Galaxy Buds 2: Samsung's new wireless headphones want to "democratize noise reduction"

By Florian Agez (@Furolith)Share:2

In the shadow of the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3, the time for renewal has also come for Samsung's entry-level true wireless headphones. The Galaxy Buds 2 succeed the Buds +, which are distinguished by their active noise reduction.

Bringing down the comfort of active noise reduction on true wireless headphones: this is the mission that Samsung claims to have given itself with its new Galaxy Buds 2. Succeeding the Galaxy Buds + as the least wireless headphones expensive in the Korean manufacturer's catalog, they proudly offer this noise reduction, which was previously reserved for Galaxy Buds Live and Galaxy Buds Pro.

The Galaxy Buds 2 are launched alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Z Fold 3 smartphones, with which they benefit, as modern propriety dictates, from extensive integration – as with all the other smartphones of the brand, in fact. As always, this notably takes the form of fast and unified pairing: when first switched on, the association with a Samsung smartphone is done in a single click, then the connection information is immediately propagated to all the devices linked to the account in user's Samsung line. From then on, the headphones become capable of automatically switching their connection between all these devices, for example a smartphone and a tablet – or even, new this year, a Galaxy Watch 4 watch.

The rest of the technical sheet does not reserve many more surprises. Samsung is as always touting the dual-driver acoustic design in each earbud (one dedicated to treble, the other to mids and bass), common to all models in the Galaxy Buds family. The announced autonomy is 5 hours with noise reduction, and 7     min min without, while the storage case is capable of providing three full recharges to the headphones. In accordance with current standards, refueling can be done either by USB-C (with the possibility of fast charging), or wirelessly by the Qi standard.

Finally, on the design side, the headphones are available in four different colors: white, graphite, olive green or lavender. Small originality, whatever the color chosen, it only applies to the headphones themselves and inside the case. The outer casing of the case, on the other hand, is white in all cases.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 will be available at the end of August 2021, priced at €149.99. They will coexist with the Galaxy Buds Live and Buds Pro, which remain in the manufacturer's catalog, at the respective indicative prices of €169 and €199.

Head of the gaming section with a cybernetic eye and ear, Florian counts the pixels to fall asleep like others count sheep. He only lives to play, whether with a controller or a musical instrument.