![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Samsung-galaxy-buds-4-pro007.jpg\"\/ "\\"Samsung")
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro go back to what made the line distinct from other earbuds in the first place.![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/technics-eah-az100-case.jpg\"\/ "\\"technics-eah-az100-case\\"")
The Technics have a non-stem bud design with a larger case.<\/p>\nSamsung\u2019s Galaxy Buds 4 Pro arrive as the latest flagship from one of the biggest names in tech, priced at $249 and aimed squarely at the top of the Android market. The Technics EAH-AZ100, meanwhile, has been quietly winning over audiophiles since early 2025 at $299.99, a retro-looking set of earbuds with a surprisingly modern feature set. Both are strong contenders, but they\u2019re built for different kinds of buyers. Here\u2019s how they stack up.<\/p>\n
How has this article been updated?<\/p>\n
This article was originally published on March 9, 2025, and this is the first version. <\/p>\n
\nWhat\u2019s it like to use the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro compared to the Technics EAH-AZ100?\n<\/p>\n
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro go back to what made the line distinct from other earbuds in the first place.The Technics have a non-stem bud design with a larger case.<\/p>\n
The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are the more pocketable option. The compact, clear-lidded case fits easily anywhere, and each earbud weighs just 5.1g. They use a lollipop stem design with silicone tips and no stabilizing fin, relying entirely on the ear tip to stay put. That works fine for most people, and three included tip sizes help dial in a good fit. Controls are handled via a pinch on the stem, which I find a bit fiddly in practice.<\/p>\n
The Technics EAH-AZ100 are noticeably chunkier, with a wider circular housing and a rectangular nozzle that actually nestles into ear canals better than it looks like it should. The case is larger but still pocketable. Once I found the right tip size from the four included options, I found them comfortable for a couple hours at a stretch. Both cases support USB-C and Qi wireless charging, so that\u2019s a wash.<\/p>\n
Where they diverge is on durability: the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro carry an IP57 rating \u2014 meaning they can survive a dunk \u2014 while the Technics are rated IPX4, which covers splashes but not submersion. If you\u2019re sweaty or outdoors a lot, that\u2019s worth keeping in mind.<\/p>\n
Do the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro or Technics EAH-AZ100 have more features?<\/p>\n
The answer depends almost entirely on what phone you use. Samsung loads the Buds 4 Pro with genuinely compelling extras \u2014 Adapt Sound, spatial audio, Auracast, head gestures \u2014 but a lot of that requires a recent Galaxy device running One UI 6.1.1 or newer. Without one, you\u2019re left with a noticeably thinner feature set.<\/p>\n The Technics EAH-AZ100 doesn\u2019t play those ecosystem games. Find My, a standout AI voice focus mode that can either isolate or suppress conversations around you. All of it works regardless of what phone you pair it with. The one thing Technics is missing that Samsung has is Auracast, which is an odd omission at this price point and may come in a firmware update.<\/p>\n How do the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro and Technics EAH-AZ100 connect?<\/p>\n The Buds 4 Pro use Bluetooth 6.1 with SBC and AAC as the universal baseline. Samsung phone users on One UI 4.0+ get access to Samsung Seamless Codec, which improves quality and reduces latency meaningfully. There\u2019s no native Multipoint \u2014 switching between devices requires the Samsung Wear app installed on each one, which is a clunky workaround.<\/p>\n The Technics run Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC, LDAC, and LC3. True Multipoint is supported natively, so swapping between your laptop and phone is seamless, and you can actually connect to up to three devices at once. LDAC can introduce a slight latency bump, but it\u2019s rarely noticeable unless you\u2019re watching video.<\/p>\n Is battery life better on the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro or Technics EAH-AZ100?<\/p>\n It\u2019s not close. The Technics EAH-AZ100 lasted 10 hours and 40 minutes in our standardized battery test with SBC and ANC on, which is enough to outlast a transatlantic flight. The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro hit 6 hours in the same test, which aligns with Samsung\u2019s own estimates. Both cases provide multiple additional charge cycles, but if endurance matters to you, the Technics win easily.<\/p>\n \nDo the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro or Technics EAH-AZ100 block noise better?\n<\/p>\n These two are essentially neck and neck on ANC. The Buds 4 Pro attenuate an average of 84% of noise across the audible spectrum; the Technics EAH-AZ100 lands just behind at 83%. In practice, neither is going to leave you wanting. Both have the same soft spot in the 500Hz\u20131.1kHz range, where voices and ambient chatter can bleed through, which is a common limitation across the category. Both are also sensitive to fit \u2014 if either isn\u2019t sealing properly<\/a>, the numbers drop fast.<\/p>\n Where the Technics pulls ahead is in passthrough. Its \u201cAttention\u201d mode detects nearby voices, boosts them above ambient noise, and automatically pauses your audio, which is a fairly useful feature when you\u2019re out and about.<\/p>\n \nDo the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro sound better than the Technics EAH-AZ100?\n<\/p>\n Both earbuds lean dark out of the box, and they both benefit from some EQ adjustments.<\/p>\n The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro\u2019s heavy bass emphasis works well for acoustic material and older recordings \u2014 put on something from the Bowie era and it sounds quite good. Push it with a modern, densely mixed track and the bass can start to dominate, leaving things feeling a bit muffled. The Clear EQ preset does a lot to fix this and is worth switching to right away.<\/p>\n The Technics EAH-AZ100 has a similar problem but a different flavor \u2014 bass comes in too early, and the upper mids, where vocals and instrumental detail live, don\u2019t come through strongly enough. Interestingly, much of the \u201980s new wave and pop that inspired the design actually sounds at home here; it\u2019s modern, more dynamically compressed music that suffers. The Treble+ preset is the most effective remedy and makes a noticeable difference.<\/p>\n Objective Measurements<\/p>\n The chart below shows the measured frequency response<\/a> of both the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro and the Technics EAH-AZ100, along with how to compare them to the SoundGuys preference curve<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro measures as a safe consumer tuning \u2014 heavy bass slope, even mids, and a restrained high end. It\u2019s not far from what you\u2019d expect from a modern flagship aimed at broad appeal, though it sits noticeably further from the Harman in-ear target than you might expect given that Samsung owns the HARMAN brand.<\/p>\n The Technics EAH-AZ100 measures more unusually, with bass rising too high in the frequency range and an under-emphasized ear gain region. Interestingly, disabling ANC changes the sound significantly \u2014 the low mids pull back and the overall curve looks closer to what we\u2019d want to see. Worth experimenting with if you spend time in quieter environments.<\/p>\n How would most people rate the sound from 1 to 5?<\/p>\n![\"hands](\"https:\/\/www.soundguys.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/hands-holding-the-samsung-galaxy-buds-4-pro-vs-technics-az1000-scaled.jpg\" "\\"hands")
<\/a><\/p>\nThough a nozzle would be more sturdy, Samsung has found success with the snap-on eartip design.Bespoke ear tip design means third-party replacements are highly unlikely.<\/p>\n