True Wireless
Samsung Galaxy Buds4
70Good
$250
Full review dataSamsung Galaxy Buds4 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.
Score breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Samsung Galaxy Buds4
Sound7.5
Noise cancelling7.0
Battery6.0
Calls7.0
Value7.0
Sony WF-1000XM4
Sound8.5
Noise cancelling9.0
Battery7.5
Calls7.0
Value7.5
Specifications
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy Buds4 | Sony WF-1000XM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless | True Wireless |
| Price (USD) | $250 | $199 |
| HearWiki score | 70 / 100 · Good | 84 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2026 | 2021 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | 11 mm | 6 mm |
| Driver size | 11 mm | 6 mm |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz | 20 Hz - 40,000 Hz |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth | 5.2 |
| Bluetooth version | 6.1 | 5.2 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3, SSC, SSC-UHQ, SSC HiFi | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless range | - | 10 m |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 6 h | 12 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 5 h | 8 h |
| Battery incl. case | - | 24 h |
| Full charge time | - | 90 min |
| Quick charge | - | 5 min = 1 h |
| Wireless charging | Yes | Yes |
| Features | ||
| ANC type | adaptive | adaptive |
| Transparency mode | Yes | - |
| Companion app | Yes | - |
| Custom EQ | Yes | - |
| Wear detection | No | - |
| Controls | touch | - |
| Voice assistant | voice assistant support | - |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 9.2 g | 41.1 g |
| Case weight | 45.1 g | 41 g |
| Water resistance | IP54 | IPX4 |
| USB-C | Yes | - |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 3 | - |
What reviewers said
Samsung Galaxy Buds4
These wireless earbuds deliver solid active noise cancellation that adapts to your surroundings, plus a comfortable fit with an 11mm driver for balanced sound. They offer a decent 6-hour battery per charge, support for high-quality AAC and LDAC codecs, and handy features like multipoint pairing and touch controls, though they lack wear detection. With IP54 water resistance and a compact case, they're a versatile pick for everyday use, though the price is on the higher side for the feature set.
- Pro:Adaptive noise cancellation adjusts to your environment
- Pro:Supports LDAC for high-resolution audio streaming
- Pro:Multipoint lets you connect to two devices at once
- Con:Battery life is only average at 6 hours per charge
- Con:No wear detection to auto-pause music
- Con:Price feels steep compared to similar competitors
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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