Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
The best of Samsung
Samsung gave the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro a slightly different look, while retaining much of what made their predecessors so effective. They sound better, connect better, and fit better, making for a truly compelling pair of headphones.
For
- Light and comfortable fit
- Solid sound quality
- Effective ANC
- IPX7 water and sweat resistance
- Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity
- Enhanced Active Noise Cancellation
Versus
- Battery life is not long enough
- Requires custom EQ
- No multipoint support
- Audio switching limited to Samsung Galaxy devices
The best of Sony
The Sony WF-1000XM4 have been among the best wireless headphones, a benchmark against which to measure others. With some of the best sound quality and noise cancellation you can plug your ears with, that’s just the beginning of what makes them so sublime.
For
- Outstanding ANC performance
- Stellar sound quality
- Incredible battery life
- Wireless charging case with USB-C
- LDAC and 360 Audio support
- Solid app support
Versus
- Touch controls need work
- Small ears may not be comfortable
- Single bud mode only in straight buds
- No multipoint — yet
Samsung has been chasing the crown of wireless headphones for years, and Sony is one of the most acclaimed pairs you’ll find. With the right upgrades, the gap between these two narrows, although choosing one over the other comes with some points you need to consider first.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro vs Sony WF-1000XM4: What stands out?
Both companies have both similar and different design philosophies in how they build their respective headphones and cases. Matte finishes cover both pairs, and each offers three pairs of ear tips to find the right fit. They’re not going to be slippery, although Samsung has an edge when it comes to ruggedness, getting Galaxy Buds 2 Pro IPX7 protection. With the WF-1000XM4, it’s only IPX4, making them less ideal for rigorous training or racing.
Despite this, Sony’s choice of foam tips create a tighter seal than the silicone ones Samsung uses. This plays a bigger role in getting a better fit, simply because Sony’s buds are bulkier than Samsung’s in this case. Indeed, for Samsung, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro were designed to reduce some of the weight of their predecessors.
This also extends to their respective charging cases, where Samsung has followed a design dating back to the Galaxy Buds Live. Small, easy to store and with wireless charging support, these are good reasons to stick with something familiar. It doesn’t hurt that the protective cases fit easily from one to the other.
Sony doesn’t often stick to the same design for its cases, and although the WF-1000XM4 has a larger case, the size difference here isn’t too significant. You can carry them quite easily and charge them wirelessly as well.
Each pair works with apps that enhance both performance and personalization. Sony takes this a step further by including ways to customize the in-car controls and voice assistant, while Samsung includes unique features such as Voice Detect and Game Mode. Digging into both apps is worth it. , because there are many features to discover.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro vs Sony WF-1000XM4: what are the differences?
This app support plays a crucial role in how each of these buds sound. Both are tuned by default with a bass-friendly soundstage, but if you’re looking for some balance, you’ll find it in the EQ section of both apps. The main difference is that Sony offers both presets and the ability to save your own presets, while Samsung only gives you presets with no ability to customize anything.
Things diverge more when breaking down the features or additional audio settings. They both support SBC and AAC codecs, although the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro have Samsung’s Seamless Codec HiFi and the WF-1000XM4 has Sony’s LDAC, making each of them capable of high-fidelity playback. resolution. You need to use devices that can handle these streams, and in Samsung’s case, 24-bit audio only applies to the company’s own Galaxy smartphones. For Sony, your phone and audio source must support LDAC and offer high resolution playback.
Spatial audio also comes into play to deliver virtual surround sound through various paths. The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro support Dolby Atmos, which you can try with 360 Audio. Sony’s 360 Reality Audio does the job for the WF-1000XM4. You get better results when the source you’re listening to supports either protocol, so your results may vary back and forth.
As deep as the custom options are, the sound quality depends on some other factors. You won’t be disappointed with what you hear with either pair, although Sony does get an edge here as the sound is one of the best you’ll find in any pair of headphones. Samsung has closed the gap enough to make things interesting.
The same was true with ANC, where the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro block out the background better than their predecessors. The WF-1000XM4 is the benchmark in noise cancellation. The fact that Samsung has tightened the race in this regard is a testament to how far the company’s engineers have come. Sony benefits from the use of foam tips as the better seal improves passive isolation. The more holes they plug in your ears, the easier it is for the ANC to suppress the background.
Since both pairs have excellent microphones, solid performance also works in reverse through the ambient modes. It’s easy to hear what’s going on around you when needed, and even if unique features like Samsung’s voice detection can sometimes feel like a work in progress.
Voice assistants can also play a role here, and the choice is yours. Samsung will still serve up its own Bixby first, but you can also use Google Assistant or Alexa, and Sony lets you choose between the latter two too.
Battery life will not line up between these two. The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro can only reach five hours per charge with ANC on, while the WF-1000XM4 is significantly better than going up to eight hours with ANC on. Each case nets you three additional costs, so they’re evenly matched on that front.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro vs. Sony WF-1000XM4: who to choose?
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro work with any Android phone, but some of their features only fit into Samsung’s ecosystem. If you want to use them with multiple devices at once, they must be compatible Galaxy devices. Sony never included multipoint support in the WF-1000XM4, but will integrate it via a firmware update before the end of 2022. Once enabled, it will work with any Android phone, not just that of Samsung.
If you have a Samsung phone, it will be hard to refuse the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. But the Sony WF-1000XM4s are still one of the best headphones money can buy, and they’ll prove it with any device. Both of these headphones are among the best wireless headphones available, so you won’t make a bad choice here. It’s just that the differences between them can tell you which direction to go.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Best fit
Samsung has shaved off its Galaxy Buds 2 Pro just enough in the right places to make them look and feel their best. Clearer sound and cool features from the Galaxy Wearable app only extend the usefulness you’ll get every time you put them in your ears.
Coronation Jewels
Although the Sony WF-1000XM4 headphones cost more than most, they’re worth every penny. Sony’s sound quality is excellent, bolstered by industry-leading ANC, as well as battery life that keeps them playing longer.
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