In recent days, most tech conversations have centred on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Privacy Display feature. Flying somewhat under the radar has been another product from the South Korean company — the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro. If AirPods are the default choice for Apple users, these new wireless earbuds could well become the gold standard for Android users.

The Galaxy Buds4 Pro look different and fit better than before. Each earbud uses an ovoid nozzle paired with a silicone ear tip that helps the device sit snugly in the ear. If the default fit doesn’t quite work for you, Samsung includes three additional ear-tip sizes in the box. Each earbud weighs a fairly light 5.1g, meaning they shouldn’t place much pressure on your ear canals even during longer listening sessions.

The design has also been refreshed. The buds arrive in a cube-shaped case with a tinted clear lid and a satisfying magnetic click when it shuts. The case is slightly taller than AirPods, but still compact enough to slip comfortably into a pocket. It also supports wireless charging.

The earbuds themselves have received the more noticeable redesign. The stems are now more squared off, with a brushed metal finish at the back. This shape makes the touch controls easier to use. You can swipe up or down on either earbud to adjust the volume, pinch and hold to switch between active noise cancellation and ambient sound mode (similar to Apple’s transparency mode), single-press to play or pause, and double-press to skip to the next track.

The buds are rated IP57 for dust and water resistance, meaning they should cope well with sweat or rain. The charging case, however, does not carry the same rating.

How do they sound?

The sound quality is quite impressive, as it turns out. There is plenty going on in the audio department. Samsung’s Ultra High-Quality (UHQ) audio does require a recent Samsung phone — specifically a Galaxy S23 or newer running One UI 6.1.1 or later.

The companion app offers a surprising number of audio options. One particularly interesting feature is Adapt Sound, which adjusts output based on your personal hearing test results. The sound profile can be customised extensively within the app: you can choose the codec and fine-tune everything through a nine-band equaliser.

Hardware improvements also play a part. The earbuds use a dual-driver setup consisting of a woofer and tweeter. Samsung now offers 24-bit/96kHz UHQ audio support, while the woofer has a 20 per cent larger effective area than before. In practice, this translates to better bass control alongside deeper, more powerful low frequencies.

There is also a larger planar tweeter, which delivers more detailed highs and improved overall clarity. Even at lower volumes, the sound remains crisp and well balanced. You don’t need to crank up the volume to pick out instruments that might otherwise be buried in the mix.

After extended listening, what stands out is the surprisingly wide soundstage. There is a pleasant tonal balance, solid clarity, and thankfully none of the muddiness that plagues many wireless earbuds. They are not excessively bass-heavy by default, but the dual-driver setup still produces a strong and capable bass response. If you push the bass via the equaliser, it can become extremely punchy without losing control.

The nine-band custom EQ and six preset modes are useful rather than decorative. Even with aggressive adjustments, distortion remains minimal. Try listening to Jamiroquai’s Virtual Insanity, for example, and see how clearly defined is the bassline or bring in David Bowie’s China Girl where the vocals appear rich.

Everyday usability

These earbuds are designed to be worn all day and taken almost anywhere. Take a rival product, for example Sony WF-1000XM6, for example. Those earbuds are widely praised for their sound quality, but that often comes at the expense of everyday practicality. They use memory foam tips rather than rubber ones to achieve a tighter seal.

The Galaxy Buds4 Pro, on the other hand, deliver comparable sound quality in a much more portable and versatile package. You can wear them at the gym, on a flight, during meetings, or simply while relaxing with music.

Samsung’s earbuds have been improving steadily over the years, and this latest generation feels like a culmination of that progress.

The active noise cancellation is genuinely impressive. Samsung allows users to adjust the ANC strength across five levels in the settings. At its maximum setting, the noise cancellation is strong enough for long flights or noisy commutes.

When set to maximum strength, the buds are able to leave out over 85 per cent garbage noise across the audible spectrum.
Ambient mode is equally capable and also offers five adjustable levels. At its highest setting, it is comparable to Apple’s transparency mode — which is to say very good and noticeably better than most other earbuds on the market.

External sounds come through naturally, making conversations easy without removing the earbuds. Your own voice also sounds clear and natural, avoiding the slightly artificial effect some ambient modes produce.

Samsung has added a few clever features here as well. If the microphones detect a siren or emergency vehicle, the buds automatically switch from noise cancellation to ambient mode so you can hear it. Cyclists and pedestrians will appreciate that extra layer of awareness.

There is also an automatic conversation mode. When you start speaking, the earbuds switch to ambient sound so you can talk without removing them. Once the conversation ends, the buds switch back to noise cancellation after a few seconds.
Buds 4 Pro uses a combination of mics, and pickups (bone conduction) to offer noise-free calls.

Battery life is rated at six hours with ANC enabled, or seven hours with it turned off — roughly in line with the industry standard. And there is plenty of charges via the case.

Samsung has also packed in a long list of additional features. The Buds4 Pro support 360-degree audio, gesture controls such as nodding to accept calls or shaking your head to reject them, and in-ear detection that automatically pauses or resumes playback.

Unlike AirPods, Samsung includes a gaming mode designed to minimise audio latency, tucked away in the experimental “Labs” settings. The nine-band equaliser also allows for far deeper sound customisation than Apple currently offers. And, of course, the Buds4 Pro come in multiple colours rather than just white.

Most people are unlikely to cross-shop AirPods and Galaxy Buds for use with an iPhone. But if you are curious, they do pair with an iPhone just like any standard Bluetooth earbuds. But the Galaxy Wearable app is not supported on iOS.

You lose access to Samsung’s companion app and therefore most of the advanced customisation features, including the multi-band EQ. However, the basic controls still work.

The verdict

For Android users, the Galaxy Buds4 Pro are currently among the best wireless earbuds available. They combine excellent sound quality, strong noise cancellation, thoughtful features and a comfortable design in a package that is easy to carry everywhere. And for anyone in the Samsung ecosystem in particular, they are impossible to beat.