I have been a longtime Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 user, and it works great with my Galaxy S23. So, when I got the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro from the brand, I switched. I have been using the newcomer for a few weeks now, and although my first 24-hour impressions have been positive but incomplete, I now have a lot more to share. The new pair is priced at Rs 22,999, and Samsung is pitching it as its premium earbuds for the year with a dual-driver setup, enhanced ANC, and deeper integration with Galaxy devices through high-resolution audio support and easy software customisation. And so the test was to see how well it competes in this price range.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro have been my close companion for a week now, and here’s my review of how they fare in sound quality, noise handling, battery life, connectivity, and overall usability in the real world.
As mentioned in my first impressions piece, the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro have a distinct design. That includes its squricle case with a transparent lid and the earbuds themselves with their flat stem and brushed metal finish. So far, the buds look just as new due to this finish and like I said in my impressions, the case has a jewellery-box-like aesthetic, which by the way, is a bit thick but won’t hamper everyday portability.
As for the earbuds, they are quite lightweight and stay securely in the ear. These are among the few earbuds I felt comfortable wearing while commuting or stepping out.
Samsung offers its premium earbuds in multiple colours: The black colour that we have, a white variant and a pink gold option for a warm and elegant look. You are not limited to one colour, like in the case of the AirPods.
Samsung’s case has the brand logo and an LED indicator on the front, and the back has a USB-C port and a pairing/resetting button.
Although the case is not easy to open one-handed, the lid opening and closing action feels more premium and satisfying.
Besides looks and comfort, the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro pinch and swipe-based controls are easy to manoeuvre. I feel this approach is better than the tap/press-based controls, as you don’t have to push the earbuds deeper into the ear.
And finally, for durability assurance, Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are IP57 rated, which means they can take some rain, sweat, splash and even accidental submersion.
I paired the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro with my Galaxy S23, a Pixel 10, and my MacBook Air 13 (M1). No issues with the setup process. In everyday use, the general connectivity and range were stable over Bluetooth 6.1.
Once set up, on Samsung phones like the Galaxy S23, you can control the earbuds’ settings through the Bluetooth menu itself. And on non-Samsung phones, you’ll have to access the settings through the Wearables app and the Galaxy Buds module, both of which are available on the Google Play Store.
The Samsung phones also offer more features like 360 audio, loudness normalisation, Ultra High Quality (24-bit/96kHz audio via Samsung’s codec), Adapt Sound, and app sound settings. This isn’t a deal breaker though, as their absence doesn’t spoil the Buds 4 Pro sound experience.
There are ample toggles and controls in the Wearables app. My only qualm is that the pinch and hold controls are limited to switching noise modes, triggering Google and opening Spotify. I would appreciate it if Samsung added an option to change volume or playback with this action. The pinch and swipe controls are intuitive enough, but I don’t mind more options. Samsung software is known for an abundance of options.
But the one feature I miss the most is standard Bluetooth multipoint. Samsung allow auto switching, but it works between devices signed in the same Samsung account. This affects users who work across non-Samsung laptop and phone setups.
Other features, like in-ear detection, 360 Sound with head tracking, Auracast, the 9-band equaliser, and the different preset profiles, worked reliably. No problem. I appreciate Samsung for the Loudness Normalisation feature and the Adapt Sound option, as I’ll take anything that saves my ear health. Stop using earbuds isn’t an option for me. Lol.
Also Read: Noise Master Buds 2 review: Do they stand out in a competitive market?
The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro come with a dual-driver or 2-way speaker setup. There is a woofer for handling bass and a tweeter for handling treble. Samsung phones get the proprietary codec-based UHQ sound, but if you stream on Spotify or YouTube, this won’t make a notable difference.
What matters, though, is the engaging sound you get out of the box on the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro. It offers sharper detail and stronger separation than AirPods Pro 3 (review), but it can feel slightly aggressive at times.
Both earbuds handle high frequencies well, with a good amount of detail in the upper range. On the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, highs come through sharper and more pronounced. In tracks like ‘November’ by Max Richter and ‘Goshintai’ by Radwimps, the violin reaches higher and feels more cutting, while in ‘Dawn Of The Iconoclaust’ by Dead Can Dance, the upper vocal layers feel more spread out and elevated.
In the low end, the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro deliver tighter and more impactful bass. In ‘Bad Guy’ by Billie Eilish, the hits feel sharper and more defined, and the claps in ‘Rang De Lal’ from Dhurandhar land with more force.
With complex tracks like ‘Pull Me Under’ by Dream Theater, the AirPods tend to blend elements together, where beats can slightly overpower vocals. The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro offer better separation, making it easier to pick apart instruments and notice finer details. Even distortion is well controlled on the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro in songs like ‘Centuries’ by Fall Out Boy.
In another dense track like ‘Selkies’ by Between the Buried and Me, the Galaxy Buds capture more instrument detail than the AirPods, but at times this can feel slightly overwhelming or a bit harsh on the ears.
Still, I’d say the tuning handles vocals well, and instruments carry ample details. The soundstage is spacious with good positioning. And if you are streaming videos or playing online games, the latency is also under check. I didn’t face any syncing issues in my use.
This was one area I was most interested in testing, as I tend to use my earbuds a lot at the office, while commuting, etc. And I must say, the ANC performance on this buds is strong. I was listening at the max setting most of the time and occasionally dabbled around with the adaptive mode.
The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro dampen low-frequency noise very well, such as traffic, AC hum, and general background chatter. But, there is slight dark noise pressure, and some voices and sudden sounds can still come through. This is noticeable when you look for it with the music off. So, it shouldn’t be a problem.
On the other hand, the Ambient Sound mode is also impressive. There is minimal hiss, but conversations and surrounding sounds come through pretty clearly. It is therefore highly usable.
As for calls, I again have good things to say. Samsung uses a 6-mic setup and AI-based voice isolation, which enables clear calls for both parties.
Battery life is decent. In our internal test with AAC, 80 per cent volume and ANC off, we got around 6 hours 45 minutes of runtime. Since some people may listen to stuff at a lower volume, the Buds 4 Pro could even last longer up to the 7-hour mark, too. Likewise, the mileage may vary as ANC and other settings are changed. Anyways, it should be plenty for a workday.
And thanks to the charging case, you can get anywhere between 26 and 30 hours of total playback depending on the settings you choose. Again, this is longer than what Apple claims with the AirPods Pro 3.
You can use a USB-C charger to quickly top it up or use a wireless charger. So, again, you’ve got options.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are a solid upgrade and a well-rounded option in the premium segment. They offer a distinct and comfortable design, engaging and impactful sound, strong noise cancellation, great call quality, and a feature-rich app with meaningful customisation.
Well, some of these features work best or work at all with a Samsung device. Or you could say the full experience unlocks on Samsung phones. And overall, the restrictions are less limiting than Apple’s. Also, I would have appreciated it if Samsung had given more control options.
But what you get here is more than enough for most users. You get granular EQ support and features like Auracast that something like the AirPods Pro 3 doesn’t offer. So, if you want lively and enjoyable sound, a strong feature set, and dependable performance, you can consider the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, and if you have a Samsung phone, that becomes an easy recommendation.
Keep reading Digit.in for more audio reviews.
Also Read: OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro review: Well-balanced TWS earbuds under Rs 5,000?