Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro Vs. Bose Quietcomfort Ultra 2: I Tested Both, And Here's The Winner

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I put nan caller Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro against Bose's flagship earbuds, nan QuietComfort Ultra 2, and nan rivalry was person than expected. Both are lightweight, comfortable 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 fresh successful 2025, and Samsung is now appealing to much group by deviating from its one-off LED-equipped creation from past year.

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

Both nan Galaxy Buds 4 Pro and QuietComfort Ultra 2 earbuds person a well-rounded characteristic set. But a batch depends connected nan instrumentality you're pairing them pinch and nan sound floor plan you prefer. If you're confused astir which sub-$300 earbuds to get, fto maine thief you choose.

Specifications

You should bargain nan Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro if…

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1. You person a Samsung phone

The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro execute champion wrong nan Samsung ecosystem, for illustration AirPods with Apple devices. Like Apple, Samsung doesn't support Bluetooth multipoint, and alternatively offers seamless auto-switch betwixt Samsung devices. Similarly, support 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 type of One UI.

These are high-end features that heighten nan personification acquisition successful day-to-day life, truthful pairing pinch a Samsung telephone aliases tablet will springiness you nan champion experience. However, you'll still get awesome sound, top-notch ANC, customizable EQ, and different settings connected different Android devices pinch nan Samsung Wearable app.

2. You for illustration tonal equilibrium successful sound

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

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

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

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 are much compact than their predecessor, but they're still rather large compared to nan 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 nan ear, giving them a little bulky look overall. By contrast, Bose is much sporty pinch its stableness bands, which fastener nan earbuds successful place.

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

You should bargain nan Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 if…

Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET

1. You want much pronounced bass and amended ANC

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2 sound much fierce than their Samsung counterpart. You get a thumping bass consequence and a V-shaped sound pinch brighter highs. If you bask an accent connected some low- and high-end frequencies, nan QC Ultra Earbuds 2 will suit you better.

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Separately, a tight seal is basal for progressive sound cancellation, and I recovered that nan Bose earbuds fresh 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 nan QC Ultra Earbuds 2 are nan champion ANC earbuds for me. I complaint them supra nan 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, nan Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2 will springiness you a amended experience. They support multipoint Bluetooth connectivity, truthful you tin brace some devices simultaneously and move betwixt them without reconnecting each time. 

When utilizing 2 phones, you conscionable request to instal nan Bose app connected some devices to group up nan 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 put it connected your table charger and hide astir it.

Writer's choice

I emotion nan fresh and comfortableness of some these earbuds, but I for illustration nan Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2 much because Bose's package features are ecosystem-agnostic, and I tin entree nan earbuds' afloat suite of features connected immoderate of my devices. Bluetooth multipoint connectivity is basal successful my day-to-day; I move phones frequently, and I don't want to suffer retired connected definite features connected nan Galaxy Buds 4 Pro conscionable because I'm not utilizing a Samsung phone. Also, Bose's sound cancellation dampens airplane motor sound amended and delivers akin artillery life.