Samsung just dropped its Galaxy Buds4 series alongside the S26 lineup, and the Pro model is bringing something new to the table - a woofer that's nearly 20% larger than its predecessor. The Korean tech giant analyzed hundreds of millions of ear data points and ran over 10,000 simulations to land on what it's calling an "iconic blade design" that's supposed to marry hi-fi audio with all-day comfort. Pre-orders start today, with general availability hitting March 11.
Samsung is making its play in the premium earbuds space with the Galaxy Buds4 series, announced today at its Galaxy Unpacked event. The lineup includes two models - the Buds4 Pro with canal-fit design and the standard Buds4 with open-fit - both sporting what the company calls a computational approach to wearable audio.
The headline feature for the Buds4 Pro is a redesigned woofer that increases the effective speaker area by 19.8% compared to the previous generation. Samsung achieved this by maximizing the vibration area while minimizing the speaker's edge, allowing for a physically wider driver without compromising the earbud's size. Paired with a tweeter in a two-way configuration, the setup delivers 24-bit/96kHz audio that Samsung says captures everything from violin highs to double bass lows with fidelity that earlier generations struggled to reproduce.
"Samsung understands that a truly premium audio experience combines technical sound quality with how that sound feels throughout a user's day," said Ikhyun Cho, Corporate VP of Mobile Enhancement R&D Team at Samsung Electronics, in the company announcement. "We engineered our most powerful hi-fi audio and our most secure, ergonomic fit to enhance one another."
But hardware is only part of the story. Samsung leaned heavily into computational design for the Buds4 series, analyzing what it claims are hundreds of millions of global ear data points and running over 10,000 simulations to land on the new blade-style form factor. The result is a smaller earbud head that's supposed to provide better stability during all-day wear, complete with a premium metal finish and an engraved pinch control area for easier settings adjustments.
The transparent clamshell charging case is a departure from previous designs, making the blade styling visible even when stored. It's a small touch, but one that signals Samsung is thinking about aesthetics beyond just the earbuds themselves.
On the software side, Samsung upgraded its Active Noise Cancellation and Adaptive EQ systems. The enhanced ANC now analyzes wearing conditions and individual ear shapes to apply optimal noise-canceling algorithms in real time, while the Adaptive EQ dynamically adjusts frequency response based on environmental conditions. Whether you're on a bus dealing with engine rumble or in a coffee shop with ambient chatter, the system is supposed to tune itself accordingly.
Super Clear Call is another addition, using super wideband technology and machine learning models to provide what Samsung claims is double the bandwidth of conventional Bluetooth calls. The feature is designed to isolate your voice even in noisy environments like baseball games or busy restaurants.
For Samsung Galaxy users, the Buds4 series integrates deeper into the ecosystem. You can trigger AI agents - including Bixby, Google Gemini, and Perplexity - with hands-free voice controls. The Buds4 Pro takes this further with head gesture controls for managing calls and engaging with Bixby, letting you nod or shake your head instead of reaching for your phone.
Setup has been streamlined too. Galaxy users can pair the Buds4 just by opening the charging case, no app installation required. Volume and EQ controls are accessible through a Buds shortcut menu or the Quick Panel on Samsung devices.
Color options include Black and White with a matte finish for both models, plus an online-exclusive Pink Gold for the Buds4 Pro. The Buds4 weighs 4.6g per earbud with a 45.1g charging case, while the Buds4 Pro comes in at 5.1g per earbud with a 44.3g case. Battery life is rated at up to 6 hours with ANC on for the Pro model (7 hours with ANC off), with the case providing up to 26 hours total.
Both models support Bluetooth 6.1, Samsung's proprietary SSC codec for hi-fi and UHQ audio, plus standard AAC, SBC, and LC3. They're also Auracast-enabled, though adoption of that technology remains limited. Water resistance is IP54 for the standard Buds4 and IP57 for the Pro, with the charging cases not rated for water protection.
The Galaxy Buds4 series is available for pre-order starting today in select markets, with general availability kicking off March 11. Pricing wasn't disclosed in the announcement, but these will launch alongside the Galaxy S26 series as part of Samsung's broader hardware refresh.
Samsung is clearly betting that data-driven design and tighter ecosystem integration can carve out space in a crowded premium earbuds market dominated by Apple's AirPods Pro and Sony's WF-1000X series. The computational approach to fit and the larger woofer address real pain points - comfort and audio quality - but the proof will be in how these perform in real-world use. The AI integration feels like table stakes in 2026, not a differentiator. What might move the needle is whether Samsung can deliver on its promise of hi-fi audio without the usual tradeoffs in size and battery life. Pre-orders start today, so we'll see if the market buys what Samsung is selling when these ship on March 11.
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