Compare Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 vs Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW Earbuds

Reviewers agreed ANC is the weakest major feature: two hands-on reviews found it modest or not serious, while the specs-focused comparison expected improvement over Buds 3.

ANC performance was the most divided feature: some reviewers found it strong or effective, while several called it average, mediocre, or disappointing versus leaders.

Android and especially Samsung users get the strongest experience, with one reviewer explicitly saying the buds were made for Android/Samsung users.

Android pairing was praised through Google Fast Pair and straightforward setup on Android devices.

The app and phone settings offer a broad control surface, with reviewers highlighting a huge range of adjustable settings.

The Connect app was broadly praised as thorough, useful, and feature-rich, with repeated appreciation for customization, updates, and extra controls.

aptX support was treated as a positive for higher-quality or potentially better fidelity, especially for compatible devices.

Low-latency performance and video sync were a clear strength, with reviewers repeatedly reporting little to no perceptible delay.

Bass was consistently praised as punchy, wide, warm, and stronger than expected for open-fit entry-level earbuds.

Bass was a major strength for most reviewers, described as deep, warm, thumpy, or great, but a few noted it could obscure mids or lacked flagship-level cleanliness.

Battery life was treated as adequate but unimpressive, with one reviewer calling 5-6 hours poor beside longer-lasting rivals.

Battery life was the clearest consensus strength, with reviewers repeatedly calling it epic, insane, best-in-class, or unusually long.

Bluetooth was viewed positively, with reviewers citing longer range, future-proofing, and Bluetooth 6.1 as a meaningful upgrade.

Bluetooth performance was generally stable and reliable, with strong connection praise, though one reviewer reported random signal drops in some multipoint use.

Build quality drew positive comments for a premium feel and a more refined look than the prior generation.

Build quality was mostly viewed positively, with reviewers praising sturdy construction or non-cheap materials, though one reviewer criticized the build as not amazing.

Hi-res/UHQ playback was praised when paired with compatible Galaxy hardware and high-resolution sources, adding perceived expansiveness and cleaner sound.

The stem controls were praised as easy, precise, and straightforward, especially after Samsung refined the blade shape.

Button usability split reviewers sharply: some preferred responsive physical buttons, while others found them fiddly, hard to locate, or awkward to press.

The case was reviewed favorably for practical design touches, including visibility through the lid and useful physical controls.

Case quality was generally positive for sturdiness, magnets, finish, or design, although size hurt portability rather than perceived construction.

Charging was mixed: fast charging drew strong praise, but multiple reviewers criticized the lack of wireless charging on the original model.

Codec support was praised as a strong spec highlight, especially around Bluetooth 5.2 and aptX Adaptive.

Comfort was a major strength in the Tom's Guide review, including for smaller ears and everyday listening.

Comfort was mostly positive despite the bulky housings, with several reviewers wearing them for long periods, though one TW2 review found the design less comfortable.

Design impressions were positive overall, with reviewers calling the Buds 4 more polished, premium, and refined despite the familiar AirPods-like shape.

Design impressions were mixed to negative: some liked the subdued look, but many called the buds or case bulky, plain, or not especially attractive.

Fit evidence was mixed: reviewers liked the comfort of the open form, but the lack of a seal and repeated fit adjustments hurt stability and ANC.

Fit was generally secure and comfortable for some reviewers, but fit concerns remained for smaller ears or wind-noise isolation.

One review praised the four tip sizes as giving plenty of range to find a comfortable fit.

EQ customization was described as a premium feature, with access to adjustment options and presets inside Samsung's software experience.

EQ customization was one of the strongest software features, with reviewers praising the ability to tune sound and create more personalized profiles.

One comparison review credited the Buds 4 tuning with better clarity and balance than the prior generation.

Reviewers described the overall tuning as balanced or safe, with the frequency range generally represented without harshness.

Head gestures were treated as a useful modern addition that adds hands-free control and helps Samsung keep pace with rivals.

Instrument separation was praised in track testing, where synths, bass, vocals, and percussion stayed layered rather than smeared together.

Instrument separation was praised when reviewers heard transient details and individual elements clearly, but one reviewer found separation below audiophile rivals.

The integrated microphone system was described as upgraded and designed for clearer calls and better voice recognition.

Reviewers who evaluated the built-in microphones found them useful or strong for calls in favorable conditions, though noise handling could struggle outdoors or in busy spaces.

The snap-together magnetic bud design on the TW2 was strongly praised for reducing loss and battery drain outside the case.

One reviewer noted that dynamics could feel slightly compressed at louder volumes, making maximum-volume clarity good but not perfect.

