REASONS TO BUY
Ultra-lightweight
Extended wear
Enjoyable sound
REASONS TO AVOID
Laggy tactile controls
No multi-point
Not iOS-friendly
Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro Review
Android users will love these comfy buds with great sound and better noise cancellation, but the tactile controls are sort of laggy
Credit: Matt Lighthart
By Rachael Lamore ⋅ Senior Review Analyst ⋅ May 30, 2026
Contributions From: Wendy Schmitz
RELATED: Best Wireless Earbuds of 2026
Our Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro are a step up from the prior generation, improving on the listening experience and design in almost every way. These earbuds provide a lovely combination of sound quality, noise cancellation, and comfort that it is hard for most competitors to match. We love the enjoyable mix and broad soundstage that brings music to life, the comfortable stem design, and the better-than-average calls for occasional chatting. The Galaxy aren't perfect. If you have an Apple device, there are other options that offer more and sound better. If you seek the best noise cancellation and crave silence, you might want to look elsewhere. But if your goal is wireless eabuds that do most things well, and you have an Android device, we think they are the ones to get, if your budget allows.
The Galaxy Buds4 help make even mundane tasks more enjoyable. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Our Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro Experience
Sometimes love affairs start in the strangest places, like an iPhone user falling head over heels for Android earbuds. While the Samsung Galaxy is not the best-suited device for iOS, and they don't even offer an app for Apple products, these buds are so good that we didn't even mind testing them with iPhones.
The hard plastic bud on the Galaxy has a somewhat flatter design than the similar Apple AirPods. Credit: Matt Lighthart
The Galaxy comes with three silicone tip sizes. Credit: Matt Lighthart
These stem-shaped buds have an Apple AirPods familiar shape that sits comfortably in most ears, and we were able to wear them for up to 8.5 hours with no complaints. They feel lightweight, and the hard-plastic portion of the bud is shaped better (in our opinion) for most ears than the AirPods.
The Galaxy's tactile controls work well, but they are not instantaneous, so you need a little patience. Credit: Matt Lighthart
The stem has easy-to-use tactile controls that work for just about everything, from pause and play to volume and turning active noise cancellation on and off. There was a slight lag between the time we touched them and their response, but it wasn't bad. Some things can be customized in the app, but Apple users will be stuck with an as-is pairing and features (but honestly, it's pretty good).
The Samsung case is small enough to fit in most pockets. Credit: Matt Lighthart
The case is a small square with a clear top, and it fits easily into front jeans pockets. It is a little on the slick side, but nothing that caused us to accidentally drop them. We like that the buds snap into place and can't be put in incorrectly, even when we tried.
While not the best, the Buds4 Pro provide good call quality, though if making calls is something you love or do frequently, better options are available. Credit: Matt Lighthart
We like to chat on the phone with family almost daily, and these buds do it better than some but not as good as others. They tend to be somewhat quieter, and upping the volume didn't help much. They didn't eliminate much background noise, whether it was soft or loud, and while they did an adequate job of keeping our voices at the forefront, they didn't do much to drown out the background noise, which was distracting to the people we called.
These earbuds have one of the highest dust- and water-resistant ratings in the group, with an IP57 rating. The 7 means they can withstand direct water splashes and accidental immersion in water up to 3 feet deep for up to 30 minutes, making them ideal workout buddies for any sweat-building activities. We wore them while working out, and while they can get a little slick in the ear, they did great. While we don't recommend immersing them in water, it is nice to know they can handle a run in the rainy states like the Pacific Northwest.
The Pro 4 improved upon the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro in almost every way possible. The Pro 4 offers better sound quality, a broader soundstage, and increased noise-blocking power. They also make clearer phone calls. While the app features are slightly less impressive, the comfort is equal. That said, if you can still find a pair of Buds3 on sale, we think you'll like them and enjoy any savings.
Yes, if you have Android devices, these are our favorites. While they are a little spendy (though there are more expensive options), they justify their price with exceptional sound quality and noise cancellation. They are also very comfortable with a usable app and decent call quality. We weren't big fans of the tactile controls, and they aren't the best for Apple devices, but we think most Android users will love them.
If you have an Apple device, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 are the better choice. They play better in the Apple environment and have slightly better comfort and noise cancellation. They make far clearer calls in multiple environments and are super comfy. If you want the best noise cancellation possible, the Sony WF-1000XM6 are the ones to consider. But they are more expensive and less comfortable for some. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2) Earbuds are a good choice for those not married to any particular device type and value sound quality, noise cancellation, and call quality over a perfect marriage with their phone.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Galaxy offers wonderful sound and a wide soundstage. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Sound Quality
The Samsung Galaxy delivers impressive sound quality, making it one of the best in the group. It definitely offers the best sound quality for the Android-specific options.
The soundstage offers pinpoint accuracy in instrument and vocal presence, and we can distinguish the distance between sounds. There is a clean separation between the layers and an expansive width for an in-ear bud. Those who enjoy an excellent sundstage, we enjoy the sound from these buds.
