The Galaxy Buds 4, 2026’s most common purchase for new Bluetooth earbuds for Android systems. Either most have obtained it from pre-ordering the Galaxy S26 Ultra, or it’s the update since the Galaxy Buds 2 or 3. As usual, there are 2 models for the Buds 4 series, with this base model and the the Pro.
It’s the same family, but very different designs and approaches. I know why most people are reading this piece for, to see just how different and apart the 2 Buds are from each other, especially with a RM 300 gap in price.
Main Line Differences
| Feature | Galaxy Buds 4 | Galaxy Buds 4 Pro |
| Driver Setup | 1-way (11mm Dynamic Driver) | 2-way (Wider Woofer + Tweeter) |
| Amplification | Single Amp | Dual Amps |
| Audio Quality | 24-bit / 96kHz Hi-Fi | 24-bit / 96kHz Hi-Fi |
| Microphones | 3 Mics + VPU | 3 Mics + VPU (High SNR) |
| Durability | IP54 (Dust/Splash) | IP57 (Submersible up to 1m) |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 6.1 | Bluetooth 6.1 |
| Weight | ~5g per bud | ~5g per bud |
| Price | RM 699 | RM 999 |
Don’t Just Look At Specs
Of course at that first glance you’d pick the Buds 4 Pro if we’re just looking at the spec sheet here. However, there is a method to this madness. For one, the Galaxy Buds 4 aren’t positioned to be a lesser version of the 4 Pro. They’re just a pair of earphones designed differently to cater to another type of user that NEEDS an “OPEN FIT” design, all in the name of situational awareness and of course preference (not everyone wants a tight silicone fit and vice versa!). Then it begs the question, then why couldn’t they just put the same number of drivers and amps and just market it that way? Well, it’s because IT DOESN’T WORK THAT WAY. Open Fit earbuds have much lesser isolation because of the way it’s design, and therefore in this case, less is more, because having dual amps and 2-way drivers on an open-fit design is wastage, and with that extra volume / gain, it will only create MORE sound leakage out, which nobody wants to hear.
That being said, they’re comfortable to wear, and that’s no general blanket statement. It’s because I’ve grown up wearing earbuds like these, and then only started trying out silicone tips, which means I already have a prior foundation of being used to how the Galaxy Buds 4 wears on your ears. However, living in Malaysia with a combination dry+oily skin type did no favors to my every day use. I found myself needing to make micro-adjustments to the fitment from time to time while I was just sweating and stationary. What’s more bizarre is that that wasn’t the case when I went jogging with them. They surprisingly stayed put, even when I was adjusting my music playback using the gestures which I thought were pretty intuitive this time around. Take note that I jogged during raining as well, and it didn’t affect my buds as it has an IP54 rating. Though the Galaxy Buds 3 had IP57, it still doesn’t really affect your experience anyway, and to chastise it having a slightly inferior IP rating is being nitpicky. You will still be able to run and use em in the rain, they’ll survive a shower, and you common sense will tell you that you won’t wear these at the swimming pool anyway.
Audio and Gestures
All things control is performed via pinching the indented sensor area of the Galaxy Buds 4, which I felt was easy to do, as well as the right step towards implementing intuitive controls that the user doesn’t need to fiddle with over a long time due to failing to find the controls or touch the right sensor area. The indent serves its purpose as the guide, and you’ll feel controlling media this way will be second nature!
You pinch for playing and pausing, skipping and toggling ANC. Volume also uses the same indented area, but instead of pinching, you swipe up and down to adjust volume. As usual you can adjust how you want your pinches to behave in the settings.
The Best Part – Head Gestures
Head Gestures are going to be a thing for earbuds, and the Galaxy Buds 4 does support them, with the basics being straightforward to understand. You get an incoming call? Answer by Nodding you head. Don’t want to pick it up? shake your head. This also applies to accepting or dismissing an incoming notification as well.
Beyond using your head to indicate response to your phone and its queries, the next step is AI Intergration.
The Buds 4 acts as an “always-on” portal for agentic AI:
- Hotword Detection: The AI is constantly scanning for the “Hey Google” or “Hey Bixby” wake words
- Cloud Processing: Once triggered, the buds stream your voice data to Google Gemini or Perplexity to perform complex tasks, such as summarizing emails or checking flight status, without you needing to take your phone out of your pocket. This is however, only if you are using a Galaxy Phone.
