Samsung Galaxy Buds4 wishlist: All the features I want to see

Samsung remains a key player in the true wireless earbuds arena, especially for Samsung smartphone owners. The company’s latest Galaxy Buds3 Pro showcase many desirable Samsung-exclusive features and AI capabilities. However, while its flagship product sits comfortably as a future-proof offering, the more pedestrian Galaxy Buds3 fall stupendously short of the mark. Instead of building on the successes of the Galaxy Buds2, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 tried their hand at something new and it didn’t quite pay off. In doing so, the hope of a vastly improved and up-to-date Samsung Galaxy Buds4 has quickly gained momentum.

Rumors of the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 are virtually nonexistent given the Galaxy Buds3 launched only a few months ago. However, I have compiled a list of all of the improvements Samsung will need to make if it wants to re-earn the trust of its fanbase. Read on for all the features I want in the Samsung Galaxy Buds4.

An improved fit

Open-fit earbuds are not my cup of tea, but their appeal among athletes and those who enjoy unoccluded ears cannot be understated. Many brands have caught wind of this trend and are entering the market with comfortable and secure buds that rest outside the ear canal. The Nothing Ear (Open) are a shining example and wear a hooked-shaped form factor that wraps around the back of the ear. This allows the drivers to rest nearer to the ear canal without blocking your hearing from environmental noise.

Unfortunately, Samsung appears to have taken a page from Apple’s playbook and designed unsealed earbuds similar to the AirPods (4th generation). Sure, stemmed designs are popular, but they aren’t enough to secure earbuds in place on their own. The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 leave an awkward space between the concha and earbud, making it virtually impossible to achieve a reliable fit. The accumulation of sweat and skin oils also makes it more likely the buds will spontaneously dislodge themselves. We’d like to see Samsung either reinstate silicone ear tips or improve the shape of the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 when they come to fruition.

More consistent active noise canceling

Loose-fitting earbuds nearly always sound bad due to a perceived lack of bass, lower volume, and prevalent ambient noise. The same rule applies regarding active noise canceling (ANC) technology. If you want to get the most out of ANC, it’s vital to secure a robust seal using either silicone and foam ear tips or tight-gripping ear cups. The better the isolation, the more effective the noise canceling.

Unsealed earbuds are designed to leave your ear canals unobstructed, allowing environmental noise into your music mix. Doing so profoundly affects how well ANC-enabled unsealed earbuds can quell unwanted ambient sounds. Like the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 come equipped with ANC technology. However, they do less well than their Apple rival at attenuating mid and high-end frequencies. The Galaxy Buds3’s unreliable fit also means noise canceling experiences differ wildly each time you wear the buds. Samsung should implement more consistent noise canceling capabilities in the Samsung Galaxy Buds4.

A smarter charging case

Like earbuds, charging cases have gotten smarter over the years. Once restricted to storing, pairing, and charging our earbuds, many modern cases come equipped with nifty features. For example, the JBL Tour Pro 3 case adorns an attractive touchscreen that can handle most functions in the JBL Headphones app. These include changing sound settings, activating ANC, Find My earbuds, and more directly from the case. Cool aesthetics aside, it’s convenient for those less fond of fumbling around in their phone’s companion app.

The JBL Tour Pro 3 case’s best feature is its ability to connect to third-party devices via USB-to-3.5mm and transmit audio wirelessly to the earbuds. This breathes new life into older hardware that would otherwise be tearfully resigned to the nearest charity shop shelf. The case also supports Auracast broadcasting to any compatible device. By comparison, the Buds3 case does not support audio transmitting or Auracast broadcasting capabilities. The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 would do well to adopt these functionalities if they want to keep pace with increasingly popular market trends.

Better in-call noise reduction

Most true wireless earbuds have decent enough microphone quality for casual phone calls. However, they are less suited for important Zoom meetings, gaming chat, and content streaming. Instead, fans should consider grabbing over-ear headphones or cans with a detachable boom microphone. These are better at picking up voices because the microphone is closer to the mouth. Earbuds with a stemmed design usually enjoy superior in-call audio quality than pill-shaped buds for the same reason.

Earbud manufacturers employ in-call noise-reduction algorithms to reduce the prevalence of unwanted environmental noise. However, while the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 feature improved in-call microphone quality than their predecessor, they do a mediocre job of quelling distracting office chatter, wind, and busy street noise. Sure, Samsung’s Mic mode can improve microphone quality, but it only works with Galaxy smartphones and tablets. The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 should profit from better in-call noise reduction when they come to market.

Longer battery life

Wireless audio product battery capacities vary wildly from one device to the next. For example, over-ear headphones enjoy an average battery life of roughly 20 hours. By comparison, true wireless earbuds last between four and five hours on a single charge. In our testing, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 profited a smack-dap-average four hours and 56 minutes battery life. While this should endure most commutes to and from the office, it falls short of much of the competition.

