Here’s a breakdown of the differences between Samsung’s newest headphones and one of the longest-serving members of our best noise-canceling earbuds rankings, the Apple AirPods Pro.
The Galaxy Buds 2, which was just released, combine high-quality sound with dependable active noise cancellation (ANC) and unique listening modes in a sleek and familiar style. It is possible to customize and manage these buds in a variety of ways thanks to their compatibility with the Galaxy Wearable app and the recently revealed Galaxy Watch 4. Then there’s what many critics consider to be its most important feature: competitive price, with Samsung selling its newest invention at a reasonable $149, which many consumers can afford.
In the other corner, we have the AirPods Pro, which is the best-selling wireless earbuds on the market. This pair of small porcelain danglers have a number of high-performance features like adaptive sound, personalized fit, efficient active noise cancellation, and easy connection with all Apple devices.
Both are high-performance in-ear headphones that provide users with a variety of distinct experiences. Check out our complete Galaxy Buds 2 vs. Apple AirPods Pro comparison chart below to find out which is the superior noise-canceling purchase.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 vs. AirPods Pro: Specs compared
2.Price comparison between the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 and the Apple AirPods Pro
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 are less expensive, retailing for $149 when purchased new. This is the same price as the Galaxy Buds Plus when they were first released, and it is $50 cheaper than the Galaxy Buds Pro’s suggested retail price. Samsung is now taking pre-orders for the device. When you recycle a wireless or wired audio headset with the business, you’ll also get a $20 discount, and you may upgrade to a Galaxy SmartTag for an additional $5.
We’ve noticed some shops offer the AirPods Pro for as little as $180, which is a significant discount from the $249 that Apple initially debuted at. At the time of publication, it is available for $189 from Best Buy, while a reconditioned pair is available for $159 from Walmart. All of these costs are much more than those of the Galaxy Buds 2, but as we will explain below, the few additional dollars are well worth it in the long run.
The winner is a tie.
3.Design comparison between the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 and the Apple AirPods Pro
The Galaxy Buds 2 is aesthetically pleasing and an improvement over the odd, jellybean-looking Galaxy Buds Live, but it falls short of the luxury of the Galaxy Buds Pro in terms of design. Samsung says that the buds are made of Post-Consumer Materials (PCM), which is a technical term that signifies nothing. Essentially, the frame is constructed of solid plastic and has an IPX2 certification, which means it is protected against minor water droplets while in use. Graphite, Lavender, Olive, and White are some of the available colors. Each variant has a matte finish, which gives the buds a great sheen aspect while yet being matte.
The long-stem design of the original Apple AirPods didn’t sit well with us, and we were never big fans of them. A significant upgrade over the previous model, the AirPods Pro includes thinner stems, black venting to equalize pressure, and IPX4 sweat and water protection. Because the build quality isn’t the best, you’ll want to be extra cautious not to drop the buds from a great distance or walk on them.
The charging cover for each model may be the most appealing design feature of the device. You’ll have no problems traveling with either one in your pocket since they’re both small, lightweight, and feature wireless charging capabilities. The Galaxy Buds 2 case is smaller and has a stronger magnet that holds the lid closed, preventing the buds from spilling out onto the floor if the case is dropped to the ground, which is a frequent problem with the AirPods Pro charging case, which is also smaller.
When it comes to comfort, the AirPods Pro can be worn for about 2 hours straight before tiredness sets in, and they stay stable due to the ear tips that have been included. A few modest design tweaks were made to the Galaxy Buds 2 to enable the buds to rest more softly on the concha and glide more readily into the canal. We’ve discovered that they are very comfortable to wear for many hours at a time during the day.
The Ear Tip Fit Test on the AirPods Pro performs much better than the test on the Galaxy Buds 2. Running an analysis on the Galaxy Buds 2 seemed to be suspiciously fast, and we received identical findings no matter which ear tip size we used to fit them.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 is the winner.
4.Controls between the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 and the Apple AirPods Pro
Nothing compares to the control system of the AirPods Pro. Using the Force Sensor for precise input in conjunction with the perfect operation of the “Hey Siri” voice activation is a game-changer. Apple’s microphones pick up every word and voice command with pinpoint accuracy, and every button push generates exceptional tactility, allowing users to feel confident when activating features. It’s also convenient that Siri may notify you of incoming texts via Announce Messages.
