Best all-rounder
EarFun Air Pro 4
- Up to 7.5 hours a charge
- Wireless charging case
Cheaper alternatives to the Samsung Galaxy Buds4
Three cheaper sealed pairs that block more noise than the open Buds4.
Updated November 5, 2026
Light stem buds
Nothing Ear (a)
- Just 4.8 g per bud
- Strong quiet for the price
Lowest price
CMF Buds Pro 2
- LDAC at a tiny price
- Dial on the case
The original
Samsung Galaxy Buds4
Worth it if: Ear tips bother you
- Open, light fit with no ear tips
- Rich, bassy sound for an open design
What buyers love: how it sounds.
Not worth it if: You want real quiet on a commute
Fairly priced
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What are you actually paying extra for with the Galaxy Buds4?
What the extra money buys
- Open, light fit with no ear tips
- Rich, bassy sound for an open design
- Clear calls with six mics
- Sleek stem design
Worth it if
- Ear tips bother you
- You use a Galaxy phone
- You want to hear your surroundings
Not worth it if
- You want real quiet on a commute
- The buds don't stay put in your ears
Good to know
Why each one made the list, and our final recommendation.
EarFun Air Pro 4
The Air Pro 4 seals your ear with silicone tips, so its noise canceling has far more to work with than the open Buds4. Reviewers at Android Central found it easy to wear and enjoyed its lively tuning. PC Gamer said it handles engine and fan noise but lets sudden sounds through.
Nothing Ear (a)
The Ear (a) keeps a light stem design like the Buds4 but uses tips to seal, and TechRadar placed its noise canceling among the best at its price. Expert Reviews heard a powerful sound with crisp treble, though the controls are fiddly and the EQ basic.
CMF Buds Pro 2
The CMF Buds Pro 2 cost little more than a quarter of the Buds4 and still last longer per charge. Stuff rated its quiet above most budget buds and found calls held up beside traffic. Expert Reviews rated the quiet middling and the touch controls patchy.
Final recommendation: If you want real quiet, the EarFun Air Pro 4 is the best swap: sealed fit, longer battery and wireless charging for half. The Nothing Ear (a) keeps a light stem look. The CMF Buds Pro 2 cost the least. Keep the Galaxy Buds4 if ear tips bother you, you own a Galaxy phone and you're happy hearing some of the world around you.
Side by side
Specs from each maker. Price levels come from shop prices we checked recently; tap through for today's price.
| Model | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price level | Affordable | Budget | Budget | Budget |
| Battery per charge, noise canceling on (claimed) | Up to 5 hours | Up to 7.5 hours | Up to 5.5 hours | Up to 6.5 hours |
| With the case, noise canceling on (claimed) | Up to 24 hours | Up to 35 hours | Up to 24.5 hours | Up to 26 hours |
| Weight per bud | 4.6 g (0.16 oz) | – | 4.8 g (0.17 oz) | 4.9 g (0.17 oz) |
| Fit | Semi-open, no ear tips | Sealed, silicone tips | Sealed, silicone tips | Sealed, silicone tips |
| Water resistance | – | IPX5 | IP54 (buds), IPX2 (case) | IP55 |
| Bluetooth codecs | SBC, AAC, Samsung SSC | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, LDAC, LC3 | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Shop | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ |
Questions people ask
Do the Galaxy Buds4 block noise well?
Not very. They sit loosely with no ear tips, so noise canceling has less to work with. Expert Reviews rated it mediocre and Tom's Guide said it's not as strong as you might hope. Sealed buds block much more.
Do the Galaxy Buds4 fall out?
For some people. The fit depends on your ear shape and there are no tips to adjust it. One TechRadar reviewer had them fall out repeatedly, while others found them comfortable.
How long does the Galaxy Buds4 battery last?
Samsung quotes around 5 hours per charge with noise canceling, and the case adds about 19 more. TechRadar got about 3 hours per charge with noise canceling and extra features on.
Related guides
How we reached this
We compared the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 with the alternatives most often recommended by independent reviewers, then checked each against the makers' own specs and current prices.
We haven't tested these products ourselves. Our picks weigh independent expert reviews against each maker's published specs and the prices we checked. Opinions are ours; facts link to where they come from. How we choose.
Sources: Samsung: Galaxy Buds4, Tom's Guide: Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 review, TechRadar: Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 review, EarFun: Air Pro 4, Android Central: EarFun Air Pro 4 review, PC Gamer: EarFun Air Pro 4 review, Nothing: Ear (a), TechRadar: Nothing Ear (a) review, Expert Reviews: Nothing Ear (a) review, CMF by Nothing: Buds Pro 2, Expert Reviews: CMF Buds Pro 2 review, Stuff: CMF Buds Pro 2 review.