Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro review: AirPods Pro for Android

The cube-shaped charging case is where you can get some real differentiation, stepping back from the Apple-like rectangular design 2024 Buds 3 Pro To forge her own path. The transparent cover could easily be cheap, but it looks great instead, as does the matte base that offers wireless and USB-C charging.

Opening the top automatically pairs the buds to your Samsung phone (you’ll need to locate them in your other devices’ Bluetooth settings), and placing them in your ears results in a cool, futuristic tone. The size is fantastically light at just 5.1 grams per bud, allowing me to wear them for hours of listening over several days without any discomfort. IP57 Dust and water resistance makes it sports and weather friendly (except for case). Under the housings are two separate drivers for each side, including a newly designed “tweeter” for deeper bass and a specialized tweeter for sharp detail in the top end (where the strings and cymbals shine).

The Buds4 Pro’s battery rating of six hours of playback with active noise cancellation (seven hours without) is a minor issue considering contemporaries like the AirPods Pro and Sony WF-1000XM6 Eight hours show. In testing, I actually spent just over six hours with noise cancellation turned on, and about seven hours in ambient sound mode (the mode designed to keep you aware of your environment). The small case claims to hold just over three recharges, which is right in line with my tests. One problem: The case’s battery life only shows up in the settings when you first connect, which made measuring it more difficult than the constant feedback I got about the headphones themselves.

My biggest disappointment is the lack of accessories. You don’t get a charging cable in the box, and the three sizes of ear tips are difficult to remove, requiring you to open them out and pull them forcefully. Fortunately, the default medium size was almost perfect for me.

Another minor issue: The controls are very simple, but less responsive than I’d like. There are push controls for play/pause and song skipping, and a hold for cycling between sound modes, but I misfired relatively often over the course of several days. The volume setting, which is adjusted by sliding your finger up or down, was more consistent, but I found switching levels was a bit much only Too loud or too soft. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s frustrating for sensitive listeners. Unfortunately, it’s one of the few features that can’t be customized. People like me will stick to the volume controls on our phones.

Versatile noise control

Photography: Ryan Wanyata

The Galaxy Buds4 Pro do a commendable job of tuning out the world around you and letting it in with their Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Ambient Sound modes, respectively, especially considering their small size. There is also an adaptive mode that automatically adjusts between the two as the earbuds sense certain sounds. It works well with noises like a kitchen fan, but tends to overreact to faster hits like dog food churning in a bowl. I preferred manual modes over relying on the buds for decision making.