Samsung released two new earbuds: the Buds 4 and the Buds 4 Pro. After unboxing the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro and using them for a couple of days, the verdict is hard to hold back. These are incredible, and they might just be better than AirPods Pro. On the surface, that comparison might seem meaningless. Most people are not cross-shopping between AirPods and Galaxy Buds.
But as a performance benchmark, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro clears the bar. Think of them as the AirPods Pro for the Android universe, and more specifically, the Samsung ecosystem. Same $250 price, active noise cancellation, transparency mode, stunning sound quality, quick pairing, and automatic device switching. But they also do a lot of things better. Here is a full breakdown.
A New Case Design That Gets Everything Right
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro arrives in a completely redesigned case. It is a cube-shaped enclosure with a tinted clear lid and a satisfying magnetic snap when you close it. The case is slightly taller than an AirPods case but still compact and very pocketable.
It supports wireless charging and has a USB Type-C port at the back along with a pairing button. Dropping the buds back in is effortless once you get the hang of it.
The only real flaw is that the case is not rated for water resistance, which is worth flagging. But everything else about the design is pretty much nailed.
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Redesigned Buds That Actually Stay In Your Ears
The buds themselves also received a redesign this generation. Viewed from the front in white, they bear a resemblance to AirPods, which makes sense since both are shaped around the human ear. But spin them around and the differences become clear.
The stem is now more square in shape and features a brushed metal back. That squared-off stem turns out to be a practical design win as it makes the pinching and swiping gesture controls noticeably easier to execute.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro supports swipe up or down on either bud to change the volume, and pinch-and-hold to switch between active noise cancellation and ambient sound mode.
A single squeeze plays or pauses, while a double squeeze skips to the next track. They carry an IP57 dust and water resistance rating, matching the AirPods Pro. The case, as mentioned, does not share this rating.
But perhaps the most impressive thing here is how well they stay put. Even with the default ear tips, they held firmly throughout testing without needing to switch to the included smaller or larger sizes.
Sound Quality
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro features updated drivers, a new internal design, and improved active noise cancellation, and the results are genuinely impressive. Each bud houses two drivers: a larger subwoofer and a tweeter, each powered by its own dedicated amplifier. Across a wide range of frequencies and listening situations, the sound quality holds up exceptionally well.
There is also a multiband equalizer built into the Samsung settings app. The dynamic preset, which boosts the bass and treble for a V-shaped sound signature, is a particularly enjoyable setting that gives music a punchy, energetic feel. But the full EQ is there for anyone who wants to dial things in precisely to their taste.
What makes these buds special is the balance they strike. Take the Sony WF-1000XM6, for example. Those earbuds are engineered with audio quality as the top priority, and the trade-offs are visible everywhere. The case is bigger, the buds are larger and less comfortable, the foam tips exist specifically to improve the acoustic seal, and they are more likely to fall out during activity.
You can sit in a chair, close your eyes, and get lost in the music with those, but you would not necessarily want to wear them to the gym or on a long flight. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro sounds every bit as good but comes in a package you can actually take anywhere: workouts, flights, phone calls, or quiet listening sessions. That versatility is what makes this year’s release feel like a genuine leap forward for the lineup.
Active Noise Cancellation and Ambient Mode
Noise cancellation on previous Galaxy Buds was good but never quite exciting enough to generate real enthusiasm. That has changed with the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro. The passive isolation from the rubber ear tips is standard for a well-fitting pair of earbuds, but the active noise cancellation at maximum strength is a different story.
Samsung offers five levels of ANC in the settings, though in practice the difference between levels is subtle enough that two settings (low and high) would probably be sufficient for most users. Leaving it at maximum strength is the easy choice, and at that level, the ANC is at least as strong as the AirPods Pro, and arguably a bit stronger. Background noise drops away, and you find yourself hearing details in music that were previously masked.
The ambient sound mode is also very capable. Again, five levels are available, and there is a more noticeable difference between them. At maximum, it falls just slightly short of AirPods’ transparency mode, which is still an excellent result. Sounds come through naturally, your own voice sounds normal, and conversations are easy to follow.
