AirPods Pro 2 are in the works, and while some may be irritated to learn that it will arrive at the end of the first quarter of 2022, I am more than happy. That’s because I want Apple to dedicate all the time necessary to imitate the best feature of Samsung’s recently announced Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro.
Yes, although it is rarely influenced by Samsung, even I can admit when the Seoul-based company defeated Cupertino. And Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Pro shows it all, but it guarantees a place in our best wireless headphone ratings.
Galaxy Buds Pro is smarter than AirPods Pro
While AirPods Pro has features similar to Galaxy Buds Pro – active noise cancellation (ANC) and ambient sound mode for near-noise amplification – Samsung has a new trick that I think shouldn’t be too difficult to replicate.
Entitled Voice Direct, Galaxy Buds Pro can dynamically change the volume or activate ambient sound by detecting when you speak. If you are using ANC, for example, Buds Pro will switch to Ambient Sound, as it knows that you are probably talking to someone out loud.
This is an interesting feature for me, because it lessens social wear and tear when using wireless headphones. If I don’t pause or turn down the volume preventively, I end up stumbling on a conversation, having to ask the person to repeat what he said.
It naturally makes me feel like I look like a self-centered idiot, as I was too deviated from my own world and had no regard for the people around me.
Why am I not holding my breath
Annoyingly, such a feature was not heard in the AirPods Pro 2 rumors we tracked. Instead, there is a conversation about the transparency mode being improved to alert users to the dangers that are coming, as well as compatibility with the airTags frequently commented.
And I got to see a world where Apple can’t find a way to match Voice Detect. First, the fine print in the Samsung press release (estimated battery life is with “default settings with Bixby Voice Wake-up and Voice Detect disabled”) suggests that it can reduce battery life – and that can be a very high cost for Apple.
In addition, Samsung may have patented this technology and may not be willing to license it to Apple (which may also not be willing to pay for it). And if Apple doesn’t get this technology, I would love to see the $ 249 AirPods Pro price drop a little, as the Galaxy Buds Pro is $ 50 cheaper, for $ 199.
In addition, Apple may not see the need for this feature as much as I do. AirPods Pro only need This feature protects users from switching, and most iPhone owners will probably still prefer the ease of use of AirPods, as they are made for Apple devices. Pro Buds are made in a similar way to work better with Samsung devices. That said, Galaxy Buds Pro uses Bluetooth, which works with iPhones, and is worth a try.
If Apple wants to continue to be seen as the queen of that segment, it cannot ignore Voice Detect. It is a feature that facilitates social interaction with truly wireless headphones.