Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro Review: AirPods Pro for Android

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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…

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