Wireless Earbuds · owner-verdict comparison

Apple AirPods 5 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Apple AirPods 5: 65% of 129 owners recommend it, vs 44% of 105 for the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Apple AirPods 5

65%of 129 owners recommend
65% recommend · 9% neutral · 26% don't
Owners praise
  • Comfortable open fit for owners who can't stand silicone ear tips
  • Noise canceling that owners call surprisingly strong for an earbud without a seal
  • Sound that most owners who mention it like
Owners complain about
  • Fit doesn't suit every ear: some owners say one or both buds keep falling out, and a few say they hurt
  • Noise canceling falls short of sealed models like the AirPods Pro 3
  • Sound tuning divides owners, with complaints of muddy or overpowering bass from some and a lack of punch from others
Full owner report →

Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro

44%of 105 owners recommend
44% recommend · 22% neutral · 34% don't
Owners praise
  • Sound quality is widely called exceptional and a clear step up, with owners praising detailed bass, clean mids, and strong instrument separation
  • ANC is noticeably improved over prior Buds generations and holds up well against rivals like the OnePlus Buds Pro 3
  • Comfortable, secure fit for most wearers, with several calling them more comfortable than the Buds3 Pro or first-gen Buds
Owners complain about
  • Transparency/ambient mode has a persistent hiss and makes the wearer's own voice sound occluded, which several call broken or a downgrade
  • Fit is inconsistent for some ears - buds falling out, feeling loose during workouts, or just uncomfortable compared to other models
  • A subset of owners report poor mic pickup, saying callers can't hear them clearly or that Bluetooth recording quality is weak
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Apple AirPods 5 if
  • ✓People who find silicone ear tips uncomfortable but still want noise canceling
  • ✓Owners of first- or second-generation AirPods ready for noise canceling
  • ✓Casual, all-day listening at work or at home
Skip it if
  • People whose ears don't hold a tipless earbud, since some owners say one or both buds keep falling out
  • Buyers who want the strongest noise canceling, where owners who compare the two say the AirPods Pro 3 blocks more
Get the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro if
  • ✓Samsung Galaxy phone owners who want top sound quality via the SSC codec
  • ✓Audiophiles who enjoy custom EQ tuning for detailed, punchy bass
  • ✓Runners and gym-goers wanting a comfortable, secure all-day fit
  • ✓Buds3 Pro upgraders chasing noticeably better ANC and sound detail
Skip it if
  • Multi-device users who need multipoint pairing (unsupported, a dealbreaker for some)
  • Anyone sensitive to ANC hiss or needing a flawless transparency mode

What Apple AirPods 5 owners say

“these are by far the best airpods apple has made great fit (although the gen 2 are my favorite fit) best sound and has the option of anc / transparency plus the new equalizer is really handy and the volume swipe and extra battery are worth it in my opinion”
— @Ghostface1216 on YouTube
“Just bought the 5’s with the upgraded case coming from 1st gen that finally died. Wow, night and day difference. ANC is really good and they sound great”
— @stevenhintz5508 on YouTube
“I just got them, the bummer thing is the ANC being too strong I can't stand the pressure in my ears”
— @captainsparrow1229 on YouTube

What Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro owners say

“They did feel like a big step up compared to the BP3 considering theyre able to go toe to toe with the XM6”
— Dry_Faithlessness308 on Reddit
“wow it's a night and day difference when you use the earbuds on a Samsung device vs any other device. And they finally don't fall out my ear.”
— LongSteamyDump on Reddit
“Buds 4 pro, none of the sizes fit well, constantly fall out, never feel like they sit well in the ears”
— brm1286 on Reddit

Apple AirPods 5 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro: frequently asked questions

Is the Apple AirPods 5 or the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro better?

Real owners lean toward the Apple AirPods 5: 65% of 129 owners recommend it, vs 44% of 105 for the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro.

Who should get the Apple AirPods 5?

Owners point the Apple AirPods 5 at people who find silicone ear tips uncomfortable but still want noise canceling, and owners of first- or second-generation AirPods ready for noise canceling.

Who should get the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro?

Owners point the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro at samsung Galaxy phone owners who want top sound quality via the SSC codec, and audiophiles who enjoy custom EQ tuning for detailed, punchy bass.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Apple AirPods 5 is fit doesn't suit every ear: some owners say one or both buds keep falling out, and a few say they hurt. For the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro, it's transparency/ambient mode has a persistent hiss and makes the wearer's own voice sound occluded, which several call broken or a downgrade.