Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 4 line gives Australians a genuine choice this year: the open-fit Galaxy Buds 4 at a $299 RRP, or the in-ear Galaxy Buds 4 Pro at $399. That’s a neat $100 gap — and the differences between them are bigger than the box suggests. The Pro gets dual drivers, serious noise cancellation and better water resistance; the base model gets the same Bluetooth 6.1, Galaxy AI tricks and Auracast support in a lighter, open-fit design. Here’s the honest Australian breakdown: the real prices right now, what actually differs, and which one deserves your money.
Quick verdict
Buy the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro if you want the best sound and noise cancellation — its dual drivers (11mm woofer + 5.5mm planar tweeter) and Adaptive ANC 2.0 are in a different league from the base model, and reviewers single out its ANC as genuinely fantastic. Buy the Galaxy Buds 4 if you prefer open-fit comfort, can’t stand silicone tips in your ears, and mainly listen at a desk or at home — it costs $100 less and shares the same ecosystem features. The honest warning: the base model’s noise cancellation is weak in practice — reviewers call it marginal — so if you commute on trains or fly often, the Pro earns its premium. At street prices of roughly $297–$299 for the Buds 4 and $397–$399 for the Pro, this is the rare comparison where the upgrade is actually worth it.
Galaxy Buds 4 vs Buds 4 Pro: Australian prices
Here’s the current price picture (checked 8 October 2026):
Galaxy Buds 4 prices
$299 — Samsung Australia RRP — the official price, in Black or White, confirmed across Samsung’s launch announcements and Australian tech press.
$297 — Mobileciti — in stock at the Sydney-based AU retailer, a couple of dollars under RRP.
$298.80 — Vodafone — in stock at Vodafone’s accessory store, essentially at RRP.
Galaxy Buds 4 Pro prices
$399 — Samsung Australia RRP — in Black or White, plus a Pink Gold colour exclusive to Samsung’s online store. No price rise from the Buds 3 Pro.
$397 — Mobileciti — in stock, marginally under RRP.
$398.88 — Vodafone — in stock, essentially at RRP.
Galaxy Buds 4 vs Buds 4 Pro: key specs side by side
- Fit: open-fit, no ear tips (Buds 4) vs canal-fit with silicone tips S/M/L (Buds 4 Pro)
- Drivers: single 11mm one-way driver (Buds 4) vs dual driver — 11mm woofer + 5.5mm planar tweeter, dual amplifier (Pro)
- Noise cancellation: adaptive ANC (Buds 4) vs adaptive ANC 2.0 with real-time processing (Pro)
- Battery (buds): 5h ANC on / 6h ANC off (Buds 4) vs 6h ANC on / 7h ANC off (Pro)
- Battery (with case): 24h ANC on / 30h ANC off (Buds 4) vs 26h ANC on / 30h ANC off (Pro)
- Water resistance: IP54 (Buds 4) vs IP57 (Pro) — dust and full water immersion
- Weight: 4.6g per bud / 45.1g case (Buds 4) vs 5.1g per bud / 44.3g case (Pro)
- Bluetooth: 6.1 on both, with Auracast support
- Codecs: SSC, SSC UHQ (24-bit/96kHz), AAC, SBC, LC3 on both (with Galaxy devices)
- Microphones: triple digital mics (Buds 4) vs 6-mic array with Voice Pickup Unit (Pro)
- Extras: 360 Audio with head tracking, Galaxy AI, Live Interpreter, wireless charging on both; head gesture call controls and voice/siren detection are Pro-only
- Colours: Black, White (both); Pink Gold is a Samsung-online-store exclusive for the Pro
The headline numbers tell most of the story: the Pro is a proper in-ear ANC flagship, while the base model is an open-fit lifestyle bud that shares the platform’s connectivity and AI features. Same Bluetooth 6.1, same 24-bit audio on Galaxy phones, same Auracast — the differences are all in the drivers, the fit and the noise cancellation.
What actually differs — and what doesn’t
Fit is the fundamental divide. The Buds 4 are open-fit — like Apple’s AirPods 4, they sit in your ear without sealing it. That makes them supremely comfortable for long wear and keeps you aware of your surroundings, but it also means sound leaks in. The Pro uses silicone tips that seal the ear canal, which is the prerequisite for serious noise cancellation. If you can’t stand tips in your ears, the decision is made for you: only the base model works for you, and the Pro comparison is academic.
Noise cancellation is the biggest performance gap. Samsung gives the base Buds 4 adaptive ANC, but reviewers are blunt: on an open-fit bud it can only do so much, and TechRadar’s testing found only a marginal effect, with the buds even adding faint compensation noise in quiet moments. The Pro’s ANC 2.0, by contrast, is described as fantastic, with intelligent ambient mode, voice detection and siren detection on top. For commuters and frequent flyers, this is the $100 upgrade that pays off daily.
Sound quality follows the drivers. The Pro’s dedicated woofer plus planar tweeter setup, with a dual amplifier, gives it an airy, punchy sound with genuinely deep bass and clean highs that the single-driver base model can’t match. That said, the base Buds 4 still gets the same 24-bit SSC UHQ pipeline on Galaxy phones, and reviewers praise its sound for the money. The gap shows at higher volume and in bass-heavy music, not in podcasts and calls.
