When it comes to sound quality, the Galaxy Buds 2 manage to match the Galaxy Buds Plus beat for beat. They'll sound best if you're using a Galaxy smartphone, but you'll likely appreciate the sound quality with any device.
The biggest upgrade on Galaxy Buds 2 comes in the form of active noise cancellation, a feature often left for earbuds that cost over $200. While the effect is not quite as strong as others, it works great for drowning out sounds around you. Plus, the fit feels great even over the course of a few hours of listening.
Unfortunately, that new feature comes with one big downgrade. Battery life isn't nearly as impressive. Where the Galaxy Buds Plus managed 11 hours, Galaxy Buds 2 top out at 7 hours, and that's with ANC turned off.
But at least you still get both wireless charging and USB-C to top off. The case is also comfortably tiny.
Another slight downside comes in the feature department. Samsung's core offerings are here including Bixby and custom touch controls, but the "Voice Detect" option from Buds Pro isn't available. That (awesome) feature pauses your music automatically when you start speaking.
Samsung's Galaxy Buds 2 come at a time where a lot of budget headphone makers have figured out the formula, and $150 is actually on the higher end of the spectrum.
But if you have a Samsung phone... it's really hard to say there are better options out there for you.