For example, the Sony WF-1000XM5 award nearly 10 hours of continuous music playback time. Likewise, the EarFun Air Pro 4 last roughly nine hours and cost significantly less than the Samsung Galaxy Buds3. Even the Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation last over six hours and profit Optimized Charging to mitigate premature battery degradation. The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 should feature longer battery life for long-haul intercontinental flights and frequent travelers.

Will there be a Samsung Galaxy Buds4?

Samsung was comparatively late to the wireless earbuds party and released its first product in 2019. Nowadays though, it manufactures desirable, feature-rich buds that work seamlessly within the Samsung ecosystem. The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro take the crown and enjoy powerful ANC, the Samsung Seamless Codec, and Intelligent Conversation Mode. Samsung’s latest Galaxy Buds3 Pro are a handy future-proof follow-up, albeit with less convincing noise canceling capabilities.

Unfortunately, there has been no official confirmation from Samsung about the Galaxy Buds4. However, given the company remains one of the most prevalent smartphone manufacturers, I expect a next-gen upgrade will materialize.

• Samsung Galaxy Buds — March 8, 2019
• Samsung Galaxy Buds2 — August 28, 2021
• Samsung Galaxy Buds3 — July 10, 2024

Samsung has a history of updating its Galaxy Buds line every two to three years. For example, the original Samsung Galaxy Buds launched on March 8, 2019. These were followed by the Galaxy Buds2 two years and five months later on August 28, 2021. Similarly, the company’s latest Galaxy Buds3 launched two years and 11 months later on July 10, 2024. By that metric, we should expect the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 to hit shelves in the spring or summer of 2027.

Should you wait for the Samsung Galaxy Buds4?

Let’s face it — the Galaxy Buds3 are not Samsung’s finest work to date. The insecure fit and subsequent issues with sound quality and ANC make them a questionable purchase for most. Sure — open-fit fans may be enticed and can grab a pair from major retailers including Amazon and Best Buy. Doing so unlocks next-gen AI features, spatial audio, and advanced processing power. However, it is worth questioning whether the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 are right for you before committing your money.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 ($179.99 at Amazon) are a member of a small club of ANC-enabled open-fit wireless earbuds. These wear an AirPods-like exterior with color-coded charging contacts, making them easier to place in the charging case. The bladed stems use intuitive pinch controls and the earbuds can endure a drizzle thanks to their IP57 ingress protection rating. Android smartphone owners can utilize the Samsung Galaxy Wearable app to conduct vital firmware updates, toggle ANC, adjust EQ presets, and enjoy handy AI features. Unfortunately, only current Samsung phones can use the earbuds’ best features like the Samsung Seamless Bluetooth codec, Live translation, and AI interpretation. The insecure fit also means your noise canceling and sound quality experience is unpredictable.

iPhone owners looking for a similar fit and feature set should consider the Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation ($179.99 at Amazon.) These buds enjoy an IP54 water- and dust-resistant rating and are controlled by pinching the indentation of the lollipop stem. You can also use nonverbal cues like nodding or shaking your head to answer calls or hear texts. The Find My app helps you locate the earbuds and track the case — a feature not supported by the standard AirPods 4. Under the hood is spatial audio with head tracking and the ability to connect to multiple devices. The earbuds connect via Bluetooth 5.3 via the AAC codec and have a decent frequency response for open-fit buds. Unfortunately, Apple’s best features are reserved exclusively for iOS devices.

Those who can’t stand anything in their ears should grab the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 ($179.95 at Amazon.) These bone-conduction headphones leave your ears unoccluded and enjoy many handy features. For example, the rubber-coated exterior is IP55-rated to protect against sweat and dust. They also last 12 hours on a single charge and adorn an up-to-date USB-C charging port instead of their predecessor’s 2-pin connector. The headphone’s companion app supplies five EQ presets and a five-band custom EQ. You can also enable Bluetooth multipoint to connect to several devices simultaneously. Compared to other bone-conduction headphones, the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2’s audio quality is much more consistent when opening your mouth. Unfortunately microphone quality takes a hit and the volume rocker controls are almost indistinguishable.

Lastly, Samsung smartphone owners looking for seamless integration and a smarter fit should snatch the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE ($99 at Amazon.) Measuring just 19 x 17 x 22 mm, the earbuds are discreet and nestle into a tiny, pocketable charging case. They also wear concha fins to hold the earbuds against the outer ear and package small, medium, and large ear tips. Gym enthusiasts will appreciate the IPX2 water-resistant rating, and the pressure-sensitive flat surfaces are easily controlled. The Samsung Galaxy Wearable app provides access to vital firmware updates, control customizations, and equalizer adjustments. Battery life is average and runs at four hours and 38 minutes. Like the Galaxy Buds3, the Samsung Scalable Codec is only accessible with Samsung smartphones. However, noise canceling and audio quality are vastly more pleasing with the Galaxy Buds FE.

Samsung Galaxy Buds4 FAQs