The Galaxy Buds 2 are equipped with sensitive touch controls as well as Bixby voice activation capabilities. You can also give access to Spotify straight to the earbuds and activate the Read Alerts option to hear incoming notifications while using the headphones (like your alarm, messages, and schedule). Despite this, not everything is flawless on the user’s end of things. The fact that you have to activate the multi-tap capabilities via the companion app seems superfluous, but it is the poor on-ear recognition that has us scratching our heads. It’s not only that you have to remove both earbuds in order to activate auto-pause; the function also has a 2-second delay and there is no auto-play when you put the buds back in your ears.
With the addition of functionality to their respective smartwatches, Apple and Samsung have surpassed one another. When linked to either the Apple Watch or the Galaxy Watch 4, you will be able to control playback and other features.
AirPods Pro is the winner.
5.Sound quality of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 vs the Apple AirPods Pro
The Buds series has always been known for producing high-quality audio, and the Galaxy Buds 2 does not break from that tradition. AKG-tuned drivers are at the heart of the system, delivering clear, vivid sound. In addition, there is an Equalizer in the program to allow you to modify the sound. Presets are available in six different variations – Normal (the default), Bass Boost (soft), Dynamic (bright), Clear (clear), and Treble Boost – each of which is well-engineered for particular music genres. Normal is a good choice because of its well-balanced frequency range, which allows you to get a full flavor of lows, mids, and highs without sacrificing clarity. When listening on recent Galaxy smartphones, the sound quality is even higher, thanks to the Samsung Scalable Codec, which improves clarity and makes low-fidelity recordings seem more clear.
Apple’s adaptive EQ is remarkable, and the AirPods Pro has much superior sound quality than the original AirPods. Because the bottom end is accentuated, you’ll hear some excellent punchy bass, as well as a strong midrange that delivers clear voices and percussion, among other things. The highs are often muted on most recordings, but they may sometimes be heard in up-tempo productions on rare occasions. For those who are critical listeners and need more detail from the soundstage, you may adjust the EQ by choosing from one of the more than 20 presets available in the iPhone’s settings.
The AirPods Pro compensates for its sonic limitations by offering a variety of listening modes. In terms of features, spatial audio is the star, bringing 360-degree effects to video chats, movies, and selected songs on Apple Music. Another option, Headphone Accommodations, adjusts the sound to your specific hearing needs. You may also use two pairs of Apple or Beats headphones to exchange music between them.
The Galaxy Buds Pro are the only ones that can play spatial audio, according to Samsung. As a consolation prize, they provide Gaming Mode, which is intended to reduce latency in order to provide synchronized gaming audio. Keep in mind that this feature is only available on Samsung devices. If you play around with the accompanying app, you’ll discover a sound balance slider under the Accessibility option, which allows you to boost sound output on each bud while keeping the slider in the center for a more balanced sound.
The winner is a tie.
6.Active noise cancellation in the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 vs. Apple AirPods Pro
The AirPods Pro has received high praise for their excellent noise cancellation, but the Galaxy Buds 2 are just as effective. For example, each model works well inside to reduce background sounds such as loud TVs, chatty neighbors, particular kitchen equipment (dishwashers, microwaves), and the humming noise from a central air conditioning system. Much of the same may be expected in the great outdoors.
When it comes to low-frequency noises like engines, the Galaxy Buds 2 is more effective and allows you to assign ANC to one earbud for less pain, while the AirPods Pro has better wind resistance to make whooshing effects less damaging to your hearing. High-frequency noises aren’t entirely eliminated, and they do draw your attention when they’re heard close enough. When listening to music, you may expect to hear things like infant screams and fire engine sirens intruding on the background noise.
Apple’s Transparency mode is better, and that is the distinguishing factor in this contest. As a result, you will be able to hear conversations and other incidental noises more clearly, which is particularly useful while going for walks or running late at night. Samsung equipped the Galaxy Buds 2 with a three-level Ambient Sound option, with the highest setting providing the greatest results. Additionally, the volume must be reduced to about 50% in order to converse effectively with others and maintain some awareness of your surroundings.
AirPods Pro is the winner.
