A while back, we saw sketches of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4, but now new, much more detailed images have been discovered in the code for One UI 8.5, along with details that reveal new features for the upcoming generation.
We have some good news or bad news, depending on whether you liked the stems. They are here to stay – the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro will still have stems.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro will have flatter stems and a lay-flat case
However, the stems will be flattened, moving away from the triangular shape of the Buds 3 generation. And the “Blade Lights” are nowhere in sight.
The charging case has been redesigned too and now the buds lie flat. There’s a USB-C port on the back for charging and a button, which triggers the Find your phone function (the phone makes a sound to help you find it). Things may work the other way around too – there’s what appears to be a loudspeaker grille on the other side of the charging port, which would allow the charging case to make a sound too.
New features coming to the Galaxy Buds 4 generation
The big upgrade this generation will be Head Gestures – you can nod or shake your head to trigger certain actions: respond to calls or notifications, hear notifications read out loud (and cancel reading), dismiss alarms and timers and more. If you are chatting with the phone’s AI assistant, you will be able to answer “yes or no” questions with a nod or a shake of your head.
The stems will serve as a hardware control with squeeze and swipe functions. The Buds 4 will also feature Adaptive Noise Control, 360° audio recording and fast pairing with a phone or tablet. The case will have a slightly bigger battery.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro will likely be unveiled alongside the Galaxy S26 generation in late January and launch in early February, if the most recent reports prove true.
