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Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus vs Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro
We highly recommend the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus true wireless earbuds to all varieties of music lovers. Now that the dust has settled around the newer Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro, is it time for the Galaxy Buds Plus to hang up its boots? The Galaxy Buds Pro has active noise canceling (ANC), which is the main feature missing from the Galaxy Buds Plus. Let’s cover all the major differences and similarities between these two Samsung buds to see which is best for you.
Editor’s note: this versus was updated on July 21, 2022, to update a microphone demo, and add a disclosure box regarding old testing data.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro: Fit and hardware
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus and the Galaxy Buds Pro feature similar designs. Both sets of earbuds are rounded and stem-free with replaceable silicone ear tips. The Galaxy Buds Plus earbuds have removable silicone wings that secure them in your ears. The buds are very lightweight and have an IPX2 rating, making them fine for exercise. While you can’t dunk these in a pool, they should withstand your sweat.
The Galaxy Buds Pro is more durable and has an IPX7 rating. These earbuds also have wings that secure them to your ears, but they’re built into the earbud housing’s shape, rather than as additional silicone pieces. The Galaxy Buds Pro earbuds are similarly lightweight, and the carrying case is just a tad heavier than the Galaxy Buds Plus case.
What’s the app experience like on the Galaxy Buds Pro compared to the Galaxy Buds Plus?
Both pairs of earbuds feature touch controls, and you can remap the controls in the Galaxy Wearable app. Samsung offers you a host of shortcuts like the ability to access Spotify (Android only), adjust the volume, access your smart assistant, and more. For the Galaxy Buds Pro, you can also toggle ANC levels and enable Samsung 360 Audio, which mimics the effects of surround sound, though it is only available when your earbuds are paired to a Samsung Galaxy device and watching content compatible with Dolby Atmos.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds iOS app supports the Galaxy Buds Plus, but not the Galaxy Buds Pro, so iPhone users just won’t have access to any of the Galaxy Buds Pro’s additional features. These apps also allow you to toggle ambient sound mode, select from EQ presets, download firmware updates, and locate your earbuds if they’re lost in your house.
You can integrate the Galaxy Buds Plus and Galaxy Buds Pro into your smart home through the Samsung SmartThings app on Android. Through this integration, you can use your earbuds to control things in your home through your smart assistant of choice. If you use Bixby as your smart assistant, you can even access it hands-free. You can also use SmartThings Find to locate either set of earbuds.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus vs. Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro: Bluetooth and software
Both the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus and Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro use Bluetooth 5.0 and support SBC, AAC, and the Samsung Scalable Codec. The Samsung Scalable Codec constantly adjusts the data transfer rate between the buds and your device, which keeps audio quality and connection stability at their best. If you have a lot of Samsung Galaxy devices connected to either pair of earbuds, you can seamlessly switch between source devices based on what’s playing audio, as long they’re all associated with the same Samsung account.
Which pair of earbuds has better battery life?
If we’re talking about battery life, one of the most exemplary pairs of true wireless earbuds is the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus. These buds last about 11 hours, 30 minutes on a single charge and three minutes in the case supplies 60 minutes of listening time. The charging case only holds one extra charge cycle but when the battery life is this long, that’s not such a bad deal.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro is nowhere near as exceptional regarding battery life. The Buds Pro lasts about 5 hours on a single charge with ANC on, and the charging case holds roughly 13 additional hours of charge. If you use these buds with ANC disabled, the battery life will be longer. The case fast charges the buds. When you place them inside the case for five minutes, you get 60 minutes of playtime.
The iOS Galaxy Buds app doesn't support the Galaxy Buds Pro, though this may change with an app update.
Both cases charge via USB-C, wireless charging, and support Wireless PowerShare, which lets you charge the case by placing it on a compatible Samsung Galaxy device.
How good is the Galaxy Buds Pro’s noise canceling?
The Galaxy Buds Pro has active noise canceling, which works better than most active noise canceling true wireless earbuds. In the Samsung Galaxy Wearable app (Android only), you can toggle the ANC between a low and a high setting. The high setting effectively cancels out low-frequency noises such as engine rumbles or the sound of a dishwasher. The passive isolation on these earbuds is also quite good, making them excellent commute partners.
Unlike the Pro, the Galaxy Buds Plus doesn’t have active noise canceling, but the passive isolation effectively attenuates high-frequency, incidental noises (higher than 1kHz) like the sounds of a busy public space. While the Galaxy Buds Plus lack ANC, they have an ambient sound mode that lets you remain aware of your surroundings. This can help you stay safe if you’re using the Buds Plus to exercise in public; it’s also available for the Galaxy Buds Pro.
