Samsung has been on a tear in recent years, with several fantastic phones and earbuds. I’ve been a Samsung user for over a decade, with the Buds line being a constant favourite for blasting tunes on the go. The Galaxy Buds 3 changed up the tried-and-true formula, aiming for an open-type earbud similar to those from other giants in the space, like Apple’s AirPods. The Galaxy Buds 4 follow in step. They largely succeed here, with the Galaxy Buds 4 being full of great features, but they have one fatal flaw: they don’t stay in my ears. I’ve had the same issues with Apple’s AirPods, so as much as I want to like the Buds 4, they’re hard to use when not sitting still at my computer.
Galactic Sound
Let’s start with the hardware rundown. The Galaxy Buds 4 continue the pivot from the Galaxy Buds 3, but with better effect. The Galaxy Buds 4 are open-type earbuds, meaning they don’t have a silicone tip on the end for fit. They’re incredibly light, putting no strain on my ears when in use. They feature Bluetooth 6.1, up from the Galaxy Buds 3, which used Bluetooth 5.4. They have adaptive active noise cancellation, feature a 5-6-hour battery life, and include IP54 water resistance.
All of the tech here is fantastic, with the ANC working really well. Whether it’s my partner using a hair dryer or a dog barking, the ANC blocks out almost all of the surrounding noise. The sound quality is also top-tier, with bass that thumps like that of even over-ear headphones. The vocals also come through clearly, without the tinny highs that used to appear in past versions. It handles well, especially across genres.
Rap and hip hop hit the bass hard, with the buds rumbling like a subwoofer in the back of a car. Blasting “Woke Up” by XG got me instantly hyped, with the high hats cracking through clearly and the vocals sounding bright and loud. This continues across pop punk and rock, with “Came Out Swinging” by The Wonder Years properly blasting through with crunchy guitars and drums. Those looking for some of the best sound available in earbuds will find plenty to love here.
This quality extends to watching YouTube and any other videos. Voices are clear, sounds are balanced, and it sounds properly cinematic. When it comes to sound and ANC, the Galaxy Buds 4 do a great job, with one glaring factor: how well they fit. Without a proper seal, the quality can range widely. They’ll never sound bad, but going from solid to fantastic ranges on how well they sit.
Wearable Wonders
The Galaxy Buds 4 also include several new software improvements. Head gestures are a nice touch that usually work well, letting you nod to answer calls for a truly hands-free experience. The Galaxy Wearable app also includes several more specific ANC controls, EQ presets, and extensive AI integration. The charging case also has a really satisfying magnetic snap to keep them in place, along with a premium metal finish that makes them feel premium. There’s also a new feature with the Galaxy Buds 4: auto switch. Jumping from one Samsung device to another is seamless. You can start a song on one device, decide to watch a YouTube video on another, and the Buds will recognize that and switch connections quickly and easily. If you’re plugged into the Samsung ecosystem, it eliminates all the manual switching and works really well.
The Galaxy Buds 4 also change the physical design compared to the Buds 3. The pinch controls are on a flatter stem, which does take a while to get used to. They’re not always intuitive to use. You pinch the stem to pause or play, double-pinch to skip, and adjust the volume by swiping on the stem. You can also adjust settings to change the pinch effects on each Bud individually. You can put the Samsung Translator on one Bud, for example, letting you pinch the stem to start the translator right away. It works surprisingly well; speaking back and forth with my partner in Korean was a breeze. The major issue with the Buds 4 starts here, as using the pinch controls can move the earbud.
Finding The Fit Is A Problem
The fit here on the Buds 4 has been the critical issue I’ve had when using them. Admittedly, I have big ears, but they fall out of my ears incredibly easily. Sometimes you can really find a decent fit, but do anything more than walking around, and they drop. I haven’t been able to bend, run, or do anything that requires me to move more than slightly. Whenever I found something that made them stay, any time I used the pinch controls, it’d reset the positioning, and I’d be back to square one. This means that all of the fantastic sound and ANC improvements are also tied to finding the right position and hoping you don’t move often.
My partner has smaller ears, and for her, they stay in much better. The lack of a silicone tip here makes them virtually unusable for me, despite the fantastic tech they include. It’s unfortunate, because I really do like a lot of what the Buds 4 are doing, but using them in any real-world situation immediately becomes untenable. I’m terrified that they’ll fall out every time I use them.
Samsung has really followed Apple’s open design philosophy here, with these competing most directly with the AirPods. The price difference between the two isn’t insignificant (AirPods 4 retail at $179.99 CAD, while the Buds 4 are at $249.99 CAD), but if you like the AirPods and are in the Android or Samsung ecosystem, it’s worth the jump to the Buds. Those who don’t care for open-type earbuds might want to consider the Buds 4 Pro, which have silicone tips that should provide a much better fit.
Verdict
Overall, the Galaxy Buds 4 are great earbuds, but I can’t use them when sitting or walking slowly. The ANC and sound are greatly improved compared to the Buds 3; the metallic finish looks premium and feels great, and the new software improvements make them easy to use. The new pinch controls do mess with the positioning, and critically, the open design makes them fall out of my ears easily. I really want to love the Buds 4, I wish they’d stay in my ears.
[Samsung provided a launch retail unit for this review.]
