Samsung Unveils Galaxy Buds On, Its First Clip-On Open Earbuds, but Korea Gets Them First
Samsung has announced the Galaxy Buds On, its first clip-on open earbuds, priced at 299,000 won in South Korea and on sale October 27. No international launch date has been confirmed.
Open earbuds do not seal the ear canal, so the wearer can still hear their surroundings. TechRadar reported that the category was originally aimed at outdoor runners and cyclists and is now widely used by couriers, drivers and commuters, and that recent figures show the segment growing.
The Galaxy Buds On take a C-bridge form: a bud and a counterweight joined by an arch that hooks over the ear. Samsung has described analysing different ear shapes to balance the speaker and battery, rather than making the arch itself the centre of its design pitch. The charging case resembles the one shipped with the Galaxy Buds 4, with a clear top.
Samsung says the buds use what it calls TwinBoost speakers, a name that suggests two drivers in each earbud. The company has not published detailed audio specifications, and TechRadar reported that further information will only emerge closer to the Korean launch.
More detail has been given on software and controls. The Galaxy Buds On include audio leakage prevention intended to stop nearby people from hearing what the wearer is playing, a feature TechRadar compared with Xiaomi's OpenWear Stereo Pro. Controls are handled through touch panels on the counterweight, and the buds also support head gestures and voice commands of the kind found on the Galaxy Buds 4 models. Paired with a Samsung Galaxy phone, they work with Galaxy AI and offer a fast-pairing mode. Samsung quotes battery life of 9.5 hours, which TechRadar said is longer than other recent Galaxy Bud models.
On price, TechRadar noted that 299,000 won converts to roughly $220, £170 or AU$320. The outlet also speculated that if Samsung positions the model midway between the Korean prices of the Galaxy Buds 4 and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, international pricing could land near $200, £190 or AU$350. Those figures are the publication's estimate, not confirmed by Samsung.
Samsung has said it will share more about the Galaxy Buds On when they go on sale in Korea on October 27. The company has given no timetable for a wider release, leaving buyers outside Korea without a confirmed date or price.