During the launch of the flagships Z Fold3 and Z Flip3 recently, Samsung also released the new Galaxy Buds version, which is the Galaxy Buds2. The Galaxy Buds2 has a simpler design, yet it is an upgrade from the Buds+, in my opinion. I can’t really say it is an improvement from the Buds Pro, but it is definitely a successor to the Buds+.
I have a pair of Galaxy Buds Pro that I use all the time. But after using the new Galaxy Buds2 for a few days, I dare to say that Samsung has made an improvement in upgrading their entry level True Wireless Stereo (TWS).
Galaxy Buds2 TWS
The Galaxy Buds2 came with a pebble style white case, to which I found out that ALL Buds2 colour variants also came with a white case. The differences can only be seen once you open the case that reveals the respective colour options. The Galaxy Buds2 comes in 4 colours – Lavender, Olive, White, and Graphite. The one that I received for review is Lavender.
The soft toned Lavender colour is pleasant to the eyes but it can be rather obvious when you have it stuck in your ears. It is a little bit difficult for me to match with my attires as I don’t have anything Lavender or purple but whatever it is, black always goes with anything. So I just stick to wearing black.
The case can be a little fragile. It opens up with a snap at full position and it will snap back when you close it. If you drop the case, you may cause the case to open and fling the buds across the room. It won’t be nice to lose both the buds but it will be more irritating if you lose one of them. But the buds are magnetized to stick onto the metal charging pins inside the case. But just be careful when you handle the Galaxy Buds2 case.
Samsung said that this new Galaxy Buds2 is their lightest TWS yet, but on paper it says it weighs just 1 gram lighter than the Buds+. Nevertheless, it is the lightest TWS by Samsung at this moment. I can actually feel the lightness when I have it in my ears, so I can vouch for that.
Active Noise Cancellation
The Galaxy Buds2 adopts the same Active Noise Cancellation feature from the Buds Pro, which is a big plus for me as I love listening to my tunes without any ambient noise. I absolutely love the ANC from the Pro version, and I’m happy to say that I am amazed by the Buds2 ANC as well.
Turning on the ANC will cancel out the ambient noise, turning it off will set it to normal. But you can also turn on the ambient mode so that you can hear the outside noise. This is great when you’re walking on the streets so you can hear any incoming traffic or while you’re with your friends so you can still have a conversation with them. I have the ambient mode turned on while listening to music at the office.
The ambient mode is useful when you’re in a video conference where you have your colleagues sitting next to you while you’re talking to another person on the other side of the World. You can hear both sides clearly when you have the ambient mode on. I also use this function while driving on the road whenever I want to listen to better music quality. With this, I don’t need to upgrade my car stereo system.
Audio & Usage
For audio quality, I am pleased with what the new Galaxy Buds2 can produce. With the ANC turned on and volume up to 90%, the sound quality is on par with the Buds Pro, only to miss on the bass side a little bit. The bass is not as solid as the Buds Pro but I can still appreciate the overall audio quality.
The treble or high notes are crystal clear. I usually set the EQ on the Samsung Wearable app to “Dynamic”, which I think is just right for my taste. You can also customize the EQ to your liking whether to have more bass or clearer on the vocals. But dynamic works great for me.
As for entertainment such as gaming, the latency for the Galaxy Buds2 is said to be twice as low than the Galaxy Buds+. This is a huge plus point for me as I play games a lot on my phone, especially PUBG Mobile. I’ve already tried playing the game on my Z Flip3 and paired with the Buds2. The sound is amazing and the latency is really, really low. It is so much fun playing games with the Galaxy Buds2.
And while gaming, I do need it to run as long as possible so battery life is important. Each of the buds comes with a 61mAh battery while the case has a 472mAh battery built in. The case can be charged with a USB type-C cable or with a compatible Qi wireless charging pad.
The Buds2 can last about 5 hours on a single charge when you have the ANC turned on while it can go up to 8 hours when you turn the ANC off. Also to note, you can get an extra hour of use with only 5 minute of charge on the Buds2 case. And to charge up the case to 100% takes about 40 minutes.
If you prefer movies or Netflix as your main entertainment, the Galaxy Buds2 does not disappoint. As it is tuned by AKG, you can be sure to experience rich stereo surround sound when you watch your favourite movies or watch a live concert. It will make you feel as though you’re just in-front of the stage.
I used the Galaxy Buds2 to watch the best moment in Avengers: Endgame, which is the final battle scene. Those who’ve watched it know it is the most epic scene ever and you will want to have the best video and audio quality in order to immerse yourself in the scene. The overall sound quality, every tiny sound in the corner or in-your-face explosion sound is fantastic, which to me is really, really good. And make sure you have the Dolby Atmos mode turned on. It will be totally worth it.
The Galaxy Buds2 also supports gesture controls. Touching and holding the buds on either side can be programmed on the app, a single tap will Play/Pause the music, two taps will move forward to the next song and tapping three times will play the previous song. The gesture controls are made easy for anyone to use.
The one and only downside with the Galaxy Buds2 is the IPX2 rating. You can wear the buds while you’re out jogging or running but when it rains, you will have to take it off and keep it somewhere dry. It won’t be able to survive direct water splashes, let alone a drop in the pool. But when you’re sweating while exercising, it’s totally fine.
Conclusion
Since I’ve used the Galaxy Buds2 for a few days replacing my Buds Pro, I have no complaints when it comes to audio quality and connectivity. The seamless fast connection is so reliable that I only have to open the case and it connects to my phone almost immediately. I love the low latency with the Buds2 especially while gaming and the battery endurance is really good.
Comparing the size and design between Buds2 and the Buds Pro.
Comfort level to me is slightly better than the Buds Pro and way better than the Bud+. It does feel lighter in my ears, so it doesn’t make me feel like I have something huge stuck in my ear all the time. The Buds+ feels bulky due to the wing tip that is attached to it. But it feels pleasant with the Buds2.
Those who are looking into getting your first quality TWS, I do recommend this new Galaxy Buds2 as it works great with any devices. Just install the Galaxy Wearable app and you’re good to go. I have tested it on other brand phones and it worked just as great. But of course, it worked seamlessly with any Galaxy phones especially when taking advantage of the low latency connectivity and the Dolby Atmos surround audio.
The price is reasonable for an entry level high quality TWS and I guarantee that you will be pleased with it. You have 4 colour options to choose from and each colour is unique to you. The new Galaxy Buds2 is available now at Samsung’s official website for RM499.00.
More photos courtesy of Samsung Malaysia
