Compare Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 vs Soundcore Anker Liberty 5 Pro Max

Passive isolation is inherently weak because the buds do not seal the ear canal. External sound leaks in easily, which also makes ANC and bass performance more dependent on positioning.

The physical seal helps these earbuds block a lot of outside sound before ANC even gets involved. Several comments credit the snug in-ear fit for making noise reduction feel especially strong.

The lack of built-in silicone tips or meaningful size adjustment is a major weakness. Buyers with a poor fit have little way to improve grip, seal, or stability without aftermarket add-ons.

Tip selection is generous, with five sizes repeatedly mentioned. That flexibility helps users get a better seal for comfort, ANC, and stability.

Stability is the dominant complaint. Dozens of buyers report slipping, loosening, or outright falls during walking, chewing, exercise, or even sitting still, although a minority say the buds stay secure in their ears.

Stability is strong for workouts, walking, and daily use, with several users saying the buds stay put. Secure fins are a major reason the larger design works.

The box feels sparse for the price. Multiple reviewers objected to the missing charging cable, and one also wanted basic printed guidance or a direct setup link.

The included tips and fins are appreciated because they make fit adjustment easier. Buyers get enough sizing options to dial in seal and stability.

Samsung Seamless Codec can provide near-lossless wireless playback on compatible Galaxy devices, giving Samsung users a higher-quality audio path than standard Bluetooth modes.

Lossless support is limited by Bluetooth and platform constraints. The review specifically notes that iPhones stay on AAC rather than a lossless wireless option.

Wear detection can become unreliable when the earbuds shift, occasionally making the system think a bud is no longer seated and dropping ANC in that ear.

Wear detection is a convenient touch, pausing audio automatically when the buds are removed. It adds to the sense that the app and sensors are feature-rich.

Loudness varies sharply by user and fit. Some testers find plenty of output, while many customers report the Buds 4 as unusually quiet or developing very low output in one ear.

Volume output is strong enough for users who want a fuller, louder presentation. One tester especially liked that ANC made audio feel more detailed and full.

Spatial depth is limited by the unsealed design, and reviewers caution against expecting a strongly three-dimensional or immersive presentation.

Depth and surround are good enough to make music feel spacious for some listeners. Still, the stage is not consistently described as expansive compared with more audiophile-focused earbuds.

The move from IP57 on the prior generation to IP54 is consistently viewed as a downgrade. It still covers sweat and splashes, but offers less protection for rain, workouts, and water exposure.

Sweat and water resistance are treated as solid for workouts and everyday use. The IP55-rated buds give buyers more confidence for gym sessions and light rain.

ANC is the biggest technical compromise of the open design. Many testers and buyers found it weak or unstable without a seal, though several users reported strong noise reduction when the buds stayed seated well.

ANC is one of the product’s biggest wins, with repeated praise for commute, airplane, gym, household, and street-noise performance. It is strongest on low-frequency rumble, though voices and certain real-world situations can still break through.

Fit is highly polarizing but skews strongly negative. A minority find the open shape comfortable and secure, while many others cannot keep the buds properly seated even during ordinary movement.

Fit is generally secure, helped by ear fins and multiple tip choices. The main negatives are itchiness, dislike of in-ear pressure, and needing careful positioning in wind or while sleeping.

Very high volume can hurt tonal balance. Reviewers heard bass recede and upper frequencies become noticeably thinner or tinnier near the top of the volume range.

At their best, the earbuds can sound very clear and get loud, but clarity at higher settings is not unanimous. One owner found music less clear and muddy when pushed.

Setup is one of the most consistent strengths. Galaxy pairing is usually immediate and seamless, while even Pixel and other Android users report quick, straightforward connection.

Setup and software are powerful but not always simple. Some praised reliable app tools and privacy controls, while firmware hiccups, feature learning curves, and cloud processing limits frustrated others.

Spatial audio divides opinion. One user calls it genuinely cool, while another avoids it because upmixing can warp music, making its value highly preference-dependent.

Spatial audio is polarizing. Some enjoyed the larger presentation, while others felt Dolby processing hurt music or compared poorly with rival spatial modes.

