Samsung's Galaxy Buds 4 debut with a sleek, flat charging case and sharper earbud silhouette, but the base model's lack of silicone ear tips undermines comfort and performance. While the $180 Buds 4 skip in-ear tips for a lightweight feel, the $250 Buds 4 Pro include them, creating a seal for better noise cancellation. This split design forces buyers to choose between portability and functionality, a stark contrast to rivals like Apple and Google, which maintain consistent tip usage across tiers.The Buds 4's smooth, unibody design lacks the grip of earlier models, causing frequent slippage during movement.

Testing revealed instability during basic actions like bending over, with earbuds prone to dislodging. In contrast, the AirPods 4’s pointed driver housing offers a more secure fit despite similar tip-less design. Samsung’s omission of anatomical contours in the Buds 4 exacerbates this, making ANC ineffective as ambient noise penetrates the loose fit.Sound quality suffers without a proper seal, as drivers shift position, distorting audio clarity.

While the Pro variant delivers studio-grade performance, the base model’s compromises highlight a misstep in Samsung’s strategy. For ANC-centric users, the Buds 4’s trade-offs—despite aesthetic wins—make them a hard recommendation unless comfort trumps functionality.