As the world of consumer audio technology continues to evolve, the battle for truly wireless earbuds has come to the forefront. Apple’s AirPods and Samsung’s Galaxy Buds are two of the leading competitors in this space.
Both of these brands have been in the wireless earbuds market for years, but the question remains: Which offers the best features, sound quality, and value? In this article, we will compare the two top competitors and decide the winner of the Apple AirPods 2 vs the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 battle.
Apple AirPods 2 Vs Galaxy Buds 2
Both have similar prices and offer plenty of features, but which is the better choice? Before deciding, we’ll look at each sound quality, design, and price. To find out, let’s compare the two and look at the biggest differences between them.
1. Comfort and Design
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 and Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro offer great design options to fit your style. The AirPods Pro 2 comes in the iconic white, while the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro offer three colors white, Graphite (black), and Bora Purple. Additionally, you can customize your AirPods Pro 2 case with emojis, initials, or numbers to make it unique.
Regarding comfort and fit, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro has the edge over the AirPods Pro 2. They are smaller and less obtrusive, offering a snugger fit that won’t slip or fall off during a sweaty workout.
The AirPods Pro 2, on the other hand, is unchanged from the original model, except for adding an extra-small ear tip. While still incredibly comfortable, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro offers a better fit and comfort than the AirPods Pro 2.
2. Sound quality
When it comes to sound quality, both the Apple AirPods Pro 2 and Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro offer amazing bass and clear mids and highs. The AirPods Pro 2 has upgraded low-distortion drivers and high-dynamic-range amplifiers that give a richer and clearer sound.
Additionally, they feature a cool immersive surround sound feature called head-tracking spatial audio. To top it off, the AirPods Pro 2 also offers Personalized Spatial Audio, a new iOS 16 feature that customizes the 3D surround sound to your ear shape.
Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro also offer their version of spatial audio and head tracking called Intelligent 360 Audio. While this feature still produces a good sound, it is not as impressive as the AirPods Pro 2. It tends to sound overly processed compared to the first-generation AirPods Pro. Overall, the AirPods Pro 2 has the edge in sound quality, offering superior features and a more immersive sound experience.
3. Battery Life
Regarding battery life, Apple AirPods Pro 2 and Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are neck-and-neck. The AirPods Pro 2 offers 6 hours of listening time on a single charge and up to 30 hours with the charging case, while the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro offers 5 hours on a single charge and 23 hours with the charging case.
Both offer great battery life, but the AirPods Pro 2 has the edge with an extra hour of listening time and 7 extra hours with the charging case. This makes them an ideal choice for long flights, commutes, or binge-watching seasons on Netflix.
4. Controls
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 and Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro have different control systems. The AirPods Pro 2 has new touch controls to adjust the volume simply by sliding your thumb up or down the stem. This allows you to comfortably reposition your earbuds as often as possible without worrying about accidental pauses.
The AirPods Pro 2 has easy-to-use, squeeze-to-click controls for play/pause, call/answer, and skip/back. On the other hand, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro has a less intuitive touch control system that can be too sensitive and oddly positioned on a much smaller surface area. This can lead to accidental pauses when trying to adjust the earbuds.
5. Noise Cancellation
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are renowned for their impressive noise cancellation, powered by the more powerful H2 chip. This chip provides 2x more active noise cancellation to block the outside noises of everyday life effectively. In addition, the AirPods Pro 2 come with a transparency mode and the Adaptive Transparency feature, which monitors the outside world for loud and obtrusive sounds and adjusts them to safer levels.
Also, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro feature noise cancellation technology, which is quite effective for most users and represents a significant improvement over the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro. However, the AirPods Pro 2 is still considered the better option regarding noise cancellation and transparency.
6. Water Resistance
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are similar regarding water resistance. Both are IPX4-rated, meaning they can withstand splashes and light rain, but won’t hold up if submerged in water.
However, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are rated IPX7, so they offer a slightly higher level of water resistance, and their case is also IPX4-rated. Therefore, if you’re looking for a pair of earbuds that can withstand more water, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro may be the better option.
7. Pricing
When comparing the Apple AirPods Pro 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, the AirPods Pro 2 are slightly more expensive at $249, while the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro is priced lower at $200.
However, you get much better quality and features for the extra $49 you pay for the AirPods Pro 2. If the price is your biggest concern and you don’t mind waiting, you can often find the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro on sale, so it may be the better choice for a budget-conscious buyer.
Conclusion
In conclusion, With superior sound quality, improved transparency mode, and superior noise cancellation, the AirPods Pro 2 offers the best overall value for its price. They are best suited for those already deep in the Apple ecosystem, as they require an iPhone to use and power them effectively with Apple chargers. However, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro may be a better choice if you’re an Android user.
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