True Wireless
Samsung Galaxy Buds4
70Good
$250
Full review dataSamsung Galaxy Buds4 vs Sony WF-1000XM5: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Sony WF-1000XM5 comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 88. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Sony WF-1000XM5 - Outstanding overall at around $249.
True Wireless
Sony WF-1000XM5
88Outstanding
$249
Full review dataScore 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-1000XM5
Sound9.0
Noise cancelling9.0
Battery8.0
Calls8.0
Value7.0
Specifications
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy Buds4 | Sony WF-1000XM5 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | True Wireless | True Wireless |
| Price (USD) | $250 | $249 |
| HearWiki score | 70 / 100 · Good | 88 / 100 · Outstanding |
| Released | 2026 | 2023 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | 11 mm | 0.33" |
| Driver size | 11 mm | 8.4 mm |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz | 20 Hz - 40,000 Hz |
| Impedance | - | 32 Ω |
| Sensitivity | - | 102 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth version | 6.1 | 5.3 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3, SSC, SSC-UHQ, SSC HiFi | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | hybrid |
| Transparency mode | Yes | Yes |
| Companion app | Yes | Yes |
| Custom EQ | Yes | Yes |
| Wear detection | No | Yes |
| Controls | touch | touch |
| Voice assistant | voice assistant support | Yes |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 9.2 g | 11.8 g |
| Case weight | 45.1 g | 39 g |
| Water resistance | IP54 | IPX4 |
| USB-C | Yes | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 3 | 6 |
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-1000XM5
These are high-end true wireless earbuds that focus on adaptive noise cancellation and detailed audio, supporting LDAC for high-resolution streaming. They offer a solid battery life of up to 12 hours without ANC, plus a comfortable fit and IPX4 sweat resistance for daily use. The touch controls and companion app add convenience, though the price reflects their premium status.
- Pro:Excellent adaptive noise cancellation
- Pro:Long battery life (12 hours without ANC)
- Pro:Supports LDAC and AAC codecs
- Con:Premium price point
- Con:No higher water resistance rating than IPX4
- Con:Touch controls may take time to master
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
Compare something else
Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.