Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Review: Is It Worth It in 2024?

Picking the right wireless earbuds often comes down to one question: will they still feel like the right choice a few years down the line? Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2, released back in August 2021, manage to stay relevant thanks to a lightweight build, solid noise cancellation, and a price that’s dropped well below launch levels since then.

Release Date: August 2021 ·
Battery Life: Up to 10 hours (buds); 18 hours with case ·
Noise Cancelling: Yes ·
Colors Available: Graphite, Black ·
Connectivity: Bluetooth

Key facts

Here are the core specifications that define the Galaxy Buds 2 experience.

Is the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 good?

Samsung designed the Galaxy Buds 2 as its everyday wireless option—positioned below the Pro tier but still delivering features that matter to most users. The standout claim is the lightweight fit, which Samsung itself has promoted as a key differentiator from earlier generations.

Reviewers at SoundGuys have consistently noted that the Buds 2 strike a reasonable balance between comfort and sound quality for the price, especially once the MSRP is no longer the asking price. The ANC performance doesn’t reach the level of flagship competitors, but it handles everyday environments—commutes, office noise, café hum—without issue.

Sound quality

The Galaxy Buds 2 house a 12mm driver, which is larger than what you’d find in some compact competitors. Samsung pairs this with its own tuning, aimed at a profile that works across genres without requiring an EQ adjustment. Independent testing from RTINGS.com shows the Buds 2 delivering decent bass extension and acceptable mid-range clarity for casual listening.

Compared to the Buds 3 (standard, not Pro), the Buds 2 actually hold their own in raw SPL measurements—hitting 104 dB/mW versus the Buds 3 Pro’s 92 dB/mW on sheet comparisons, according to Versus. In practical terms, this means the Buds 2 can get louder before distortion sets in, a point worth considering if you like higher volume levels.

Comfort and fit

Samsung marketed the original Buds 2 as the “lightest earbuds” they’d made at launch—a headline claim that translates to around 5g per earbud. That lightness pays off during extended wear sessions. The housing uses a rounded, bulb-style design that’s distinct from the stem-based approach Samsung introduced with the Buds Pro and refined in the Buds 3 series.

Some users prefer the bulb-style fit of the Buds 2 over the stem design of newer models, finding it more secure during movement. However, fit preference remains subjective—what feels locked in for one person may loosen for another.

Call quality

The Buds 2 include three microphones per earbud, arranged to pick up your voice while filtering ambient noise. Samsung’s machine learning algorithms attempt to separate speech from background noise during calls. For regular voice calls and video meetings in relatively quiet environments, performance is adequate. In windier conditions or very loud settings, callers will notice the difference compared to dedicated business headsets.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 review: Worth it in 2024?

Three years is a long stretch in consumer electronics, and the wireless earbuds market has moved quickly. Newer models from Samsung and competitors offer better noise cancellation, longer battery specs, and smart features that the 2021 Buds 2 simply can’t match through software updates. That said, whether those gaps matter depends heavily on what you’re willing to spend—and what you actually need.

Pros and cons

Price value

When the Galaxy Buds 2 launched, they retailed around $149 USD. In 2024, the street price has fallen considerably—often hovering between $70–$100 for new units, with refurbished options pushing even lower. This depreciation changes the value equation substantially.

At current prices, the Buds 2 deliver ANC and decent sound quality at a fraction of what you’d spend on the Buds 3 ($199 USD) or Buds 3 Pro ($249.99 USD). For budget-conscious buyers who still want noise cancellation, the math favor the older model—provided the hardware holds up.

Alternatives

If you’re comparing the Galaxy Buds 2 against newer options, three paths stand out:

• Samsung Galaxy Buds 3: The direct successor brings updated design, slightly improved battery (7.5 hours from the non-Pro variant, per Versus), and better water resistance. The trade-off is a higher price and a stem design that not everyone prefers.
• Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: If ANC performance is your priority, the Buds 2 Pro deliver stronger noise cancellation—SoundGuys measured the Pro model reducing outside noise by roughly 84% at certain frequencies. However, the Pro model commands a price premium and uses the bulb design shared with the standard Buds 2.
• Non-Samsung competitors: At the $70–$100 price bracket, options from Anker, OnePlus, and other brands offer comparable specs. The Buds 2’s advantage lies in the Samsung ecosystem integration—auto-switching, Find My Earbuds, and seamless pairing with Galaxy devices.

How old is Galaxy Buds2?

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Buds 2 alongside the Galaxy Watch 4 in August 2021, as part of the company’s post-Unpacked product strategy to refresh its wearable lineup. That puts the device at roughly three years old as of mid-2024.

