Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro AI True Wireless

The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro deliver best-in-class build quality and ANC, plus a dual-driver sound that's genuinely impressive. Battery life is the big weakness at just 6 hours per charge, and call quality is mediocre. At $250, they're a great buy for Galaxy S26 owners who can use the AI features, but everyone else should look at Sony or Technics alternatives.

The dual-driver setup is the star of the show. You get an 11mm woofer handling the low end and a separate tweeter for highs, which is a configuration you don't see often in true wireless earbuds at this price. The result is a soundstage that feels wider and more detailed than what most single-driver buds can manage. Our database puts the sound quality in the 86th percentile, which translates to a very strong showing, though not quite the absolute best. The Hi-Res 24-bit codec helps preserve detail over Bluetooth, and if you're listening to lossless files on a compatible Samsung phone, you'll notice the difference in busy tracks where lesser codecs tend to smear things together.

The ANC is where these really shine. Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation 2.0 lands in the 97th percentile, which means it's competing with the best noise-cancelling earbuds on the market right now. It adjusts in real time based on your environment, and in practice that means you get strong cancellation on a plane or train without that weird pressure feeling when things get quiet. The transparency mode is also solid, letting in enough ambient sound to hold a conversation without removing the buds.

Battery life is the weak spot, and it's not close. Six hours from the earbuds and 26 hours total with the case puts these in the 16th percentile. That's rough for a flagship in 2026, especially when competitors are pushing eight to ten hours per charge. If you're a heavy user or you forget to charge your case, you'll feel this limitation quickly. The Qi wireless charging on the case helps a bit, but it doesn't fix the core issue.

The Sony WF-1000XM6 is the most direct competitor, and it's a tough matchup. Sony typically leads the category in battery life and call quality, two areas where the Samsung struggles. The XM6 will likely give you more hours per charge and better microphone performance, but the Samsung counters with superior build quality and that dual-driver sound that's hard to beat for music lovers. If calls matter to you, Sony is probably the safer bet. If you're mostly listening to music and want the best ANC, Samsung makes a strong case.

The Technics EAH-AZ100 is another interesting alternative, especially for audiophiles. Technics has a reputation for tuning that appeals to people who care about accuracy and detail, and their earbuds often punch above their weight in sound quality. The Samsung's 86th percentile sound score is strong, but Technics might edge it out for pure listening. The Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Generation is the obvious choice for iPhone users, and honestly, if you're not on Android, there's no reason to consider the Samsung at all. The AI features and seamless integration simply don't work without a Galaxy phone.

For budget-conscious buyers, the Soundcore P31i and EarFun Air Pro 4+ are worth a look. They won't match the Samsung's ANC or build quality, but they cost significantly less and offer decent sound for the money. If you're not tied to the Samsung ecosystem, you can save a lot of cash without giving up too much.

At $250 USD, the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro sit right in the middle of the flagship earbud market. The Technics EAH-AZ100 and Sony WF-1000XM6 both compete in this range, and the Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Generation is the obvious alternative for iPhone users. The value question really comes down to what phone you own. If you have a Galaxy S26, these earbuds unlock features that no other pair can match, and the $250 price feels justified. If you don't, you're paying flagship money for earbuds with below-average battery life and a bunch of features you can't use.

The CAD 247 listing in Canada is interesting because it's actually slightly cheaper than the US price when you look at the raw numbers, though currency differences make direct comparison tricky. Either way, you're not getting a bargain here. You're paying for the Samsung ecosystem integration and the excellent ANC, and you're accepting the battery trade-off that comes with it.

Samsung's Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are the company's swing at making a flagship earbud that does more than just play music. The pitch is pretty straightforward: dual drivers in each bud, a Hi-Res codec, adaptive ANC, and a bunch of AI tricks that only really work if you're carrying a Galaxy S26. It's a lot of tech packed into a small package, and for the most part, Samsung nails the execution. The build quality is top of the charts, the noise cancellation is among the best we've seen, and the sound is a genuine step up from the previous generation.

Who's this for? If you're deep in the Samsung ecosystem and want earbuds that feel like an extension of your phone, this is basically the default choice. The AI assistant integration and live translation features are genuinely useful if you travel or just want hands-free help without pulling out your phone. But if you're on an iPhone or even a non-Samsung Android, you're leaving a lot of the headline features on the table.

The interesting tension here is that Samsung built a fantastic pair of earbuds and then tied some of the best features to a specific phone lineup. The hardware itself is excellent, but the value proposition shifts depending on what's in your pocket. We'll dig into what that means for real buyers below.

If you don't own a Galaxy S26 or don't plan to get one, you should probably look elsewhere. The AI features and live translation are the main differentiators here, and without them you're left with great ANC and sound but below-average battery life at a flagship price. The Sony WF-1000XM6 gives you better battery and call quality for similar money, and the Technics EAH-AZ100 is a better pick for pure audio quality.

Heavy travelers and people who take lots of phone calls should also think twice. The 6-hour battery means you'll be reaching for the charging case on long flights, and the call quality is the weakest part of the package. If you're on calls all day, the AirPods Pro 3rd Generation or Sony's offering will treat your voice better. And if you're on a budget, the Soundcore P31i or EarFun Air Pro 4+ deliver decent sound for a fraction of the price.

If you own a Galaxy S26 or plan to upgrade to one, the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are an easy recommendation. The AI integration, live translation, and seamless pairing make these feel like a natural extension of your phone, and the ANC and sound quality are genuinely excellent. The battery life is a real annoyance, but if you're not a marathon listener, you can work around it.

For everyone else, the calculus changes. These are still great earbuds in a vacuum, but you're paying for features you can't use and accepting below-average battery life without getting the ecosystem benefits in return. The Sony WF-1000XM6 or Technics EAH-AZ100 will serve you better if you're on a non-Samsung Android phone, and iPhone users should just get the AirPods Pro 3rd Generation. The Samsung is a great product, but it's a great product with a very specific audience in mind.