Samsung announces AirPods Pro killer with Noise cancellation - for a much cheaper price

Samsung announces AirPods Pro killer with Noise cancellation - for a much cheaper price

Samsung's Galaxy Buds Plus earbuds are excellent, but they do not offer noise cancellation. However, the new AKG N400 earphones, manufactured by Samsung-owned Harman International, offer ANC and even better waterproofing at a lower price than the AirPods Pro.

As reported by Android Central, the AKG N400 can currently be found on Samsung's Korean website, and the earphones will likely be available in other countries soon. The price? 230,000 won, which is roughly $186 or £151, about $60 less than the AirPods Pro. Here are the prices.

The N400 has active noise cancellation (ANC), perhaps the most desirable feature in a wireless earphone. On top of that, the earbuds are IPX7 waterproof, meaning they can be submerged in 1 meter (over 3 feet) of water for 30 minutes; the AirPods Pro are only IPX4 waterproof, meaning they can withstand splashes but cannot be submerged.

Samsung gives the AKG N400 a battery life of 6 hours, and another 6 hours with the charging case, for a total of 12 hours; the AIrPods Pro lasts only 5 hours on its own (4.5 hours with ANC on), but with the charging case, the total time is 24 hours longer.

The N400, like the AirPods and Galaxy Buds, is controlled by a capacitive touch panel rather than physical buttons, or by a digital assistant such as Siri or Google Assistant.

To fit your ears, the AKG N400 comes with multiple tips, including foam options and different sized surrounds, as well as the more common gel. It is also available in three color options: black, blue, and navy with gold accents.

As of this writing, the N400 is only available in South Korea, but the bud will likely appear in other markets in the near future (coronavirus-related delays notwithstanding). So hopefully US and UK users will be able to try out this competitively priced AirPods Pro competitor.

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