Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro vs Galaxy Buds 2: What’s the difference?

Samsung’s catalog contains Pro and non-Pro versions of the Galaxy Buds 2, but these earbuds have a lot in common. It might seem like Samsung is competing against itself. As it turns out, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and Galaxy Buds 2 have a few key differences despite the confusingly similar names. We’ll compare these Galaxy Buds to determine which earbuds make the most sense for you.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 and Galaxy Buds 2 Pro share the same overall shape and design. Both are small, roughly oval earbuds with silicone ear tips. The Buds 2 have a slightly more pronounced stem compared to the Pro model. Some may feel the glossy finish looks cheaper, but it’s less of a dust magnet than the matte finish of the Buds 2 Pro.

Samsung says the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are 15% smaller than the original Galaxy Buds Pro and have better airflow. Just like the Buds Pro, the Buds 2 Pro have an IPX7 rating. In addition to surviving your sweaty workouts, these Galaxy Buds may survive a plunge into water for up to 30 minutes. The Buds 2, in contrast, only have an IPX2 rating, meaning they can only deal with some light spraying water. Neither charging case is water resistant.

Both the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and the Galaxy Buds 2 feature multifunctional touch controls. You can assign certain taps and tap-and-hold actions to modify the noise canceling settings or access your preferred smart assistant. When paired to a Samsung phone, say “Hey, Bixby” to check the weather or send a text. Historically, Samsung’s buds have highly sensitive touch panels, and the Buds 2 Pro are the first earbuds to remedy this issue.

These Samsung earbuds work best with Samsung Galaxy devices. Don’t let that scare you off, though: these are still great earbuds for Android phones. You’ll just miss out on a few features here and there, like auto device switching, head tracking, and Samsung’s proprietary Scalable and Seamless Codecs. The Buds 2 Pro support 24-bit audio playback, and the Buds 2 support 24-bit audio playback with UHQ upscaling. Any phone can stream over the SBC and AAC codecs.

The Samsung Galaxy Wearable app (Android) is where all of the magic happens. Here, you can customize the touch controls and choose your favorite EQ presets. From the app, you can also turn on ambient mode and enable Gaming Mode for lower latency. An ear tip test is also available for both models and does a pretty good job of determining how well the buds fit inside your ears. You’ll also want the app to enable 360 Audio from a Samsung device.

On the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, SmartThings Find will let you know if you leave your buds behind, even if they’re offline. This app is pre-installed on your Samsung phone.

You can experience Samsung 360 Audio from the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and Buds 2, but only the Pro earbuds have head tracking. Why does this matter? Well, if you don’t care about spatial audio it doesn’t. However, if you’re a big TV or movie watcher, 360 Audio can enhance your experience. Make sure you’re watching Dobly Atmos content from a compatible service like Disney Plus or HBO Max.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro have another trick up their sleeve: 360 Audio recording. When paired with a Samsung phone that supports LE Audio and runs One UI 5.0+, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro mics will record 360 Audio sound. This makes it easier than ever for creators to play around with immersive audio.

Although both pairs of Samsung Galaxy Buds have active noise canceling (ANC), the Buds 2 Pro’s ANC is much better. With the Buds 2 Pro, you’ll have to strain your ears to hear train engines or a washer/dryer unit. Meanwhile, all these sounds will still come through with the Galaxy Buds 2, albeit much quieter than without the Buds 2 at all.

For context, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro outperform the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) ($199 at Amazon) regarding low-frequency cancelation. Both earbuds should offer solid isolation as long as you can get a good seal with the included silicone ear tips. The Buds 2 have better isolation than the original Buds Pro. Ambient noise will sound much quieter with either pair of earbuds in.

Both earbuds support ambient sound that lets users hear background noise while wearing the earbuds. However, Samsung added two more adjustment levels for the Buds 2 Pro in the mobile app. The Buds 2 Pro also have a “Listen Louder” function for those in need of hearing assistance.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro sound very good, but are a bit bassy. The chart to the left depicts the Buds 2 Pro’s frequency response in cyan with the SoundGuys headphone preference curve in pink. (SoundGuys is our audio-focused sister site.) Most people won’t mind the extra sub-bass, but it could make it hard to hear vocals during some hip-hop and rap songs.

The chart on the right depicts the Galaxy Buds 2 frequency response in cyan, and it hews a bit closer to the preference curve than the Buds 2 Pro. Most general consumers won’t hear a difference unless you prompt them to listen hard. If you don’t like the default sound and want to mix it up a bit, you can experiment with Samsung’s numerous EQ presets in the Galaxy Wearable app.

As for battery life, Samsung claims five hours of playback time with active noise canceling enabled for the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. The Buds 2 are also rated to get up to five hours of listening time with ANC on.

We subjected the earbuds to our standardized testing with constant music playback peaking at 75dB(SPL) to test the battery life. Here are the results:

• Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, ANC on: Four hours, 50 minutes.
• Galaxy Buds 2, ANC on: Five hours, three minutes.

The earbuds on both models are rated at around 61mAh, but the Buds 2 charging case is 472mAh, while the Buds 2 Pro charging case is 512mAh, so there will be a slight difference in longevity. Both earbud models let you use wireless Qi charging, Samsung PowerShare, or USB-C to top up the case and buds.

The Galaxy Buds 2 originally launched at $149.99; these days, you can get them for around $75-$100. They come in White, Graphite, Olive, Lavender, and Phantom Black.

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro launched with a $229.99 MSRP, but we’ve seen them go as low as about $180. You can snag them in White, Graphite, or Bora Purple.

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro offer some welcome refinements to Samsung’s earbuds line, and overall they make for a good pick for most people. Any old Android phone owner can enjoy the great ANC and EQ presets from the Buds 2 Pro. Of course, if you want 360 Audio with head tracking or recording capabilities, you’ll need to pair them with a new Samsung phone. Ultimately, these are premier audio wearables, and the price reflects that.

Budget buyers may want to sidestep the Buds 2 Pro and get the Galaxy Buds 2 instead. These can be found for less than $100, making them a far better deal than the Pro option. You still get excellent noise canceling and great sound quality, no matter what kind of Android phone you use.