Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro Review: Elevating Android Audio with Ecosystem Integration
Samsung has long pursued the goal of creating wireless earbuds that satisfy Android users without compromise. The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro may finally achieve this ambition, delivering enhanced sound quality, advanced noise cancellation, and a suite of features that cater to tech enthusiasts. However, a significant caveat exists: these earbuds perform optimally primarily when paired with Samsung Galaxy smartphones, highlighting a strategic focus on ecosystem integration.
Design and Build: Familiar Yet Refined
The design of the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro follows a recognizable aesthetic, reminiscent of popular earbuds in the market. Samsung acknowledges this similarity and appears unconcerned, as the focus shifts to refinement. The oval ear tips, stems, and sensor dots maintain a familiar profile, but improvements are evident.
Notably, the LED strip from the Buds 3 Pro has been replaced with a sleek metal accent along the stem, enhancing the overall look. Each earbud weighs a mere 5.1 grams, ensuring comfort during extended wear—users may forget they are in place after prolonged use. The IP57 rating provides durability against rain and sweat, though the charging case lacks similar protection.
The charging case has been redesigned into a compact square with a transparent clamshell lid, allowing visibility of the earbuds without opening. This practical feature aids in quick access, especially during early mornings. Charging options include wireless or USB-C, though Samsung does not include a cable in the box, a notable omission given the Rs 21,999 price point.
Sound Quality: A Rich and Layered Experience
Samsung equips the Buds 4 Pro with dual drivers in each earbud: an 11mm woofer for bass and a 5.5mm planar tweeter for highs. This configuration surpasses many competitors using single drivers, resulting in a nuanced, three-dimensional audio output.
The bass response is particularly impressive, delivering weight and depth in tracks like Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" and Kendrick Lamar's "HUMBLE." For those preferring a flatter sound profile, the nine-band EQ in the Galaxy Wearable app allows customization, such as reducing bass bands for tighter control.
Treble details remain clear without harshness, as heard in Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain," while vocals are forward and distinct, even in complex arrangements like AR Rahman's "Jai Ho." However, mid-heavy mixes can occasionally sound cluttered, though EQ adjustments can mitigate this issue.
Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode
Active noise cancellation (ANC) in the Buds 4 Pro shows a clear improvement over previous models, effectively reducing low-frequency noises like those on flights or trains. During tests on a busy Delhi Metro, rail noise diminished to a murmur. However, mid-frequency sounds such as voices or office chatter penetrate more than with top-tier competitors like Sony or Bose.
Transparency mode excels, offering natural ambient sound without artificial tininess. The Voice Detect feature automatically pauses music and activates ambient sound when the user speaks, enhancing convenience during conversations.
Call Quality and Controls
Call performance is strong in noisy environments, with six microphones effectively blocking background noise like traffic. However, the noise processing can impart a slightly digitized quality to the user's voice, described as sounding "inside a tin box." This improves with Galaxy phones using Super Wideband mode, though it remains a minor drawback.
Controls involve pinch-and-swipe gestures on the stems for playback, volume, and sound modes. While functional, volume adjustments can be imprecise, and the hold gesture may misfire, leading to accidental mode switches. Voice controls via the Galaxy Wearable app offer a more reliable alternative and work on iPhones as well.
Ecosystem Integration and Features
The Buds 4 Pro shine brightest within the Samsung ecosystem. Galaxy phone users gain access to hi-res audio via the SSC UHQ codec, auto-switching between devices, head gestures, voice wakeup with Gemini and Bixby, live interpreter translation, Auracast, Find My Earbuds, and 360 Audio with head tracking. This integration creates a seamless, feature-rich experience.
Non-Samsung Android users can access most features through the Galaxy Wearable app, minus hi-res audio. For other devices like iPhones or Windows laptops, functionality reduces to basic ANC and ambient mode, with no multipoint Bluetooth support, requiring manual switching between devices.
Battery Life and Practicality
Battery performance offers six hours of playback with ANC on and seven hours without, with the case providing about three full recharges for a total of 26-27 hours. In real-world scenarios, users may achieve just over six hours with ANC active, which can fall short during long travel days compared to competitors offering eight hours.
Quick charging provides an hour of playback after ten minutes in the case, aiding in emergencies. However, at Rs 21,999, the battery life could benefit from enhancement to match premium standards.
Verdict: A Top-Tier Choice with Caveats
The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro represent Samsung's best earbuds to date, featuring excellent sound, comfortable fit, and superior transparency mode. For Galaxy phone owners, they integrate seamlessly, making them an easy recommendation despite minor flaws like ANC limitations and battery life.
For others, these earbuds deliver solid performance but lack the full feature set, subtly advocating for a switch to the Samsung ecosystem. Priced at Rs 21,999, they earn a rating of 4.5 out of 5, standing as a compelling option in the competitive wireless earbud market.
