Every phone maker these days must also have their own true wireless buds that offer something special when paired with the intended phones. It’s an approach that Apple has used to great effect, and Google has employed with impressive special features (even if the audio could use work). Samsung, of course, has been on this bandwagon for years, and the company’s latest pair of buds is the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro.
While every brand always says that their latest is their best ever, in this case, it’s actually true. I’m really impressed with Samsung’s offering, with this pair deserving of the Pro name.
Table of contents
- First impressions
- Specifications and price
- Comfort
- Audio quality
- Noise cancellation
- Accessories
- Who are the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro for?
![Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro [AU Version] Wireless Earbuds, White](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/21acfr4ZLVL.jpg)
First impressions
Opening the box, my first impression was of how much I like the redesigned case. 2024’s Buds 3 Pro had a bit more of a ‘futuristic AirPods’ design, and it felt very cool in a “this would have been in a TLC video clip” kind of way.
The Buds 4 Pro have a case that is easier to clean, and keeps the buds front and centre behind a clear lid.
Pairing them with my Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra was really easy, and then it was instantly paired with all my other Samsung devices, including my TV. A seamless experience.
My biggest complaint about the unboxing experience is how miserly Samsung is with this release. There’s no USB-C cable in the box, and there are only three ear tip options. I would expect a minimum of four in 2026. I’m lucky that I found a good fit with the included tips. You might not be so lucky.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro specifications and price
| Price (RRP) | $399 |
| Warranty | 1 year in addition to your Australian Consumer Law rights |
| Manufacturer’s website | Samsung Australia |
| Speaker | Enhanced Dynamic Driver (Woofer) + Tweeter |
| Bluetooth Codec | SSC-UHQ (24-bit / 96 kHz) SSC AAC SBC LC3 |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.1 |
| Extra features | 360 audio with head tracking Auracast Galaxy AI |
| Battery life | Up to 7.0/30hr (ANC Off) Up to 6.0/26hr (ANC On) |
On paper, the Buds 4 Pro are very similar to the Buds 3 Pro. The main differences are that head gestures are tracked now, there’s a volume EQ, and the speaker has been “enhanced”.
More excitingly, they’re Bluetooth 6.1. Given Apple’s latest AirPods (the $999 AirPods Max 2) still use 5.3, this is a nice addition. Having Auracast compatibility is even nicer. All around, on paper, these are excellent headphones with almost everything a Samsung user might want.
Comfort
I’m really pleasantly surprised by how comfortable the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are. The ear tips themselves are perfectly squishy to fit into almost any ears of that size, and the buds are very light, so it’s easy to forget that I’m wearing them.
My only fit complaint is that they suffer the same fate as many true wireless buds in that chewing and making facial expressions can dislodge them a bit, which means I’m having to adjust them often. At least they still seem secure enough to run with as long as I don’t adjust my jaw too much.
The win, though, is that the on-ear controls are almost a direct rip-off of the AirPods Pro stem controls, so adjusting the Buds in the ear doesn’t skip the song or change the volume.
Changing the song and volume is easy to do with the onboard controls if you want to do it deliberately.
Overall, if the included tips fit your ears, these are very comfortable earbuds.
Audio quality
Samsung’s dual-speaker setup here is so apparent in how rich and full the music sounds. For regular listening, everything sounds superb.
The bass is especially deep and resonant, and the treble is also very present.
However, trying to unpack a song through the very present bass becomes a problem. In the default EQ, the bass just chokes out everything in the middle, and while I can tell the treble is present, I have to really strain to hear the details of it over all the bass.
“Simmer” by Hayley Williams is one of my go-to test tracks, and the bass guitar in it is rendered beautifully here. It’s so detailed that it feels like a tangible presence, like I’m watching the bass player move on the frets. The song sounds full and beautiful. But if I really look for the details I expect to hear, I can’t hear the sizzle on the snare, the little breaths are absent, and I’m really straining to hear the hi-hat taps. Those are just small details, but they’re part of the song; they should be audible in buds this clear and rich.
This kind of mixing is perfect for a song as driving as “No Mercy” by Pvris. The focus on bass adds to the foreboding nature of the song. I’m still missing the detail on the driving hi-hats, but that low-tuned snare makes an impact at the end of the third verse. Things get a bit muddy in the hectic and bass-filled chorus, but it still works.
Over on “Full Heart Fancy” by Lucky Chops, the taps on the ride are present, yet overshadowed, and the heavy bass means that the sousaphone is a bit more grounded than I’d like. It’s the same on “Georgiana” by Dario Marianelli. It’s too grounded, and the joyful higher notes sound like they’re too low to really soar.
This is all very nitpicky, I fully acknowledge that. If I just listen uncritically and don’t try to dive into the songs or compare them to the tuning on other headphones, they sound fantastic. So full and rich. However, I am a critic: I’m supposed to compare them to other headphones, and I’m just pretty sure this over-focus on bass isn’t what the artists intended.
All that said, playing around with the EQ, I’m able to adjust it to be a bit closer to what I’d expect. And, boy howdy, with a bit of dialling in, this dual-speaker setup is a thing of beauty. I still can’t get it to the point where I can hear all the details I look for, but I can make it so that the bass isn’t pulling everything else down, and that’s more than enough from a pair of sub-$400 headphones.
People willing to play around a bit with the settings will be rewarded handsomely.
Noise cancellation
The noise cancelling is pretty good. I can still hear the sound of my keyboard as I type this. On the tram, I could hear that there were people talking, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying, and if I closed my eyes, they sounded far away.
Other headphones shut out the world better, like the AirPods Pro 3 or Sony WF-1000XM5 (and Sony’s newer WF-1000XM6 model). But they’re only a bit better, rather than a whole universe better.
Accessories
Samsung has made the greatest official accessory I have seen for a pair of true wireless buds in some time. I love this accessory to the point that they have become a regular part of my headphone rotation, not just because I love the deep bass for dance and metal music.
Samsung has made official sardine, corn and tomato can accessories for the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, and they’re just so cute. I have the sardine case, and it’s just the most adorable thing. There’s a little fish hanging off it. It’s practical in that it helps me find it in my bag, and the little pull tab on top is such a nice aesthetic addition. I want to see more of this kind of whimsy coming from official sources. Just delightful.
My (fish-obsessed) daughter also absolutely loves it, and it is both a blessing and a curse to have your toddler infatuated with your headphone case. I have to hide them now, but they’re also great to hand to her on public transport to keep her entertained.
Who are the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro for?
These are the best true wireless headphones for Samsung Galaxy phone users. At this price point, with this feature set, there’s no real competition.
There are buds that have better noise cancelling, and buds with better audio tuning, but there aren’t any that are this tailor-made for Samsung users or with a dual-speaker setup for under $400. The audio quality is more than good enough for most people, and those who don’t like the tuning can easily fix it themselves.
GadgetGuy occasionally uses affiliate links and may receive a small commission from purchased products.
The post Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro review: Samsung’s best buds yet appeared first on GadgetGuy.
0 (mga) komento:
Mag-post ng isang Komento