Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Review

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 offer an attractive package of features and sound that mimics the Harman curve. However, some features are only limited to Samsung users, and their overall performance isn’t on par with much cheaper competitors.

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• List price (MSRP): $149
• Manufacturer: Samsung

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Category ratings:

Related: Best true wireless earbuds under $100 – Best workout earbuds – Best ANC earbuds

Our Conclusion

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 offer an attractive yet simplistic design you aren’t ashamed of wearing. On top of that, you get numerous features to play with.

From ANC, Find My Earbuds, Game Mode, and reading notifications, Galaxy Buds 2 have everything modern true wireless earbuds offer. However, they are always a step back from the competition.

To find out the details and why we think so, we tested them in 9 categories. Find the results and our arguments below.

Pros & Cons:

Editor’s Note: We updated this review to add comparison tables.

Compare Similar Earbuds

Our Analysis and Test Results

While their list price is $149, they’re currently selling under $100. And for that price, they look great with a high-end polished finish and minimalist yet modern design. They look like more expensive earbuds.

We find their sound generally suitable for all music genres. But with no EQ options, which makes them slightly worse compared to the top picks at the same price.

Sound

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 have a naturally tuned midrange but with a slightly bloated bass and uneven treble response. They’re good for pop and hip-hop music but less so for fast-drumming genres like rock or metal.

Key points:

• Somewhat balanced sound signature
• Slight bass boost
• No in-app equalization

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 A/B sound test

Hear the difference between reference audio and Samsung Galaxy Buds2:

• Learn how to understand sound comparisons.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 2 are considered very natural-sounding, so we expected a similar tuning for their little brother, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2.

For the most part, they hold to the expectations, at least as far as frequency response is concerned. However, there aren’t without issues. And unfortunately, there’s no in-app EQ to help you.

Bass: Could use more control

Lower frequencies on Galaxy Buds2 are boosted (but not too much) and fun when listening to pop or hip-hop tracks. You get a good punch and sub-bass extension, which adds to some rumble.

On the other hand, it feels like the bass lacks control. The bass kick could be tighter and faster, which you notice when listening to a rock and metal music genre.

Moreover, it occasionally feels like the sound is bloated even though the boost ends at 200Hz. The separate woofer may lack the technical ability to maintain control, causing it to distort.

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 frequency response graph

• Learn how to read audio charts.

Midrange: Natural but a bit muted

The midrange is overall quite natural but with a slight recession in the upper area (the dip between 2kHz and 5.5kHz – see the frequency response graph above).

That takes away some of the energy from the string instruments, which is then replaced with the energy from the treble. The result is occasionally thin sound.

However, these minor differences probably won’t matter to a casual user. After a few listens, even I was okay with how the midrange sounds.

Treble: Smooth and not smooth

High frequencies have a few dips and peaks, contributing to uneven audio delivery.

At some point, you might barely hear a cymbal, and in the next moment, it becomes bright and shimmery. The boost at 8kHz and reduction at 11kHz are the biggest reasons (refer to the frequency response graph).

The highs are overall decently textured, although if you’re into jazz, you might want to look elsewhere.

Continuing with things that could be better is the soundstage. The latter is intimate, pushing the singer’s voice right before your face. Competitive EarFun Free Pro 3 have a much broader and airy sound in comparison.

A small soundstage compacts the sound, which helps with the imaging. Listening to “Atlas Stone” by Haken, you can easily track the sounds moving around your head.

The imaging performance isn’t pinpoint accurate, though, as there’s a bit of mushiness near the center channel, but that could be due to other factors, like physical or software malfunction in one of the earbuds (more on that under durability).

Sound comparison

In conclusion:

The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 sound good enough for everyday casual use. They’re saved mainly by their overall natural tuning, although there are occasional bursts of brightness and muddiness.

Technical performance holds the Galaxy Buds2 down despite having 2 dynamic driver units (a woofer and a tweeter). For the current price of $110, you’re getting better sound elsewhere (EarFun Free Pro 3 and SoundPEATS Air4 Pro, to name a few).