Hold up! Something’s different:
This article’s frequency response and isolation charts were measured with our old testing system. We have since purchased a Bruel & Kjaer 5128 test fixture (and the appropriate support equipment) to update our testing and data collection. It will take a while to update our backlog of old test results, but we will update this review (and many others!) once we’re able with improved sound quality measurements, isolation performance plots, and standardized microphone demos. These will be made obvious with our new chart aesthetic (black background instead of white). Each new mic sample begins with the phrase, “This is a SoundGuys standardized microphone demonstration …”
Thank you for bearing with us, and we hope to see you again once we’ve sorted everything out.
Does the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus sound better than the Galaxy Buds Pro?
AKG tuned the drivers in both the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro and Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus, and the sound quality is very good with either headset. Neither pair of earbuds boasts a reference-like frequency response, but that’s okay: these are both billed as everyday earbuds.
That being said, the Galaxy Buds Pro frequency response (cyan) barely deviates from our house curve (pink). The earphones somewhat amplify low-midrange notes, making it easier for you to hear vocals. You can use the Galaxy Wearable app to cycle through a handful of EQ presets (Bass Boost, Soft, Dynamic, Clear, and Treble Boost).. You can also pick from various EQ presets for the Galaxy Buds Plus in the mobile app (Android and iOS).
Note: Sound quality depends heavily on how well the earbuds seal to your ears and isolate outside noise, both of which are only possible if you’re wearing the right size ear tips. Make sure you try out all the included ear tip options before settling on the right one for you.
Are the Galaxy Buds Plus or Galaxy Buds Pro better for phone calls?
All in all, the microphones in the Galaxy Buds Plus sound very similar to the microphones in the Galaxy Buds Pro. Both earbuds’ mics do a pretty good job at canceling out environmental noise, but you probably still wouldn’t want to take any business calls with them in a crowded area.
Individuals with deeper voices may find that the Galaxy Buds Plus quiets their voices a bit, but not nearly as much as some other true wireless earbud microphones we’ve seen. The Buds Pro doesn’t have this issue, and there’s actually a small boost in the bass frequency response. Listen to and rate our samples below!
Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus microphone demo (Non-standardized):
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro microphone demo (Ideal):
Which microphone sounds better to you?
Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus or Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro?
The Galaxy Buds Pro and Buds Plus are quite similar headsets, which makes sense since they’re both from Samsung. The major differences you should remember are that the Buds Pro offers ANC and the Buds Plus relies completely on passive isolation. Due to ANC’s power-hungry nature, the Buds Pro has a much shorter battery life than the Buds Plus. If you’re someone who wants the option to listen for an entire work day without pause, the Galaxy Buds Plus is the set of marathon buds for you.
Both of these wireless earbuds from Samsung have very good sound quality, and you can adjust them in the Galaxy Wearable app. They also both have decent microphone systems and sport the same Bluetooth firmware, though the Buds Pro support 360 Audio. The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro has an IPX7 rating whereas the Buds Plus just has an IPX2 rating. The Buds Plus have wing tips to help them stay put in your ears, but if you’re an athlete who trains rigorously and wants a pair of versatile earbuds that you know can endure everything you throw at them, the Galaxy Buds Pro is the better investment.
Should you get the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 instead of the Buds Pro and Buds Plus?
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 is Samsung’s latest wireless earbuds, and it is priced right in the middle of the Buds Plus and Buds Pro. Like the Buds Pro, it has active noise canceling and roughly a 5-hour battery life. The Buds 2 has better ANC performance than the Buds Pro, which is a pleasant surprise considering the Buds 2 is cheaper. It dulls low-frequency sounds to roughly one-quarter as loud as their actual volume making it a great companion for your commute or studying in a crowded cafe. This coupled with its consumer-friendly frequency response makes it a great-sounding pair of buds.
Unlike any of the Galaxy Buds before it, the Buds 2 includes an ear tip fit test and uses Bluetooth 5.2. It doesn’t have wing tips like the Buds Pro does, and has an IPX2 rating rather than the Buds Pro’s IPX7 rating. With a recent update, the Buds 2 also supports Samsung 360 Audio. The new Buds 2 features automatic ear detection and ambient sound mode. If you download the Samsung Galaxy Wearable app you’ll get a selection of EQ presets too.
Frequently asked questions about the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro and Galaxy Buds Plus
The fin protrusions on the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus are interchangeable and removable whereas those on the Galaxy Buds Pro are one-size-fits-most. If your ears aren’t perfectly shaped to the Galaxy Buds Pro you might run into some discomfort.