The earbuds are exceptionally light, and that low weight helps them sit without much strain during longer listening sessions.

The earbuds and case remain pocketable, but the Pro Max case is noticeably heavier than the standard version. That extra weight is part of the tradeoff for the screen and case hardware.

Call quality is mixed. Many reviewers heard crisp, clear speech and strong pickup, but others found voices muffled, too quiet, inconsistent, or badly degraded after a few months.

Call quality is the standout consensus strength, with many users saying callers heard them clearly in cars, gyms, cafés, amusement parks, and noisy work settings. A few mixed reports exist, but the overall pattern is unusually strong.

The buds can handle basic use across different devices, but the experience is much richer on Samsung hardware. Several advanced audio, assistant, and switching features are unavailable or less capable elsewhere.

Apple users get good AAC sound and stable connectivity, but not AirPods-style automatic switching. The Pro Max works well across Apple devices while still feeling less integrated than Apple’s own earbuds.

Battery life is one of the more common complaints. Around five to six hours is often described as merely adequate or disappointing, and some buyers reported much shorter runtimes, although a smaller group found endurance very good.

Battery life is usually described as solid, with fast everyday endurance and good case reserves. Heavy feature use, the case screen, LDAC, voice control, or ANC can bring runtimes down, and a few owners reported poor battery experiences.

Overall reactions are split: strong sound, easy Galaxy pairing, premium styling, and useful smart features earn real praise, but the open fit creates enough stability, ANC, and consistency problems to ruin the experience for many buyers.

Overall sentiment is positive, with many owners calling these premium, impressive, or among the best earbuds they have used. Negative reactions center on sound tuning, AI subscription expectations, case reliability, and a few defective or disappointing units.

Value is contentious. Galaxy-focused features and strong sound justify the price for some, but many buyers say the poor fit, modest battery, or weak ANC makes cheaper or Pro alternatives a smarter purchase.

Value depends heavily on whether the case screen and AI notes fit your life. Many felt the feature set justifies the price, while others saw the $60 Max premium, subscriptions, or sound compromises as hard to justify.

Galaxy-to-Galaxy Auto Switch can be excellent and nearly instant, but true cross-platform Bluetooth multipoint is missing. Users moving between Samsung and non-Samsung devices may need manual switching.

Three-device multipoint is a major convenience for people moving between phones, tablets, laptops, and work devices. The main tradeoff is that full LDAC quality is not available when all three connections are active.

Samsung Find offers useful location tools and proximity guidance, but the case lacks its own speaker, which makes audible finding less convenient than it could be.

Find My support is useful for iPhone owners, but one customer complained that locating the buds through sound was not available as expected. The tracking story is helpful, not perfect.

Galaxy-exclusive UHQ playback is a genuine audio advantage: testers heard a more expansive presentation and a clear benefit from 24-bit/96kHz playback on compatible Samsung devices.

Hi-res and AI enhancement features can make compressed or lower-quality audio feel cleaner and fuller. They are useful extras, but they do not replace true lossless playback or guarantee audiophile sound.

The flatter clamshell case is widely praised for easier insertion, visibility, and a premium feel. A few users found it bulky, hard to pry open, or unusually tight, but the redesign is mostly well received.

The touchscreen case is both the signature feature and a recurring source of complaints. Many loved controlling modes from the case, but lag, freezes, scratches, bulk, and durability worries show this first-gen idea is not fully polished.

Comfort depends heavily on ear shape. The light, tipless design is excellent for some people and works well for long sessions, while others report pressure, irritation, or pain within minutes.

Comfort is generally strong for a larger bud, especially once the right fins and tips are fitted. A few people disliked the in-ear feel, itchiness, or bulk when sleeping, so ear shape matters.

Ambient Sound is generally welcomed as a practical addition for awareness outdoors and quick conversations. One user found the transparency effect noticeably amplified rather than fully natural.

Transparency mode is more divisive than ANC. Some found it natural and clean, while others called it weak, hissy, or much worse than AirPods and Samsung pass-through modes.

Treble is often crisp, lively, and detailed, but the brighter upper range can become shrill for sensitive listeners and may sound thinner at very high volume.

