More items to consider:

How we tested the item:

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro earbuds have been on test since early November 2022. They have been used on a daily basis, mostly for listening to music at work and in the gym. They have been used on public transport, and for phone and video calls.

William Lobley is a Deputy Commercial Content Editor and reviewer for WhatsTheBest, specialising in technology, gaming and the outdoors.

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