Microphone noise reduction was a strength, with reviewers saying background roar, white noise, wind, and background noise were reduced or blocked.

Microphone noise reduction was a repeated weakness, with reviewers noting struggles against noise, exterior sounds, or wind.

Call quality was usable but not flawless: one review heard crisp clarity, another reported a muffled voice, and the comparison piece expected clearer calls.

Call quality was usually acceptable to good in quiet conditions, with some strong praise, but several reviewers found it only average outside controlled environments.

Midrange clarity was praised, especially for vocals, though Engadget described the non-Pro model's mids as merely filling the gaps adequately.

Midrange clarity was mixed: some reviewers heard clear vocals and lead instruments, while others said vocals or lower mids were pushed back by the bass-forward tuning.

Multi-platform compatibility was a clear limitation because the richest features and smoothest device switching stay tied to Samsung or Galaxy devices.

Reviewers found phone-and-laptop use helpful, with multipoint and cross-device switching making the earbuds practical across platforms.

Multipoint and device switching were mixed: Tom's Guide criticized non-Galaxy limitations, while the specs comparison expected smoother Galaxy ecosystem switching.

Multipoint was consistently valued for switching between phone, laptop, computer, or other devices, with reviewers describing it as useful, seamless, or reliable.

Passive isolation was weak because the open-fit body lacks a sealing silicone tip, letting outside noise seep in.

Passive isolation was usually strong when the seal fit well, though one review noted fit-related wind-noise leakage.

Portability was a recurring weakness because the case was often described as bulky, clunky, hard to pocket, or inconvenient, despite battery-life tradeoffs.

One reviewer said the Clear Vocal preset effectively fixed a vocal-detail issue, supporting a strong score for preset EQ usefulness.

Sensors were a clear weakness where reviewers wanted wear detection and criticized its absence.

Sidetone was treated as useful for calls, helping users monitor their own voice or making the earbuds more office-friendly.

Setup and software were strongest for Galaxy users, with settings baked into the phone and a broad range of options available.

One review described initial setup as simple and fast, supporting a strong software/setup score.

Sound quality was the clearest strength across all three reviews, with praise for richness, refinement, and overall listening enjoyment.

Reviewers mostly found the earbuds enjoyable and capable, with repeated praise for warm, detailed, or impressive sound, though one reviewer found the sound merely okay.

Soundstage depth received positive evidence through UHQ listening, where acoustics were described as reverberating around the listener.

Soundstage depth was praised by Expert Reviews but underwhelmed one YouTube reviewer who expected more depth from the large housings.

Soundstage width was praised in UHQ mode, with Tom's Guide calling the presentation surprisingly expansive.

Soundstage width drew strong praise from some reviewers for wraparound or convincing staging, while one reviewer expected more width from the large earbuds.

Spatial audio was not a selling point for one reviewer, who said upmixed spatial audio could warp music.

Spatial audio opinions were divided, ranging from disappointment or superfluousness to strong immersion and impressive 360 Reality Audio effects.

Physical stability was a weakness in the Engadget review because the open design required repeated fit adjustments.

Stability ranged from excellent in workout/head-shake testing to less reassuring on the bulkier TW2 design.

Touch control responsiveness was praised, with reviewers finding the touch area easy to locate and the gestures precise or straightforward.

Transparency mode earned positive evidence from the comparison review because Ambient Sound made daily use more practical than Buds 3.

Transparency/hear-through mode was useful for awareness and conversation, but reviewers disagreed on quality, ranging from invaluable to merely okay.

Treble performance was praised for crunchy highs and strong mids/treble performance, without the tinniness criticized in AirPods comparisons.

Treble generally stayed clear and non-harsh, but several reviewers said highs lacked some sharpness, space, or detail compared with stronger competitors.

Value was favorable for Galaxy owners and price-conscious buyers, with reviewers calling the performance strong for the $179 tier.

Value was generally positive because of battery life, sound, and features for the price, though one reviewer argued $150 was too high.

Voice assistant integration was considered useful for hands-free tasks, though one reviewer personally had little interest in AI assistants.

One review criticized the lack of built-in voice-assistant control, making this a weak point for hands-free assistant use.

Reviewers who commented on volume found adequate headroom and loud output, without major volume complaints.

Water and sweat resistance were a concern because the Buds 4 dropped from Buds 3's IP57 rating to IP54 and were described as less rugged.

Water and sweat resistance was treated as useful for workouts, outdoor use, and peace of mind, though not as full waterproofing.

One review specifically described the earbuds as light and relatively inconspicuous, supporting a positive weight-comfort impression.