The best TWS or just good value for money?

2023-05-12 12:15:00

The Galaxy Buds2 Pro is the latest TWS Bluetooth in-ear headphone released by Samsung and is the top of the line from the brand. Although it is not the cheapest Galaxy Buds currently offered by the South Korean cell phone manufacturer, its cost-effectiveness is superior to that of the Galaxy Buds 2, which is now the entry-level TWS sold by the company. There are many reviews of the Galaxy Buds2 Pro saying that it would be the best TWS on the market, but is this True Wireless in-ear really all that or is it just good value for money?

Review do Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro Bluetooth TWS In-Ear Headset Review (Review). Source: Vitor Valeri

For all that is heard regarding Samsung’s Galaxy Buds2 Pro, I created a high expectation regarding this brand’s TWS Bluetooth headset. After having the opportunity to try it for a few weeks, I came to the conclusion that it is indeed good value for money, but it is not exactly the best True Wireless on the market, as they say out there. See below the reasons that led me to have this opinion.

Are the Galaxy Buds2 Pro comfortable and compact in the ear? Construction quality analysis

One of the biggest concerns we have when choosing a TWS headset is whether it will be comfortable and compact in the ear, as the objective is to use it while moving on the street, in meetings and during workouts at the gym, for example. . Another strong point for certain users is whether the True Wireless in-ear does not fall out of the ear, even with sweat, as this has been a major problem in many people’s experience. The Galaxy Buds2 Pro partially meets these requirements.

In terms of comfort, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro were one of the most comfortable TWS in-ear headphones I’ve been able to use. I didn’t feel any discomfort when using it, even following several hours listening to music while I work. In addition, I noticed that this Samsung True Wireless is very compact, being very discreet in the ears, depending on the chosen color, in addition to having a completely rounded body, smooth and without drawings on the part that is exposed, being a “clean” solution ( “clean”) for those who like something that goes easily with any outfit or situation without attracting anyone’s attention.

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro Bluetooth TWS In-Ear Headset.  Source: Vitor Valeri
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro Bluetooth TWS In-Ear Headset. Source: Vitor Valeri

If you want to use the Galaxy Buds2 for exercises such as street running or bodybuilding, I do not recommend using the ear tips (tips, rubber bands) that come in the box, as the fit is not as secure, firm in the ears. I recommend buying the ear tips “Azla SednaEarfit Crystal for Galaxy Buds2 Pro” and “Spinfit CP1025 & CPA2 for Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro”, which also fit the TWS Jabra 85T, according to the manufacturer Spinfit. It is important to remember that the headset has IPX7 certification, certifying that it is sweat and water proof, and can be immersed in water up to 1 meter deep for 30 minutes, that is, you can use Samsung’s TWS in exercises without the worry of damaging it with sweat.

Fit and comfort of the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro.  Source: Vitor Valeri
Fit and comfort of the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro. Source: Vitor Valeri

Is the Bluetooth connection of the Galaxy Buds2 Pro stable or broken? What codecs does it support?

Even with Bluetooth 5.3, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro failed to transmit audio when I moved regarding 5 meters away from two barrier walls. However, the cell phone used was a OnePlus 5T, which does not support the proprietary Bluetooth codec “Samsung Seamless”, a direct competitor of Sony’s LDAC, which is supported by most Android smartphones. If you don’t have a cell phone from the South Korean manufacturer, you can only use the Bluetooth AAC and SBC audio codecs, which are very rudimentary.

Is the active noise cancellation (ANC) of the Galaxy Buds2 Pro good?

The Galaxy Buds2 Pro’s Active Noise Canceling (ANC) quality was the best of any TWS headphones I’ve tried. I found it superior to the ANC of the Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation) and the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3. However, you will still hear sudden noises, such as people talking, objects hitting, among other sounds that are not constant.

The reason there isn’t complete sound cancellation on headphones with ANC is due to the fact that it’s impossible to predict in advance the sounds produced in the environments you’re in. Active noise cancellation is undoubtedly effective with noises that are constant, for example, the engine of a bus, plane or car and even the wind. If you want to understand better, we talk more in depth in this article regarding how Active Noise Canceling (ANC) works.

Does the Galaxy Buds2 Pro have good battery life?

With ANC (Active Noise Cancelling) turned on, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro can last up to 5 hours on a single charge. This capacity for battery life is not so good considering the average of TWS headphones on the market, but if you don’t use the headphones directly, for long periods, there is no problem, because when you place it in the case of charging for 15 minutes or half an hour, the battery recharges quickly.

How is the sound quality of the Galaxy Buds2 Pro? Is it the best TWS on the market in this regard?

