Key Samsung Galaxy Buds4 features you should know about

The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 are the company's latest wireless earbuds, available in two models: the Galaxy Buds4 and the Galaxy Buds4 Pro. Both pairs share the same core experience — clearer calls, real-time translation, adaptive noise cancellation, and automatic switching between devices — while the Pro adds a fuller sound system, stronger noise cancellation, and hands-free head controls.

Paired with a Galaxy phone such as the Galaxy S26 Ultra, they connect through the Bluetooth settings in One UI 8.5 with no separate app required, and the phone powers features like translation directly through the earbuds. This guide covers the key features across both pairs.

The main features across the Galaxy Buds4 series:

The sound system is the speaker hardware that determines how the earbuds reproduce audio, and it is the main difference between the two pairs. The Galaxy Buds4 use a single speaker in each earbud with a 24-bit Hi-Fi codec, which produces a warm, bass-leaning sound suited to music, podcasts, and calls. Their open-type design lets in some ambient sound, which many people prefer for commuting or working.

The Galaxy Buds4 Pro use a larger two-speaker setup in each earbud — an 11mm woofer for low tones and a 5.5mm planar tweeter for high tones, each with its own amplifier. In plain terms, that wider split lets the Pro reproduce a broader range of sound, with more low-end depth and more high-end detail than a single-speaker design.

Paired with a Galaxy phone such as the Galaxy S26 Ultra, the Galaxy Buds4 Pro also support higher-resolution 24-bit/96kHz^[6] audio through Samsung's Seamless Codec.

Adaptive ANC (active noise cancellation) is a feature that cuts background noise and automatically adjusts noise cancellation based on your surroundings rather than applying a single fixed level. On the Galaxy Buds4, Adaptive ANC uses pre-trained algorithms that work well in typical environments like commutes, offices, and busy streets.

The Galaxy Buds4 Pro take this further with Adaptive ANC 2.0, which uses real-time processing to deliver more precise cancellation across changing environments. It dynamically adjusts which frequencies are being cancelled based on what is happening around you, rather than applying a fixed cancellation profile. Combined with the sealed silicone-tip design on the Galaxy Buds4 Pro, the result is stronger isolation from background noise overall.

Super Clear Call is a feature that improves voice clarity in both directions during phone calls. It is available on both the Galaxy Buds4 and the Galaxy Buds4 Pro.

The standard Bluetooth call quality ceiling is 8kHz, while Super Clear Call uses super wideband Bluetooth technology and machine learning to extend that to around 16kHz, making voices sound more natural.

Super Clear Call works the same way on both pairs, so you get the same call quality whether you choose the Galaxy Buds4 or the Galaxy Buds4 Pro.

Pairing with the Galaxy S26 Ultra means voice calls sound clearer than calls made through standard Bluetooth audio.

Live Translate is a feature that provides real-time translation during in-person conversations and phone calls, available on both the Galaxy Buds4 and the Galaxy Buds4 Pro. When paired with a compatible Galaxy device such as the Galaxy S26 Ultra, the phone handles the translation work and plays the translated voice directly through the earbuds. The feature supports 22 languages.

Live Translate is a Galaxy AI^[7] feature, useful for travel and multilingual conversations: the earbuds let you hear translations during a face-to-face conversation without holding the phone up, and the same flow works for calls in another language.

Auto Switch is a feature that lets your earbuds follow your audio from one Samsung device to another automatically, so you do not have to disconnect and reconnect them by hand. It works on both the Galaxy Buds4 and Galaxy Buds4 Pro.

If you are listening to music on the Galaxy S26 Ultra and a call comes in on a Galaxy Tab signed in to the same Samsung account, the audio switches to the Galaxy Tab without you needing to disconnect and reconnect the earbuds manually.

Auto Switch is configured through the Bluetooth settings menu on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, which is also where you can adjust other earbud settings without needing a separate app. The feature is particularly useful for people who regularly use a Galaxy phone, tablet, and laptop during the day.

360 Audio with head tracking is a feature that delivers spatial sound which adjusts to head movement, available on the Galaxy Buds4 Pro. As you turn your head, the audio shifts so the source stays in place, useful for video, films, and games where the sense of direction matters.

360 Audio makes the Galaxy Buds4 Pro better suited to video, films, and games, especially when watching content on the Galaxy S26 Ultra's display or a connected screen.

Head Gesture controls are a feature that lets you accept or decline incoming calls and trigger AI assistant actions with a nod or shake of the head, available on the Galaxy Buds4 Pro. This is useful in situations where your hands are occupied — during a workout, while carrying groceries, or when reaching for the phone or the earbud is not practical.

Head Gesture controls work alongside the standard touch controls on the Galaxy Buds4 Pro, so you can choose whichever input method suits the moment.

The Galaxy Buds4 carry an IP54 rating for dust and splash resistance, which is enough for everyday weather, light rain, and workouts where sweat is a factor. The Galaxy Buds4 Pro go further with an IP57 rating, which adds dust resistance at the higher level plus water immersion in up to 1 metre of fresh water for up to 30 minutes.

For people who run, cycle, or train heavily outdoors, the IP57 rating on the Galaxy Buds4 Pro provides additional protection against water and dust. The Galaxy Buds4’s IP54 rating is suited to most everyday scenarios where you might encounter water but not full immersion.

Both the Galaxy Buds4 and Galaxy Buds4 Pro pair seamlessly with the Galaxy S26 Ultra through the Bluetooth settings menu in One UI 8.5, with no separate app required for everyday configuration. Both run on Bluetooth 6.1 and support the same core ecosystem features — Super Clear Call, Live Translate, Auto Switch, and integration with AI assistants.

The Galaxy Buds4 and Galaxy Buds4 Pro share the same core experience, and the differences between them come down to how far each feature is taken. The Galaxy Buds4 Pro offer a fuller sound system, more advanced noise cancellation, and hands-free head controls, while the Galaxy Buds4 keep the core features and ecosystem benefits at a lower price.

^{[1] Super Clear Call: Available on selected Galaxy smartphones and tablets with One UI 6.1.1 or above.}

^{[2] Live Translate: Real Time Interpreter and Live Translate available when paired with compatible Samsung Galaxy devices with Galaxy AI features. Samsung account login required language pack downloaded. Service availability may vary by language. Accuracy of results not guaranteed.}

^{[3] Head Gesture controls: Requires Galaxy smartphone with One UI 8.5 or above.}

^{[4] IP54: Based on lab test conditions, the device is sprayed by 10 liters of fresh water per minute for 5 minutes at all angles. Not advised for submersion, beach or pool use.}

^{[5] IP57: Based on lab test conditions for submersion in up to 1 meter of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Not advised for beach or pool use.}

^{[6] Ultra high-quality audio: Ultra-high-quality audio up to 24-bit/96kHz is available on selected Galaxy smartphones and tablets with One UI 6.1.1 or above.}

^{[7] Galaxy AI: Available when connected to a Samsung Galaxy smartphone with Galaxy AI.}