UPDATED · News · 11 Mar 2026 · MTW News Desk
Samsung has officially launched the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, and they represent the most significant redesign the company’s true wireless earbuds have seen in years. Available from today at £249, the new flagship earbuds introduce a distinctive stem design, 24-bit hi-res audio, and a suite of ANC improvements that Samsung hopes will finally close the gap with Apple’s AirPods Pro 3. Here is everything you need to know about the launch.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro: Contents
- A Bold New Design Language
- 24-Bit Bluetooth Audio via Samsung Seamless Codec
- How Do They Compare to AirPods Pro 3?
- Pricing and Availability
A Bold New Design Language
The most immediately obvious change is the move to a stemmed design, a departure from the bean-shaped form factor Samsung has used since the Galaxy Buds Pro generation. The stems are shorter than those on the AirPods Pro, with a slightly wider, rounded tip that houses an array of microphones and touch-sensitive controls.
Samsung says the redesign is not merely cosmetic. The stems allow for better microphone placement, which should translate to improved call quality and more effective active noise cancellation. The earbuds themselves weigh just 5.1 grams each, and Samsung has expanded the range of included ear tips, with the IP57 dust and water resistance rating giving them a stronger spec than the AirPods Pro 3 on paper.
24-Bit Bluetooth Audio via Samsung Seamless Codec
The Buds 4 Pro support 24-bit/96kHz hi-res audio over Bluetooth through the Samsung Seamless Codec (SSC UHQ), which requires a compatible Galaxy device running One UI 6.1.1 or later. A two-way speaker system with a wider woofer and precision tweeter handles the actual drive, and Samsung claims the woofer’s effective speaker area is almost 20 percent larger than on the Buds 3 Pro.
For non-Samsung devices, the Buds 4 Pro fall back to AAC and SBC codecs. There is no aptX support, which remains a notable omission, particularly for Android users on non-Samsung handsets. We covered the full audio specification breakdown when the design leaked earlier this month.
How Do They Compare to AirPods Pro 3?
The obvious rival is Apple’s AirPods Pro 3, which launched at £219 in the UK and $249 in the US. Apple’s offering has the edge in ecosystem integration for iPhone users, with features like adaptive listening, Personalised Spatial Audio and Live Translation that only work within the Apple ecosystem. The AirPods Pro 3 use Apple’s H2 chip alongside a revamped multiport acoustic architecture, rather than the new H3 chip that has been rumoured for a later generation.
Samsung’s advantages are the 24-bit SSC codec for Galaxy owners, stronger IP57 dust/water resistance (versus Apple’s IP54) and broader Android compatibility. For Android users, particularly those with Samsung phones, the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are the stronger choice. For iPhone users, the AirPods Pro 3 remain the better-integrated option. If you are still weighing up your options, our guide to the best wireless earbuds under £100 covers strong alternatives at a lower price point.
Pricing and Availability
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are available from today, 11 March 2026, priced at £249 (or $249.99 in the US). They come in three colourways: Graphite, Lavender, and a new Mint finish. Pre-orders placed before launch will ship with a complimentary set of memory foam ear tips from Comply, valued at around £25.
Samsung is also offering a trade-in discount of up to £80 when you return a pair of Galaxy Buds 2 Pro or Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, bringing the effective price down to £169, which makes the upgrade considerably more appealing. Stock is available through Samsung’s UK store, John Lewis, Amazon, and major mobile carriers.
First impressions suggest Samsung has delivered a meaningful generational upgrade. We will have a full review once we have spent a few weeks with the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro in daily use.
What 24-bit Bluetooth audio on the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro really gets you
Samsung’s headline pitch for the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro is 24-bit hi-res Bluetooth audio, which is the kind of spec that sounds like marketing but actually has a real-world basis. Combined with a compatible Galaxy phone running One UI 6.1.1 or later and a Tidal Hi-Fi or Apple Music lossless subscription, you can finally hear close to the actual master file on a wireless setup without on-the-fly transcoding losses.
The catch is that 24-bit hi-res on the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro only works in a tightly controlled stack: a recent Galaxy phone with SSC UHQ support, a streaming service that delivers the format, and no cross-room handoff. Pair them with an iPhone and you drop straight back to AAC. That is fine if you are a Samsung household, frustrating if you are not.
Outside the headline format, the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro improvements are the kind of generational tweaks that add up: better-fitting tips, a noticeably stronger ANC seal, and a transparency mode that finally sounds like wearing nothing rather than a slightly-flattened version of the room. They are not a revolution, but they are the most polished pair of buds Samsung has shipped to date.
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