There are also two smart ambient features worth calling out. The first automatically switches from noise cancellation to ambient mode when the microphones detect a siren or emergency vehicle, which is particularly useful for cyclists and pedestrians. The second activates ambient mode whenever you start talking.
If you are listening to music and need to have a quick conversation, the buds detect your voice and let you hear the other person clearly without removing them from your ears. Once the conversation ends, it automatically returns to noise cancellation mode after about five to ten seconds. It is the kind of feature that feels genuinely useful on a long flight when the flight attendant comes around.
Read More: Apple AirPods 4 Review
Battery Life and Microphone Performance
Battery life on the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro is rated at six hours with ANC on and seven hours with it off, which is right in line with the industry standard. That is longer than most people would ever want to wear earbuds in a single sitting, so endurance is not a concern.
The built-in microphone system uses six mics, matching the previous generation. The call quality is functional and typical for wireless earbuds at this price point. It does the job without being a standout feature.
Feature Parity with AirPods Pro
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro goes feature for feature with Apple’s best earbuds in almost every way. It supports instant switching between Samsung devices, 360-degree head-tracking spatial audio, automatic in-ear detection for play and pause, a Find My-style tracking feature, and live translation.
It even includes the head gesture feature where you can nod to accept a call or shake your head to decline, just like the AirPods Pro.
But the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro also does several things the AirPods Pro cannot. There is a dedicated gaming mode available in the lab settings that minimizes audio delay, which is a welcome addition for mobile gamers.
The full nine-band equalizer with presets and deep customization gives audiophiles much more control over their sound. And the buds are available in three color options, which is two more than the single color AirPods Pro comes in.
What About iPhone Users?
Here is a genuine question that comes up: can the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro serve as a go-to earbud for iPhone users? The short answer is yes, but with limitations. Paired to an iPhone, they connect and function like any standard Bluetooth earbuds. The stem controls all work, including volume swiping and holding the stem to switch between ANC and ambient mode. The core functionality is there.
What is missing is app-based customization. The multiband equalizer, the advanced sound settings, and other Samsung-specific features require the Galaxy Wearable app, which does not offer the same level of integration on iOS. This is not a Samsung problem.
Apple simply does not allow third-party earbuds the same system-level access that AirPods receive, in the same way that Garmin watches cannot match the Apple Watch integration on iPhone. If that limitation frustrates you, the accountability belongs with Apple’s platform choices, not Samsung’s hardware.
Specification Table
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Price | $250 |
| Driver Configuration | Dual drivers per bud (Subwoofer + Tweeter) |
| Amplifiers | Dedicated amp for each driver |
| Active Noise Cancellation | Yes, 5 levels |
| Ambient Sound Mode | Yes, 5 levels |
| Water Resistance (Buds) | IP57 |
| Water Resistance (Case) | None |
| Battery Life (ANC On) | 6 hours |
| Battery Life (ANC Off) | 7 hours |
| Microphones | 6 mics |
| Charging | Wireless + USB Type-C |
| Spatial Audio | Yes, 360° Head-Tracking |
| Equalizer | 9-Band EQ with Presets |
| Gaming Mode | Yes (Lab Settings) |
| Device Switching | Instant (Samsung Devices) |
| In-Ear Detection | Yes, Auto Play/Pause |
| Find My Feature | Yes |
| Live Translate | Yes |
| Head Gesture Controls | Yes (Nod to Accept / Shake to Reject) |
| Auto Ambient on Voice | Yes |
| Emergency Sound Detection | Yes (Siren/Emergency Vehicle) |
| Ear Tip Sizes | 3 (Small, Default, Large) |
| Color Options | 3 |
| Case Design | Cube with Tinted Clear Lid |
Final Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro is the rare product that manages to excel across every dimension that matters for a daily driver pair of earbuds. The design is refined and comfortable. The sound quality is outstanding for the category. The noise cancellation is among the strongest available at any price. The feature set matches or exceeds the AirPods Pro. And the price is exactly the same at $250.
For Android users, and Samsung users in particular, there is nothing on the market right now that competes with this package. These are the earbuds to beat in 2026, a quiet but decisive winner in a category Samsung has been steadily improving for years. They finally got everything right at once.
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