Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 and 4 Pro: Refined AirPods Clones That Actually Deliver

Samsung has finally found its rhythm with the Galaxy Buds 4 and 4 Pro, delivering refined earbuds that shamelessly mimic Apple’s AirPods design while actually improving upon the formula in meaningful ways. After years of criticism for copying the stem design, Samsung has polished its approach with the Galaxy Buds 4 lineup, offering solid audio performance, useful features, and competitive pricing that stays the same as last year’s models.

A Refined Design That’s Still Too Familiar

The Galaxy Buds 4 and 4 Pro continue Samsung’s “blade” design trajectory, but with notable refinements that give them a more premium appearance. The angular stems of previous generations are gone, replaced by flat panels with thin metal covers. The gimmicky blade lights from the last Pro model have been mercifully removed, and both models now feature an indented area that accepts swipes and presses for onboard controls.

The charging cases have also evolved, returning to Samsung’s rounded square shape from older generations since the buds now lay flat instead of sitting vertically. The translucent lids remain, allowing users to check if earbuds are properly seated without opening the case.

Feature Parity With a Catch

Samsung has gone all-in on ecosystem lock-in, requiring Galaxy phone pairing to unlock the full potential of these earbuds. While basic functions like ANC, onboard controls, and ambient sound work with any device, advanced features like voice detection, head gestures, and automatic switching are reserved for Galaxy phone owners.

Both models offer Adaptive EQ 2.0, 360 audio with head tracking, Auracast, automatic switching, head gestures, and AI assistance via Bixby or Gemini. The Pro model adds voice detection that automatically lowers volume and activates ambient sound when you start speaking, plus hands-free AI assistant access.

Sound Quality That Will Surprise You

Here’s where Samsung truly delivers: the audio performance on both models is shockingly good. The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro features a two-way driver setup with an 11mm “super-wide” woofer and 5.5mm planar tweeter, delivering deep bass, clear vocals, and detailed highs across various genres. The Galaxy Buds 4, while not quite matching the Pro’s performance, still offers punchy bass and adequate clarity for an open-fit design.

ANC That’s Good, Not Great

Active noise cancellation remains Samsung’s Achilles’ heel, particularly on the open-fit Galaxy Buds 4. The ANC on this model makes such a modest difference that most users would prefer the battery life or price savings instead. It’s more like active noise reduction than true cancellation.

The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro offers better performance with Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation 2.0, effectively blocking moderate constant noise like fans or white noise machines. However, it still struggles with sudden loud noises and doesn’t match the performance of dedicated ANC powerhouses like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.

Call Quality That Impresses

Samsung’s call technology delivers surprisingly clear voice quality in quiet environments, with crisp and clear transmission. In noisy environments, both models effectively block background noise, though voices may sound slightly digitized due to audio processing. The ambient sound mode on the Pro model is particularly natural, preventing users from yelling during calls.

The Competition and Market Position

For Samsung phone users, the Galaxy Buds 4 and 4 Pro remain the best options, offering the most advanced and useful features within the ecosystem. However, users without Galaxy phones might find better value in alternatives like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, which offer superior ANC and sound quality without the ecosystem lock-in.

The Bottom Line

Samsung continues to close the gap with Apple, delivering refined AirPods clones that actually improve upon the formula in several areas. The company still lags behind in hearing health features and heart-rate tracking, areas where Apple has innovated with the AirPods Pro 3. However, with each iteration, Samsung’s earbuds become more compelling for Galaxy phone owners, offering a feature-rich experience that rivals Apple’s ecosystem advantage.

The Galaxy Buds 4 and 4 Pro represent solid progress, but Samsung needs to take bigger swings with new features to make these earbuds the must-buy that AirPods are for iPhone users.

Tags: #Samsung #GalaxyBuds #AirPods #WirelessEarbuds #AudioTechnology #ANC #SoundQuality #MobileAccessories #TechReview #Android #iOS #EcosystemLockIn #Bose #Apple #Google #PixelBuds #HearingHealth #FitnessTracking #CallQuality #DesignRefinement #FeatureParity

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