Having in-ear type earphones is one of the best ways to block out the outside world with music. It helps you isolate in a noise world. This is especially useful in these trying times when you are stuck at home trying to tolerate your family or roommates. It is also useful in your work-from-home condition when you just need to isolate yourself in a tight space shared with your significant other, or other members of your household. What makes the earphones even better is when you get one with Active Noise Cancelling (ANC). That isolates you even further and immerses you in the music and your workspace even more.

Samsung sort of started this craze of True wireless (TWS) earbuds with their first ever Samsung IconX. That was a small earphone thing that got my attention when it was launched. We said small, compared to what we get today though, the IconX was quite behemoth in size. That is not to take away from what it can do though.

Samsung continued with their fresh line of TWS earphones a year ago when they launched their brand-new Samsung Galaxy Buds. A big bump over the IconX with smaller footprints. I have one with me and I do like it a lot, especially for exercises. It does not hurt that the Galaxy Buds was also made in collaboration with AKG, Samsung’s sub-company.

There was one thing lacking from the Buds though; it did not have ANC. The next iteration of it, the Samsung Galaxy Buds+, was rumoured to have ANC too. It did not come with ANC, and now we are left wanting.

Enter the AKG N400. AKG has been known to make studio quality audio equipment. The part they played in the development of the Samsung Galaxy Buds series is not small either. They are a reputable brand in the world of audiophiles.

The AKG N400 is a little bit of surprise to us. When we saw the Samsung Galaxy Buds, and later the Buds+, we though that this is it; this is AKG’s TWS earphones in your hands. AKG, with the N400 says; “not quite”.

The AKG N400 is actually more expensive than the outgoing Samsung Galaxy Buds+. It is a more premium item though. Why? It has ANC, that is why.

Why did we tout this as the Galaxy Buds+ Plus? Because of this AKG’s similarity to its distant cousin, the Samsung Galaxy Buds+. The buds design is quite similar to the other. Even the case is quite similar with a little more heft here at the bottom. The case also charges the N400 once over giving the AKG TWS earbuds up to 12 hours of battery life without ANC on. With ANC on, it gets 10 hours of battery life in total.

It even has a touch button with IPX7 rating. The similarities also extend to the wingtip design of the buds. The only difference here is that Samsung does not ship their Buds or Buds+ with extra ear wing tips; this does.

For now, the AKG N400 ANC TWS earbuds is available only in South Korea. It is priced at KRW 230,000. That is approximately MYR 812 by today’s conversion rate. That price tag brings it a little closer to the price tag of the Sony WF-1000XM3 ANC TWS earbuds which we dearly love. Would it be as good or better? We will only find out if the AKG N400 makes it to Malaysia.