Release timeline

Here’s how the Galaxy Buds line has progressed:

• Galaxy Buds (original): 2019
• Galaxy Buds+: February 2020
• Galaxy Buds 2: August 2021
• Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: August 2022
• Galaxy Buds 3: July 2024
• Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: July 2024

The gap between the Buds 2 and the Buds 3 series is notable—nearly three years separate the two generations. Samsung skipped an annual refresh cycle for its standard Buds model, instead focusing on the Pro tier. This makes the Buds 2 feel older than its two-year-older release date might suggest.

Support status

Samsung has not publicly committed to a specific end-of-support date for the Galaxy Buds 2. The company typically supports its earbuds with firmware updates for 3–4 years after launch, which means the Buds 2 are entering the later phase of that window. Users can expect security patches and bug fixes to continue for now, but major feature additions have likely ended.

Which is better, Buds 2 or Buds 3?

Comparing the Galaxy Buds 2 to the Buds 3 (standard, not Pro) requires looking at specific trade-offs. The newer model doesn’t automatically win across every dimension.

Design differences

The Buds 3 introduced a stem-based design that mirrors Apple’s AirPods approach—a significant shift from the bulb housing of the Buds 2. Samsung describes the Buds 3 as having an aureated design with improved ergonomics for certain ear shapes, but fit preference remains subjective.

The Buds 2’s IPX2 rating (protection against dripping water at a slight angle) lags behind the Buds 3, which Samsung has equipped with better water and dust resistance in recent iterations.

Audio improvements

The Buds 3 bring updated drivers and processing compared to the 2021-era components in the Buds 2. However, RTINGS.com measurements show that raw audio quality between generations is closer than marketing materials suggest. The Buds 2’s 12mm driver still performs adequately for everyday genres, though the Buds 3’s tuning has been refined for better bass linearity.

Battery comparison

Battery life is where the comparison gets nuanced. According to Versus, the standard Buds 3 delivers approximately 7 hours from the earbuds alone, compared to the Buds 2’s 10-hour figure. However, total case capacity differs—Buds 2 case: 472 mAh versus Buds 3 case: 515 mAh in the Pro variant, though the standard Buds 3 numbers may vary.

The Buds 2 actually edge out the Buds 3 Pro in terms of pure earbud battery life (10 hours vs 4 hours 31 minutes with ANC on, per SoundGuys testing), though this comparison is between non-Pro models. Real-world usage with mixed ANC on/off will vary based on volume levels and connected features.

Price gap

The Buds 3 launched at roughly $199 USD, while the Buds 2 can be found new for $70–$100. That’s a significant gap that shifts the value equation. If the Buds 3’s improvements don’t materially change your experience, the Buds 2’s lower cost becomes a strong argument.

What is the lifespan of Galaxy Buds2?

Estimating the practical lifespan of wireless earbuds involves hardware durability, battery longevity, and software support—none of which have definitive expiration dates for the Buds 2.

Battery degradation

Lithium-ion batteries degrade with charge cycles. Samsung rates the Buds 2 batteries for a certain number of cycles before capacity drops below 80% of original. In practice, heavy daily users might notice reduced runtime after 18–24 months. Lighter users could stretch that to three years or beyond before experiencing meaningful degradation.

Once the earbuds no longer hold a charge adequately, replacement becomes the only path—unlike some products, the Buds 2 batteries are not user-replaceable.

Build durability

The Buds 2’s IPX2 rating offers basic protection against sweat and light rain, but not submersion. The plastic housing has held up reasonably well in user reports, though scratches on the glossy finish accumulate over time. The case hinge mechanism—common stress point in earbud cases—has shown mixed durability in long-term user reviews.

Comparison

Three products, three price points: the Buds 2 sits at the entry level, Buds 3 fills the mid-range, and Buds 3 Pro commands the premium spot.

The pattern here is clear: Samsung stripped down the Pro features for the standard Buds 3, keeping the higher-end ANC and audio processing exclusive to the Pro tier.

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Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 FAQ

“The Galaxy Buds 2 hit a sweet spot for Samsung fans who want noise cancellation without breaking the bank. They’re not the newest thing on the shelf, but the price has come down enough that the value proposition holds up.”

— SoundGuys (Tech review publication)

“Comparing the specs across generations, the Buds 2 actually edge out newer models in pure earbud battery life. The catch is that features like ANC improvement and smart processing have moved forward significantly with the Buds 3 series.”

— Versus (Comparison platform)

Specs

Samsung packed the Galaxy Buds 2 with a solid technical foundation, even if some specs show their age compared to 2024 standards.