AKG has quietly released the N400 in-ear. They are real wireless earplugs with active noise cancelling (ANC) and a nice price tag.
For now, the new AKG N400 is only announced on Samsung’s South Korean website, as can be read at The Verge, among others. On the one hand it’s strange, on the other hand not at all when you consider that AKG has been owned by Samsung for a while now.
In terms of price, the N400 is a direct competitor to Apple’s AirPods Pro. You pay around $190 for it. Provided, of course, that they will ever be available in our regions. If that’s the case, you’ll get in-ears that are not only noise cancelling, but also IPX7 water resistant. The N400 plays for 5 hours on a fully charged battery; with ANC turned on to be precise. If you turn off the ANC, you get six hours of playing time. More or less the same as Apple’s in-ears.
Wait a little longer in Europe, maybe
The AKG N400 comes with a carrying case with built-in Qi-certified wireless charger. Ten minutes of refueling gives you 1 hour of playing time. In terms of intelligent assistants, there is support for Bixby (Samsung’s assistant), Google and Siri. Via swipe gestures on the caps you control things like volume and playback plus pause. If desired, an adjustable equalizer is available via the accompanying AKG app.
Keep an eye on the European websites of AKG and (or) Samsung (see here and here) in the near future, there is a good chance that the N400 will appear there soon. Or even mentioned by the time you read this.