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Samsung's next true wireless earbuds have leaked early: code in One UI 8.5 reveals battery capacities for the Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro, and the numbers hint at both downgrades and upgrades compared with the current lineup. Here’s what the leak tells us and why those milliamp-hour figures may (or may not) matter to buyers.
Numbers from the leak: a surprising swap
According to strings spotted in One UI 8.5, each earbud in the Galaxy Buds 4 reportedly carries a 42mAh cell, while each Buds 4 Pro earpiece packs 57mAh. For context, the Galaxy Buds 3 used 48mAh cells and the Buds 3 Pro had 53mAh — meaning the non‑Pro model drops a bit, while the Pro gains a noticeable bump in raw capacity.
Does mAh equal longer playtime?
Not automatically. Battery capacity is just one piece of the puzzle. Real-world battery life depends on hardware efficiency — the DAC, drivers, Bluetooth chip, and ANC hardware — as well as software: codec support, power management and One UI optimizations. A smaller cell with smarter power management can outperform a larger one that’s poorly optimized.
Design clues and practical features
Leaked details point to a sleeker aesthetic across the Buds 4 line. The earbuds keep a stem but trade the Buds 3’s triangular prism look for a flatter, thinner profile. Notably, the new stems reportedly drop the Blade Lights seen on some previous models.
The charging case appears redesigned too — it opens while lying flat, similar to the Buds 2 Pro case, and adds a physical phone‑locator button plus a beeper/speaker. That beeper could be handy when you misplace the case.
What to expect from features
- 360 Audio for immersive sound staging
- Adaptive Noise Control (ANC) for situational awareness
- Head gesture controls and improved Interpreter Mode
- Phone Locator and Quick Pairing for faster setup and tracking
All of these software and usability upgrades can influence how the earbuds feel day‑to‑day, and in many cases they shape perceived battery performance more than raw mAh numbers.
Release timeline
Samsung is expected to unveil these earbuds at Galaxy Unpacked 2026 alongside the Galaxy S26 series. Until then, leaks like the One UI 8.5 strings give the clearest look at specs — but treat them as informed hints rather than final specs.
Curious whether a smaller battery in the Buds 4 will be offset by efficiency gains? We’ll know more once Samsung confirms the specs and shares official battery life figures during the launch.
Source: sammobile
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