Introduction
After the Galaxy Buds+, Live and Pro, Samsung finally decided to release a true sequel to the original Galaxy Buds. Well, at least in name. The all-new Galaxy Buds 2 borrow elements from Samsung’s previous wireless earbuds, and Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology hasn’t been left out.
Nevertheless, Samsung announced the Galaxy Buds 2 at a lower price than the Galaxy Buds Pro, making it a more attractive proposition, especially for first-time wireless earbuds users.
Design
Galaxy Buds 2 looks like a mix between Galaxy Buds Live and Buds Pro. The earbuds have an in-ear design, but the housing ditches the glossy finish on top. The Galaxy Buds 2 earbuds have the same matte finish. They are available in four color options, including black, olive green, violet and white.
As always, the charging/carrying case was redesigned this year as well. The new model retains a rectangular clamshell form factor with rounded corners and hinges. Each earbud measures 17 x 20.9 x 21.1 mm, while the charging case measures 50 x 50.2 x 27.8 mm.
The earbuds have an IPX7 water resistance rating, meaning they should be able to survive being submerged. At the very least, they should offer better water resistance than the IPX2-rated Galaxy Buds Live.
Specifications and Features
Each Galaxy Buds 2 earbud has a 61mAh coin-cell battery, three microphones (2 external mics + 1 internal), and 2-way speakers with a woofer and a tweeter. The earbuds have Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity.
The carrying case has its own 472mAh battery that extends the playback time to 28 hours with ANC disabled. In addition to ANC, the Galaxy Buds 2 also offer ambient sound capabilities and Bixby integration.
Price and Availability
The Galaxy Buds 2 were announced at Galaxy Unpacked 2021 in August for $149, though retailers like Woot! has offered the earbuds on pre-order terms at a discount.
Samsung announced an August 27 delivery date for the new Galaxy Buds 2 in most markets.