Another piece of Samsung’s 2025 puzzle has just slipped out. Fresh images of the upcoming Galaxy Buds 4 have surfaced online, giving us our best look yet at the company’s next mainstream wireless earbuds, which are widely expected to debut alongside the Galaxy S26 flagship series early next year.
The leaked renders, published by Android Authority, show the Galaxy Buds 4 in two understated colourways – black and white – with a look that clearly sits in the same design language as the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro. The big difference is that the standard Buds 4 skip the in-ear silicone eartips in favour of an open, AirPods-style fit that simply rests in the ear.
Each earbud now features a slim, elongated stem that drops down from the main housing. According to earlier reports, that stem is not just cosmetic: it doubles as a touch surface, supporting squeeze and swipe gestures for common actions such as pausing music, skipping tracks or nudging the volume up and down without reaching for your phone.
Near the top of the Buds 4 housing sits a small grille element, visible in the leaked shots. Samsung has not said what it is for, but it will likely be tied to airflow management, microphones or tuning for spatial and ambient sound modes. Either way, it hints that Samsung is thinking carefully about both comfort and acoustic performance on this non-Pro model.
The case is also getting a noticeable overhaul. Instead of the buds sitting upright, the Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro are expected to lie flat inside a more traditional clamshell-style charging case. It should make the earbuds easier to grab and may help them feel a bit more secure when you toss the case in a pocket or bag.
One thing that appears to be gone is the dramatic Blade Lights aesthetic from the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, whose glowing stems divided opinion. With the Buds 4 family Samsung seems to be dialing back the sci-fi flair in favour of a cleaner, more mature look that better matches the refined lines of its S26 phones.
Positioning also looks clearer than before. The Buds 4 Pro are expected to stick with a sealed, in-ear fit aimed at maximum isolation and advanced noise cancelling, while the regular Buds 4 lean into comfort and long listening sessions, letting in more of the outside world by design. Having both options launch together should make it easier for buyers to pick whichever style best matches how and where they listen.
Current rumours point to a late January reveal for both the Galaxy Buds 4 and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, right alongside the Galaxy S26 lineup at Samsung’s first big Unpacked event of the year. Pricing and full specs are still under wraps, but this latest design leak suggests Samsung is preparing a more restrained, functional and everyday-friendly evolution of its wireless audio range.
1 comment
late january launch sounds perfect, upgrade time with s26 combo 😎