The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra works seamlessly with both the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro and the Galaxy Buds 4, Samsung’s current flagship and standard wireless earbuds. Both pairs integrate directly with the Galaxy S26 Ultra through the Bluetooth settings menu in One UI 8.5, where you can adjust noise cancellation modes, sound presets, and earbud controls without needing the Galaxy Wearable app.The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are the premium audio choice, while the Galaxy Buds 4 offer a more accessible price with most of the everyday features intact. This article covers what each pair offers and helps you decide which one fits your needs better.The two pairs at a glance:Galaxy Buds 4 Pro: $249. Two-way speaker with dual amplifiers, Adaptive ANC 2.0, sealed silicone-tip design, IP57 rating[5], and Hi-Res 24-bit/96kHz audio[8].Galaxy Buds 4: $179. One-way speaker, Adaptive ANC, open-type design, IP54 rating[6], and 24-bit Hi-Fi codec support.Shared features: Bluetooth 6.1, Live Translate[1] in 22 languages, Auto Switch, AI hands-free assistant integration[2], and full controls in the Bluetooth menu on One UI 8.5.What makes the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro the flagship audio choice?The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro use a two-way speaker system with an 11mm woofer and a 5.5mm planar tweeter in each earbud, plus dual amplifiers. This dual-driver setup delivers a wider frequency range with deeper bass and crisper highs than a single-driver design can produce. For Galaxy S26 Ultra users, the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro also support 24-bit/96kHz Hi-Res audio playback via Samsung’s Seamless Codec.On noise cancellation, the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro feature Adaptive ANC 2.0. It uses real-time processing to deliver more precise cancellation across changing environments. It dynamically adjusts which frequencies are being cancelled based on what is happening around you, rather than applying a fixed cancellation profile.The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro come with three sets of silicone ear tips for a sealed in-ear fit, which improves passive isolation and gives the active noise cancellation more to work with.For calls, both pairs support Super Clear Call[4] when used with the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Super Clear Call uses super wideband Bluetooth technology and machine learning to deliver clearer audio in both directions. The standard Bluetooth call quality ceiling is 8kHz, while Super Clear Call extends that to around 16kHz, making voices sound noticeably more natural.The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro also feature 360 Audio with head tracking, giving you spatial sound that adjusts to head movement for a more immersive listening experience.The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro support Head Gesture controls, which let you accept or decline calls and trigger AI assistant actions with a simple nod or shake of the head[7]. This is useful when your hands are occupied — during a workout, while carrying groceries, or in any situation where reaching for the phone or the earbud is not practical.Live Translate is also available on the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro. It supports 22 languages and uses the Galaxy S26 Ultra as the processing device, so you hear translations directly through the earbuds during face-to-face conversations or phone calls without needing to hold the phone up.The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are rated IP57 for dust and water resistance, which allows for immersion in up to 3 feet of fresh water for up to 30 minutes. Battery life is rated for 6 hours with ANC on and 7 hours with ANC off, with the charging case extending total playback to around 30 hours.What do you get with the Galaxy Buds 4?At $179, the Galaxy Buds 4 offer most of the everyday features you would want with the Galaxy S26 Ultra in a more accessible package. They use a one-way speaker with a 24-bit Hi-Fi codec, which still delivers a warm, bass-leaning sound signature that works well for music, podcasts, and calls.The design is open-type without ear tips, which means more ambient awareness during use, making it well suited to commuting, walking, or working in environments where you want to remain aware of your surroundings.The Galaxy Buds 4 include Adaptive ANC based on pre-trained algorithms, which works well in typical everyday scenarios like buses, trains, and office environments. It is less aggressive than Adaptive ANC 2.0 on the Pro model, but it still meaningfully reduces consistent background noise.The open-type design naturally lets in more ambient sound than a sealed-tip design, so the Galaxy Buds 4 are better suited to users who do not want full isolation from their surroundings.Live Translate works on the Galaxy Buds 4 too, supporting the same 22 languages and the same face-to-face and phone call translation flow as the Pro model. The hands-free Galaxy AI[3] assistant integration with the Galaxy S26 Ultra is also