I should start this review by admitting that, in recent years, I’ve become an Apple convert.
In the past, my preferred phone had always been a Samsung, and I loved it. The camera was unbelievably good, and the interface was straightforward. But one day, mainly because I was already using a MacBook for work, I decided to fully embrace the Apple ecosystem.
Since moving over to the dark side, I discovered a newfound love for my AirPod Pros. I almost certainly use them too much, but they’re a daily companion and an Apple product that definitely deserves more praise as the brand’s best product since the iPhone.
Despite this, I was immediately curious when Samsung reached out, asking if I was interested in doing a review of their upcoming Galaxy Buds4 Pro. Not only to see how they sounded, looked, and felt to use, but also to see how they stacked up against my trusty AirPods during everyday use.
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First Impressions: They Look The Part
Visually, Samsung’s done a solid job. The Buds4 Pro look modern without trying too hard, and as you’d hope to find with premium earbuds in 2026, they’ve got clean lines, subtle detailing, and nothing too flashy.
I specifically like the brushed metal look on the flat part of the stem of the Buds4 Pro, which contrasts nicely against the rest of the plastic and adds a little bit of visual texture.
The case, however, is a little thicker than I’d like. For this latest version of the Buds, Samsung has left behind the top-down case insertion, instead opting for a full-sized lid that opens like a ring box. As a result, they’re not comically oversized, but bulky enough that you’d notice them if you were wearing trousers on the slimmer side.
It’s a small detail, but one I thought about every time I put them in my pocket.
Fit & Comfort: Good, But Not Generous
Samsung says the design is based on “hundreds of millions of global ear data points” and more than 10,000 simulations, which sounds like marketing fluff. But they do sit securely, and the stabilised blade with engraved pinch control is easy to locate without fumbling.
However, Samsung has only included three ear tip sizes (Apple gives you five), which I thought was a little strange.
The Buds4 Pro use a canal-fit design, and while they’re comfortable, I never felt like I’d perfectly dialled in the fit. The medium-sized eartips that arrived fitted felt slightly too large, while the smaller ones were too small.
And there’s one strange issue. When I put them in my ear, there was a faint background noise that I could hear. The best way I can describe it is sounding like distant surf, and while it was very quiet and possibly so soft that most wouldn’t notice it, it was definitely not something I expected.
Sound Quality: Two Completely Different Stories
Here’s where things split dramatically.
On iPhone
To be blunt, if you’re using an iPhone, you’ll probably find them very annoying. The connection quality was poor, and every minute or so, the audio would drop out for a fraction of a second. Not a disconnect, but just enough to make me think I had a call incoming or a brief WiFi dropout.
That alone makes them hard to recommend cross-platform. Yes, they support AAC and SBC codecs, but clearly the Buds4 Pro are tuned for Samsung’s own SSC (Samsung Seamless Codec) and SSC UHQ pipeline. Compared to AirPods on iPhone? There’s obviously no contest.
On Samsung
Switch to a Samsung Galaxy device, and it’s a different product. While I didn’t have access to one of Samsung’s latest phones, I did dig up my old Galaxy S20 (which hadn’t been turned on since 2022), and even with an older model phone, the audio quality is genuinely very good.
The Buds4 Pro feature a new, wider woofer that increases effective speaker area by nearly 20% compared to the previous generation. Combined with a dedicated tweeter and support for 24-bit/96kHz Ultra High Quality audio, the result is full-bodied, detailed sound with real separation.
Bass is clean and controlled, the treble is crisp, and vocals sit forward without feeling pushed. On a Galaxy device with UHQ enabled, there’s noticeably more depth and dimensionality.
I also really enjoyed the EQ flexibility. You can run the default tuning, or switch between half a dozen different presets, including Normal, Bass Boost, Soft, Treble Boost, Clear, and Dynamic, and there’s even a custom profile option if you want to tweak it further.
I found “Dynamic” great for workouts and “Bass Boost” beautifully deep, rather than muddy. For anyone who cares about tuning, this is a meaningful point of difference to what AirPods can offer.
ANC & Technical Capability
Samsung has clearly gone all-in on adaptive sound tech, because the Buds4 Pro support:
- Enhanced Active Noise Cancellation
- Adaptive ANC & Adaptive EQ
- Super Wideband calling for clearer voice bandwidth
- 360 Audio with Direct Multi-Channel support
- Bluetooth 6.1 connectivity
On Samsung, the ANC adapts smoothly between environments. Background noise fades away, but ambient sound increases naturally when you start speaking (voice detect).
Battery life is competitive too, offering up to 6 hours with ANC on, 7 hours off, and up to 30 hours total with the case, and the Pro model also gets a larger 61mAh earbud battery compared to the standard Buds4.
You’re also getting IP57 water resistance on the earbuds, which is solid for use in the gym or when it’s raining.
The Verdict
Here’s the honest take. If you own an iPhone, they’re probably a waste of money. The connectivity issues alone make them frustrating, and you won’t benefit from the high-res SSC UHQ ecosystem advantages.
If you own a Samsung Galaxy device and want a premium upgrade, the Buds4 Pro are genuinely good. The sound is strong, the adaptive ANC works, the EQ options are meaningful, the technical capability is impressive, and within Samsung’s ecosystem, they shine.
As far as pricing, arrive at $399, which is a modest saving compared to Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 that have an RRP of $429.
Samsung hasn’t made the best earbuds for everyone; they’ve made some brilliant earbuds for Samsung users, and in 2026, that distinction matters.
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