We tested the Galaxy Buds4 for sound quality and soundstage, assessing its frequency range curve in our lab. Credit: Matt Lighthart
The bass is powerful and warm, but it tends to get boomy on bass-heavy tracks. Occasionally, it loses some clarity when the bass overwhelms the other ranges, as in Leela James' cover of 'A Change is Gonna Come,' where the bass sounds almost distorted. Leela's vocals were clean and clear, so the murkiness coming from the low end created a strange contrast in clarity. The bass is improved (more power and presence) from the prior generation
The middle range is where the Galaxy really shines. They are rich, developed, and lovely in clarity. Both male and female voices have realistic, natural timbres, with lead vocals that are forward and clear. Lead instruments sound detailed and vibrant with precise location. We really like these mids. They sound clean, clear, and forward, never getting lost in the boosted lows, maintaining a solid level of detail while delivering a lively, dynamic performance.
The Galaxy seems to improve on the AirPods design with a comfortable fit we liked better. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Comfort and Fit
With a design that mimics the Apple AirPods, the Galaxy's stem is very comfortable and lightweight.
There is a difference in the hard plastic portion of the bud itself that fits better inside the ear folds than the AirPods, and we preferred it. It is a bit flatter and worked better for some ears.
The Galaxy silicone tips are fairly easy to switch. Credit: Matt Lighthart
The Samsung comes with 3 silicone tip sizes, and they are easy to swap out to find the best fit. While we never lost a bud or had one fall out, larger facial expressions like yawning and big smiles do cause them to shift, and jumping around and headbanging feels like they will go flying, but they didn't.
The combination of the Galaxy's noise cancellation and sound is impressive. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Noise Cancellation
The Galaxy's noise cancellation is adequate, and it scored well compared to the competition, but it lacks the true silence some listeners might be seeking.
While it blocks up to 28.9 decibels on average, with its best performance covering the bass and treble ranges, we could still hear common sounds like water when washing our hands, the coffee grinder, and the garage door.
The Buds4 Pro dampens surrounding sounds by reducing the decibels that reach your eardrums, but they aren't going to create a cone of silence. Credit: Matt Lighthart
They definitely do their part in limiting distractions and dampening the surrounding din, and we think many folks will appreciate what they offer. If total immersion in your music with as little outside distraction as possible is what you are after, these probably won't meet your expectations.
The Samsung App has an adjustment slider to increase or decrease active noise cancellation (ANC), letting you choose more transparency. However, those with iOS devices won't have access to this feature, reducing the customization somewhat.
The Galaxy app is not compatible with iOS, but we thought it was easy to use and useful. Credit: Matt Lighthart
App Features
The Samsung app is only available for Android users. While you can pair the buds with an iOS device, you won't have access to the app's customization features.
The app includes features like volume leveling, an equalizer (EQ) map with 9 sliders, a bud chirp to find lost earbuds (though not the case), an ear fit adjustment tool, 360 degree sound, and the ability to turn on an auto-ause feature that pauses what you are listening to when it senses you are talking.
The Samsung case has about 4 additional charges for the Galaxy to help get you through the longest of days with just a little downtime. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Battery Life
The Galaxy has a claimed battery life of 7 hours according to Samsung. We are pleased to report that, with active noise cancellation off, our tests lasted 7 hours and 45 minutes. This duration is not close to the average, which is almost 9, but there are shorter batteries in the group.
The case for the Galaxy has at least 4 charges, and 5 minutes inside the case can give you 1 hour of listening. This might be just enough for a workout or to keep you entertained on your commute. The case also supports wireless charging.
The galaxy put in a valiant effort, competing with the subway chaos. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Call Quality
While the Samsung makes better calls than the average phone, it wasn't our favorite for frequent calls or meetings.
Voices when calling from the office were crisp and clear, but the background sounds were ever-present, unlike some competitors that silence or at least dampen sounds beyond the talker. Moving to a busy subway station posed additional challenges, as the callers' voices blended into the background noise. While we could still hear them, it was distracting to have so much going on in the background. If your goals are largely infrequent chats or online meetings in a quiet space, these will do the trick. If you like daily chats and use your phone as a phone, there are better options available.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro versus top competing products:
| Awards |  Best Earbuds for Android |
|---|---|
| Price | $250 List Check Price at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
|
| Star Rating | |
| Bottom Line | Android users will love these comfy buds with great sound and better noise cancellation, but the tactile controls are sort of laggy |
| Pros | Ultra-lightweight, extended wear, enjoyable sound |
| Cons | Laggy tactile controls, no multi-point, not iOS-friendly |
| Rating Categories | Samsung Galaxy Buds4... |
| Sound Quality (35%) | |
| Comfort & Fit (25%) | |
| Noise Cancellation (20%) | |
| App Features (10%) | |
| Call Quality (10%) | |
| Specifications | Samsung Galaxy Buds4... |
| Hours Comfortable | 8.5 |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes |
| Hear Through Mode | Yes |
| Measured Battery Life | 7.8 hr |
| Waterproofing | IP57 |
| Earbud Location Tracking | Yes |
| Measured Weight | 0.19 oz |
| Quick Charging | 5 min |
| Charges Per Case | 4.2 |
| Claimed Battery Life | 7.0 hrs |
| Charging Carrying Case | Yes |
| Tested Wireless Charging Option | Yes |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| In-ear Detection | Yes |
| Ear Tips Sizes | 3 sizes |
| Ear Fit Test | Yes |
| Adjustable EQ | Yes |
| EQ Presets | Yes |
—Rachael Lamore, and Wendy Schmitz
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