Wireless earbuds come in many shapes and styles, but they can be broadly narrowed down to two distinct form factors — those with ear tips and those without. From a functional standpoint, earbuds with ear tips offer a more secure fit, better active noise-canceling performance, and superior passive sound isolation. They're often marketed as the premium option, with some midrange and budget earbuds opting for a unibody plastic design instead.
This dichotomy is true of Samsung's new Galaxy Buds 4 series. The base-model Galaxy Buds 4, retailing for $180, doesn't use ear tips. If you step up to the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro at $250, you get silicone ear tips and a more considered design with improved fit. There's slightly more to the story here — some prefer the lightweight, unobtrusive, and freeing feel of earbuds without removable tips. But for the most part, my time testing the Galaxy Buds 4 has me wondering why anyone would want to buy a pair of earbuds without silicone or foam ear tips.
