The cube-shaped charging case is where you get some real differentiation, stepping back from the Apple-esque rectangular design of 2024’s Buds3 Pro to forge its own path. The transparent lid could easily come off as cheap, but feels hearty instead, as does the matte base that offers both wireless and USB-C charging.
Popping the top auto-pairs the buds to your Samsung phone (you’ll need to locate them in the Bluetooth settings for other devices), and placing them in your ears prompts a cool, futuristic tone. The fit is fantastically light at just 5.1 grams per bud, letting me wear them for hours of listening over multiple days with no discomfort. IP57 dust and water resistance make them sport and weather friendly (excluding the case). Beneath the housings are two separate drivers per side, including a newly crafted “woofer” for deeper bass and a specialized tweeter for sharp-cut details in the high end (where strings and cymbals shine).
The Buds4 Pro’s battery rating of six hours of playback with active noise canceling (seven hours without) is a minor bummer considering contemporaries like the AirPods Pro and Sony WF-1000XM6 offer eight hours. In testing, I actually pulled a little more than six hours with noise canceling on, and around seven hours in Ambient Sound mode (the mode that’s designed to keep you aware of your environment). The tiny case claims to hold just over three recharges, which was right in line with my tests. One issue: Battery life for the case only pops up in the settings when you first connect, which made it more of a hassle to gauge than the constant feedback I got for the buds themselves.
The biggest disappointment I have is the lack of accessories. You’ll get no charging cable in the box, and three ear tip sizes which are tough to remove, requiring you to unfold them outward and pull rather hard. Luckily, the default medium size was nearly perfect for me.
Another minor gripe: the controls are super simple, but less responsive than I’d like. There are pinch controls for play/pause and song skip, and a hold to cycle between sound modes, but I misfired relatively often over several days. The volume setting, adjusted by sliding your finger up or down, was more consistent, but I found switching levels was often just too loud or too soft. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s frustrating for sensitive listeners. Sadly, it’s one of the few features that can’t be customized. Folks like me will stick to the volume controls on our phones.
Versatile Noise Control
Photograph: Ryan Waniata
The Galaxy Buds4 Pro do a commendable job keeping out and letting in the world around you with their Active Noise Canceling (ANC) and Ambient Sound modes, respectively, especially considering their small profile. There’s even an Adaptive mode that automatically adjusts between the two as the earbuds sense certain sounds. It works pretty well for noises like a kitchen fan, but tends to overreact to quicker hits like dog food clinking in a bowl. I preferred the manual modes to relying on the buds to decide.
