The upcoming Galaxy S26 series isn’t the only thing on the menu for Samsung’s Unpacked event this February. While the smartphones usually hog the spotlight, the audio companion to the Galaxy ecosystem is about to get a significant, and perhaps necessary, overhaul. The Galaxy Buds4 and Buds4 Pro—codenamed “Handel” and “Bach” respectively—are poised to make their debut alongside the new phones, marking a strategic pivot for Samsung’s audio division.
If the rumors and supply chain leaks are accurate, the Galaxy Buds4 series is less about reinventing the wheel and more about refining the ride. After the polarizing reception of the Galaxy Buds3, which saw a radical design departure that didn’t sit well with everyone, Samsung appears to be executing a “corrective evolution.” The goal this year seems clear: return to a design that prioritizes ergonomics and utility while doubling down on the “AI-first” ecosystem that the company has been building.
A Return to Priotising Ergonomics
The most immediate change users will notice is in the physical design. The “Blade Lights”—those LED strips on the stems of the Buds3 Pro that drew mixed reactions—are reportedly gone. Leaked firmware assets from One UI 8.5 suggest that the Galaxy Buds4 Pro will ditch the lights in favor of a cleaner, more sophisticated look. This isn’t just an aesthetic choice; removing the lighting components simplifies the internal architecture, potentially allowing for better battery optimization and eliminating the manufacturing headaches that plagued the previous generation.
The stems themselves are getting a makeover. Reports describe them as flatter, curvier, and thinner. This “flattened” profile serves a functional purpose, offering a distinct, tactile surface for gesture controls like pinching and swiping. It addresses a common complaint with cylindrical stems where finding the touch zone can be a hit-or-miss affair.
Perhaps the most welcome return to form is the charging case. We are hearing strong corroboration that Samsung is reverting to the horizontal pill-shaped case design. This means the earbuds will once again lie flat in their cradle, a configuration that many long-time Galaxy users find easier to clean and more secure than the vertical slots of the Buds3 case. The new case isn’t just a nostalgia trip, though; it’s rumored to feature a built-in speaker grille next to the USB-C port. This addition integrates with the “Find My” network, allowing the case to emit a loud chirp if misplaced—a feature that has become indispensable for anyone who has ever lost their buds between sofa cushions.
Another, more recent leak showcases recent renders of the Buds4 series. However, the design of the case is noticeably different. The casing seems to draw from the design of earlier Galaxy Buds models featuring a larger, square design where the earbuds lie flat inside. However, the big update sees Samsung opting to use a transparent cover for the casing. These renders also show that the stems are a little more substantial than originally thought. This wouldn’t be too much of an issue if the new Galaxy Buds4 comes with better mics and it even makes gestures easier for larger hands.
The Audiophile’s Upgrade
Under the hood, the Galaxy Buds4 Pro is shaping up to be a serious contender in the high-fidelity space. The Pro model is rumored to feature a 12mm dual-driver system, but with a twist. The setup combines a 12mm dynamic driver for authoritative bass with a 6.1mm planar tweeter. Planar magnetic drivers are typically found in high-end audiophile gear and are prized for their ability to deliver incredibly crisp, distortion-free high frequencies. If Samsung pulls this off, the separation and detail in the treble range could be a significant step up from standard dynamic driver setups.
To feed these drivers, the series will continue to support the Samsung Seamless Codec (SSC) UHQ, enabling 24-bit/96kHz audio transmission. For users streaming from high-resolution platforms like Tidal or Apple Music, this ensures that the wireless pipe isn’t the bottleneck for audio quality.
Functional AI Becomes Your Bud-dy
We can’t talk about a 2026 tech product without mentioning AI, but for the Buds4, the integration seems genuinely practical rather than gimmicky. The series is being positioned as an interface for “ambient computing,” meaning the earbuds are designed to handle tasks without you ever looking at your phone.
The headline feature here is the “Direct-to-Translate” capability. Leaked firmware reveals a new “pinch-and-hold” gesture mapped specifically to the Interpreter mode. Instead of fumbling with your phone to open an app, you can simply pinch your earbud to initiate a real-time translation session. It’s a friction-reducing move that makes the technology much more usable in real-world travel scenarios.
There are also reports of new head gestures enabled by the built-in accelerometers. You might soon be able to nod to answer a call or shake your head to dismiss an alarm or decline an incoming call. While not entirely new to the industry, baking these into the core One UI experience makes for a more hands-free life, especially when your hands are full of groceries or you’re on a crowded train.
Battery Life and The Power Split
The battery situation is a bit of a mixed bag, depending on which model you are eyeing. The Galaxy Buds4 Pro is getting a capacity bump, moving to a rated 57mAh (61mAh typical). This increase is likely necessary to power those new dual drivers and the more intensive real-time AI processing for noise cancellation.
On the other hand, the standard Galaxy Buds4 is seeing a slight decrease in battery capacity, dropping to around 42mAh. Samsung seems to be betting on the efficiency gains of its new Bluetooth SoC (System on Chip) to offset the smaller cell. While the “typical” usage time might remain similar to the previous generation, it’s a reminder that the standard model is very much the entry-level option this year.
Both cases will support wireless charging, and interestingly, there are rumors of a pre-order bundle in some markets that includes a 25W Wireless Charging Pad. This suggests that Samsung is pushing wireless charging as the primary way to juice up your accessories.
Pricing and Market Availability
In a world where tech prices seem to only go up, the rumour mill brings some relief. Samsung is reportedly adopting a “price freeze” strategy for the Buds4 series. The standard Galaxy Buds4 is expected to launch at approximately USD$179 (RM760) or €179 (RM830), while the Galaxy Buds4 Pro is tipped to hold the line at USD$249 (RM1,055) or €249 (RM1,155).
For the Malaysian market, direct currency conversions are rarely the final retail price due to local taxes and logistics, but we can expect the pricing to track closely with the launch prices of the previous generation. If these numbers hold, we are likely looking at a local starting price of around RM699 for the standard model and RM999 for the Pro, though currency fluctuations could push that slightly higher.
With the official Galaxy Unpacked event set for February 25, 2026, we are in the final stretch. If history is any guide, the leak dam is about to burst wide open, and we might see even more details emerge regarding local availability and those all-important pre-order bundles.
Keep it locked to techENT; we will be updating you with every scrap of confirmed info as we get closer to the big day.
