Should I buy AirPods Pro 2 or Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro?

AirPods Pro 2 and Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro are leading the market for top earbud headphones. Although they are different in terms of design, they surprisingly share the same set of features. If you can't choose between these two top earbud headphones, refer to the following article to make a decision.

Price

Thankfully, there is no significant price difference between these two earbuds. Samsung's Galaxy Buds2 Pro costs $230, while the second-generation AirPods Pro 2 are a bit more expensive, with a retail price of $249. Samsung earbuds are often sold for much cheaper, so you should check Samsung's website regularly to make sure you're getting the best price.

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If you buy AirPods directly from an Apple Store or official website, Apple also allows you to engrave a combination of emojis, symbols, numbers or letters on the AirPods case for free. With a negligible price difference of only $19, there's no reason to choose one over the other based on price alone.

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Audio performance

In terms of audio performance, both headphones offer incredible sound quality. Although human voices sound less digitized on AirPods Pro 2, the difference is not really significant. Both headsets share customization features like dynamic head tracking and 3D audio. The 360 ​​sound on AirPods is slightly better than the Galaxy Buds.

Because the second-generation AirPods Pro have the powerful H2 chip, Adaptive Transparency mode is top-notch, canceling out any noise above 85 decibels while still allowing you to hear sounds around you.

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The H2 chip also takes Active Noise Cancellation to the next level. Apple says the noise cancellation feature on the second generation AirPods Pro can eliminate twice as much noise as its predecessor. While the Galaxy Buds2 Pro offer reasonable noise cancellation and show a significant improvement over their predecessors, they can't match the level of noise cancellation achieved by Apple's AirPods.

Additionally, there is a slight difference when making calls with either headset. Buds2 Pro delivers more realistic, full-bodied sound, allowing for some background noise without affecting the clarity of the caller's voice. On the other hand, AirPods, while capable of hearing callers clearly, suffer from noticeable noise artifacts and are overly focused on mid-range frequencies.

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The Galaxy Buds Voice Detect feature is quite impressive. It automatically turns off Active Noise Cancellation and activates ambient sound when you start speaking. However, Apple also rolled out a similar feature called Conversation Awareness when it released iOS 17, which reduces music sounds when you start talking.

Along with Apple's superior ANC and Adaptive Transparency mode, AirPods Pro 2 also offer much better Spatial Audio than Buds2 Pro thanks to their advanced head-tracking technique. The Apple AirPods Pro 2 microphone sounds a bit more natural than the Buds2 Pro.

Unless you're an audiophile, the microphone quality of both headphones is quite similar and you won't notice any significant difference. All in all, while both headphones offer superior sound quality, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 wins this round convincingly!

AirPods Pro 2 battery life compared to Galaxy Buds2 Pro

One of the worst feelings is realizing your headphones are about to run out of battery in the middle of a noisy day. Samsung says that with Active Noise Cancellation enabled, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro can provide 5 hours of continuous music playback, 8 hours with ANC off, and up to 18 hours in the charging case.

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AirPods Pro 2 offer slightly longer use, with up to 6 hours of listening time with Active Noise Cancellation enabled and up to 30 hours with ANC enabled using the MagSafe charging case. Apple further claims that the second-generation AirPods can deliver up to 4.5 hours of talk time when fully charged, and up to 24 hours of total talk time if the case is fully charged.

In addition to charging via Lightning cable, the AirPods case can be charged wirelessly with MagSafe Qi charging and even an Apple Watch charger. Similarly, you can charge the Galaxy Buds2 Pro with a USB-C cable or wirelessly via QI-compatible wireless charging or using a PowerShare-enabled device.

Design and features

AirPods Pro 2 and MagSafe5 charging case are IP54 dust, sweat and water resistant. On the other hand, although the Galaxy Buds2 Pro have an IPX7 rating and are water and sweat resistant, they are not dustproof. However, with an impressive IPX7 rating, Galaxy's flagship Buds definitely win over the competition.

If you need protection mainly from dust and only occasional exposure to splashes of water, buying Apple earbuds may be the best choice. Although the article advises you not to immerse your headphones in water, if you anticipate your headphones will be exposed to more water, the Galaxy Buds will be more suitable for your needs.

Despite similar prices and impressive battery life, these two headphones are very different in terms of design. While Apple's AirPods only come in White, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro comes in three different colors: Bora Purple, Graphite, and White.

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The matte coating on the Galaxy Buds2 Pro not only provides a glossy appearance but also has the advantage of being less susceptible to smudges and fingerprints than the glossy coating of AirPods. With three colors to choose from and a matte finish, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro is definitely much better in terms of design!

Comfortable

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AirPods Pro 2 looks almost identical to the original AirPods Pro. On the other hand, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro does not have a protruding stem. If you prefer a more discreet design, the Galaxy Buds are definitely a much better choice for you! After using both earphones, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro feels more comfortable in the ears.

The Galaxy Buds2 Pro weighs 5.5 grams, while the AirPods Pro 2 weighs 5.3 grams per ear. Since the difference in weight between the two is negligible, it doesn't feel too heavy in your ears or tiring when worn for hours at a time. AirPods Pro 2 comes with 4 different pairs of earphone tips.

After you pair your AirPods, your Apple device will help you determine which tip fits your ear best. Similarly, the Galaxy Buds come with 3 sets of silicone earphone tips. After pairing them with your Samsung device, you can run a tip fit test to ensure comfort.

Should I buy AirPods Pro 2 or Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro?

Although many people believe that you should only make your decision based on the ecosystem you use, either earbud will work with any device that supports Bluetooth connectivity.

While using the Galaxy Buds2 Pro with the Apple ecosystem or vice versa means you'll have to sacrifice some features, you won't notice any difference in sound quality or microphone.

Marvin Fry

Update 04 November 2023