Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro vs Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: Should you upgrade?

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro used to sit at the top of the company’s Galaxy Buds line of high-end earbuds. Although these active noise canceling (ANC) earbuds are still good, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro succeed them with better ANC and a few more software features. In this Galaxy Buds Pro vs Galaxy Buds 2 Pro showdown, we’ll find out if the newer buds are good enough to warrant an upgrade.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro vs Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: At a glance

Galaxy Buds Pro vs Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: Specs

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro inspired the design of the Buds 2 Pro. Both sets of buds have a playful, rounded shape and three pairs of silicone ear tips (small, medium, and large). The Buds 2 Pro are a tad lighter than the Buds Pro, which creates a more comfortable fit for long listening sessions. You’ll also find a matte finish wrapping around the Buds 2 Pro, in contrast to the Buds Pro’s glossy touch panels. I prefer the Buds 2 Pro texture, as it’s easier to grip.

You’ll find the same IPX7 water resistance rating on these Galaxy Buds, meaning both can withstand submersion. You can also exercise with either set of earbuds without worrying about sweat damaging them. Just make sure you don’t throw the buds into the water willy-nilly. Water resistance degrades over time, and a product won’t necessarily retain its IP rating throughout its lifecycle.

I found controlling the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro much more pleasant than any of Samsung’s previous earbuds. These are the first Galaxy Buds to have suitably sensitive touch controls. The Buds 2 Pro don’t register fit readjustments as touch commands, which is often the case with the Buds Pro.

While the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and Galaxy Buds Pro use the Galaxy Wearable app for Android, only the Buds 2 Pro have an ear tip fit test to ensure you’ve selected the right ear tips. Further, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro receive 24-bit audio via the Samsung Scalable Codec. This Bluetooth codec offers better audio quality than the 16-bit Samsung Scalable Codec that the Buds Pro support.

With the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, you get Bluetooth 5.3, which is more efficient than Bluetooth 5.2. Both earbuds support audio switching across Samsung devices under the same account. You also get 360 Audio with head tracking on either set of buds when paired to a Samsung phone.

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro cost $229, and the Buds Pro retailed for $199. The Galaxy Buds Pro are discontinued, but you can still find them through third-party vendors. You can purchase the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro directly from Samsung or other vendors like Target and Best Buy.

Galaxy Buds Pro vs Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: Noise canceling

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro have much better noise canceling than the Galaxy Buds Pro. During my Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review period, I tested the ANC and could hardly hear sounds like train car din and street traffic beyond my window. The Galaxy Buds Pro have decent ANC, but it lags behind current flagship earbuds. Even with ANC, you’ll still hear your surroundings, they’ll just be half as loud.

Both sets of Galaxy Buds have an ambient aware mode that boosts background noise through the earbuds. Unsurprisngly, it sounds much more natural through the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro than the Galaxy Buds Pro. The Buds Pro ambient aware mode sounds a little robotic. I recommend listening in mono mode if you don’t like how it sounds on either set of buds. This works with the left or right earbud.

Galaxy Buds Pro vs Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: Sound quality

If you’re buying these earbuds based solely on sound quality, you’ll split hairs to hear which buds sound better. Both sets of buds make standard music genres like pop, hip-hop, rap, and EDM sound good. AKG, a Samsung subsidiary, tunes the frequency responses of all Galaxy Buds. You’ll get similarly boosted bass and treble from these Galaxy Buds. Unfortunately, Samsung doesn’t provide a way to customize how its buds sound. You’re left with the default profile and several presets to affect the sound.

Galaxy Buds Pro vs Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: Microphone quality

In ideal conditions, the Galaxy Buds Pro and Buds 2 Pro have similar microphone performance. To my ear, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro sound clearer, but both are serviceable for professional and personal calls.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro have much better noise suppression than the Buds Pro. There is a distinct difference in background noise levels between the demos below.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro microphone demo (Street conditions):

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro microphone demo (Street conditions):

Galaxy Buds Pro vs Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: Battery and charging

Officially, the Galaxy Buds Pro and Buds 2 Pro have a five-hour battery life with ANC. The Buds Pro case provides an extra 13 hours of battery life, while the Buds 2 Pro case provides an extra 15 hours of playtime. We subjected the earbuds to our standard battery tests, playing music at a constant output that peaked at 75dB (SPL), and the results are below:

• Galaxy Buds Pro, ANC on: Four hours, 48 minutes
• Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, ANC on: Four hours, 50 minutes

Both Galaxy Buds charge via USB-C and have wireless charging. You even get WirelessPower Share on top of compatible Samsung devices. Using a Samsung phone to charge your Galaxy Buds case will drain the battery though.

Galaxy Buds Pro vs Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: Price

The original Galaxy Buds Pro launched in January 2021, for $199. These buds came in Phantom Silver, Phantom Black, and Phantom Violet colors. They are now discontinued, but you can find them heavily discounted from sites like Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo.

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are available for $229. That’s the highest asking price of a Galaxy Buds product, but still cheaper than Apple, Bose, and Sony’s flagships. They come in White, Graphite, and Bora Purple colorways. You can often find these buds on sale throughout the year. We’ve seen the price dip to $179.

Galaxy Buds Pro vs Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: Should you upgrade to Samsung’s newer buds?

If you don’t own the Galaxy Buds Pro, it’s worth splurging for the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro instead of hunting around for the Galaxy Buds Pro. The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are the best earphones you can buy if you own a Samsung Galaxy phone. Even if you own a non-Samsung Android phone, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are plenty powerful with numerous features in the Wearable app.

That said, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro are still good earphones, but they’re showing their age. If you already own the Galaxy Buds Pro, there’s no rush to upgrade. The sound quality and feature sets are very similar between these two sets of Galaxy Buds. If you upgrade, you’ll hear a marked difference in ANC and microphone quality, but everything is close enough.

There are Galaxy Buds 2 Pro competitors worth considering — keen among them are the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2. These earphones cost $99.73 at Amazon and have better noise canceling than the Buds Pro. You get an ear tip fit test in the app along with 360 Audio when you pair them to a Samsung device. The Galaxy Buds 2 are the best value earbuds from Samsung.

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