Everything else is impressive, but if the case is empty, none of it matters.
In the ongoing contest between the world's great technology makers, Samsung has stepped forward with the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro — a pair of wireless earbuds engineered to surpass Apple's AirPods Pro in sound architecture, audio fidelity, and durability. Unveiled at Samsung's 2022 Unpacked event, these earbuds carry dual-driver speakers, 24-bit hi-res audio, and IPX7 waterproofing that collectively push beyond what Apple currently offers. Yet the ancient tension between ambition and limitation persists: a battery life shorter than its rival's may remind us that no single device yet holds every answer.
- Samsung has directly targeted the AirPods Pro's throne, arriving with a dual-driver speaker system and 24-bit hi-res audio that Apple's flagship earbuds cannot match.
- The stakes are raised further by IPX7 waterproofing — full submersion protection that leaves AirPods Pro's basic sweat resistance looking modest by comparison.
- Bluetooth 5.3 and AuraCast support give Samsung a connectivity edge, while an improved Voice Detect feature promises hands-free switching between noise cancellation and ambient awareness.
- But the challenge stumbles at endurance: only 18 total hours of battery life against AirPods Pro's 24 creates a gap that could turn away users who depend on all-day listening.
- The contest is unresolved — Samsung wins on specs and audio ambition, Apple holds the advantage where daily stamina matters most.
At its 2022 Unpacked event, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro as a direct answer to Apple's AirPods Pro — and on paper, the challenge is formidable. The most striking feature is a two-way speaker system: a 10mm woofer paired with a 5.4mm tweeter in each earbud. Dual-driver designs remain rare in wireless audio, but when executed well — as Bowers & Wilkins and Honor have shown — they deliver richer bass, clearer vocals, and more detailed highs than single-driver rivals.
Samsung also ventures into audio territory Apple has yet to explore. The Buds 2 Pro support 24-bit hi-res audio via the Samsung Seamless Codec when paired with compatible Samsung devices, enabling full use of lossless tiers from services like Tidal and Apple Music. Ironically, no current AirPods model can fully utilize Apple Music's own highest-quality streams. The 24-bit standard reduces digital degradation — though real-world gains depend on Samsung's engineering holding up.
Elsewhere, the advantages accumulate. An IPX7 waterproofing rating means the buds can survive a meter of water for thirty minutes — far beyond the IPX4 sweat resistance of AirPods Pro. Bluetooth 5.3 brings stronger connection stability and future AuraCast support, while a refined Voice Detect feature automatically shifts to ambient mode when you speak, sparing you the need to manually toggle noise cancellation.
The significant weakness, however, is battery life. With ANC active, the Buds 2 Pro offer five hours per charge and thirteen from the case — eighteen hours total. AirPods Pro stretch to twenty-four. That six-hour gap is consequential for anyone relying on earbuds through a full day away from a charger. Samsung trimmed the buds by fifteen percent in size, which explains some of the loss, but the case capacity also appears reduced. In a category where endurance is often the deciding factor, this shortfall may cost Samsung the very users it most wants to win over.
Samsung just unveiled its answer to Apple's wireless earbuds dominance. At the company's Unpacked event in 2022, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro arrived alongside new phones and watches, but it's the earbuds that seem designed to directly challenge the AirPods Pro—the category's current standard-bearer. On paper, Samsung has loaded these buds with features that go beyond what Apple offers, though one critical weakness threatens to undermine the whole package.
The most immediately striking upgrade is the speaker design. Samsung packed two drivers into each earbud: a 10mm woofer handling the low and midrange frequencies, paired with a 5.4mm tweeter for the highs. This two-way configuration remains uncommon in wireless earbuds, but when manufacturers get it right, the results are audible. The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 and Honor Earbuds 3 Pro have both demonstrated that dual-driver designs can deliver richer bass, clearer vocals, and more detailed treble than single-driver competitors. If Samsung's engineering holds up, the Buds 2 Pro should outpace the AirPods Pro in raw sound quality.
Beyond the drivers, Samsung is pushing into audio territory Apple hasn't yet explored with its flagship earbuds. The Buds 2 Pro support 24-bit hi-resolution audio when paired with compatible Samsung devices, thanks to what the company calls the Samsung Seamless Codec. This matters because it means the earbuds can handle the lossless and hi-res tiers from services like Tidal and Apple Music—ironically, Apple Music's highest-quality streams cannot be fully utilized on any current AirPods model. The 24-bit standard allows for greater precision in the audio signal and less digital degradation, though the real-world benefit depends heavily on how well Samsung has engineered the earbuds themselves.
Samsung has also refined the noise cancellation experience. The new buds retain a feature called Voice Detect from the original Galaxy Buds Pro, which automatically switches to ambient mode when it detects you speaking. This means you can order coffee or have a conversation without manually toggling the ANC off and on. The original version was inconsistent, but if Samsung's improved microphone setup works better this time, it could be a meaningful advantage. The company has also upgraded to Bluetooth 5.3, which brings better connection stability at distance and opens the door to AuraCast—a technology that could eventually let multiple headsets listen to a single broadcast from one device. AirPods Pro only support Bluetooth 5.0, so they lack these capabilities.
Waterproofing is another area where Samsung has pulled ahead. The Buds 2 Pro carry an IPX7 rating, meaning they can survive submersion in up to one meter of water for thirty minutes. Most earbuds, including AirPods Pro, max out at IPX4—essentially sweat resistance. If you drop a bud near a pool or puddle, the Samsung earbuds have a fighting chance of survival where AirPods would likely be lost.
Yet there's a significant catch. Battery life is where the Buds 2 Pro stumble. With active noise cancellation enabled, you get five hours per charge from the buds themselves, plus an additional thirteen hours from the case, for eighteen hours total. AirPods Pro deliver 4.5 hours from the buds (often closer to five in real use) but stretch to twenty-four hours when you factor in the charging case. That six-hour gap in total battery life is substantial, especially since running out of charge in the case is the most frustrating failure mode for wireless earbuds. Samsung did shrink the buds by fifteen percent compared to the previous generation, which accounts for some of the battery reduction, but the case capacity also appears to have suffered. This weakness could prove decisive for users who rely on their earbuds throughout a full day without access to a charger.
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If Samsung gets its audio engineering right, the two-way design should deliver deeper bass, better vocal clarity, and more detailed treble.— TechRadar analysis
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Why does the two-way speaker design matter so much? Isn't it just marketing?
No—it's physics. One driver can't reproduce bass and treble equally well. The woofer moves slowly and powerfully for low frequencies; the tweeter vibrates rapidly for highs. Splitting the work means each driver operates in its sweet spot, so you get cleaner sound across the spectrum.
But can you actually hear the difference, or is it just numbers on a spec sheet?
You can hear it if the engineering is right. The Bowers & Wilkins earbuds prove it's possible in this form factor. Whether Samsung nailed it, we won't know until people actually use them.
What's the real advantage of 24-bit audio? Most people stream compressed music anyway.
True, but if you're paying for lossless on Apple Music or hi-res on Tidal, current AirPods throw that quality away. Samsung's earbuds at least give you the option to hear what you're paying for.
The battery life gap seems like the real story here.
It is. Everything else Samsung did is impressive, but if your earbuds die mid-afternoon and the case is empty, none of those features matter. That's where Apple still wins.
Is this a Samsung problem or an engineering problem?
Probably both. They made the buds smaller, which is nice, but they also made the case smaller. They had to choose between size and battery, and they chose size. Apple chose differently.