Comfort & Fit

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 have a very ergonomic design, ensuring a snug fit. Despite lacking ear wings, they hold to ears pretty well. The only annoyance is how you put them in and out of the ears.

Samsung has adopted a bean-shaped design for its wireless earbuds (starting with Samsung Galaxy Buds Live), which nicely contours human ears. The Galaxy Buds2 are a great example of a simple yet comfortable design.

They never felt uncomfortable despite fitting snugly and having a very flush profile with your ears.

I could easily wear them during a 3-hour trip.

Conversely, people with smaller-than-average earlobes might feel a bit more pressure, which results in pain.

The only thing to complain about is that they’re a bit clumsy to put into your ears. They’re hard to grab due to their glossy surface, so you have to “scoop” them out of your ears.

Comfort and fit during activities:

• Commuting: Comfortable for hours, no irritation.
• Exercising: Stable during moving, basic cardio, and lifting weights without adjusting them.
• Running: They stay stable and don’t lose the fit.

They hold in ears pretty well. They don’t move much, even during vigorous head shakes. And even if they do, it doesn’t break the seal and affect the bass response.

I easily recommend them to sportspeople looking for flush, stable, true wireless earbuds.

Compared to other similar models

Compared to 1MORE ComfoBuds Mini, which are the most comfortable true wireless earbuds under $100 right now, Galaxy Buds2 are less comfortable for smaller ears and are harder to take out when you’re done listening.

But both models offer long-term comfort and stability for working out for people with average ears.

See other comfort ratings of similar products we tested:

Durability

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 have a bare minimum of IPX2 and are highly sensitive to liquids, even cleaning alcohol. They’re made from glossy plastics and are a bit slippery.

While many earbuds lack an IPX rating entirely, the Galaxy Buds2 have an IPX2. That makes them water resistant to drips of water. But is this true?

The first warning was Samsung’s advice to stay away from liquids and moisture. And I had a strange problem with my Galaxy Buds2.

How does IPX2 compare to alternatives? Many water-resistant true wireless earbuds have a higher rating of IPX6 and higher. This makes these relatively weak against water in comparison. And you should definitely pick waterproof wireless earbuds for any serious “wet business”.

How did they feel in my hands?

From my handling of the earbuds, they feel solid but somewhat slippery. Their polished finish gives them a fancy look but also makes them harder to grip.

They are easier to take out of the charging case than the Sony WF-1000XM5, but non-glossy earbuds are easier to handle overall. So, if you’re clumsy by nature, this is something to consider.

Charging case durability

The charging case also has a smooth finish. In combination with a strong magnet holding the lid down, it’s pretty tough to open it. Definitely not with one finger.

On the other hand, the case feels sturdy and should protect the earbuds if you accidentally drop it.

Are they suitable for…

• Wearing in the rain: Suitable for light rain, but due to low IPX2, stay away from downpours.
• Running & exercising outside: Suitable, you can easily get caught in the rain.
• sweating: Suitable for light sweaters but not recommended for heavy sweaters.
• Dipping underwater: Not suitable

Durability comparison

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 are pretty average when it comes to durability. Their IPX2 water protection is rather low and you are likely to damage the earbuds if you expose them to too much water.

Battery

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 last for precisely 5.5 hours with ANC enabled (according to our test) and have another 20 hours waiting inside the charging case. Qi wireless and fast charging support is also neat.

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 battery comparison

During our battery life test, when we left earbuds playing at 50% volume and ANC enabled, the Samsung Buds lasted:

• 5 hours and 30 minutes.

That’s 30 minutes more than advertised, which is always pleasant to see. Furthermore, you have another 20 hours inside the charging case, so you shouldn’t need to charge them even during a longer trip.

The charging case supports Qi wireless charging despite the latter being strangely absent from the marketing material. Moreover, you have to dig to find information about the fast-charging.

• 3 minutes of charging adds 40 minutes of playtime.
• 5 minutes, add an hour of playtime.
• 10 minutes, add 2.5 hours of additional playtime.

Battery rating comparison

Here’s the battery rating comparison with similar earbuds:

Features

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 offers numerous features and possibilities, although that is mostly true for Samsung smartphone owners. If only they’d have custom EQ and a louder microphone for phone calls.

