Samsung’s next generation of wireless earbuds has just stepped out of the shadows. 
The Galaxy Buds 4 and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro have been spotted for the very first time inside the leaked code of One UI 8.5, giving fans of the brand a solid hint that new models are on the horizon. This is the first real confirmation after months of speculation that Samsung was quietly preparing its follow-up to the Galaxy Buds 3 and Buds 3 Pro, which launched more than a year ago.
The discovery comes from code diggers who examined the upcoming One UI release and unearthed clear references to two distinct models: the Galaxy Buds 4 (SM-R540) and the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro (SM-R640). These model numbers follow the established naming pattern of their predecessors – the Buds 3 carried SM-R530 and the Buds 3 Pro were tagged SM-R630 – making the leak look extremely credible. Although no renders or photos are available yet, such model numbers usually appear only when a product is close to an announcement.
The timing also makes strategic sense. Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy S26 series early next year, and earbuds typically debut alongside flagship phones. Virtually every smartphone owner pairs a handset with earbuds, so bundling them together in one launch event has become a logical move. If Samsung sticks to its rhythm, January could well be the month when the Buds 4 make their first official appearance.
Why now? Competition. Apple recently shook up the market with its AirPods Pro 3, boasting new features such as built-in heart rate sensors and a live translation mode. Reviewers praised Apple’s refreshed model as the company’s best attempt yet, citing big improvements in noise cancellation, fit, and sound accuracy. Samsung cannot afford to ignore that. The Galaxy Buds 3 already experimented with on-device translation and Galaxy AI integration, but the pressure is now on to push these features further, refine the sound profile, and stretch battery life longer than before.
Of course, none of this has been officially confirmed by Samsung. The company is still silent, and everything from AI features to possible design tweaks remains in the realm of speculation. For many fans, however, the basics still matter most: consistent audio quality, deeper bass, a more stable Bluetooth connection, and better comfort for long listening sessions. Fancy sensors are nice, but durability and usability will decide whether the Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro are real upgrades or just another iteration.
Until Samsung makes it official, all we have is this leak, but history suggests such findings rarely turn out to be false. The Galaxy Buds 4 series looks set to challenge Apple’s dominance in the premium earbud space, and expectations are climbing fast.