7.Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 vs. Apple AirPods Pro: Features and Apps to Look Out For
The AirPods Pro provides greater capacity than the standard AirPods, and this is without the need for a companion app. Almost everything is linked to the H1 chip, including the aforementioned capabilities such as audio sharing, spatial audio, the Ear Tip Fittest, “Hey Siri” speech integration, Headphone Accommodations, and Announce Messages, among others.
That’s not all, either. There’s also automatic switching and the ability to manage the buds from a MacBook, among a slew of additional AirPods Pro features that are well worth exploring. Furthermore, Apple revealed a number of new features that would be included in the forthcoming iOS 15 software upgrade. Announce Notifications for audible reminders, Conversation boosts to hear voices more clearly during conversations, expanded spatial audio support for Apple TV and Mac, and real Find My support for misplaced AirPods are all on the list of features to look forward to.
The majority of Samsung’s feature set is available via the Galaxy Wearable application. We’ve previously spoken about the Bixby voice wake-up feature, control customization, the Equalizer, the Earbuds Fit Test, the Gaming Mode, and the accessibility of the Bixby device. Is there anything else? In addition to the batteries for the buds, there is also a user manual, toggle controls, and a Find My Buds mode.
Any additional Samsung functions may be accessed outside of the app, on the Samsung website. You may activate the listening modes and touch controls on your smartphone by dragging and dropping a resizable widget onto your smartphone’s home screen (available exclusively for Galaxy phones). Additionally, you may utilize Samsung’s PowerShare system to wirelessly charge the charging case by putting it on the back of a Galaxy smartphone that is compatible with the system.
The AirPods Pro is responsible for connectivity. In terms of wireless listening, the H1 chip offers seamless connection to all iOS and macOS devices, as well as a consistent range of 35 feet. The Galaxy Buds Pro is also a strong contender, with excellent auto-connect features as well as a longer range (40 feet).
Features such as Google Fast Pair and multipoint technologies are not accessible on either model’s wireless capabilities.
AirPods Pro is the winner.
8.Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 vs. Apple AirPods Pro: Voice quality comparison
Apple’s call quality continues to be excellent, as shown by the AirPods Pro, which stands out as one of the finest headphones with a microphone for both voice and video conversations. When it comes to clear-sounding talks, the beam-forming mic unit is a workhorse that reduces background interference to a bare minimum. Performance on phone conversations and video calls will be just as good as on the computer. Additionally, having the H1 chip allows you to have 50% more conversation time than you would have had with the original AirPods.
When it comes to video calls, the Galaxy Buds 2 are generally usable. In its marketing materials, Samsung promises that the phone features a “new, machine learning-based technology that filters out” background sounds for clearer conversations, although this is not the case in practice. The microphones take up an excessive amount of background noise, particularly wind. Another significant problem is the muffling of sound.
AirPods Pro is the winner.
9.Battery life of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 vs the Apple AirPods Pro
Neither device has an impressive battery life, and this is true for both. ANC playback duration on the Galaxy Buds 2 is 5 hours, but it can be increased to 7.5 hours by deactivating the function, while the AirPods Pro is only good for 4.5 hours when the feature is enabled and 5 hours when the feature is turned off. If you’re someone who relies on their earbuds for noise reduction on a daily basis, none of these options is very appealing. One advantage is that Apple and Samsung have improved battery optimization, allowing them to squeeze out as much power as possible from their batteries to ensure that they perform optimally.
When it comes to charging time, the AirPods Pro charging case is limited to 24 hours, while the Galaxy Buds 2 charging case may last anywhere from 20 to 29 hours, depending on how you use the headphones. A 5-minute charge will provide one hour of playing, and the same is true for quick charging. Another feature that these two models have in common is wireless charging, but the Galaxy Buds 2 offers an additional method to charge wirelessly via the use of the PowerShare feature.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 is the winner.
10.Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 vs. Apple AirPods Pro: Which Is Better?
The overall performance of this team is unquestionably superior. The AirPods Pro was declared the winner. When it comes to the AirPods Pro, Apple achieves almost every point and is continuing to prolong the device’s lifetime by introducing more creative features with each iOS release. The incorporation of spatial audio is significant, and active noise cancellation (ANC) performs an excellent job of canceling out a large variety of background sounds. The inclusion of entertaining functions like “Hey Siri” and audio sharing distinguishes the buds from the competition from a utilitarian standpoint. Furthermore, the fact that you can now find the AirPods Pro on sale more often should encourage you to think to consider purchasing a set of these headphones.