A Few Examples Of What You Can Ask It To Do:
Article Summarization: You can use a wake word (like “Hey Google”) to ask Google Gemini to summarize an article you currently have open on your phone or to find and read specific information from the web.
Reading Notifications: The AI can read out incoming alerts or the contents of a newly arrived article link, and you can use Head Gestures (a simple nod) to “accept” and hear the content without touching your phone.
Proactive Research: You can ask complex questions—such as “Check for the latest reviews on [Topic]”—and the AI will process the search and read the highlights directly into your ears.
Dual-Path Processing: The AI processes incoming foreign speech from your phone’s microphone and plays the translated audio directly into your earbuds.
Low Latency: The system is optimized to provide near-instant translation, allowing for a more natural flow during face-to-face conversations.
The Listening Experience
| Feature | Galaxy Buds 4 |
| Driver Setup | 1-way (11mm Dynamic Driver) |
| Amplification | Single Amp |
| Audio Quality | 24-bit / 96kHz Hi-Fi |
| Microphones | 3 Mics + VPU |
| Codec | SBC, AAC, SSC (Only On Samsung, S23 or NEWER) |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 6.1 |
The Galaxy Buds 4 is engineered for a balanced, “airy” listening experience, with the soundstage being centered. Using a single 11mm high-excursion dynamic driver, the tuning it has produced a clean, high-energy sound signature that I found most suitable for modern pop music, with some leeway into DnB music. The airy feeling I mentioned, it simply means the soundstage feels wider and more natural, since there are no silicone tips to create the pressure. It’s the nature of the design, with each type trading blows with each other. Here, you get a wider, airy soundstage while the silicone tips approach gives you tighter, more immersive listening.
Bass was punchy, but definitely lighter than tip-based earbuds, so I’d just call it Punchy Lite. You won’t get consistent deep thumps as I feel the sub-bass frequences roll off too quickly to deliver that consistency, but it does well enough for vocals, so much so that If I actually had to recommend buds for people to use for listening to podcasts or books, the Galaxy Buds 4 would be in the list.
You can even kick things up a notch with Samsung Seamless Codec (SSC), which is ultra high quality, 24-bit/96kHz audio. While it is high-fidelity, I only felt that it makes things sound more neutral, which introduces some flatness. It does get much cleaner, but that’s something audiophiles prefer to seek for. For general consumers, I definitely think the Galaxy Buds 4 already does well on AAC, without needing to push for SSC unless it’s for trying things out at home, quietly.
Battery Life
Samsung claims 5 hours top with ANC and 6 hours without, and I put that to the test. A full ANC experience will last that 5 hours, which also translated to an hour more without ANC, which I can confirm is in line with the claims (which is good). The case adds 24 more hours to your use time, granting a total of 30 hours when everything’s primed. These numbers are average but workable, and if your use case is for the gym, train rides or even just sitting the office for hours, it will last long enough for the task. The case will do plenty for you, even at a quick 10-15 minute top up when you can catch a break. For long flights above 5 hours, you’re going to have to charge ’em in between.
ANC
I have used and reviewed countless open fit earbuds that offer ANC or some form of ENC, without mixed to dissapointing results due to poor implementation and the limitation the design brings due to the lack of proper vacuum and seal. You can only do so much beyond that point. In this case with the Galaxy Buds 4, the ANC is respectable and clean, free of odd static or artificial deafening. You’ll properly feel your external noises get quieter, and it feels natural too, though it will never do as good as the likes of the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro.
ANC mode here just quieten things down, you’ll still hear noise, but at least it’s quieter than before.
Should You Buy It?
Honestly, before I started the review, I wasn’t so optimistic, simply because I had that mindset that people would just want the Pro because it’s better in every way, but after using the Galaxy Buds 4 as a daily driver, I believe I was wrong. I (and you) have to acknowledge that the open-fit design serves as purpose and not to be seen as an inferiority that’ll drive people to just go for the Pro instead. It makes perfect sense for someone looking to just listen to music with full situational awareness while looking normal, as not all people are comfortable with wearing clip style buds or the conduction approach.
It also brought me a sense of familiarity and nostalgia. I remember wearing earphones with this shape, I enjoyed it without a spot of bother for a decade. I may have grown older and wiser to see that silicone tips are the future, but I can go back to this design at any time and still feel right at home.
The Galaxy Buds 4 delivers satisfying audio listening that’ll please most, non-audiophile customers, along with intriguing AI features that will ensure you only need to do everything within the buds and not have to take your phone out for RM 699, which I feel is fair.
