The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 could launch very soon, with rumors of the upgraded true wireless earbuds ramping up in the lead up to the brands next Unpacked event, which is expected to take place in August.In late April, the South Korean company registered the brand name 'Samsung BudsX' in the UK and Europe, which suggests a new version of the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus could be on the way.
Its not clear whether the X is a placeholder, but we think theyll probably be called the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2.Since then, leaked images of the successors to the Samsung Galaxy Buds have shown a strange bean-like design, while noted leakers like XDA Developers Max Weinbach have claimed that the new wireless earbuds are on the way.The original Galaxy Buds were Samsungs answer to the Apple AirPods when they launched on March 8, 2019, and they were followed in February 2020 by the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus.Cut to the chaseWhat are they? The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, a pair of true wireless earbuds.When will they launch? We think August 2020, but thats TBC.How much will they cost? Likely similar to the Galaxy Buds ($149 (139 / AU$249).Neither of Samsung's first attempts were able to outperform Apple's AirPods or the AirPods Pro in terms of popularity or proficiency which is why a new, better version of the Galaxy Buds is such an exciting prospect.Details about the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 (or Galaxy Buds X, as some outlets are calling them) are fairly thin on the ground at this stage, but that hasnt stopped us from collating everything we know so far and everything we want to see from the second generation true wireless earbuds.Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 release dateThe next big release window for the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 will be at the companys Unpacked event, which were expecting to take place in August 2020.That's when we think the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 will be released too, based on previous phones in the range.
That month has now also specifically been rumored, but due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Unpacked will apparently be an online-only event, and the timing could change.In any case, were not the only ones expecting to see the Galaxy Buds 2 soon.
In a tweet showing off the new Galaxy Buds Plus color, XDA Developers Max Weinbach said I find it weird they keep launching new colors right before the BudsX are rumored to launch.Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 priceTheres no word on pricing yet, but the most recent Galaxy Buds Plus went on sale in March for $149.99 / 159 / AU$299, so were expecting something similar when the next earbuds arrive.With new Apple earbuds also expected to launch in the near future (whether they will be the AirPods 3 or the AirPods Pro Lite remains to be seen), Samsung would do well to undercut its biggest competitor with its next-gen buds after all, price is a huge deciding factor for those looking to buy new headphones.Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 designIf leaked images are to be believed, the design of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 will be drastically different to that of its predecessors.
Based on the 3D renderings that have appeared, there are going to be big changes in the design.The images come courtesy of WinFuture, and it seems the small stems on the current Galaxy Buds Plus are ditched in favor of a bean-like shape and indeed the codename for the earbuds is rumored to be "Beans".WinFuture's sources say the new Beans buds are 2.8 cm (1.1 inches) in length, so they should fit snugly in most ears.
There are no silicone tips though, so any noise cancelling tech if it exists might suffer as a result.Based on the leaked renders, it looks like the Galaxy Buds 2 will come in three colors: white, black, and light blue.WinFuture says that the back of each earbud fills the upper part of the ear, while the lower part and thus the integrated loudspeakers protrude into the ear canal.
This bean-shaped design isnt a form factor weve seen before, so were excited to see how they look and feel when theyre finally released.(Image credit: WinFuture / @rqaundt)Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 fitness-trackingThe trademark filing discovered earlier this year revealed some of the features we might see from the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, including software for measuring distance, speed, time, changes in heart rate, activity level, calories burned."Its worth bearing in mind that the specs described in trademark filings dont always show up in the final product, but these biometric sensors could make the new Galaxy Buds a great pair of running headphones like the Powerbeats Pro.The trademark filing also describes wireless earsets incorporating software for providing a fitness guide, which means they could come with a built-in voice assistant (Bixby, perhaps) that can help bolster your running performance by giving you real-time advice based on data collected by biometric sensors.If Samsung does release a pair of fitness-tracking headphones, wed expect to see an IPX4-or-above waterproof rating, which would keep them safe from sweat or rain.Samsung Galaxy Buds 2: what we want to seeBoth the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus were decent true wireless earbuds, but there are a few improvements wed like to see.Noise cancellationWe were disappointed to find no noise-cancelling tech in the Galaxy Buds Plus we were expecting them to be Samsungs answer to the Apple AirPods Pro.Once the preserve of bulky over-ear headphones, noise cancellation is increasingly common in true wireless earbuds, especially after the success of models like the Sony WF-1000XM3.Its about time that Samsung brought the technology to its line of Galaxy earbuds, and we hope that the Galaxy Buds 2 will deliver.Improved soundThe Galaxy Buds 2 didnt sound bad by any means, but wed like to see an improvement in the audio quality with the next generation.One way Samsung could achieve this is by introducing support for Hi-Res Audio codecs like aptX, aptX Low Latency or, even better, Sonys LDAC.Longer battery lifeThe Galaxy Buds Plus boasted a far longer battery life than the original Galaxy Buds, but the charging case left something to be desired.
The earbuds themselves contain 11 hours of charge, while the charging case provides an additional 11 hours, bringing the total battery life to 22 hours.That 11-hour battery life is pretty long for earbuds but for the charging case, its not a huge amount of battery.
For comparison, the Apple AirPods contain 5 hours in the buds themselves, with an additional 20 hours provided by the charging case, for 25 hours in total.
Wed love to see the charging case of the Galaxy Buds 2 afforded a longer battery life so you can charge more than once on the go.Can't wait for the Galaxy Buds 2? Check out the best Samsung Galaxy Buds and Galaxy Buds Plus deals we've found today:Today's best Samsung Galaxy Buds and Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus dealsSamsung Galaxy Buds (2019)Samsung Galaxy Buds TrueViewSamsung Galaxy Buds, TrueSamsung Galaxy Buds+ - trueViewE2rVfw3VfcYdwHPcZtnAPa.jpg?#