Treble is generally smooth rather than harsh, but it is not the strongest part of the sound. Some testers wanted more brilliance, presence, or cleaner top-end detail.

The compact case can disappear easily into a pocket for some users, but one buyer found the newer case noticeably larger and no longer comfortably pocketable.

Portability is the clearest case-related compromise. Some testers still fit it easily in jeans pockets, while others found the Pro Max case chunky, bulky, or less comfortable to carry.

Samsung's SSC/UHQ codec support is one of the stronger ecosystem perks, delivering high-quality 24-bit/96kHz playback that reviewers say can make an audible difference.

Codec support is broad enough for the price tier, with SBC, AAC, and LDAC covering both iPhone and Android use. The limitation is that higher-quality modes can conflict with multipoint or other processing features.

When seated correctly, the Buds 4 reproduce timbre reasonably well and present a balanced consumer-friendly tuning. Fit instability is the main factor that can disturb that consistency.

The measured tuning leans heavily above the preferred bass target, especially around the low end. That makes the sound fun for some, but less accurate for neutral listeners.

The 9-band custom EQ and multiple presets provide unusually broad tuning flexibility for the standard model. Reviewers consistently appreciate having meaningful sound adjustment without stepping up to the Pro.

EQ flexibility is excellent, and HearID helps tame the default bass-heavy sound for many users. The biggest caveat is that some bass complaints persist even after adjustment.

Background-noise rejection is usually a strong point, with several tests showing voices staying clear through traffic, crowds, white noise, or loud music. A smaller number of users reported poor noise handling during calls.

Microphone noise rejection is repeatedly described as exceptional, often hiding wind, traffic, tools, vacuums, water jets, or public noise from callers. A small minority still heard muffling in very noisy environments.

Complex mixes remain clean and layered when the buds are seated well, with vocals and instruments staying distinct instead of collapsing into each other.

Instrument separation is a bright spot when the tuning works well, with listeners picking out vocals, guitars, and subtle instrument detail. It helps the earbuds feel clearer than their bassy default profile might suggest.

The revised Buds 4 design gets strong marks for looking cleaner, sleeker, and more premium than the previous generation. The brushed-metal styling and simplified stems are recurring visual highlights.

The design gets credit for premium-looking finishes and distinctive colors. Not everyone likes the larger, unusual earbud shape, but the overall look is often seen as high-end.

Width is inconsistent: UHQ playback can sound impressively expansive, but broader testing finds the unsealed design limits convincing spatial width when fit is less than ideal.

The stage has enough space for casual listening, but several audio-focused testers found it more compact than premium competitors. It can feel slightly closed-in rather than wide and airy.

The software offers extensive control over ANC, EQ, gestures, and other features. Most impressions are positive, although one reviewer disliked the Wearable app's heavy permission requests and another noticed a wrong Buds icon.

The Soundcore app is a major strength for customization, with EQ, HearID, ANC controls, fit tools, and many extras. One customer strongly disliked the app layout and felt too much of it was ads.

Controls can be responsive, tactile, and easy to customize, but usability varies. Some users find the pinch-and-swipe system awkward, easy to trigger accidentally, or likely to disturb the already fragile fit.

Earbud touch controls are mixed: several found them precise and responsive, while others struggled with accidental slides or awkward tap areas. The case touchscreen also has occasional lag or freezes.

Charging is generally convenient and reliable, with wireless charging and reasonably quick top-ups earning praise. Minor complaints include the lack of an audible charging confirmation.

Charging is a practical strength, with fast top-ups, USB-C, and wireless charging all mentioned positively. There are isolated hardware complaints, including one earbud not charging correctly.

The Smooth preset is specifically recommended for listeners who find the upper treble too sharp, giving the built-in presets practical value beyond simple novelty.

Preset sound modes can help reshape the tuning quickly, especially Clear Vocals or balanced options. They are useful shortcuts for people who do not want to build a full custom EQ.

Hands-free voice controls and assistant access are useful for playback, messages, and phone tasks. Recognition can struggle in very loud environments, but the feature is broadly convenient.

Voice commands are a useful surprise, responding quickly without needing a wake word in several tests. They are especially appealing when hands are busy, though they share processing limits with other AI sound features.

