The new Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are being unveiled at the summer launch unpacked event by Samsung. The new model of Buds Pro enables 24-bit audio playback over Bluetooth and, according to the company, is smaller and comfy than the previous model—but only if you’re using a Samsung phone. Today is the first day of preorders for the $229.99 Buds 2 Pro, which will go on sale starting August 26. Black, white, and purple will be the available colour options for Samsung’s newest top-of-the-line earbuds.
The Buds 2 Pro are 15% smaller compared to the original Buds Pro, and Samsung has also increased the venting grille to allow more airflow to reach your ears and lessen any “plugged up” feelings after prolonged use. Hopefully, this will also make the transparency mode of the earphones sound much more realistic.
Additionally, Samsung emphasizes how much-recycled material is employed to make these high-end earbuds. The best explanation for this is really available in the footnotes of the company’s news release.
According to the company, “More than 90 per cent of all the plastic components of Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, in weight, are made of recycled materials. 29 grams of plastics are used in the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro in total, and it includes more than 27 grams recycled materials. Each of these components contains at least 20 per cent of either discarded fishing nets (ocean-bound plastic) or post-consumer materials. Recycled fishing nets are used in three internal components of the cradle case its bracket deco front, bracket battery holder, and bracket-PCB. Post-consumer recycled materials are used in eight exterior components. Four components in both Buds in its case front left/right, case rear left/right. And four components in the cradle case in its deco front, case-upper, case-upper inner, and case-lower.”
Although the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro may still automatically switch between different Samsung devices, they, unfortunately, do not support multipoint pairing, so you cannot simultaneously use them with two audio sources. As the convenience feature starts to spread among earbuds, Google just included multipoint to its Pixel Buds Pro. The fact that Samsung cannot do the same to its new premium pair of earbuds is disheartening.
On the good side, Samsung claims that the Buds 2 Pro can now playback 24-bit hi-fi audio, although users will need a phone with One UI 4.0 or later to do that. Samsung warns that app compatibility for 24-bit audio will vary — as platforms like Spotify still don’t support it.
Samsung has developed a “seamless codec (SSC HiFi)” that it uses exclusively to enable hi-fi wireless playback. The new coaxial two-way speaker, according to the company, makes those sounds richer than they used to be, enabling quality music to transfer without a pause. According to rumours, Apple is looking at its own options for incorporating better audio into the next AirPods Pro. With its LDAC codec, which is supported by the WF-1000XM5 and LinkBuds S, Sony already has a solution.
With the multichannel immersion, 360-degree audio is likewise considered to be “enhanced.” According to Samsung’s specification list, the Buds 2 Pro supports Bluetooth 5.3 and is LE Audio-ready.
With the ANC turned on, the battery life is rated at five hours of playing, or eight hours without it. You can use the case for a total of 20 hours (ANC activated) or 30 hours (ANC disabled). Additionally, the IPX7 rating of the Buds 2 Pro for water and perspiration resistance. Overall, Samsung’s most recent flagship earphones are just slightly better than the previous version, but they should still work well with the company’s Galaxy phone portfolio, including the new Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4.