While a $50 discount from $230 down to $180 might not seem like a huge deal, it’s a rare sight to witness such a large discount so quickly after its official debut, especially when the buds are marketed as premium.
Even so, they weren’t overpriced to begin with. At $230, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro were already competitive with Sony’s WF-1000XM4 at $280 and Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 3 at $240.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro can switch automatically between Samsung devices. However, they don’t offer true multipoint Bluetooth connectivity. This means you can’t connect them to two devices simultaneously like the way you can with the Google’s Pixel Buds Pro and some earbuds from Jabra. You also need to be aware that their support for 24-bit hi-fi audio over Bluetooth is restricted to Samsung phones only.
There is no doubt that some of these are among the most popular wireless earbuds on the market today. Both the active noise-canceling and sound profile are improved. Also, both the size and weight are reduced to make the Buds 2 Pro much more comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
Compared to Google Pixel Buds, Samsung’s ecosystem may be hampered by multipoint audio, but they excel at touch control. One of the best parts of the edge tap feature is it allows you to control the volume by touching your ear, not the bud, for more consistent results. In comparing the Buds 2 Pro to the Sony WF-1000XM4, which has been discounted down to $230 at most major retailers, Samsung manages to beat Sony in some small, but significant ways, starting with the fit.
There are some reviews that reported that XM4s gave them pain when first wearing them. The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are definitely worth considering if your ears are small. Once the buds fit snugly, you rarely have to worry about them falling out of your ears.
Tips are included with every purchase of the Buds 2. Sony ships the XM4 wireless noise-canceling headphones with foam tips, while the Buds 2 Pro uses silicone. Those with regular shaped ear canals may benefit more from foam tips, a necessity for Anti-Noise Canceling. The silicone tips, however, are definitely easier to clean and to size, won’t wear out as quickly as foam, and are available in a broader variety of styles.