We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-17 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a simple, wired backup set of earbuds for an older Samsung phone or tablet, choose 4XEM Noise Isolating Earphones; if you need a full over-ear gaming headset with a boom mic and 50 mm drivers, choose Amazon Renewed Razer BlackShark V2.
• 4XEM Noise Isolating Earphones — biggest strength: A dedicated 3.5 mm wired earbud built specifically for the Samsung Galaxy S2, S3, S4 and Samsung tablets, with sound-isolating tips and a 1-year limited warranty.
• 4XEM Noise Isolating Earphones — biggest trade-off: It's an earbud, not a headset. There's no boom microphone, no surround processing, and no modern-device tuning beyond the 3.5 mm jack.
• Amazon Renewed Razer BlackShark V2 — biggest strength: Over-ear gaming design with 50 mm Triforce Titanium drivers, software-enabled 7.1 surround on Windows 10 64-bit, memory foam cushions, and a noise-isolating cardioid mic.
• Amazon Renewed Razer BlackShark V2 — biggest trade-off: It's a renewed unit with a shorter 90-day limited warranty, and the surround feature only works on 64-bit Windows 10 — not on PS4 or Switch.
• Who each pick is for: 4XEM for someone who just wants cheap, reliable earbuds for a legacy Samsung device; the Renewed BlackShark V2 for a PC gamer who wants positional audio and voice chat on a budget.
The 4XEM earphones are about as focused as a product gets. This is a wired earbud set made for the Samsung Galaxy S2, S3 and S4, plus Samsung tablets. That's the whole pitch. It plugs into a 3.5 mm jack, uses high-performance speakers that extend the frequency range with minimal distortion, and relies on a sound-isolating fit rather than any electronics to block out the world around you.
In practice, that makes it a "throw it in the bag" product. The model number is 4XSAMEARBK, it comes in black, it weighs about 23 grams, and it ships as a single item with a 1-year limited warranty from 4XEM. Nothing here needs charging, pairing, or software. If you're using an older Samsung phone as a music player, a bedside device, or a hand-me-down for a kid, this is the no-fuss option.
Here's who should buy it: anyone who wants a spare or replacement set of wired earbuds for an older Samsung device and doesn't care about a microphone or gaming features. Who should skip it: PC gamers, anyone who needs to talk on calls or in-game chat, and anyone whose current phone has dropped the headphone jack. There's no boom mic, no surround sound, and no Bluetooth here — just a straightforward wired earbud with isolation built into the tip design.
This is a different animal entirely. The Razer BlackShark V2 X is an over-ear wired gaming headset, and this particular listing is an Amazon Renewed unit — a pre-owned or returned product that has been inspected and tested to work and look like new by Amazon-qualified suppliers, and that's covered by the Amazon Renewed Guarantee for replacement or refund if you're not satisfied.
On the spec side, it's genuinely serious hardware for the money-conscious gamer. The 50 mm drivers are split into three parts, each tuned separately for highs, mids and lows. On a Windows 10 64-bit PC, software can enable 7.1 surround for positional audio — the kind of thing that helps you hear footsteps behind you. The oval ear cushions are memory foam with cooling gel to limit heat and pressure over long sessions, and the cardioid microphone is tuned to cut background noise so your team hears your voice, not your keyboard.
Weight is listed at 240 g, and the headset runs 32 ohms across a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz range over a 3.5 mm wired connection. It also lists Bluetooth 5, but the core experience here is wired. It works with PC, PS4 and Nintendo Switch via the 3.5 mm jack.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for a legacy Samsung phone or tablet → 4XEM Noise Isolating Earphones. It's explicitly designed for the Galaxy S2, S3, S4 and Samsung tablets.
• Best for PC gaming with positional audio → Amazon Renewed Razer BlackShark V2. Software-enabled 7.1 surround on Windows 10 64-bit is the deciding feature.
• Best for voice chat and calls → Amazon Renewed Razer BlackShark V2. The cardioid noise-isolating mic is the whole point; 4XEM has no microphone at all.
• Best for long listening sessions → Amazon Renewed Razer BlackShark V2. Memory foam, cooling gel-infused oval cushions are built for extended wear. Earbuds like the 4XEM can get uncomfortable after a few hours.
• Best for portability → 4XEM Noise Isolating Earphones. At roughly 23 g versus 240 g, the earbuds disappear into a pocket.
• Best for a no-hassle warranty → 4XEM Noise Isolating Earphones. It carries a 1-year limited warranty; the renewed Razer carries 90 days.
• Best for console use → Amazon Renewed Razer BlackShark V2. It works over 3.5 mm with PS4 and Nintendo Switch, though without the surround processing.
• Best for "just plug it in and go" → 4XEM Noise Isolating Earphones. No software, no setup, no account.
In my opinion, the right answer depends on what you're plugging into — and I'd buy the Amazon Renewed Razer BlackShark V2 for anyone gaming on a PC. The 50 mm Triforce drivers, the memory foam cushions and the noise-isolating mic are simply more product, and renewed condition is a fair trade for that. I'd only pick the 4XEM earphones if my goal were a cheap spare set for an older Samsung device and nothing more. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit — that's the one number that can flip this decision.
Yes for basic audio and mic over the 3.5 mm jack. But the 7.1 surround feature is software-enabled and only available on Windows 10 64-bit, so console players won't get positional audio.
The data sheet only lists design compatibility with the Galaxy S2, S3, S4 and Samsung tablets. It's a standard 3.5 mm wired jack, so it will physically fit any 3.5 mm port, but there's no Lightning or USB-C adapter included.
It means the unit was pre-owned or traded in, then inspected and tested to work and look like new by Amazon-qualified suppliers. It's covered by the Amazon Renewed Guarantee for replacement or refund, plus a 90-day limited warranty.
Both list sound isolation as their noise-control method, but they achieve it differently. The 4XEM relies on an in-ear tip seal; the Razer relies on over-ear memory foam cushions that physically cover your ears.
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