Wireless Earbuds Compared: Three Soundcore Models and the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro

This guide is for people choosing true wireless earbuds and trying to work out how much they really need to spend. It covers three budget models from Anker’s Soundcore brand, whose names are easy to mix up, and Samsung’s flagship Galaxy Buds 4 Pro at the other end of the scale. Nothing here comes from hands-on listening tests; everything is based on published specifications and on the figures each manufacturer quotes.

Quick picks

• Best for spending as little as possible: Soundcore P20i True Wireless Earbuds, with a quoted 30 hours of total playtime and a tiny case on a lanyard.
• Best for commuters on a budget: Soundcore P30i Noise Cancelling Earbuds, which add adaptive noise cancellation, multipoint and a case that props up your phone.
• Best for Android owners who want more features: Soundcore P31i Earbuds, with LDAC support and the longest quoted battery life of the four.
• Best for Galaxy phone owners: Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro (2026), with a two-way speaker system and close integration with Galaxy devices.

How to choose

• Noise cancellation: decide first whether you need it. On buses, trains and flights it makes a real difference. For the gym, podcasts at home or a spare pair, you may be happy without it.
• Your phone: some features depend on what you connect to. LDAC works on many Android phones but not on iPhones, and Samsung reserves its highest-quality codec and several AI features for compatible Galaxy phones.
• Battery claims: quoted hours are measured at moderate volume and usually without noise cancellation. Expect less in real use, and compare like with like.
• Water and dust rating: every model here handles sweat and rain, but the ratings differ, and they apply to the earbuds, not the charging case.
• Fit: all four rely on ear tips. A good seal affects bass, comfort and noise cancellation more than almost any specification, so try every size in the box.

Soundcore P20i True Wireless Earbuds

The Soundcore P20i is Anker’s entry-level model, built to do the basics. It uses 10 mm drivers with a bass-heavy tuning, Bluetooth 5.3 and an IPX5 rating that covers sweat and rain, though there is no dust rating and it is not for swimming. Soundcore quotes 10 hours per charge and 30 hours with the case, and says a 10-minute charge gives about 2 hours. The Soundcore app provides 22 preset equalisers, control customisation and a Find My Earbuds function that plays a sound from a misplaced earbud. The case is small and light and comes with a lanyard.

The honest limitation is the lack of active noise cancellation, so engine noise and office chatter will come through. The sound is tuned for fun, not accuracy, call quality is adequate in noisy places and no better, and you should not assume it connects to two devices at once. It suits first-time buyers, students, gym users and anyone who wants a backup pair they will not worry about losing.

Soundcore P30i Noise Cancelling Earbuds

The Soundcore P30i is the step up for noisy journeys. Soundcore states its adaptive noise cancellation reduces noise by up to 42 dB and adjusts automatically to your surroundings, with a transparency mode for when you need to hear announcements. It has 10 mm drivers with BassUp tuning, Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint for two devices, four microphones with AI noise reduction for calls, and an IP54 rating against dust and splashes. Quoted playtime is 10 hours per charge and 45 hours with the case, and using noise cancellation reduces those figures. Soundcore says a 10-minute top-up gives about 2 hours.

Its unusual feature is the charging case, whose back opens to hold a phone upright for hands-free viewing. That stand is a simple prop, so check it suits the size of your phone and case. The limits are about refinement: this is not the most powerful noise cancellation available, the sound leans towards bass instead of neutrality, and high-resolution codecs are not part of the package. It suits commuters, students and travellers who watch video on a desk or tray table.

Soundcore P31i Earbuds

The Soundcore P31i is a newer model that packs in features normally found on pricier earbuds. Soundcore states noise reduction of up to 52 dB with real-time adjustment, and fits 11 mm titanium-coated drivers. Alongside SBC and AAC it supports the LDAC codec for higher-quality wireless audio on compatible phones. Quoted battery life is up to 10 hours per charge and 50 hours with the case, falling to 8 and 40 hours with noise cancellation on. It carries an IP55 rating and uses Bluetooth 6.1, and the Soundcore app offers real-time translation across more than 100 languages.

