The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Truly Wireless are the next generation of the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Truly Wireless. The manufacturer has added an active noise cancelling (ANC) system to the mix. They also have features like a low-latency 'Game Mode' and 'Samsung Seamless Codec,' which is Samsung's proprietary high audio quality Bluetooth codec. However, you'll need a Samsung device to get the most out of these buds and access the aforementioned features.
Our Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 are decent for neutral sound. Out of the box, they have a fairly neutral sound profile suitable for various audio content. Their treble is a bit recessed, and their passive soundstage is perceived as closed-off and as if coming from inside your head rather than from speakers in the room around you. On the upside, their companion apps offer a few EQ presets to help you get the best sound for your needs.
- Very consistent audio delivery.
- Bad passive soundstage.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 are very good for commute and travel. They're small and lightweight, making it easy to put them in your pocket or bag when you're on the go. They also have a comfortable, stable in-ear fit and an ANC system that can block out the low rumble of bus and plane engines and ambient chatter around you. Unfortunately, their continuous battery life of under five hours may not be enough to get you through your trip without pausing to recharge them.
- Great noise isolation performance.
- Stable, comfortable fit.
- Sub-par battery performance.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 are great for sports and fitness. These buds have a breathable and comfortable fit. Although they don't have stability fins, they'll stay in place during moderate movement. However, they can pop out of your ear if you move your jaw, which is annoying since you'll need to pause your workout to adjust their fit. On the upside, they're well-built and are rated IPX2 for water resistance against dripping water at an angle like light rain.
- Stable, comfortable fit.
- Well-built design.
- Sub-par battery performance.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 are decent for office use. These lightweight and comfortable headphones have a great ANC system that can block out office chatter around you. They also don't leak a lot of audio at high volumes. However, their continuous battery life of under five hours means you may need to recharge them throughout your workday. They also don't support multi-device pairing, so you can't simultaneously connect them to your phone and computer.
- Great noise isolation performance.
- Sub-par battery performance.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 aren't recommended for wireless gaming. While you can connect them to a Bluetooth-enabled PC, the latency will likely be too high for gaming. They also aren't compatible with Xbox or PlayStation consoles. However, they have a 'Game Mode', which helps lower their latency on Samsung devices, which is nice if you're into mobile gaming. This feature is available via their mobile companion app but only works on Samsung devices.
The Samsung Buds 2 are Bluetooth-only headphones; you can't use them wired.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 are fair for phone calls. Their integrated mic can record your voice clearly but has difficulty separating speech from ambient noise. As a result, if you're taking a call in a moderately noisy environment like a busy street, whoever's on the other end of the line may not hear you well. On the upside, the headphones are equipped with ANC and can block out a great amount of ambient noise around you.
- Great noise isolation performance.
- Mic has poor noise handling.
Changelog
-
Updated Dec 12, 2024:
We've updated this review to mention firmware R177XXU0AXB1, which brings support for Samsung Seamless Codec and 24-bit audio.
- Updated Aug 22, 2024: We mentioned the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Truly Wireless in the Controls section of this review.
- Updated Nov 10, 2023: We've added a comparison between these earbuds and the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE Truly Wireless in < a href="#test_304">Comfort.
- Updated Jul 05, 2023: We've updated this review's text to ensure its accuracy and clarity.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 come in the following color variants: 'Graphite', 'Olive', 'Lavender', 'Phantom Black', and 'White'. We tested the 'Graphite' variant; you can see our model's label here. If you encounter another variant, please let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 are the next generation of the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Truly Wireless. They retain their sleek, minimalist design and feel comfortable, stylish, and well-built. Unlike their predecessor, they also have a great ANC system and can isolate even more noise than the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Truly Wireless. However, their 4.7-hour battery life is sub-par compared to the Buds+'s over 13 hours of continuous playback time.
Check out our recommendations for the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds, the best noise cancelling earbuds, and the best Samsung headphones.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 have a few additional features compared to the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE. While both buds look somewhat similar, the Buds2 support 360 Audio, a head-tracking feature that can create a more immersive audio experience. Both have effective noise cancelling. However, the FE model are more comfortable thanks to their stability fin design, and have a longer continuous battery life.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 are better in-ears than the Beats Studio Buds True Wireless. While both headphones are comfortable and well-built, the Samsung have better noise isolation and a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer. You can also customize the Samsung's sound using their companion app's EQ presets.
The Apple AirPods Pro are better in-ears than the Samsung Galaxy Buds2. While both headphones are comfortable, the Apple are better built, and their ANC can block out slightly more ambient noise around you. They also have a significantly better battery performance, and their H1 chip allows you to seamlessly pair them with your Apple devices. However, the Samsung have EQ presets to help you adjust their sound to your liking.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro are the upgraded variant of the Samsung Galaxy Buds2. While both buds are comfortable and well-built, the Pro have a higher IP certification of IPX7 and a significantly better noise isolation performance and virtual surround sound. That said, the Galaxy Buds2 have a similar battery life and cost less.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
Test Results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