available, so you can ask questions, take notes, and set reminders by voice using the Buds.The Galaxy Buds 4 are rated IP54 for dust and splash resistance, which is enough for everyday weather and workouts but not the full water immersion rating of the Pro. Battery life is rated for 5 hours with ANC on and 6 hours with ANC off.What are the key differences between the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro and Galaxy Buds 4?The most significant difference is the speaker system. The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro use a two-way dual-driver setup with dual amplifiers, which produces a more refined sound across the full frequency range. The Galaxy Buds 4 use a single driver, which still sounds good but has a less pronounced separation between low and high frequencies. For users who care about audio quality and want to hear more detail in their music, the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro have a clear advantage.Noise cancellation differs in both technology and effectiveness. The Adaptive ANC 2.0 on the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro uses real-time processing for more precise cancellation. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Buds 4 use Adaptive ANC based on pre-trained algorithms. Combined with the sealed silicone-tip design on the Pro versus the open-type design on the standard model, the Pro provides significantly more isolation from background noise.Water and dust resistance is also higher on the Pro at IP57 versus IP54 on the Galaxy Buds 4. This matters most for users who exercise heavily, work outdoors, or want peace of mind about accidental water exposure. Call quality is broadly the same on both — Super Clear Call is available on both pairs when paired with the Galaxy S26 Ultra, delivering wideband call audio at around 16kHz.What Galaxy AI features work on both pairs?Several Galaxy AI features work on both the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro and Galaxy Buds 4 when paired with the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Live Translate is available on both, supporting the same 22 languages for real-time translation of in-person conversations and phone calls. The hands-free assistant integration also works on both. You can issue voice commands directly through the earbuds to ask questions, set reminders, take notes, or perform other tasks on the Galaxy S26 Ultra without picking up the phone.Auto Switch automatically moves audio between paired Samsung devices — for example, if you are listening to music on your Galaxy S26 Ultra and receive a call on your Galaxy Tab, the audio switches automatically. Both pairs support this feature.Which Galaxy Buds should you choose?The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are the better choice if you prioritise sound quality, stronger noise cancellation, or higher water and dust resistance. The dual-driver setup, Adaptive ANC 2.0, sealed silicone-tip design, and IP57 rating make them the more capable pair for music listening, calls, and use in demanding environments.They are also the right choice for Galaxy S26 Ultra users who want the full Hi-Res audio experience via the Samsung Seamless Codec.The Galaxy Buds 4 are the better choice if you prefer an open-type fit that keeps you aware of your surroundings, or if you want a more accessible price without giving up the Galaxy AI features and Live Translate support. They still pair seamlessly with the Galaxy S26 Ultra through the Bluetooth settings menu on One UI 8.5, and they share the same fundamental ecosystem benefits as the Pro, just with a different audio profile and design philosophy.Either way, both the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro and the Galaxy Buds 4 are excellent earbuds. Both deliver the tight integration with the Galaxy S26 Ultra that goes beyond what generic Bluetooth earbuds can provide, and both bring genuine quality to the table. The choice between them mostly comes down to fit preference, listening environment, and how much audio fidelity matters to you.[1] Real Time Interpreter and Live Translate available when paired with compatible Samsung Galaxy devices with Galaxy AI features. Samsung account login required language pack downloaded. Service availability may vary by language. Accuracy of results not guaranteed.[2] AI Assistant voice wake-up is available on Galaxy smartphones with One UI 8.0 and later. Feature requires internet connection and Samsung Account login.[3] Available when connected to a Samsung Galaxy smartphone with Galaxy AI.[4] Super Clear Call: Available on selected Galaxy smartphones and tablets with One UI 6.1.1 or above.[5] Based on lab test conditions for submersion in up to 1 meter of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Not advised for beach or pool use.[6] Based on lab test conditions, the device is sprayed by 10 litres of fresh water per minute for 5 minutes at all angles. Not advised for submersion, beach or pool use.[7] Requires Galaxy smartphone with One UI 8.5 or above.[8] Ultra-high-quality audio up to 24-bit/96kHz is available on selected Galaxy smartphones and tablets with One UI 6.1.1 or above.