Comparison review: Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro vs. Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2

Both True Wireless Headphones (TWS) are made of plastic, but they look very different from each other. While Huawei based the design on the Apple AirPods Pro, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro are much more compact and do without a microphone boom. The build quality is impeccable in both in-ear headphones. The FreeBuds Pro 2 are available in white, silver and the iridescent Silver Blue, while the Samsung TWS are offered in Bora-purple, white and graphite. The latter are our test devices in each case.

Both headphones come with three different sized in-ear attachments: S, M and L, with the middle size already attached on both. However, the Buds2 sit tighter and deeper in the ear canal, while the Huawei earphones exert less pressure. Samsung might therefore be the better choice for athletes, but the FreeBuds also hold securely in our ears in the test. Both TWS headphones also have an IP certification. Huawei offers IP54, which means protection against dust in harmful amounts as well as against splashing water on all sides. The Galaxy Buds2 Pro do not have IPX7 protection against foreign bodies, but they are protected against temporary submersion. However, neither model should be exposed to a shower or even a swimming pool.

The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2 can simply be put into pairing mode via a button on the charging case; Google Fast Pair is not supported. The situation is different for Samsung's headphones. If a Android smartphone or tablet is nearby during the first use, the Buds2 Pro are recognized directly and can be paired. However, both headphones support Microsoft's Swift Pair.

Apps for Android and iOS or iPadOS are available for both models. Huawei's own AI Life app is also available in the AppGallery. However, it cannot be downloaded directly from the Play Store in a Google system, but is easiest to install by scanning the QR code on the packaging. It is best to install the respective apps first, which then guide the user through the setup process in simple steps.

The two TWS headphones both rely on a two-way speaker solution and 24-bit sampling despite the limited space. This promises a comparatively high playback quality. Samsung speaks of real hi-fi sound as well as 360-degree audio, and Huawei of Hi-Res HD audio.

Huawei relies on Sony's LDAC codec (24-bit, up to 96 kHz), which has a high transmission bandwidth of 990 kbps and is supported by all reasonably up-to-date Android smartphones and tablets, to transfer the audio signals from the source to the earphones in a corresponding quality. Apple-Users will have to make do with the weaker AAC codec (up to 320 kbps). Samsung uses a proprietary codec, the Samsung Seamless Codec HiFi (SSC). Samsung doesn't reveal much more details about it. The disadvantage is that it only works with Galaxy smartphones and tablets that have One UI 4.0 or later installed. All other devices have to make do with AAC.

Both headphones show a coherent reproduction in audio playback, in which the high tones are largely dominant. This is especially pleasant when watching movies, since voices come to the fore better, whereas music seems a bit flat. The latter is especially true for the Galaxy Buds2 Pro, which already lacks power and precision in the mids. The FreeBuds Pro 2 manages to make these much more present and crisp. The Huawei TWS also has a better signal fidelity in the measurements.

The situation is similar in telephony. The Huawei headset also has an advantage here. It shines with a great speech quality in quiet environments when the HD option is enabled, but it is still good without it. The FreeBuds also benefit from noise-canceling during calls, which reliably filters out minor noise. However, noisy offices or main streets are too much even for the Huawei TWS. The Galaxy Buds2 Pro are also still good in a quiet environment, but the user will always sound a bit muffled. If noise is added, voice transmission can be interrupted.

In terms of active noise cancellation, both headphones perform well. Although they cannot compete with the big over-ear headphones, they audibly reduce ambient noise. Fans, humming devices, and even outside street traffic can be reduced well with these. Dynamic adjustment should be selected for the FreeBuds Pro 2, as the maximum level may not always be the best. Indoors, for example, noise can often be heard in Ultra mode.

Transparent Hearing also works reliably, but is accompanied by audible noise, especially in Huawei's case.

THD (Total Harmonic Distortion): Harmonic distortion quantifies the magnitude of the components that arise due to non-linear distortion (harmonic content) in relation to the original signal. THD only refers to the fundamental component. The distortion factor is often mentioned in the same breath, but refers to the total signal.
THD+N (Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise): This value is comparable to THD, but in addition to the harmonic distortion, that of the noise is measured as an RMS value.
For the measurement, a low-harmonic sinusoidal signal (1 kHz, > 0 dB) is reproduced via the headphones to be tested, which is recorded by a linear measurement microphone (measurement distance: approx. 1 cm) in an artificial head.

Both values are given as a percentage. The lower the value, the better the signal fidelity.

We had to determine the battery runtimes with deactivated ANC and an adjusted volume of 65 dB (SPL). The ANC can only be turned on in both TWS headphones when they are in the ear. A Spotify playlist was played via Bluetooth in the best possible quality.

Huawei advertises a music playback time of 6.5 hours with deactivated ANC (with ANC: 4 hours). We determined more than 5.5 hours, but also used the high-resolution LDAC codec. The Galaxy Buds2 Pro manage over 8.5 hours in the same scenario with the SSC codec active (manufacturer's specification: 8 hours, with ANC: 5 hours) and thus last just under three hours longer.

Both TWS headphones are charged in the included charging case. The integrated batteries can be recharged either via the USB-C port or via wireless Qi charging.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro are available directly from the Samsung online store. They are available cheaper, especially from Amazon.

The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2 can be purchased directly from the Huawei store. They are also available and somewhat cheaper from Amazon.