Samsung Quietly Launches Galaxy Buds On, Its First Clip-On Wireless Earbuds
Samsung has quietly launched the Galaxy Buds On, its first clip-on Galaxy Buds, featuring an open-ear design, Galaxy AI functions and up to 9.5 hours of playback. They go on sale in South Korea on Oct. 27 for 299,000 won.
Rather than sitting inside the ear canal, the Galaxy Buds On clip around the ear and leave the canal open, so wearers can hear their surroundings while listening to music or holding a conversation. Samsung says the design puts less strain on the ears during extended use.
The company says it analyzed data from different ear shapes and ran simulations to optimize the placement of the speakers and battery. The buds use an ergonomic shape with a larger contact area to spread pressure more evenly, and the band's elasticity was tuned to keep them in place during movement. Music playback and calls can be controlled with a light tap on the back of each earbud.
The Buds On carry TwinBoost speakers, which Samsung says improve low-frequency performance, along with automatic volume control that adjusts to the surrounding environment and an Audio Leakage Reduction feature intended to limit sound leaking out. They run on Qualcomm's Snapdragon S7 Gen 1 Sound Platform with a high-efficiency Class-D amplifier, and Samsung claims up to 9.5 hours of continuous music playback on a single charge. For calls, the earbuds use Samsung's Intelligent Clear Call technology, combining three microphones, a bone-conduction-based Voice Pickup Unit sensor and machine learning to separate the wearer's voice from background noise.
Paired with a compatible Galaxy smartphone or tablet, the Buds On also offer several Galaxy AI features. Saying "Hey Google, let's talk live" launches Gemini Live for hands-free conversation with Google's AI assistant. A Quick Voice Memo function starts recording when the user long-presses the touch area of an earbud, and the recordings can later be searched through Bixby without taking out the phone; the feature requires a Galaxy AI-supported device, Samsung's Voice Recorder and the Bixby app, and the long-press action has to be configured separately in Settings. Head Gestures let users answer or end calls, dismiss alarms or read message notifications by nodding or shaking their heads when their hands are occupied.
Samsung will release the Galaxy Buds On first in South Korea on Oct. 27 in a single black color at 299,000 won. The company says the earbuds will later reach other global markets, but it has not announced pricing or availability for individual regions.
Editor's Summary
Samsung has expanded its Galaxy Buds lineup with the Buds On, its first clip-on, open-ear model, priced at 299,000 won in South Korea from Oct. 27 with a wider global rollout to follow. The launch adds an open-ear option to a market still dominated by in-ear designs, and ties the hardware to Galaxy AI features such as Gemini Live, Quick Voice Memo and Head Gestures.