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I put the brand new Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Professional towards Bose’s flagship earbuds, the QuietComfort Extremely 2, and the rivalry was nearer than anticipated. Each are light-weight, snug to put on, supply comparable lively noise cancellation efficiency, and last as long as (roughly) 5.5 hours on a cost. I am glad Bose improved its slot in 2025, and Samsung is now interesting to extra individuals by deviating from its one-off LED-equipped design from final 12 months.
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Each the Galaxy Buds 4 Professional and QuietComfort Extremely 2 earbuds have a well-rounded function set. However so much depends upon the system you are pairing them with and the sound profile you favor. If you happen to’re confused about which sub-$300 earbuds to get, let me make it easier to select.
Specs
Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 ProfessionalBose QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds (2nd Gen)Battery life7 hours (ANC off); 30 hours with charging case
IP ratingIP57 (mud protected and waterproof; earbuds solely)IPX4Codec supportSBC, AAC, Samsung Seamless CodecSBC, AAC, AptX Further featuresReal-Time Interpreter, Bluetooth Tremendous Wideband; voice instructions, Siren Detect; LE AudioSpeechClarity; ActiveSense; CustomTuneAudio modesNoise cancellation; Ambient modeQuiet, Conscious, Cinema, ImmersivePrice$250$299
You should purchase the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Professional if…
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1. You might have a Samsung cellphone
The Galaxy Buds 4 Professional carry out greatest inside the Samsung ecosystem, like AirPods with Apple gadgets. Like Apple, Samsung would not assist Bluetooth multipoint, and as an alternative presents seamless auto-switch between Samsung gadgets. Equally, assist for options reminiscent of Gaming mode, 24-bit/96kHz ultra-high-quality (UHQ) audio, and Head Gestures is proscribed to Galaxy gadgets operating a appropriate model of One UI.
These are high-end options that improve the person expertise in day-to-day life, so pairing with a Samsung cellphone or pill provides you with the very best expertise. Nonetheless, you may nonetheless get nice sound, top-notch ANC, customizable EQ, and different settings on different Android gadgets with the Samsung Wearable app.
2. You favor tonal steadiness in sound
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Professional use Bluetooth 6.1 and assist SBC, AAC, and Samsung Seamless Codec for sound, whereas the QC Extremely Earbuds 2 join by way of Bluetooth 5.3 and assist SBC, AAC, and aptX Lossless codecs. Each earbuds supply good sound high quality, however every has its personal traits.
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The Galaxy Buds 4 Professional are extra balanced as compared. They sound balanced throughout bass, midrange, and treble, which does not sound too sharp at excessive volumes. I favored listening to vocal-heavy tracks on the Samsung earbuds greater than the QC Extremely Earbuds 2.
3. You need a extra compact and sturdy pair of earbuds
The Bose QuietComfort Extremely 2 are extra compact than their predecessor, however they’re nonetheless fairly massive in comparison with the Galaxy Buds 4 Professional. Their circumstances and earbuds are each formed in another way. The Samsung earbuds are smaller and lighter than Bose’s pair and sit totally contained in the ear, giving them a much less cumbersome look general. In contrast, Bose is extra sporty with its stability bands, which lock the earbuds in place.
Samsung’s new product is IP57-rated for stronger mud and sweat resistance, in comparison with the QC Extremely 2’s IPX4 ranking. And when you carry your earbuds in your denims pockets, the Galaxy Buds 4 Professional are simpler to hold, due to a smaller case.
You should purchase the Bose QuietComfort Extremely 2 if…
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1. You need extra pronounced bass and higher ANC
The Bose QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds 2 sound extra aggressive than their Samsung counterpart. You get a thumping bass response and a V-shaped sound with brighter highs. If you happen to take pleasure in an emphasis on each low- and high-end frequencies, the QC Extremely Earbuds 2 will go well with you higher.
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Individually, a good seal is important for lively noise cancellation, and I discovered that the Bose earbuds match my ears higher. In consequence, their ANC expertise was barely higher than Samsung’s. It won’t be true for all ear shapes, however the QC Extremely Earbuds 2 are the very best ANC earbuds for me. I price them above the Apple AirPods Professional 3.
2. You want true multipoint Bluetooth connectivity
When you’ve got gadgets from a number of manufacturers as an alternative of, say, simply utilizing Samsung for each cellphone and laptop computer, the Bose QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds 2 provides you with a greater expertise. They assist multipoint Bluetooth connectivity, so you may pair each gadgets concurrently and change between them with out reconnecting every time.
When utilizing two telephones, you simply want to put in the Bose app on each gadgets to arrange the system. Bose’s broader platform compatibility with out limiting sure options to a selected model would possibly attraction to extra individuals. Plus, you get wi-fi charging, so you may put it in your desk charger and overlook about it.
Author’s alternative
I like the match and luxury of each these earbuds, however I want the Bose QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds 2 extra as a result of Bose’s software program options are ecosystem-agnostic, and I can entry the earbuds’ full suite of options on any of my gadgets. Bluetooth multipoint connectivity is important in my day-to-day; I change telephones often, and I do not wish to lose out on sure options on the Galaxy Buds 4 Professional simply because I am not utilizing a Samsung cellphone. Additionally, Bose’s noise cancellation dampens airplane engine noise higher and delivers comparable battery life.
