Samsung’s latest earbuds, the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, offer notable improvements in sound quality and noise cancellation, but they remain deeply tied to the Galaxy smartphone ecosystem. At $249.99, these earbuds deliver richer audio thanks to upgraded woofers and a dual-amp design, along with enhanced call clarity and more effective active noise cancellation (ANC). However, users outside the Samsung Galaxy environment won’t get the full experience, as many premium features are restricted to pairing with Galaxy devices.
The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro have refined the sound signature from their predecessors, smoothing out the midrange frequencies that made earlier models feel ”shouty” or harsh. Vocals and instrumental layers come through clearer and more balanced, from the soaring voices on Chris Cornell’s ”Black Hole Sun” to the rhythmic hi-hats and cymbals. Bass performance hovers on the edge of preference-sometimes punchy and immersive, other times slightly overpowering-though a 9-band equalizer in Samsung’s app lets users tailor the sound to their liking.
Users with Galaxy phones can benefit from 24-bit/96kHz high-resolution audio streaming, a feature supported by services like Qobuz. The difference is subtle but adds a sense of spaciousness and detail, especially noticeable on tracks with layered vocals and instruments. Improvements in ANC tackle low-frequency noises effectively-ideal for noisy environments like airplanes-and offer some midrange noise reduction, though they still fall slightly short compared to Apple’s AirPods Pro 3, Bose Ultra Earbuds, or Sony’s WF-1000XM6.
Call quality is another strong suit thanks to six microphones and a dedicated voice pickup unit that isolates the wearer’s voice against background clatter. Testing showed impressive suppression of street noise and even a nearby car alarm, although voice compression was noticeable. A ”super wide band” voice option, available only on Galaxy devices, marginally enhances clarity but isn’t a game-changer for the call experience.
Samsung has kept the AirPods-style stem design introduced with the Galaxy Buds 3 but replaced the flashing LEDs with a sleeker metal ”blade” strip on the stem. Touch controls remain on the stem sides, supporting swipe gestures for volume and pinches for ANC, playback, and assistant activation. The earbuds come with only three ear tip sizes, a limited range compared to some rivals, but the fit is secure and comfortable for daily use and workouts. They carry an IP57 rating, making them sweat- and dust-resistant.
The charging case sticks to the transparent clamshell design from previous models, is compact enough for small pockets, and supports wireless charging. Compared to other premium earbuds’ cases, it’s notably smaller than those for AirPods Pro, Sony WF-1000XM6/XM5, and Bose Ultra Earbuds.
Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro deliver solid sound and premium features-if you own a Samsung Galaxy phone. The earbuds unlock their full potential only in Samsung’s ecosystem, offering advanced functions like Auracast broadcast audio, HD voice calls, auto-switching between Galaxy devices, and voice wake-up for Bixby. Outside of that world, the experience falls back to basic Bluetooth audio with ANC.
For iPhone owners, these earbuds don’t compete well against Apple’s AirPods, and Android users without Galaxy devices might find better alternatives in the Sony WF-1000XM5, Bose Ultra Earbuds, or Technics AZ100. Samsung’s strategy continues to favor ecosystem lock-in, so if you’re deeply invested in Galaxy gear, the Buds 4 Pro are arguably the best earbuds you can get. Otherwise, the choice isn’t so clear.