The sound of the Galaxy Buds2 Pro can be considered a “warm” headset. This is due to its excessively high bass and highs. You feel that volume, that mass, to give weight to the recordings and this is usually linked to the activity in the low-mid region, in the 500Hz range, which is what usually adds “fat” to the music, giving a greater sense of “immersion” . At the same time, there is more activity than normal in the high-mid range, especially in the 3Khz region, which helps to give songs a more defined feeling, but can cause fatigue in certain tracks.

Errata (12/05/2023): As the reviewed Galaxy Buds2 Pro unit was made available through a friend, I didn’t check if there was any equalization applied. Unfortunately, when accessing the Galaxy Wearable app, I found that the headset had the EQ (equalization) “clear”. Because of this, this review’s assessment of the sound quality has changed since I disabled the EQ.

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro Bluetooth TWS In-Ear Headset.  Source: Vitor Valeri
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro Bluetooth TWS In-Ear Headset. Source: Vitor Valeri

Due to the excess of low mids and high mids, there is an imbalance that affects the midrange performance, causing string instruments and voices to be pushed back, even sounding dull in some recordings or “metallic” in certain tracks.

Compared to other headphones, I found the Galaxy Buds2 Pro’s midrange to be recessed. Adding the characteristics of “full”, “fat” bass and more “sharp” highs, the result is a good feeling of definition, but without naturalness. I noticed a loaded sound, heavy, due to the bass, and with an artificial brightness, due to the excess of treble.

In terms of spatiality and separation of instruments, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro does not disappoint and manages to show the sounds of each source with good definition, in addition to a good enough positioning so that there is no difficulty in the listener’s perception. Of course, I say this taking into account that it is an in-ear, which is very different in these respects compared to an over-ear, as I say in this article, where I talk regarding the differences between the two types of headphones.

Comparativo: Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro Vs Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3

When comparing the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro side by side with the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3, the first thing you notice is that both are compact, although the German TWS has opted for a design that is not completely rounded. The two have a very similar volume when you put them in your ear, but the Momentum True Wireless 3 doesn’t slip out of your ears with sweat during workouts like the Galaxy Buds2 Pro. The reason for this is the presence of ear fins (“fins”, “ear hooks”), a kind of silicone hook that attaches to the body of the headphones and fits into the grooves of the ear.

Comparison between Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro and Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3. Source: Vitor Valeri
Comparison between Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro and Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3. Source: Vitor Valeri

When comparing the active noise cancellation (ANC) between the headphones, I noticed that the Galaxy Buds2 Pro deliver a considerably better performance than the Momentum True Wireless 3. In this regard, I did not even have to make an effort to reach this conclusion, as I heard less sounds from the environment when using the Samsung TWS headset.

When we arrive at one of the parts that everyone expects, the sound, Sennheiser shows its know-how in the production of audio equipment. The sound quality of the Momentum True Wireless 3 is considerably better than that of the Galaxy Buds2 Pro. The German managed to produce a TWS with a very natural, immersive sound that does not cause fatigue even following long periods of listening, offering a more pleasant overall experience.

The mids of the Momentum True Wireless 3 are more present and sweet, while the Galaxy Buds2 Pro deliver a sound that pulls towards volume and brightness, sounding greasy and metallic. In addition, there is more controlled bass on Sennheiser headphones, as we have greater activity in the subbass and there is less activity in the low-mid. Undoubtedly, the bass region in the German TWS is not natural, but it delivers greater immersion and is not exaggerated ready to impair the performance of the mids and highs.

The way in which the bass was implemented by Sennheiser in the Momentum True Wireless 3 brings greater coherence to the sound, as you notice that the sounds of the voices and string instruments are still alive and with good definition, in addition to having the body that I felt in excess on Galaxy Buds2 Pro. But without some nice treble activity, the sound would be muted this way.

Fortunately, the Momentum True Wireless 3 has good treble activity, featuring a good level of brightness, which manages to bring out detail, but at the same time is not aggressive. Note that the Galaxy Buds2 Pro sounds more aggressive than the Sennheiser headphones in this region, which can be tiring following listening for some time. In addition, I noticed a better extension in the treble of the German earphone.

The spatiality and separation of the instruments is very similar between the Galaxy Buds2 Pro and the Momentum True Wireless 3. In this respect there really aren’t many differences in the way the headphones present music.

Finally, we have to remember the price difference between the Galaxy Buds2 Pro and the Momentum True Wireless 3. While Samsung’s headphones are in the range of R$ 1000, and can be found for even less in promotions, Sennheiser’s TWS is situated if in the range of R$ 2000.

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro is an excellent value for money for what it delivers. There’s excellent build quality here, sensational active noise cancellation (ANC) for a TWS, and above-average sound quality. However, when comparing with other True Wireless headphones, we see that the South Korean totally wireless in-ear headphone is not the best in terms of sound quality in Brazil, lagging behind the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3. In my opinion, in the Galaxy Buds2 Pro price range, it is the best value for money of all the options on the market, due to the set of qualities delivered.

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