Everything else is shared. Bluetooth 6.1, Auracast broadcast audio, 360 Audio with head tracking, Galaxy AI features, Live Interpreter, wireless charging, force touch and swipe controls, nine-band EQ — all present on both. Samsung didn’t cripple the base model on features, just on acoustics.
Sound, ANC and battery: which one wins?
Sound: Buds 4 Pro, clearly. Dual drivers, dual amp, dedicated tweeter — the Pro sounds richer, deeper and more detailed. The base model’s single 11mm driver is good for the class but can’t compete on bass or separation.
Noise cancellation: Buds 4 Pro, by a mile. This is the comparison’s clearest verdict. Open-fit ANC is physics-limited; sealed ANC 2.0 is the real thing. If silence matters to you, the Pro isn’t just better — it’s the only one of the two that delivers it.
Battery: Buds 4 Pro, narrowly. One extra hour per charge (6/7h vs 5/6h) and a couple of extra hours with the case under ANC. But there’s a caveat for the base model: with Samsung’s higher-quality codecs enabled, reviewers found real-world playtime dropped well below the rated figures — under 4 hours in some testing. Treat both sets’ official numbers as best-case and charge the case regularly.
Comfort: Buds 4, for most people. Open-fit means no ear pressure, no tip fatigue, no fit fiddling — you can wear them all day. The Pro’s canal fit is light (5.1g) and reviewers call it comfortable, but it still seals your ears, which some people hate. This one is purely personal.
Durability: Buds 4 Pro. IP57 (dust-tight, survives immersion) beats IP54 (splash-resistant) for workouts and weather. If you run or train with your buds, the Pro is the safer pick.
Who should buy which
Buy the Galaxy Buds 4 if: you hate silicone tips and want open-fit comfort; you mainly listen at home, at the office or walking — places where ANC barely matters; you want the Galaxy ecosystem features (AI, Auracast, 360 audio) at the lowest price; or you pair with one of Samsung’s other new wearables like the Galaxy Ring and want the complete setup on a budget.
Buy the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro if: you commute, fly or work in noisy places — the ANC 2.0 alone justifies the $100; you care about sound quality and want the dual-driver detail; you train in your buds and want IP57 protection; or you just want the best Samsung earbuds money can buy — at $399 it still undercuts the AirPods Pro at $429, and our AirPods 5 breakdown shows how tight that race is. Check Samsung’s trade-in and bundle deals too — the smartwatch crowd already knows ecosystems reward staying loyal.
Buy neither if: you’re on an iPhone — you’ll lose the best codecs and Galaxy-only features on both models; you need marathon battery — neither set leads the class; or you’re buying for calls in noisy places only — the Pro’s 6-mic array is the better bet there anyway.
Final verdict
At $299 vs $399, Samsung has priced these two honestly: the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro is the one to buy for most people. The $100 premium buys dual drivers, genuinely fantastic ANC, better water resistance and an extra hour of battery — that’s a lot of upgrade for $100, and it undercuts Apple’s equivalent by $30. The Galaxy Buds 4 earns its place for one specific buyer: the open-fit fan who finds silicone tips unbearable and doesn’t need noise cancellation. Just go in with eyes open — its ANC is marginal and its real-world battery is short of the spec sheet. Buy the Pro if you want the best; buy the base if you want the comfort.
Galaxy Buds 4 vs Buds 4 Pro: frequently asked questions
How much are the Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro in Australia?
The Galaxy Buds 4 RRP is $299 and the Buds 4 Pro RRP is $399 in Australia. Cheapest verified prices: the Buds 4 is $297 at Mobileciti (in stock) and $298.80 at Vodafone (in stock); the Pro is $397 at Mobileciti and $398.88 at Vodafone, essentially holding its RRP. Prices checked 8 October 2026.
What is the difference between the Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro?
The main differences: the Buds 4 are open-fit (no ear tips) with a single 11mm driver and adaptive ANC, while the Pro are canal-fit with silicone tips, dual drivers (11mm woofer + 5.5mm planar tweeter), and Adaptive ANC 2.0. The Pro also gets IP57 water resistance (vs IP54), an extra hour of battery per charge, head gesture controls, and voice/siren detection. Both share Bluetooth 6.1, Auracast, Galaxy AI, 360 audio and wireless charging.
Is the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro worth $100 more than the Buds 4?
Yes, for most buyers. The $100 premium buys dual drivers with noticeably better sound, genuinely effective noise cancellation (the base model’s ANC is marginal on its open-fit design), better water resistance and more battery. The only buyers who should save the $100 are open-fit loyalists who can’t wear silicone tips, or people who never need noise cancellation.
How long do the Galaxy Buds 4 battery last?
Samsung rates the Galaxy Buds 4 at 6 hours of playback with ANC off (5 hours with ANC on), rising to 30 hours total with the charging case (24 hours with ANC on). The Pro manages 7 hours ANC-off per charge (6 hours ANC-on), for 30 hours with the case (26 hours ANC-on). Real-world playtime is lower with high-quality codecs enabled — reviewers found the base model dropped under 4 hours in some testing.
Do the Galaxy Buds 4 work with iPhone?
They pair over Bluetooth like any earbuds, but iPhone owners miss the best bits: the 24-bit SSC UHQ codec, some Galaxy AI features and seamless Galaxy-ecosystem switching are Samsung-device only. On iPhone you get standard AAC/SBC audio. Android users outside Samsung get most features via the Galaxy Wearable app. If you’re deep in Apple’s ecosystem, look at the AirPods line instead.
