Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2: I tested both, and here's the winner

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I enactment the caller Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro against Bose's flagship earbuds, the QuietComfort Ultra 2, and the rivalry was person than expected. Both are lightweight, comfy to wear, connection akin progressive sound cancellation performance, and past up to (roughly) 5.5 hours connected a charge. I'm gladsome Bose improved its acceptable successful 2025, and Samsung is present appealing to much radical by deviating from its one-off LED-equipped plan from past year.

Also: I recovered existent AirPods Pro rivals successful these Samsung earbuds - and they're amended successful respective ways

Both the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro and QuietComfort Ultra 2 earbuds person a well-rounded diagnostic set. But a batch depends connected the instrumentality you're pairing them with and the dependable illustration you prefer. If you're confused astir which sub-$300 earbuds to get, fto maine assistance you choose.

Specifications

You should bargain the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro if…

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1. You person a Samsung phone

The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro execute champion wrong the Samsung ecosystem, similar AirPods with Apple devices. Like Apple, Samsung doesn't enactment Bluetooth multipoint, and alternatively offers seamless auto-switch betwixt Samsung devices. Similarly, enactment for features specified arsenic Gaming mode, 24-bit/96kHz ultra-high-quality (UHQ) audio, and Head Gestures is constricted to Galaxy devices moving a compatible mentation of One UI.

These are high-end features that heighten the idiosyncratic acquisition successful day-to-day life, truthful pairing with a Samsung telephone oregon tablet volition springiness you the champion experience. However, you'll inactive get large sound, top-notch ANC, customizable EQ, and different settings connected different Android devices with the Samsung Wearable app.

2. You similar tonal equilibrium successful sound

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro usage Bluetooth 6.1 and enactment SBC, AAC, and Samsung Seamless Codec for sound, whereas the QC Ultra Earbuds 2 link via Bluetooth 5.3 and enactment SBC, AAC, and aptX Lossless codecs. Both earbuds connection bully dependable quality, but each has its ain characteristics.

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The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are much balanced successful comparison. They dependable balanced crossed bass, midrange, and treble, which doesn't dependable excessively crisp astatine precocious volumes. I liked listening to vocal-heavy tracks connected the Samsung earbuds much than the QC Ultra Earbuds 2.

3. You privation a much compact and durable brace of earbuds

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 are much compact than their predecessor, but they're inactive rather large compared to the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro. Their cases and earbuds are some shaped differently. The Samsung earbuds are smaller and lighter than Bose's brace and beryllium afloat wrong the ear, giving them a little bulky look overall. By contrast, Bose is much sporty with its stableness bands, which fastener the earbuds successful place.

Samsung's caller merchandise is IP57-rated for stronger particulate and sweat resistance, compared to the QC Ultra 2's IPX4 rating. And if you transportation your earbuds successful your jeans pockets, the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are easier to carry, acknowledgment to a smaller case.

You should bargain the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 if…

Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET

1. You privation much pronounced bass and amended ANC

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2 dependable much assertive than their Samsung counterpart. You get a thumping bass effect and a V-shaped dependable with brighter highs. If you bask an accent connected some low- and high-end frequencies, the QC Ultra Earbuds 2 volition suit you better.

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Separately, a choky seal is indispensable for progressive sound cancellation, and I recovered that the Bose earbuds acceptable my ears better. As a result, their ANC acquisition was somewhat amended than Samsung's. It mightiness not beryllium existent for each receptor shapes, but the QC Ultra Earbuds 2 are the champion ANC earbuds for me. I complaint them supra the Apple AirPods Pro 3.

2. You request existent multipoint Bluetooth connectivity

If you person devices from aggregate brands alternatively of, say, conscionable utilizing Samsung for some telephone and laptop, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2 volition springiness you a amended experience. They enactment multipoint Bluetooth connectivity, truthful you tin brace some devices simultaneously and power betwixt them without reconnecting each time. 

When utilizing 2 phones, you conscionable request to instal the Bose app connected some devices to acceptable up the system. Bose's broader level compatibility without limiting definite features to a peculiar marque mightiness entreaty to much people. Plus, you get wireless charging, truthful you tin enactment it connected your table charger and hide astir it.

Writer's choice

I emotion the acceptable and comfortableness of some these earbuds, but I similar the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2 much due to the fact that Bose's bundle features are ecosystem-agnostic, and I tin entree the earbuds' afloat suite of features connected immoderate of my devices. Bluetooth multipoint connectivity is indispensable successful my day-to-day; I power phones frequently, and I don't privation to suffer retired connected definite features connected the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro conscionable due to the fact that I'm not utilizing a Samsung phone. Also, Bose's sound cancellation dampens airplane motor sound amended and delivers akin artillery life.