AirPods Pro 2 are the go-to flagship earbuds for an iPhone consumer; you get all of the ecosystem benefits alongside sensible sound high quality and energetic noise cancellation (ANC). However what in case you use your iPhone with a Home windows laptop computer, or what when you have an Android phone as a secondary system? That’s the place you’ll require a second pair of earbuds — until yow will discover one thing that works nicely with the iPhone in addition to Home windows and Android. Surprisingly, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are one such product.
I’ve been utilizing the Galaxy Buds 2 Professional with my iPhone 13 Pro Max and Galaxy Z Fold 4. Whereas there are apparent causes for somebody within the Galaxy ecosystem to buy the flagship Samsung earbuds, they work shockingly nicely with an iPhone — even when there are a few caveats.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 5, the Galaxy Buds 2 Professional don’t require an app to pair and work. You may merely open the case and pair it to your iPhone. You may then play your favourite music or podcasts through any app you need on the iPhone. However you don’t get assist to fine-tune the controls, and also you miss out on some area of interest options (extra on that beneath).
Pixel Buds Pro. The Galaxy Buds 2 Professional had been my companion on my commutes and journey — spanning cabs, busses, and airplanes. The Buds 2 Professional actually shine when quieting the buzzing of an airplane. Nonetheless, that’s to not say that it appears like I’m in a vacuum. As a substitute, the silicon ideas create a great seal (in my ear, a minimum of), and the software program does the remaining.
What made my expertise extra gratifying was the flexibility to have a dialog with the earbuds nonetheless of their place and with out me touching them. How? There’s a “voice detect characteristic” that acknowledges if you end up speaking to somebody and activates the transparency mode, so you’ll be able to hear the opposite particular person clearly. And it’s not prefer it’s there for the sake of it. The voice detection labored 9 out of 10 instances inside seconds for me, and when it really works, it’s very efficient.
Samsung guarantees as much as 5 hours of steady playback with ANC turned on, and 18 hours of battery life with the case. In my four-hour flight, I had no battery anxiousness and was capable of watch Trendy Love season 1 (oh, that first episode is so healthful). You will get higher battery life on different earbuds, however the sound, ANC efficiency, and voice detection characteristic mixed to provide me a superb expertise with these. And keep in mind — that is all doable utilizing the Galaxy Buds 2 Professional with an iPhone; no Samsung cellphone required.
Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review, “made the sound high quality worse.”
Fourth, you miss out on the Samsung extras, like, the “Discover my earbuds” characteristic that performs just a little tone by the buds that can assist you discover one or each earbuds in the event that they go lacking. It’s the solely characteristic on this part that I’d prefer to have on my iPhone for the Galaxy Buds 2 Professional. I haven’t felt the necessity for it, however it might be good to have it if I ever lose my earbuds.
Phil Nickinson/Digital Traits
Extra Samsung-exclusive options embody 24-bit audio, which solely works with choose streaming companies. There’s additionally the Samsung Seamless Codec that may’t be licensed by anybody.
All in all, I don’t suppose you might be lacking out on a lot with out the Galaxy Wearable app. Clearly, it might be good to fine-tune your earbuds to the controls you want. That’s the one huge caveat; all the pieces else is only a minor annoyance. What you have already got on the earbuds works simply tremendous, and also you received’t really feel any friction.
Not an AirPods alternative, however shut
Simon Cohen / Digital Traits
So, does all of that imply you should purchase the Galaxy Buds 2 Professional over a pair of AirPods? No. Whereas the sound, ANC, and voice detection are top-notch on the Galaxy Buds 2 Professional, in case you are within the Apple ecosystem, it’s best to nonetheless go for the AirPods Professional 2 for seamless connectivity between all of the Apple units.
Nonetheless, when you have an iPhone however a Home windows laptop computer, otherwise you use each the iPhone and an Android cellphone — particularly a Samsung smartphone — the Galaxy Buds 2 Professional make for a greater purchase at $20 lower than the $200 AirPods 2 Professional presently on Amazon.
The Galaxy Buds 2 Professional are a superb pair of earbuds. I’ve actually loved my time utilizing them with my iPhone 13 Professional Max. And in case you are like me and use a variety of units, the Galaxy Buds 2 Professional are for you.