Galaxy Buds2 seem to place a lot of emphasis on their features. You find most of them in the Samsung Galaxy Wearable app (and Samsung devices).

The earbuds offer:

• ANC modes (Noise controls)
• Touch controls
• Find My Earbuds
• Equalizer (presets)
• Notification reading
• Seamless Bluetooth connectivity (with other Samsung devices using the same account)
• 360 audio
• Game mode

Find My Earbuds

This feature uses Google Maps and GPS location data to track your Galaxy Buds2. If you lose them, you can look at where you left them the last time they were turned on.

Note that you need a “Smart Things” app to add the earbuds in order to track them.

Equalizer

Equalizer that Samsung offers are essentially presets (sound profiles). There’s no option to adjust the frequency response manually. EQ presets range from:

• Normal (the best one)
• Bass boost
• Soft
• Dynamic
• Clear
• Treble boost

Notification reading

If you’re a busy person, it is useful to have your Galaxy Buds2 read the notifications from your smartphone without looking at the screen.

This is also helpful for people with poor sight (so they don’t have to constantly look for glasses) and when you’re doing something else and don’t have time to look at your phone.

360 audio

Samsung locked this feature from Android and only allows you to use it with their Galaxy Buds. As expected, the feature appears more like a gimmick than something you should use daily.

Furthermore, it only applies to videos, so it has zero effect on music (unlike Apple’s Spatial Audio).

The “360 audio” panes the sound around your head depending on how you move it. However, it is very directional and doesn’t make you feel like you’re “inside the video”.

Touch controls

Controls are somewhat customizable. The most you can do is disable or enable commands with predetermined gestures. If you want volume controls, you need to go to “Labs” settings and enable “edge tapping”.

Microphone quality

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 have a clear yet very quiet call quality performance.

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 microphone test: (no noise test from 0:00-0:26, with background noise test from O:27-0:58)

Galaxy Buds2 avoid using extensive audio processing when it comes to voice recording. As a result, your voice sounds very clear, albeit slightly lacking fullness, but I’m nitpicking.

However, lack of processing also means the signal isn’t boosted, so your voice is extremely quiet. These are definitely among the quietest earbuds we’ve tested.

Another issue with insufficient processing is that earbuds don’t bother to reduce background noise. As you can hear from the audio sample above, others can hear traffic and other sounds during a call.

Consequently, you’re better off using Samsung Galaxy Buds2 in a quieter place to avoid being hard to understand by others.

Features rating comparison

Galaxy Buds2 offer many features, especially for Samsung smartphone owners.

Noise Isolation

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 provide a good passive noise isolation, blocking a good portion of higher frequencies while struggling with lower ones.

Despite their snug and flush fit, Galaxy Buds2 only offer decent-to-good passive noise isolation. For example, 1MORE Aero perform similarly (as seen in the graph).

They’re good enough to use on public transport, even without the ANC, as they can silence speech quite well. Together with music, you shouldn’t hear anyone.

On the other hand, earbuds can’t entirely block lower frequencies, so you still hear engine rumble. In that case, enabling ANC is a must.

Here’s a table of how effective is Samsung Galaxy Buds2’s passive noise isolation at blocking specific frequencies:

How about sound leakage?

Fortunately, they have minimal sound leakage. Even at higher volumes, others shouldn’t hear what you’re listening to, even if you’re in a library.

Wind noise is also a non-issue, thanks to the earbuds’ flush design that lets the air glide over.

Noise isolation rating comparison with other models

Noise Cancelling

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 have a decent active noise cancellation that should make a difference when using it someplace loud.

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 active noise cancelling test:

Overall, hybrid active noise cancelling performance does its job of reducing bass and lower midrange frequencies. It’s helpful when commuting or traveling and trying to block engine rumble.

However, Galaxy Buds2 are nothing to write home about. Their ANC resembles the Sony WF-1000XM4, TOZO Golden X1, and EarFun Free Pro 3.

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 ANC measurement + comparison

• Learn how to read ANC charts.

This means they’re among the lowest performers since we started making ANC measurements. The only model that performs worse is Edifier TWS1 Pro 2.

