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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-03 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• 4XEM Noise Isolating Earphones — biggest strength: purpose-built for the Samsung Galaxy line (S2, S3, S4 and tablets), with high-performance speakers and a noise-isolating earbud design in a simple wired 3.5 mm package.
• 4XEM Noise Isolating Earphones — biggest trade-off: it is a single-size earbud set with no inline controls, no microphone and no mute button, so it is a listening-first tool rather than a headset.
• ASKUBSKU 3.5mm — biggest strength: a full headset feature set — inline button control, a high-sensitivity microphone with mute, three sizes of silicone eartips and a metal-enclosed in-ear body with a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz dynamic driver.
• ASKUBSKU 3.5mm — biggest trade-off: it is a one-earbud-shape, silver-only design that leans on a 45° in-ear fit, so anyone who dislikes in-ear insertion has no alternative style in the box.
• Pick 4XEM if you mainly want a spare or replacement wired earbud for an older Samsung phone or tablet and you do not need to talk on calls.
• Pick ASKUBSKU 3.5mm if you need one wired headset for a laptop, Chromebook, Kindle Fire or phone that handles music, calls and voice assistants.
The 4XEM Noise Isolating Earphones are a wired, earbud-style set that plugs into a 3.5 mm jack and is explicitly designed around the Samsung product line — the Galaxy S2, S3, S4 and Samsung tablets are named as the target devices. The pitch is simple: high-performance speakers that extend the frequency range of music with minimal distortion, wrapped in a comfortable, noise-isolating fit. Noise control here is passive sound isolation, not active circuitry, which is exactly what you would expect from a wired earbud at this level of design.
Who should skip it? Anyone who takes calls. There is no microphone, no inline button and no mute function listed — the only control-related spec is sound isolation. There is also no mention of multiple eartip sizes, so fit is whatever the fixed earbud shape gives you. And although the 3.5 mm jack is universal in principle, the design intent is Samsung-centric, so if you are buying for a Chromebook, a Kindle Fire or a laptop with a headset jack, this is not the tool the maker had in mind. It is a listening accessory, not a communication device.
ASKUBSKU 3.5mm: Who It's For
ASKUBSKU 3.5mm is a wired in-ear headset with a metal enclosure, a silver finish, and a feature list aimed squarely at people who use one pair of earbuds for everything. The audio side uses a dynamic driver covering 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, which is the full range you would want from a general-purpose wired earbud. The fit side is unusually well thought out for this category: three sizes of soft silicone eartips (L/M/S), a semi in-ear ergonomic shape that is described as avoiding pressure and pain over long wear, and a 45° insertion angle that is meant to keep the buds from falling out.
Then there is the part that separates it from the 4XEM set. ASKUBSKU builds in an inline controller with a button, so you can pause and play, answer and hang up calls, and wake a voice assistant without touching your phone. The microphone is described as high-sensitivity and multi-directional, with enhanced voice for clearer calls, and there is a mute function to switch the mic on or off whenever you want. The package includes the eartips and a protective case.
In my opinion, this is the more versatile of the two by a wide margin. It is pitched at Chromebook, laptop and PC use, Kindle Fire, school and general plug-in audio, and the compatibility list reaches across Samsung Galaxy A-series and S-series phones, Google Pixel, OnePlus, Motorola and more. The one real caution comes from the maker itself: 3.5 mm ports collect dust and static-attracted debris, and a dirty jack can make the headset seem dead. If it stops working, check and clean the port before assuming the earbuds failed. If you dislike in-ear insertion generally, note that this is an in-ear bud shape only — there is no flat or open earbud option here.
• Best for calls and voice assistants → ASKUBSKU 3.5mm. It has an inline button, a high-sensitivity mic and a mute function; the 4XEM set has none of these.
• Best for fit customization → ASKUBSKU 3.5mm. Three silicone eartip sizes (L/M/S) and a 45° ergonomic insertion angle versus a single fixed earbud shape.
• Best for older Samsung phones and tablets → 4XEM Noise Isolating Earphones. It is designed specifically around the Galaxy S2, S3, S4 and Samsung tablets.
• Best for a spare or replacement set → 4XEM Noise Isolating Earphones. The maker frames it as exactly that, and the simple wired design suits a second pair kept in a bag or drawer.
• Best for laptops, Chromebooks, PCs and Kindle Fire → ASKUBSKU 3.5mm. Its stated use cases are plug-in computer and school audio, plus a long cross-brand compatibility list.
• Best for long listening sessions → ASKUBSKU 3.5mm. The semi in-ear shape and pressure-free fit are explicitly designed for extended wear.
• Best for a no-fuss listening-only pair → 4XEM Noise Isolating Earphones. No mic, no buttons, no setup — just a 3.5 mm plug and passive isolation.
• Best all-rounder for one pair that does everything → ASKUBSKU 3.5mm. Music, calls, mute and fit options in one wired headset.
I would buy the ASKUBSKU 3.5mm. In my opinion, it simply covers more of what a wired 3.5 mm buyer actually does day to day: listening, taking calls, muting the mic, and getting a fit that works with three eartip sizes instead of one fixed shape. The 4XEM set is a fine, honest spare for an older Samsung device, and if that is your only need, it will do the job. But for most people plugging into a laptop, Chromebook or phone in 2026, the ASKUBSKU's inline controls and microphone make it the smarter single purchase. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since that is the one thing specs cannot tell you.
what is the best wired noise cancelling headphones
Strictly speaking, neither of these is active noise cancelling — both list sound isolation, which is passive blocking from the earbud seal. If you want that isolation plus a microphone and controls, the ASKUBSKU 3.5mm is the more complete wired option of the two.
is there wired noise cancelling headphones
Wired noise isolating earbuds exist, and both products here are examples. The 4XEM set isolates passively through its earbud design, while the ASKUBSKU adds three eartip sizes so you can get a tighter, better-sealing fit.
how to noise cancelling wired headphones
You cannot switch on noise cancelling on either model, because neither has active circuitry. What you do instead is insert them properly — ASKUBSKU specifies a 45° in-ear angle — and pick the right eartip size so the seal blocks outside sound.
what are the best wired noise cancelling headphones
In my opinion, if you need calls and controls, the ASKUBSKU 3.5mm is the better pick thanks to its inline button, mic and mute. If you just want a cheap spare for an older Samsung Galaxy phone or tablet, the 4XEM Noise Isolating Earphones is the more targeted choice.
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