Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro Review: Ranked Third Out of 62

THE SCORECARD

How the Galaxy Buds4 Pro scored

• Comfort

  9/10

  The fit feels basically the same as the Buds3 Pro to my ear, and it is very comfortable.

• Security of the fit

  8/10

  They stayed secure for me while weight training and running, but there are no wings or hooks for people who need extra hold.

• Case and battery life

  8/10

  Samsung quotes 6 hours in the buds and 26 hours total, but the new case is chunkier despite the same battery life.

• Controls

  9/10

  The squeeze controls are responsive, and the new index-finger swipe gesture feels more intuitive for volume.

• Connectivity

  7/10

  Bluetooth 6.1 and Samsung's SSC codec are here, but there is still no true multi-point connection.

• Call quality

  9/10

  Calls are a full point better than the Buds3 Pro, particularly in the crowd-noise and windy-city tests.

• App customization and extra features

  8/10

  There is a decent 10-band EQ and plenty of settings, though some features remain Samsung-only.

• Noise canceling

  9/10

  ANC improves on the Buds3 Pro by blocking voices and high frequencies slightly better, while low-frequency performance is similar.

• The transparency mode

  9.75/10

  Transparency sounds slightly more natural than on the Buds3 Pro and sits just behind the AirPods Pro 3 for me.

• Sound quality

  9/10

  The tuning is cleaner and more refined than the Buds3 Pro, with tighter bass, smoother treble and better separation.

The Pros and Cons

How comfortable and secure are the Galaxy Buds4 Pro?

I gave comfort a 9 out of 10, the same score as the Buds3 Pro. The fit feels basically the same to me, though I like the simpler design and shorter stem. Samsung still supplies only three sizes of proprietary ear tips, and I think at least four sizes should be standard now if you want the best chance of a proper seal.

Security scores 8 out of 10. They stayed in fine for me during weight training and running, which is what I expect from a classic stem-style fit. If earbuds regularly work loose for you, buds with a wing or hook will usually be the safer option.

The Buds4 Pro have an IP57 dust-resistant and waterproof rating, matching the Buds3 Pro. The case has no IP rating.

Battery, controls and connectivity: the case is the weak point

Battery life is unchanged: Samsung advertises 6 hours in the buds and 26 hours in total with the case. A 5-minute charge gives 1 hour of playback, and wireless charging remains. My issue is the case: it is chunkier than the Buds3 Pro case for no battery-life gain.

Controls remain excellent at 9 out of 10. You get squeeze controls for single, double and triple presses, a long hold, plus swipe volume control. Swiping with an index finger on this design feels more intuitive than swiping with a thumb on the Buds3 Pro. The feedback is subtle, and the controls are responsive, although customization is still limited.

Connectivity is where Samsung holds these back. Bluetooth 6.1, SBC, AAC, LC3 and SSC are supported, with SSC offering 24-bit, 96 kHz high-res on compatible Samsung devices. Single-bud mono mode works, but there is no true multi-point. Switching is seamless only between Samsung devices, and that is why I scored connectivity 7 out of 10.

Call quality and Samsung-only extras

I scored call quality 9 out of 10, a full point above the Buds3 Pro. The improvement is not dramatic, but the Buds4 Pro are definitely better in my simulated crowd-noise and windy-city call tests. They sounded pretty decent to me on an iPhone, even without Samsung's super wideband audio.

The app and extras score 8 out of 10. Head gestures let you nod or shake your head to answer or reject calls, but that feature is Samsung-only. Spatial audio is also Samsung-only, while the rest of the customization works on Android devices.

You get voice detect, a decent 10-band EQ, fit adjustment, notification readouts, wearing-detection options, left-to-right audio balance, one-bud ANC and custom ambient settings. I leave Adjust sound to fit enabled because it improves sound and noise canceling for me.

Is Galaxy Buds4 Pro noise canceling good enough?

I gave noise canceling 9 out of 10, up from 8.5 for the Buds3 Pro. The Buds4 Pro block voices and high frequencies slightly better, while low-frequency reduction is about the same. There are still plenty of earbuds with stronger ANC, but these block loud gym noise completely fine in my real-world use.

You can choose from five ANC strength levels, use ANC with one bud, and let conversation detection switch to transparency when you begin speaking. Conversation detection worked really well for me. There is no automatic wind-reduction mode for ANC, but the microphones did not pick up much wind, so I found them usable outside on a windy day.

Turning ANC off reduced bass by about 10% in my testing. Switching between ANC and transparency kept the sound pretty much the same. Adaptive transparency is also very responsive, and I put it on par with the AirPods Pro 3.

Transparency and sound are the real upgrades

Transparency earns 9.75 out of 10. Clarity and occlusion are very similar to the Buds3 Pro, but the Buds4 Pro sound slightly more natural and less bright. I still place them just behind the AirPods Pro 3, which have slightly better clarity, but Samsung gets very close. Automatic wind reduction lowers transparency strength when needed, then restores it after about 3 seconds without detected wind.

For sound, I scored them 9 out of 10, a point above the Buds3 Pro. They measured just over 112 decibels in my max-volume test, which is more than enough volume for most people. The stock tuning is cleaner and more refined, with tighter bass, smoother treble and better instrument separation.

Bass is slightly boosted, punchy and clean rather than bloated. Vocals are clear and natural, although lower vocal ranges are not especially rich or warm. The upper mids bring keys, distorted guitars and percussion forward nicely. Treble is direct and crisp without getting harsh, but it is not especially airy or sparkly, so the soundstage is not the most open.

I scored them the same as the AirPods Pro 3 for sound. I prefer the AirPods' more forward treble and vocals, but Samsung's 10-band EQ lets me get the bass where I prefer it, and the AirPods do not offer an EQ.