Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro Review: Better Than AirPods for Android Users?

Samsung finally looks like it got its premium earbuds right.

The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro feel like the first pair of Samsung earbuds in a while that are easy to get excited about, not just because of the feature list, but because the whole package seems more complete. The fit looks better. The sound appears to be stronger. And for Android users, especially Galaxy owners, these may be the closest thing yet to a true AirPods Pro rival that does not come with the usual compromises.

The case and earbud redesign both look like upgrades

The new charging case is one of the first things that stands out.

Samsung went with a more compact cube-like shape and added a colored transparent lid, which gives the Buds 4 Pro a cleaner and more modern look than older Galaxy Buds models. It still keeps the practical stuff that matters, including wireless charging, a USB-C port, and a size that should slip into a pocket without any trouble.

The earbuds themselves have also clearly been reworked.

Yes, the white version is going to remind some people of AirPods. But the details matter here. The stems are more squared off, the finish looks sharper, and the shape seems to make swipe and pinch controls easier to use in everyday situations.

That is not a small thing. Earbuds can sound amazing on paper and still become annoying fast if the controls are fussy. The Buds 4 Pro seem to avoid that trap.

Galaxy Buds 4 Pro vs AirPods Pro

Feature	Galaxy Buds 4 Pro	AirPods Pro 3	What matters more
MSRP Price	$250	$250	At the same price, Samsung has no room to be merely competitive. It has to be better in ways Android users can actually feel.
Fit and everyday usability	Redesigned fit and stem controls	Familiar and polished fit	If Samsung really fixed the fit, this becomes a much tighter race than before.
Sound tuning	Dual drivers, more adjustable EQ, more customization	Strong sound, but less user control	Samsung looks more appealing for people who actually want to tune the sound to their taste.
ANC	Very strong and highly adjustable	Very strong and proven	AirPods still have the reputation, but Samsung sounds close enough that Android users should pay attention.
Ambient mode	Strong and adjustable	Still one of the best in the category	Apple may still have the cleaner transparency experience, but Samsung does not seem far behind.
Device ecosystem	Best with Samsung devices	Best with Apple devices	This is still the biggest deciding factor for most buyers.
Gaming and deeper controls	Low-latency game mode and stronger manual controls	Less focused on manual tuning	Samsung looks more flexible for power users.
Best buyer fit	Android and Galaxy users	iPhone users	Most people should stay inside their ecosystem unless they have a very specific reason not to.

Fit looks like one of the biggest improvements

Samsung has had good earbuds before, but fit has not always been the strongest part of the experience.

That may be changing here. The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro appear to sit more securely in the ear, even with the standard ear tips. If that holds up in wider use, it solves one of the biggest reasons people hesitate with wireless earbuds in the first place.

A secure fit changes everything.

It improves comfort, helps passive isolation, makes workouts less stressful, and gives the earbuds a much more premium feel overall. The IP57 rating also adds some reassurance for anyone planning to use them while commuting, traveling, or exercising, even if the case itself is not protected to the same standard.

Sound quality may be where Samsung finally breaks through

This is where the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro start to sound genuinely impressive.

Samsung is using a dual-driver setup with a woofer and tweeter in each earbud, along with dedicated amplification. That hardware alone does not guarantee great sound, but it does help explain why the Buds 4 Pro are coming across as richer, fuller, and more exciting than earlier Galaxy Buds.

And that matters, because previous Samsung earbuds often felt good enough without ever feeling essential.

The Buds 4 Pro seem different. These sound like earbuds made for people who actually care about music, not just background listening or phone calls.

Samsung’s EQ options also strengthen the package. The Dynamic preset, in particular, sounds like it gives the Buds 4 Pro a more lively tuning with stronger bass and treble. That kind of punchier sound is usually what makes earbuds feel instantly fun, and Samsung still leaves room for deeper customization if the default presets are not enough.

ANC and ambient mode both sound strong enough to matter

Premium earbuds live or die by noise control, and Samsung seems to have made real progress here.

The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro appear to offer ANC that is strong enough to compete directly with AirPods Pro. In some situations, they may even come out ahead. That is a serious compliment, because AirPods Pro have been one of the easiest benchmarks in this category for a reason.

Ambient mode also looks much better than before.

That is important because good transparency is not just a nice extra anymore. It is one of the features people use every day, whether they are ordering coffee, listening for announcements, or just trying not to feel cut off from the world.

Samsung also seems to be thinking about real-world use. Features like emergency sound detection and automatic conversation mode are the kind of additions that make earbuds feel smarter, not just more expensive.

Battery life and microphone quality are good enough

Battery life lands where most premium earbuds do.

Samsung rates the Buds 4 Pro for up to six hours with ANC on and seven hours with it off. That is not a category breakthrough, but it is perfectly fine for the kind of daily use most people expect.

Microphone quality sounds solid, even if it is not the star of the show.

That is probably the right way to think about it. People shopping in this category care far more about fit, sound, ANC, and ecosystem features than they do about whether the mics are slightly above average.

These make the most sense for Samsung users

The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro seem to make the strongest case inside Samsung’s own ecosystem.

Fast switching between devices, spatial audio with head tracking, automatic playback detection, call gestures, Find support, and live translation all help these earbuds feel like more than just another pair of Bluetooth buds.

That is exactly what Samsung needs.

AirPods became dominant because they were convenient, polished, and deeply integrated into Apple devices. The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro sound like Samsung’s clearest attempt yet to create that same kind of lock-in for Galaxy users.

iPhone users still have an easier answer

The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro can still work with an iPhone, but that does not mean they are the best choice there.

Basic Bluetooth features remain available, but deeper customization and Samsung-specific advantages do not fully carry over. That makes the buying decision pretty simple.

If the phone is an iPhone, AirPods Pro still make more sense.

If the phone is a Galaxy device, the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro suddenly become much more compelling.

Final take

The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro look like the kind of product Samsung should have delivered sooner.

They appear to combine premium sound, stronger ANC, a more secure fit, better controls, and the kind of ecosystem features that make daily use easier instead of more complicated. More importantly, they do not sound like a catch-up product anymore.

They sound like a serious flagship.

For Android users, that may be enough to make them one of the easiest premium earbud recommendations of the year.