Samsung just launched the Galaxy Buds4 Pro, and they're being hailed as the closest thing Android users can get to Apple's AirPods Pro experience. According to Wired's hands-on review, the latest iteration bridges the gap between the two ecosystems in ways previous Galaxy Buds never quite managed. For Android users who've watched iPhone owners enjoy seamless audio experiences, this could finally be Samsung's answer to Apple's stranglehold on premium wireless earbuds.
Samsung is taking its most aggressive swing yet at Apple's audio empire. The Galaxy Buds4 Pro arrived Wednesday with what reviewers are calling an unprecedented level of polish for Android earbuds, finally delivering the kind of seamless integration that's kept AirPods Pro at the top of premium audio charts since 2019.
According to Wired's Ryan Waniata, the Buds4 Pro nail "all the best ways" that make AirPods Pro so appealing. That's a remarkable claim considering Samsung's been chasing Apple's audio magic for years through multiple Galaxy Buds iterations. The difference this time appears to be Samsung's willingness to borrow liberally from Apple's playbook rather than try to reinvent it.
The timing couldn't be more strategic. Apple has faced increasing scrutiny over its walled garden approach, with regulators in the EU and US pushing for more interoperability. Meanwhile, Samsung is building its own ecosystem that mirrors Apple's seamless device handoffs and contextual audio switching, but works across the fragmented Android landscape.
What's changed? Previous Galaxy Buds generations offered solid sound quality and decent noise cancellation, but the user experience always felt a step behind. Connection hiccups, less intuitive controls, and spotty device switching made them feel like technical achievements that missed the emotional design that makes AirPods Pro so sticky.
The Buds4 Pro seem to have cracked that code. The review suggests Samsung's finally nailed the intangibles - the way the earbuds anticipate what you want to do rather than making you think about it. That's the secret sauce that's made AirPods Pro worth their premium price even when cheaper earbuds match their specs on paper.
