Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro (Black) review

Research-based assessment: Samsung's black Galaxy Buds4 Pro is a sealed in-ear model with three supplied tip sizes, active noise cancellation and a wirelessly chargeable case. The useful buying distinction is not simply “more premium”: it combines the sealed fit with Galaxy-specific high-resolution modes, but it still has accessory, host-compatibility and case-protection limits. This assessment draws on Samsung's US product, comparison and exact-SKU pages and its operating guide; it is not a wear test, hands-on trial or measurement.

The sealed fit is a feature—and a personal variable

Samsung lists small, medium and large silicone tips in the box, with the medium size attached out of the package. That lets a buyer try a few sizes, but it cannot promise that the Buds4 Pro will seal comfortably or stay put in a particular ear. Tip fit affects the practical value of a canal-style design, especially when a shopper wants to reduce outside sound passively or use active cancellation. Samsung's guide explains how to remove and reseat tips; it does not establish individual comfort or fit. Try both ears and check the seller's return terms before treating the listed fit as a match.

That separates Buds4 Pro from the open-fit Buds4. If a canal tip is uncomfortable or the open-ear sensation is the priority, the Buds4's layout is a different solution rather than a cheaper version of this one. Buds4 Pro's three included sizes are a useful starting point, not an anatomical guarantee.

Two speaker paths and adaptive cancellation shape the Pro case

Samsung describes a two-way speaker arrangement, dual amplifiers, adaptive ANC 2.0, ambient sound, Voice Detect and Siren Detect. Those are manufacturer-described components and modes, not an independent listening test. The two-way architecture is the clearest hardware distinction from the one-way Buds4 and Buds3 FE; it may matter to someone comparing the product designs, but specifications alone cannot establish that every listener will prefer the sound. ANC, voice and siren behavior also depend on fit, settings and a supported host. Samsung says advanced setup is handled through compatible Galaxy settings or Galaxy Wearable on supported Android devices. On iOS, the earbuds can connect as Bluetooth audio, but the Galaxy Wearable app is not supported.

The headline audio option is Samsung Seamless Codec UHQ, which Samsung associates with up to 24-bit/96 kHz playback on selected Galaxy devices and supported software. UHQ is off by default and is not a universal result from every phone, app or service. Samsung also lists AAC, SBC and LC3; the source device and audio route still need to support the codec actually selected. A Bluetooth version number by itself does not tell a shopper which codec a phone will send.

Read the battery figure as a maximum, not a schedule

Samsung's current US comparison lists up to six hours of music with ANC on per earbud charge and 26 hours total with the case; with ANC off, the figures are seven hours and 30 hours. These are published maximum claims under Samsung's conditions, not measured results for this assessment. Settings, signal, playback and use can change actual time. Samsung does not split the six-hour ANC figure by AAC, SBC, LC3 or UHQ. For that reason, this assessment records the generic ANC runtime separately from the codec modes instead of promising six hours for every individual codec arrangement.

The case's wireless charging is genuinely useful if a compatible pad is already part of the routine. Samsung says the pad, USB-C cable and charger are not included. Its manual also cautions that some case covers can interfere with wireless charging. A shopper who needs an included cable or charger should inspect the exact package and budget for those accessories rather than infer them from the charging feature.

Water protection belongs to the earbuds, not the case

Samsung describes the earbuds as IP57 rated, but its FAQ explicitly says the charging case is not IP57 rated. That distinction matters more than the rating shorthand: the case is part of the item a traveler carries and charges, and Samsung advises drying moisture from contacts before charging. IP57 is not a promise that the case is waterproof, nor is it a reason to use the set for swimming or showering. Treat the earbuds and case as separate parts with different protection.

Finish is cosmetic; verify the exact US item

Samsung's US comparison and individual buy pages identify Black SM-R640NZKAXAR, White SM-R640NZWAXAR and online-exclusive Pink Gold SM-R640NZDAXAR. These are finish variants of the same Buds4 Pro family; the assessed functional configuration is Black. The product images below come from Samsung's exact-US-SKU pages and show the earbuds, not a complete retail package. Color should not be confused with a different generation or with the separate Buds4 case: Samsung says the Buds4 and Buds4 Pro cases have different shapes and are not interchangeable.

Who should compare it—and what to check

The Buds4 Pro is a plausible shortlist candidate when sealed in-ear fit, ANC and a wirelessly chargeable case are firm requirements. It is less suitable when the listener needs a case with its own water rating, expects all Galaxy software features to work on an iPhone, wants included charging accessories, or needs two-device Bluetooth multipoint. Samsung documents Auto Switch across compatible Galaxy products under the same Samsung account; that is not the same as a confirmed simultaneous multipoint arrangement with arbitrary devices. The available evidence does not justify advertising it as one.

• Match the US Black model code SM-R640NZKAXAR; do not substitute a Buds4 listing or an accessory case.
• Check that S, M or L provides an acceptable seal in each ear and that the seller's return terms allow a fit decision.
• Confirm the exact host supports the codec and Galaxy features you plan to use; UHQ is restricted to specified Galaxy hosts.
• Check whether a wireless pad and USB-C cable are already available; neither is included in Samsung's stated box contents.
• Keep the case dry and follow Samsung's drying instructions before charging after moisture exposure.

Bottom line: Buds4 Pro combines a sealed tip fit, ANC and Samsung-specific audio features with a wireless-charging case. The strongest reasons to consider it are the particular features that coexist in that package—not a claim of universally superior sound or comfort. Its most important checks are host support, individual fit, separate case protection and the accessories that Samsung leaves out.

Primary evidence: Samsung US Buds4 Pro product details, Samsung US comparison, Black US SKU page, and the SM-R640/R540 operating manual. The manual is the Canadian English download for the shared model family and is used only for operating and care steps, not US package details.