Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 4
Quick take: The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 costs $10 less; the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 lasts longer per charge (8 hrs); only the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 supports multipoint (two devices at once).
Which one to buy
Both are Android flagships, $169 against $179, but they're built for opposite ears. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 is sealed with tips and a twist-to-adjust stabilizer fin, and at 4.7g it's the comfort pick that small-eared owners recommend after everything else fell out. The Galaxy Buds 4 is Samsung's open-fit, tipless bud: no pressure in the canal, but retention and bass depend on how the hard shell happens to sit, and reviewers found a shake test could send one flying.
That fit difference drives most of the rest. With a seal, the Pixel's ANC is solidly mid-pack, behind Bose but ahead of most. Without one, the Buds 4's adaptive ANC softens bus drone and does little against voices, and some owners with a loose fit can barely tell it's on. Battery isn't close either: 8 hours with ANC and 30 total on the Pixel against 5 hours (closer to 3 with 360 Audio) and 24 total on the Samsung.
The Samsung wins on sound when the fit works. SSC UHQ 24-bit on a Galaxy phone is an audible step up from the Pixel's AAC ceiling, and its pinch-and-swipe stem controls get strong owner praise. The Pixel has real multipoint across any two devices, where Samsung's Auto Switch only hops between Galaxy-account devices. Both have IP54 and wireless charging.
The Pixel's weak spot is a subset of owners hitting case-charging trouble, random beeping and battery drops around three months. The Samsung's is that its best features disappear without a Samsung phone. If you're on a Pixel or any non-Samsung Android, this isn't a close call.
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
If you want sealed ANC, long battery and real multipoint on any Android phone, especially if your ears are small.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 4
Only makes sense if you own a Galaxy phone, can't stand ear tips, and have already found that AirPods-style open buds stay in your ears.
| Spec | Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 | Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$169 | ~$179 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Wireless Earbuds | Wireless Earbuds |
| Noise Cancelling | ANC | Adaptive ANC |
| Battery (single charge) | 8 hrs | 5 hrs |
| Battery (with case) | 30 hrs | 24 hrs |
| Quick Charge | 5 min = 1 hr | — |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | SBC, AAC, SSC UHQ, LC3 |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 6.1 |
| Multipoint | Yes | No |
| Driver Size | 11 mm | 11 mm |
| Weight | 4.7 g | 4.6 g |
| Water Resistance | IP54 | IP54 |
| Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes |
| Transparency Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Spatial Audio | Yes | Yes |
| App EQ | Yes | Yes |
Pros & cons
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
- ✓4.7g and 27% smaller — a small-ear favorite
- ✓Tensor A1 doubles ANC over the original Pixel Buds Pro
- ✓8 hours ANC plus 30 total tops most flagships
- ✓True multipoint across any two devices, not just Google's
- ✓Twist-to-adjust stabilizer fin keeps them planted
- ✓Undercuts Bose and Sony flagships at $169
- ✗SBC/AAC only — no LDAC even on a Pixel
- ✗Clean-but-dull tuning needs the 5-band EQ
- ✗Gemini voice features are hit-or-miss
- ✗Occasional case-charging quirks reported
- ✗ANC still trails Bose Ultra and AirPods Pro 3
Samsung Galaxy Buds 4
- ✓Open stem design stays comfortable for hours
- ✓Adaptive ANC takes the edge off despite no seal
- ✓Wireless charging case — base AirPods 4 doesn't have one
- ✓Bluetooth 6.1 with Auracast and LE Audio
- ✓Pinch-and-swipe stem controls work reliably
- ✓IP54 dust and splash resistance
- ✗5-hour ANC battery is bottom of the class
- ✗Open fit is a lottery — bass and ANC depend on your ears
- ✗Hi-res and AI features locked to Samsung phones
- ✗No true multipoint, only Samsung-account Auto Switch
- ✗Physics caps unsealed ANC well below sealed rivals
- ✗$180 is a tough ask against the $129 AirPods 4 ANC
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 4: common questions
Does the Pixel Buds Pro 2 or the Galaxy Buds 4 cancel more noise?▾
The Pixel Buds Pro 2, clearly. Its tip seal gives the ANC something to work with, and owners put it ahead of most rivals short of Bose. The Galaxy Buds 4 has no seal, so its ANC only softens low drone, and how well depends on how the shell sits in your ear.
Does the Galaxy Buds 4 sound better on a Samsung phone?▾
On a Galaxy phone with a good fit, owners and reviewers say yes: SSC UHQ 24-bit is an audible step up, and the Pixel is limited to SBC, AAC and LC3. If the open shell sits loosely, though, bass thins out and the advantage disappears.
Can the Pixel Buds Pro 2 or the Galaxy Buds 4 connect to my phone and laptop at once?▾
Only the Pixel Buds Pro 2. It has true multipoint across any two devices. Samsung's Auto Switch hops between devices on your Samsung account and doesn't hold two connections at once, so owners with a work laptop end up re-pairing by hand.
Will the Buds 4's battery last a workday?▾
Probably not with ANC on. It's rated at 5 hours (owners using 360 Audio report closer to 3) with 24 total, so plan on a case top-up. The Pixel's 8 hours with ANC usually covers a full day.