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Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro vs Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: Should you upgrade?
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro were the first higher-end true wireless earbuds offered by Samsung under its Galaxy Buds brand. It’s been over a year and a half since their launch in January 2021, but they are finally getting a successor in the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. But are there enough upgrades on offer to get Samsung’s latest buds? Let’s take a look at the Galaxy Buds Pro vs Galaxy Buds 2 Pro.
Galaxy Buds Pro vs Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Design
The original Galaxy Buds Pro did not use the small fins found on some older Galaxy Buds products to hold them inside the ears. Instead, they used a more rounded design, along with rubber ear tips. They also had a glossy finish. The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro ditch the shiny look for a matte finish and opt for a slightly more rounded design borrowed from the Galaxy Buds 2. They are also smaller and lighter on the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro compared to the original. Samsung claims this slightly revamped design will reduce the rotation when placed inside a person’s ears. It also claims that air flows more effectively around the new earbuds to cut down on air pressure.
Both sets of Galaxy Buds Pro offer the same IPx7 water resistance rating. As for the cases, the dimensions are mostly the same, but the Buds 2 Pro’s case is a bit lighter.
Features
The original Galaxy Buds Pro were the first in the Galaxy Buds series to include active noise-cancelling (ANC). The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro also have that feature, and Samsung claims that the new earbuds offer three extra dB of noise reduction. The Buds 2 Pro also throw in 24-bit Hi-Res audio and 360 Dolby Atmos support. In addition, connectivity on the Buds 2 Pro uses Bluetooth 5.3, compared to 5.0 on the first Buds Pro.
In terms of battery life, both sets have the same 61mAh battery inside each bud. For talk time, the Buds 2 Pro offers slightly less than the original, but general audio playtime is the same and combined with the case, it’s actually a bit longer. We will have to wait to find out if the actual audio quality has improved when we can test them further.
Both the first- and second-gen Buds Pro offer exclusive features for Samsung Galaxy phone users.
The Buds 2 Pro does throw in a few new extra features not found in the original. If you happen to lose your earbuds, you can find them via Samsung’s SmartThings smart home system. Also, if you buy a new 2022 Samsung smart TV, you can seamlessly connect the Buds 2 Pro to the TV for some great audio without disturbing your family.
It’s also worth noting that support for the Samsung Scalable Codec for 24-bit audio, AAC, and SBC, and the automatic device switching feature are all exclusive to Samsung Galaxy smartphone users.
Price and colors
The original Galaxy Buds Pro launched in January 2021 for $199, and came in Phantom Silver, Phantom Black, and Phantom Violet colors. Just under two years after their launch, you can buy them now on Amazon for a bit less on sale, with prices hovering around ~$160.
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are now available for pre-order for $229. That’s the most expensive asking price of a Galaxy Buds product to date, but still cheaper than the MSRP of the all-conquering Apple AirPods Pro. They ar available in White, Graphite, and Bora Purple colors and officially go on general sale from August 26.
Impressive microphone performance
Wireless charging
Enhanced noise-canceling technology
Satisfying battery-life
Specs
| Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro | Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
Sizes | Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Earbud: 20.5 x 19.5 x 20.8mm Case: 50.0 x 50.2 x 27.8mm | Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro Earbud: 19.9 x 21.6 x 18.7mm Case: 50.1 x 50.2 x 27.7mm |
Weights | Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Earbud: 6.3g Case: 44.9g | Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro Earbud: 5.6g Case: 39.6g |
Connectivity | Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Bluetooth 5.0 | Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro Bluetooth 5.3 |
Water resistance | Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro IPX7 | Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro IPX7 |
Batteries | Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Earbud: 61mAh | Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro Earbud: 61mAh Charging case: 515mAh |
Charging | Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro USB-C | Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro USB-C Wireless |
Speaker and Microphones | Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 2-Way Woofer and Tweeter Three Microphones | Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro 2-Way Woofer and Tweeter Three Microphones |
Compatibility | Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Android 7.0 or later 1.5GB of RAM or more | Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro Android 7.0 or later 1.5GB of RAM or more iOS: Bluetooth only Windows 10: Galaxy Buds app TV: Samsung 2022 TVs and later |
Talk Time | Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 4 Hours with ANC, 5 Hours without ANC With case: 14.5 Hours with ANC, 17.5 Hours without ANC | Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro 3.5 Hours with ANC, 4 Hours without ANC With case: 14 Hours with ANC, 15 Hours without ANC |
Audio Time | Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 5 Hours with ANC, 8 Hours without ANC With case: 18 Hours with ANC, 28 Hours without ANC | Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro 5 Hours with ANC, 8 Hours without ANC With case: 18 Hours with ANC, 29 Hours without ANC |
Colors | Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Phantom Silver, Phantom Black, Phantom Violet | Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro White, Graphite, Bora Purple |
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro vs Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: Should you upgrade?
Again we will have to wait to see if the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro truly beats the original Buds Pro in terms of audio quality, battery life, overall feature set, and more in our upcoming review, but after a brief test the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are a solid upgrade over an already competitive pair of true wireless buds.
Adding $30 to the launch cost of the Buds 2 Pro is pretty aggressive from Samsung, but it did try to make some improvements, including making the earbuds smaller and lighter, which is always a good thing. Throwing in new features like connecting to Samsung 2022 TVs is also nice if you actually own one, plus the new design might solve some of the original Pros’ fit issues.
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are a fine upgrade over the first-gen Buds Pro.
Of course, there are a ton of great competitors that are worth a look, so while the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are great for those who have already bought into Samsung’s product ecosystem for the exclusive features, there might be better buds out there for fans of other Android brands (and the AirPods still rule the roost for iOS users).