Samsung Galaxy Buds2

The battery life is a major pain point, lasting just 7.5 hours and ranking in the 4th percentile of all earbuds we've tested. The ANC is the one saving grace, performing well above average, but the sound and mic quality are both disappointing. You're better off looking at competitors unless you snag these for a steal.

Let's talk about that battery. 7.5 hours is the official number, and it puts these earbuds near the very bottom of our entire database. In real-world use, with ANC on, you're likely looking at even less. That's a dealbreaker for long flights or workdays. The ANC itself is a bright spot, performing well above average and doing a respectable job of hushing office chatter or engine drone. It's not best-in-class, but it's the one area where the Buds2 punch above their weight.

Sound quality is underwhelming, ranking in the 31st percentile. The profile is fine for podcasts, but music lacks the detail and punch you'd get from leaders like the Sony WF-1000XM6. The mic performance is similarly average, fine for a quick call in a quiet room but struggling in noisy environments. Connectivity is also a weak spot, with a below-average ranking that some users might notice as occasional dropouts in crowded wireless areas.

Stacked against the competition, the Buds2 struggle. The Sony WF-1000XM6 is in a different league for sound and ANC, though it costs more. The Technics EAH-AZ100 offers a more balanced sound signature and better build. Even the Google Pixel Buds Pro deliver a more complete package with stronger battery life and better integration for Android users. The Buds2's one advantage is price, but the Soundcore P31i often undercuts it while offering comparable, if not better, battery performance. You're making a clear trade-off in nearly every category for the Samsung name.

At $119, the value proposition is tough to justify based on the numbers. You're essentially paying for decent ANC and not much else. The battery life alone makes them feel outdated compared to similarly priced options that can nearly double that runtime. The below-average sound and build quality mean you're not getting a premium experience, just a premium brand name. Unless you find them for significantly less, the price-to-performance ratio just doesn't add up.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 land in a weird spot. The active noise cancelling is solid, sitting in the 66th percentile of our database, which means it blocks out a decent amount of background hum for the price. But almost every other metric tells a story of compromise. The battery life is the real headline here, and not in a good way. At just 7.5 hours, it ranks in the 4th percentile, making it one of the worst we've seen for longevity. You'll be reaching for the charging case a lot more than you'd expect from a modern set of earbuds.

For calls and gaming, the scores are low, landing at 16.7 and 15.7 out of 100 respectively. The mic quality is middle-of-the-pack, so your voice will come through, but don't expect studio clarity. Comfort and sound both fall below average, which is a tough combo for something you stick in your ears. If you're deep in the Samsung ecosystem and find these on a steep discount, they might make sense as a backup pair. For everyone else, the numbers point to better options elsewhere.

Anyone who values battery life should look elsewhere immediately. A 4th percentile ranking means these will die on you mid-flight or during a long work session. Frequent callers should also skip, as the mic quality is mediocre and call performance scored just 16.7 out of 100. If sound quality is a priority, the 31st percentile ranking will leave you wanting more detail and bass. These are not for power users or audiophiles.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 are a one-trick pony. The ANC is good, but the battery life is a glaring weakness that's hard to ignore. With sound, comfort, and build quality all falling below average in our database, these are tough to recommend at their current price. They only make sense if you find them at a deep discount and absolutely need that specific Samsung fit and feature set for short listening sessions.