True Wireless
Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus
72Good
$150
Full review dataSamsung Galaxy Buds Plus vs Sony WF-1000XM4: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Sony WF-1000XM4 comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 84. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Sony WF-1000XM4 - Great overall at around $199.
True Wireless
Sony WF-1000XM4
84Great
$199
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus
Sound7.0
Battery8.0
Calls8.0
Value8.0
Sony WF-1000XM4
Sound8.5
Noise cancelling9.0
Battery7.5
Calls7.0
Value7.5
Specifications
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus | Sony WF-1000XM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless | True Wireless |
| Price (USD) | $150 | $199 |
| HearWiki score | 72 / 100 · Good | 84 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2021 | 2021 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | 6 mm |
| Driver size | 6 mm | 6 mm |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 20Hz-20kHz | 20 Hz - 40,000 Hz |
| Impedance | 16 Ω | - |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.0 | 5.2 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, Scalable | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Multipoint pairing | No | Yes |
| Wireless range | 10 m | 10 m |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 11 h | 12 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | - | 8 h |
| Battery incl. case | 22 h | 24 h |
| Full charge time | - | 90 min |
| Quick charge | 3 min = 1 h | 5 min = 1 h |
| Wireless charging | Yes | Yes |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | No | - |
| ANC type | none | adaptive |
| Transparency mode | Yes | - |
| Companion app | Yes | - |
| Custom EQ | No | - |
| Wear detection | No | - |
| Controls | touch | - |
| Voice assistant | Bixby | - |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 6.3 g | 41.1 g |
| Case weight | 39.6 g | 41 g |
| Water resistance | IPX2 | IPX4 |
| USB-C | Yes | - |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 3 | - |
What reviewers said
Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus are true wireless earbuds that deliver a balanced, neutral sound profile with improved battery life and call quality over their predecessor. While they lack active noise cancellation and advanced codec support, their comfortable fit, reliable performance, and strong app integration make them a solid everyday choice, especially at discounted prices. They offer practical features like wireless charging and USB-C, but their dated feature set faces stiff competition in today's market. Their strengths lie in versatility and dependable performance rather than cutting-edge specs.
- Pro:Balanced and neutral sound signature
- Pro:Excellent battery life with the charging case
- Pro:Clear call quality thanks to triple microphones
- Con:No active noise cancellation
- Con:Only IPX2 water resistance, not suitable for heavy workouts
- Con:Lacks multipoint connection and advanced codecs like aptX
Sony WF-1000XM4
The Sony WF-1000XM4 are high-end true wireless earbuds that excel in active noise cancellation and sound quality, with a compact 6mm driver and support for high-resolution LDAC streaming. They provide about 8 hours of playback per charge, extendable to 24 hours with the case, and include handy features like multipoint connectivity and quick charging. Their IPX4 rating makes them suitable for workouts, though the overall design is a bit bulky for some ears.
- Pro:Excellent active noise cancellation
- Pro:Rich, detailed sound with LDAC support
- Pro:Good battery life with fast charging
- Con:Bulkier fit compared to rivals
- Con:No wireless charging on the case
- Con:Touch controls can be finicky
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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