Sound is one of the strongest parts of the Buds 4, with frequent praise for clarity, detail, vocals, and overall richness. The catch is fit: when the buds loosen, bass and balance can deteriorate sharply.

Most listeners found the Liberty 5 Pro Max energetic, detailed, and enjoyable after tuning, with many owners calling the sound excellent. The main split is the default profile, which some found rich and powerful while others heard it as muffled or only good, not great.

Vocals and midrange detail are generally clear and well presented when the buds sit properly. In noisier real-world use, the open fit can let outside sound mask the mids.

Vocals and instruments often come through cleanly, especially after EQ or HearID adjustments. The main complaint is that the bass-forward tuning can sometimes push midrange clarity back.

The buds often feel solid, premium, and capable of surviving drops, but long-term reliability is uneven. Multiple customers reported buzzing, weak output, microphone degradation, or complete failure within a few months.

Build quality impressions range from premium to disappointing. Several testers praised the finish and solid feel, while others criticized plastic materials, rattles, or a fragile-looking case screen.

Android use is a clear strength, especially on Galaxy phones where pairing and settings feel deeply integrated. Non-Samsung Android phones generally work well too, but some premium features remain Galaxy-only.

Android users benefit from Fast Pair, LDAC, and reported success with Samsung and Honor phones. The best Android experience comes when users accept the LDAC and multipoint tradeoffs.

Translation performance is inconsistent: one tester found Korean back-and-forth surprisingly smooth, while another said normal-speed speech was not reliable enough. It looks useful, but not dependable for every conversation.

Translation works well enough for simple travel or controlled conversations, especially with the case acting as the other person’s mic and speaker. The weak points are lag, button pressing, missed words, and a few reports of the case mic failing.

Bluetooth 6.1 brings good range and stability in several expert tests, and Galaxy pairing is usually smooth. Customer experiences are less consistent, with reports of slow reconnection, short range, dropouts, and repeated disconnects.

Bluetooth reliability is mostly positive, with instant pairing and no issues for some owners. A few users reported connection instability or trouble connecting to a computer, so it is not flawless.

Bass can be punchy, deep, and even surprisingly powerful when the fit is right, but it is highly seal-dependent. Several reviewers heard the low end thin out, turn muddy, or fade as the buds shifted.

Bass is a defining part of the tuning: fans liked the punch and depth, but several testers said the default curve is too bass-heavy. A few felt the low end becomes bloated or muddy even after EQ work.

AI note-taking is the Pro Max’s biggest differentiator, and it can be genuinely useful for meetings, lectures, interviews, and summaries. It also draws the strongest complaints because it may require the case mic, has subscription limits, and can misidentify speakers or fail on some units.

Day-to-day use on a Galaxy phone showed no noticeable latency problems, making video playback and ordinary media use feel properly synchronized.

Auracast is viewed as a useful forward-looking feature that can tap into compatible public or shared Bluetooth LE audio broadcasts as adoption grows.

The retained physical case button is welcome, but button placement is not universally easy. Reviewers with dexterity limitations and some other users found the small or side-mounted controls difficult to activate.

Headwear can aggravate the already loose open fit: hoodies may knock the buds out, and a thick winter hat can interfere with microphone placement.

Head gestures are generally considered a useful hands-free addition for answering or declining calls and handling prompts. Reviewers who tested them found the feature effective and convenient.

The built-in microphone system can perform extremely well, with clear voice pickup and strong overall microphone performance in demanding use.

LDAC is appreciated by Android users who want higher-resolution wireless audio, but it comes with practical tradeoffs. It is unavailable with three-device multipoint and does not help iPhone users.

The case can store raw recordings before syncing, which is useful for meetings away from the phone. Transcription and summaries still depend on later processing, so the offline benefit is limited.

The unopened package arrived neatly presented, giving one buyer a positive first impression before using the product.

The transparent case lid looks good but attracts fingerprints and scratches very quickly, so keeping it clean and pristine takes extra care.

Support experiences after early failures were extremely poor in the two customer reports: both describe getting little useful help, including a disputed warranty and an unresolved serial-number issue.