Galaxy Buds 4 Bring Ultra‑HD Audio, Beating AirPods
Generally, Samsung’s new Galaxy Buds 4 are pretty cool, they support 24‑bit/96 kHz Ultra High‑Quality wireless sound, which is a big deal, but it only works with some recent Galaxy phones and tablets, like the newer ones.
What’s New with the Buds 4
Obviously, I was excited to try the Galaxy Buds 4, and they really do stream Ultra High Quality audio, up to 24‑bit/96 kHz, which is something that used to only be possible with wires, and it sounds amazing, the sound is richer, more detailed, and the bass is way better than my old AirPods, apparently Samsung uses some kind of special codec to make it happen.
How the UHQ Mode Works
Usually, Bluetooth earbuds compress the audio, but the UHQ mode tries to keep it the same as the original file, it makes the dynamic range bigger, adds clarity, and keeps the highs from getting all messed up, the thing is, it only works when you have the right hardware, so your phone or tablet has to be compatible.
Device Compatibility – Who Gets the Boost?
Honestly, if you have a Galaxy S23, S24, S25, or S26, you can use the UHQ mode, but you have to turn it on in the Bluetooth settings, it’s off by default, and some of the newer Z Fold, Z Flip, and high‑end Galaxy Tabs also work, but if you pair them with an older Galaxy phone or a non‑Samsung Android, you’ll just get regular Bluetooth audio, same with iOS, you’ll be stuck with the standard codec, which is kinda lame.
Why Samsung Locked It Down
Naturally, delivering 24‑bit/96 kHz over Bluetooth is hard, it needs everything to work together perfectly, the codec, the radio, and the phone’s audio chain, Samsung made it work for their new devices, but older hardware just can’t handle it, it’s like Apple’s AirPods, they only work really well with an iPhone, which makes sense, I guess.
What It Means for Listeners
Apparently, for people with a compatible Galaxy device, the difference is pretty noticeable, the audio sounds way closer to what you’d get with wires, it’s not a game changer for all Android users, but it shows that Samsung is trying to push the limits, maybe other brands will follow, and we’ll see more high‑resolution wireless audio soon, which would be awesome.
Bottom Line
Basically, the Galaxy Buds 4 deliver a high‑resolution audio experience that’s better than the current AirPods, but the advantage only works with Samsung’s flagship lineup, as the tech gets better, the competition for the best wireless listening will get tougher, which is good for us, the consumers, I think.