The caveats are worth knowing. Turning on LDAC usually shortens battery life and may limit other features such as multipoint. iPhones do not support LDAC and will connect with AAC. Translation runs through the app, typically needs an internet connection, and its accuracy varies. The same earbuds are sold in some regions as the R60i NC, which adds to the naming confusion. It suits Android users on noisy public transport who listen for long stretches.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro (2026)

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are Samsung’s flagship earbuds, launched alongside its 2026 phones. Each earbud combines a wider woofer with a planar tweeter, and each driver has its own amplifier. Adaptive ANC 2.0 processes sound in real time, multiple microphones in each earbud work to isolate your voice on calls, and the stem has touch controls for playback and volume. The earbuds are rated IP57, which covers dust and brief immersion in fresh water, and they use Bluetooth 6.1 with switching between Galaxy devices on the same account.

The limitation is battery life per charge: Samsung quotes up to 6 hours with noise cancellation on and up to 26 hours with the case, which is unremarkable for the class, so a very long flight will need a top-up. They are also built around Android and Galaxy devices, so iPhone owners should think carefully. Samsung sells a standard Galaxy Buds 4 as well, with a different fit and feature set, so check the listing says Pro. Samsung’s AI features, such as live translation, also need a compatible Galaxy phone. They suit owners of a recent Galaxy phone, tablet or watch.

Comparison at a glance

How wireless earbuds work: noise cancellation, fit and codecs in plain words

Active noise cancellation uses microphones to listen to the sound around you and plays an opposing signal to reduce it. It works best on steady, low rumble such as engines, and less well on voices and sudden sounds. The decibel figures makers quote are their own best-case numbers, so treat them as a rough guide, not a ranking between brands.

Fit comes first. A tip that seals the ear canal blocks a good deal of noise by itself, and a poor seal leaks bass. A codec is the method used to compress audio for Bluetooth: SBC is the universal baseline, AAC is what iPhones use, and LDAC carries more data on compatible Android phones. Both ends must support it, so your handset matters; see our unlocked phones comparison. For desk gaming, see wired vs wireless gaming headsets, and for workouts our fitness tracker guide.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Mixing up model names: Soundcore sells the P20i, P30i, P31i and P40i, and Samsung sells both a Buds 4 and a Buds 4 Pro.
• Keeping the ear tips that come fitted: try every size, because the seal decides bass, comfort and noise cancellation.
• Paying for features your phone cannot use: LDAC does nothing on an iPhone, and Samsung’s best features need a Galaxy phone.
• Treating a water rating as swim-proof: the ratings cover sweat and rain on the earbuds, not the case.

Frequently asked questions

Are budget wireless earbuds worth buying?

Yes, for everyday listening. An entry model such as the Soundcore P20i covers music, podcasts and calls, with a proper app and a water rating. What you give up is active noise cancellation, refined call quality in noisy places and extras such as multipoint.

Does noise cancellation block all sound?

No. Active noise cancellation reduces steady, low-pitched noise such as engines far better than voices, announcements or sudden sounds. How much it helps also depends on the seal of the ear tips. Expect a quieter journey, not silence, and use transparency mode when needed.

Can I use Samsung Galaxy Buds with an iPhone?

Think carefully first. Samsung builds its companion software and advanced features around Android and Galaxy devices, and its highest-quality codec and several AI features require a compatible Galaxy phone. With another brand of phone you would be paying for features you cannot fully use.

What does an IP rating mean on earbuds?

The first digit rates dust protection and the second rates water, with X meaning not rated. IPX5 and IP54 cover sweat and rain, IP55 adds water jets, and IP57 covers brief immersion in fresh water. The rating applies to the earbuds, not the charging case.

How long do wireless earbuds last on one charge?

The models here are quoted at 6 to 10 hours per charge and 26 to 50 hours including the case. Those figures are measured at moderate volume, and noise cancellation and high-quality codecs such as LDAC shorten them, so expect less in daily use.

Bottom line

Start with noise cancellation. If you do not need it, the Soundcore P20i does the essentials and there is little reason to spend more. If you travel on public transport, the choice between the two noise-cancelling Soundcore models comes down to extras: the P30i for its phone-stand case and multipoint, the P31i for LDAC on Android, a higher stated noise reduction figure and longer quoted battery life.

The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro sit in a different class and make most sense when you already own Galaxy devices, since that is where their codec, device switching and AI features come into play. With a different brand of phone you would be paying for features you cannot fully use. Whatever you pick, confirm the exact model name, colour and box contents on the listing, and note that a wall charger is typically not included with any of them.