Longest battery
Sony WF-C710N
- Up to 8.5 hours a charge
- Works on iPhone and Android
What buyers love: how it sounds.
Catch: Higher sounds still slip in
About a third cheaper
Cheaper alternatives to the Samsung Galaxy Buds4
Three sealed pairs that block more noise and cost about a third less.
Updated 5 November 2026
Hi-res for Android
EarFun Air Pro 4
- LDAC and aptX Adaptive
- Wireless charging case
Lightweight seal
Nothing Ear (a)
- Only 4.8 g per bud
- Strong quiet for the money
The original
Samsung Galaxy Buds4
Worth it if: You can't stand ear tips
- Comfortable, tip-free fit
- Good microphones for calls
What buyers love: how it sounds.
Not worth it if: You commute on the Tube or busy buses
Easy on the budget
What are you actually paying extra for with the Galaxy Buds4?
What the extra money buys
- Comfortable, tip-free fit
- Good microphones for calls
- Stylish stem design
- Galaxy extras on Samsung phones
Worth it if
- You can't stand ear tips
- You own a Samsung phone
- You like to stay aware of traffic
Not worth it if
- You commute on the Tube or busy buses
- You're on an iPhone
Good to know
Why each one made the list, and our final recommendation.
Sony WF-C710N
Sony's budget buds run over three hours longer per charge than the Buds4 and their sealed fit blocks far more. Tom's Guide found them comfortable all day, and What Hi-Fi praised the calls and musical sound, though voices still get through. Unlike Samsung, Sony's app works on iPhone too.
EarFun Air Pro 4
Samsung's hi-res link needs a Galaxy phone, but the Air Pro 4 offers LDAC and aptX Adaptive to most Android phones. Android Central rated it comfortable. In PC Gamer's testing it lasted long and kept steady noise down, but the mic sounded tinny.
Nothing Ear (a)
The Ear (a) looks like the Buds4 from a distance but seals with tips, so its noise cancelling actually works on a commute. TechRadar called its quiet among the best at the price. Expert Reviews found the controls awkward and the EQ limited.
Final recommendation: For the longest battery on any phone, take the Sony WF-C710N. Android users without a Galaxy get hi-res sound on the EarFun Air Pro 4, while Nothing's Ear (a) keeps a stem look but actually seals. Keep the Galaxy Buds4 if ear tips bother you and you'd rather hear what's 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 | Budget | Budget | Budget | Budget |
| Battery per charge, noise cancelling on (claimed) | Up to 5 hours | Up to 8.5 hours | Up to 7.5 hours | Up to 5.5 hours |
| With the case, noise cancelling on (claimed) | Up to 24 hours | Up to 30 hours | Up to 35 hours | Up to 24.5 hours |
| Weight per bud | 4.6 g | 5.2 g | – | 4.8 g |
| Fit | Semi-open, no ear tips | Sealed, silicone tips | Sealed, silicone tips | Sealed, silicone tips |
| Water resistance | – | IPX4 | IPX5 | IP54 (buds), IPX2 (case) |
| Bluetooth codecs | SBC, AAC, Samsung SSC | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, LDAC, LC3 | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Shop | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ |
Questions people ask
Are the Galaxy Buds4 good for commuting?
Only on quieter routes. The open fit lets noise in, and Expert Reviews rated the noise cancelling mediocre. On the Tube or a busy bus, sealed buds like the ones above are far calmer.
Do the Galaxy Buds4 work with an iPhone?
They connect, but there's no Samsung app for iPhone, so you lose settings and controls. They're really made for Samsung phones.
Why do the Galaxy Buds4 sound different from ear to ear?
Without tips, the fit decides how much bass you hear. Expert Reviews found fit dramatically changes the sound, so they can sound full in one person's ears and thin in another's.
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 UK: Galaxy Buds4, Expert Reviews: Samsung Galaxy Buds4 review, TechRadar: Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 review, Sony UK: WF-C710N specifications, What Hi-Fi?: Sony WF-C710N review, Tom's Guide: Sony WF-C710N 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.