Here’s the table with Samsung Galaxy Buds2 ANC test results:

What about ambient sound mode?

The ambient sound mode sounds a bit thin, especially when enabling the “High” passthrough mode. The reason is the boost between 800Hz and 2.5kHz, which gets really high at the highest setting (see the graph below)

Those peaks are there to boost voices and make them clearer. However, it also makes them very thin and occasionally piercing.

Galaxy Buds2 Ambient sound mode measurement graph:

Hopefully, Samsung could fix that with a firmware update. Especially since, at the highest setting, earbuds accurately boost the lower frequencies, which would make ambient noise sound natural.

Noise cancelling rating comparison

Bluetooth

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 have a stable close-range connection but only an average long-range one. Moreover, they support Gaming mode but lack the multipoint.

Galaxy Buds2 use Bluetooth 5.2 to maintain connection, and it offers good close-range stability. I got occasional interruptions, but that was mostly when I paired two headphones with my phone.

In contrast, in our long-range Bluetooth test, the earbuds lasted:

• Around 35 feet (or 10.6 meters) before completely cutting the audio off. That was precisely when I passed the second brick wall.

This performance is more than adequate for home use and to walk around the house while leaving your transmitting device behind. Just don’t go too far (like on the other side of the house).

The range might also shorten if you live in an area with many other wireless devices.

Galaxy Buds2 also lack the (universal) multipoint. Conversely, like Apple, they provide seamless connectivity with other Samsung devices logged into the same Samsung account.

That means you can start using a different device, and the earbuds’ audio will automatically switch to it.

How to pair Samsung Galaxy Buds2?

1. All you need to do to pair Galaxy Buds is to open the charging case with the earbuds inside.
2. Enable Bluetooth on a wanted device, and you should soon see them in the Bluetooth menu.

What Bluetooth codecs do they use?

Galaxy Buds2 support: SBC, AAC, and Samsung’s proprietary Scalable Codec (or SSC with the new extension, the Samsung Seamless Codec (yeah, a lot of confusion)) Bluetooth codecs, which only works on Samsung’s Android devices.

The latter provides good-quality audio transmission and gives Samsung the same flexibility when adding features (like Game mode).

Is there any audio lag?

You don’t see any lag when using compatible apps like YouTube and social media apps, or it at least isn’t bothersome. In contrast, mobile games have a noticeable audio/video delay.

Activating Game Mode in the Galaxy Wearable app barely lowers the latency (from 170ms to 160ms), having no effect on your gaming experience. We measured the latency by recording the delay between the in-game shot and audible audio feedback.

Bluetooth rating comparison

Should You Get Samsung Galaxy Buds2?

For the most part, Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 are an okay everyday product that provides all the features that you need and sound quality to make you enjoy your favorite tunes during a commute.

However, they appear to be overly fragile or have poor software support (one earbud keeps being quieter).

Pros & Cons:

Who these are best for:

• Samsung phone or tablet users.
• Students who want sleek and feature-rich earbuds.
• Active users who look for a comfortable yet stable solution.

Who should avoid them:

• Frequent commuters due to inadequate ANC performance.
• Runners and gym-goers who sweat a lot (due to low IPX2 rating and sensitivity to moisture).

How do Samsung Galaxy Buds2 compare to the competition?

Here’s their value rating compared to similar alternatives:

Are they worth the price?

At the price of under $100 at the moment of writing this, these are a solid choice for the price but not the best. They offer a balanced user experience and do most things right for daily listening.

They’re a good choice for Samsung smartphone users and if you’re looking for decent battery life over 5 hours. But there are better options if you want the best active noise cancellation for the same amount of money.

If they’re only available at $150 MSRP, wait for a discount or get another model.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 offer good sound for all music types, they’re comfortable, stable, and come with many convenient features in a sleek design. See the latest prices below:

What are Samsung Galaxy Buds2 alternatives?

EarFun Free Pro 3

SoundPEATS Air4 Pro

What’s in the Box?

• Samsung Galaxy Buds2 true wireless earbuds
• 3 pairs of silicone ear tips
• USB cable (USB-A to USB-C)
• Use guide

Technical Specifications