Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro review: these minimal metal buds are perfect for your Samsung phone

Introduction

I’m not saying Samsung’s design team had Judas Priest on repeat while crafting the Galaxy Buds4 Pro, but the new wireless earbuds have definitely embraced metal for 2026.

The sleek new look, revealed alongside the Galaxy S26 smartphone lineup at the firm’s latest Unpacked event, is quite the departure from the angular, illuminated Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. Changes from the outgoing model are more than skin-deep, though: the touch controls have been improved and an uprated dual driver setup promises beefier bass.

Arriving at £219 (there was no word on US pricing at the time of writing) they are a direct shot at Apple’s AirPods Pro 3. It’s also no coincidence the open-style Buds 4 land at an AirPods 4-beating £159. That’s unchanged from last year, which is a win, though launching barely a month after Sony introduced the astonishingly good WF-1000XM6 means it’s not all plain sailing. Is there enough here to impress everyone, or need Samsung phone owners only apply?

Design & build: back to basics

Last year’s Buds3 Pro turned heads with their blade-like stems and LED strips; their successor has gone much more minimal, ditching the gamer-grade lighting and going for a softer shape that won’t cut you just by looking at ’em. Gunmetal silver is also out in favour of black, while my white review unit has an almost pearl-like satin finish. There’s also a Pink Gold edition, which is exclusive to Samsung’s web store.

The AirPod-aping stems now wear aluminium face plates, with zero branding and a brushed finish that has so far proved immune to fingerprints. Those tiny metal grilles that disguise the noise cancelling microphones also have yet to fill up with dust or other gunk. I think they look sleek, even if I’m personally not a fan of stem-style earphones.

Samsung has tweaked the shape of the driver housings this year, with the aim of letting the Buds4 Pro sit securely in a wider range of ear shapes and sizes – something the outgoing pair struggled with. I had to switch to the smallest set of included silicone ear tips as the pre-fitted Mediums were too big, but from then on the buds stayed locked in place, even while jogging. The tips click in place with a proprietary mechanism, so you can’t just buy generic replacements.

An IP57 resistance rating is unchanged from last year, meaning rain showers and accidental drops onto dusty paths won’t spell disaster. That only applies to the buds themselves, with the charging case not having any kind of rating.

The case has also been given a design refresh, trading the narrower flip-top design of the outgoing pair for a wider clamshell lid that gives you more room to get the buds in and out. I like that it keeps the tinted see-through cover for 2026, and the compact size slips perfectly into a pocket.

Features & battery: pinch me

Stem-style earphones do beat buds for controls, giving you something to squeeze without pushing the tips further into your ear canals. Samsung has recessed the touch-sensitive surfaces for the Buds4 Pro, making them easier to find by touch. I also found they cut down on accidental activations when adjusting the fit, only being on one side of the stem rather than both.

You get the usual single, double and triple-pinch gestures for playing and skipping tracks, while sliding up and down controls volume. The press-and-hold action is customisable through Samsung’s Wearable app. Or you can forego pressing anything at all, in favour of gesture and voice controls.

Saying “Hey Bixby” wakes the smart assistant when paired to a Galaxy smartphone for pausing and skipping songs, while nodding and shaking your head can accept or decline incoming calls. Calls in which your voice sounds brilliantly clear, thanks to super-wide band Bluetooth support. Wind noise wasn’t really a concern while I was outdoors, either.

Other goodies include 24-bit/96Hz high quality streaming via Samsung’s SSC codec (when using a Samsung smartphone), being able to capture 360-degree audio when shooting videos (while using a Samsung smartphone) and getting real-time translation via Galaxy AI’s Interpreter function (when using a Samsung smartphone). Are you beginning to see a pattern here? Translation supports a longer list of languages now than last year’s effort did, at least, and could be handy for frequent flyers.

I was a little disappointed Samsung hadn’t boosted battery life compared to the old Buds3 Pro, meaning you still get around six hours of listening with noise cancelling enabled; expect an hour more with ANC off, and an hour less if you also use the SSC codec. The case remains good for a couple of full refuels before it’s also out of gas. It has wireless charging as standard, letting you pilfer some spare charge from a compatible smartphone.

Interface: you Wear it well

Anyone rocking a Samsung phone running a recent version of OneUI will the Buds4 Pro’s key features and controls in the Android settings screen. Pairing is seamless too, with a prompt appearing onscreen as soon as you open the case for the first time in the vicinity of your Galaxy handset.

I also really like being able to check remaining battery levels and change noise cancelling settings from the Quick Settings pulldown, just by press-and-holding the volume slider. Joining an Auracast broadcast is easily done through the Bluetooth menu too.

For everything else, and for anyone with a different Android smartphone (or an iPhone) you’ll need to download the Galaxy Wearable app. It’s got everything you’d expect, from control customisation to a bunch of EQ presets (plus multi-band equaliser with custom profiles), Find My Earbuds, an ear tip fit test, and toggles for things like voice detection. The latter swaps ANC for transparency when you start yapping, so you don’t have to remove the buds to hold a conversation.

The app only adds back so many features, though, so you’re missing out by not pairing the Buds4 Pro with a Galaxy handset.

Sound quality and noise cancelling: bass camp

It sticks with the same number of noise cancelling microphones as last year, but some algorithm improvements aim to give the Buds4 Pro an ANC leg up. In my testing they did a good job of dampening the outside world, with an adaptive mode that reacted swiftly to changing volumes and a natural-sounding transparency mode.

I don’t think they challenge class leaders Sony and Bose, with higher frequency sounds still making their way through and a more noticeable noise floor while active. Public transport was dispatched well enough, though, with low-frequency rumbles greatly reduced. Computer case fans and air conditioners were all but silenced too.

Hardware upgrades are reserved for the speaker drivers. You’re still getting a dual driver, dual amplifier setup like last year, only the woofer is now 20% wider to create more impactful bass. The pair also keep the impressively high 40kHz maximum frequency as the Buds3 Pro.

Samsung clearly intends music lovers to listen using its high quality codec, as it sent me a Galaxy S25 Ultra to test the buds with. With SSC enabled, the Buds4 Pro deliver a warm sound that’s tuned for the mainstream: bass is ample, without being overpowering, vocals are clean, and the high-end gives a great impression of detail. Tool’s Parabola hits hard on the chorus, but I was still able to pick out individual instruments.

Treble comes through crisper than last year, without sounding harsh or unpleasant – even on tracks with already aggressive hi-hats like The Qemists’ Life’s Too Short. The soundstage is rather wide for a pair of in-ears, too.

Switching over to regular Bluetooth, the Buds4 Pro definitely lose a little bite. The high-end just isn’t quite as precise, and everything sounds a little less defined as a result. Not so much that non-Galaxy phone owners should run for the hills, but you’re definitely getting the best experience on Samsung hardware.

Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro verdict

In many ways, you’re looking at Android’s version of the AirPods Pro 3. Just as Apple’s in-ears are at their best when paired to an iPhone, the Galaxy Buds4 Pro really only give you their all alongside a Samsung handset.

That was true of last year’s model, but here Samsung has addressed the styling (which wasn’t to everyone’s taste before) and fit (which could be troublesome). Sound quality has also been given a welcome boost. Galaxy phone owners will feel right at home here.

For everyone else, the Sony XM6 offers more effective noise cancellation and longer battery life.

Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro review: technical specifications

Drivers	Dual dynamic
ANC	Yes, adaptive
Bluetooth version	Bluetooth 5.4
Codecs supported	SBC, AAC, SSC
Durability	IP57 (buds)
Battery life	6hrs/24hrs (buds/case, ANC on)