Overall, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro look similar to last year’s Buds Pro, but there are a few differences. For starters, this new model is 15% smaller than the 2021 model, which means it fits better in your ear and is more comfortable for longer periods of time. Furthermore, each earbud has a vent on the inside to help relieve pressure. Of course, their small size allows them to tuck neatly into your ear, leaving very little protruding from the side of your head. It’s a design that Samsung used early on for its earbuds, and subsequent models have remained pleasingly slim. The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro have a soft-touch matte coating as opposed to the Galaxy Buds Pro, which had a glossy finish. However, it does not necessarily provide more grip, and neither surface has an effect on the touch controls. The included charging case for the Buds 2 Pro has the same matte finish and is also pleasantly tactile. This model, like the Buds Pro, is IPX7 rated, which means it can be submerged in up to three feet of “fresh water” for up to 30 minutes, according to Samsung. Touch controls are mostly mirrored on both earbuds. There’s a single tap to play/pause, a double tap to skip ahead, a triple tap to go back, and a touch and hold gesture that can be customized. That long press can be used to change noise controls (ANC/ambient sound, ANC/off, or ambient sound/off), summon Bixby, activate Spotify, or adjust volume. If you don’t want to give up some of those other features for volume, there’s an additional Labs option that allows you to adjust audio levels by double tapping the front edge of the earbuds. It’s a little difficult to master. The real annoyance with the touch controls is when you try to adjust the earbuds’ fit. The Buds 2 Pro fit well, but as with all true wireless models, you must reposition them in your ears on a regular basis. Because of the sensitivity of the touch panels and the small size of the buds, it’s easy to make an erroneous tap when just trying to readjust. It happened frequently enough over the last two weeks to be very frustrating. The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, like previous Samsung earbuds, have all of their features and settings accessible via the Galaxy Wearable app on Android devices. Unfortunately, the company is sticking to previous models by not offering an iOS version. Samsung used to have onr, which made its buds a great option for both operating systems, but that is no longer the case. You can still use the earbuds with Apple products, but you’ll miss out on some of the more appealing features. Up top in the app, you’ll find battery percentages for both the earbuds and the case. The main screen also provides access to noise controls, allowing you to see which mode is active (ANC, off, or ambient sound) and change it with the software if necessary. You can enable/disable Voice Detect, 360 audio, touch controls, and find lost earbuds. Voice Detect is a new feature from Samsung that detects when you’re speaking and activates ambient sound while lowering the audio volume for quick conversations.
