Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro: Unboxing & First Impressions
September 18, 2022Type: Wireless
Functionally: Bluetooth v5.3, wireless charging
Colour: Graphite, Bora purple, White
Battery Life: 5h Talk-Time 18(ANC ON) / 8h Talk-Time 29h (ANC OFF)
Active Noise Cancelling: Yes
Weight: 5.5g (43.4g case)
Price: RM899.00
Samsung’s second iteration of its “Pro” line of wireless earbuds aims to offer a good all-round acoustic experience for professionals and music lovers. Each earpiece is packed with technology that helps cancel ambient noise for a better listening experience and offer decent call quality.
Though strikingly similar in appearance to the original, the Buds2 Pro is about 15% smaller, making them even more comfortable to wear. They are being marketed as the only pair of wireless earbuds you’ll ever need, which is a bold claim considering the kind of competition that is available in the market.
When you purchase the Buds2 Pro, they come encased in a slimmed down, but nice-looking box. Inside, you’ll find a matte finished case in which the earbuds are housed. While its predecessor sported a glossy, “look at me” finish, the new understated scheme feels more grown up, yet attractive.
It has a sandstone-like feel to it, which adds to the perceived “premiumness”. You can purchase the Buds2 Pro in three different colors: Graphite, White and Bora Purple. Each color option applies to the case, buds and silicone ear tips. The earbuds come with four different silicone ear tips that should cover a variety of ear sizes. They are tucked together with the instruction manual and a charging cable.
The case and earbuds feel more premium than was experienced with the original Buds Pro. Though decent in their own right, the latter didn’t feel as nice to hold in hand as the successor. This similar “sandstone” look is exhibited across the new range of devices which include the Galaxy Fold4 5G and Flip4 5G.
I feel it’s the right decision, because it allows you to admire the contours of the device instead of them being masked by the dazzling, glossy color scheme. Don’t think for one iota that the lack of shine dilutes the overall appeal because we believe the contrary to be true.
Samsung says that on a single charge, you can expect 5 hours of continuous playback (with ANC on). When paired with the case, the Buds2 Pro can deliver about 18 hours of listening time. We will have to test this thoroughly to see if it holds true.
Despite its small size, each earbud contains 2-way speakers, a 10mm woofer and 5.3mm tweeter, to supplement the acoustic delivery with good bass and clear treble. The system is supposed to offer a 360-degree delivery experience for a more immersive experience. It’s a 24-bit delivery that sounds crisper and more fluid than what’s offered in standard earphones.
But that isn’t all because these earbuds live up to the “Pro” name with their voice listening feature. The microphones, besides capturing your voice for calls, can also detect when you start speaking to someone while listening to music. The software immediately lowers the volume and puts the buds in ambient mode to allow you to converse effectively.
This is a feature most commonly found in expensive over-ear headphones, but to have that same technology bundled into a device that’s no bigger than a marble is nothing short of impressive. That said, I can’t vouch for its effectiveness until we’ve completed our tests. But my first impression of it is positive. This isn’t a gimmick, it does work.
We will also be testing its auto-switch functionality. Equipped with Bluetooth 5.3, the Buds2 Pro can seamlessly deliver audio between a Galaxy smartphone, Galaxy Tab or Samsung TV. This could prove useful to people like me who use multiple devices throughout the day.
I rely on my S22 Ultra and Tab S7 FE for my daily work, so having the audio transfer instantly to the active device can save me a lot of time while powering through tasks. If the buds get disconnected suddenly, you’ll get an alert informing you of this. It’s Samsung’s way of preventing you from misplacing or losing your earbuds.
As you can tell, we have a lot of features to test and verify. But I can say that the Galaxy Buds2 Pro is proving to be a great set of wireless earphones for just about anybody. Stay tuned because we should be publishing the in-depth review soon.
