Sunday, October 4, 2026 — Samsung is entering the open-ear audio market. The company unveiled the Galaxy Buds On — its first clip-style earbuds — with an open-ear design, head gesture controls, and deep Galaxy AI integration.
The Galaxy Buds On use a structural clip-on design that latches onto the ear, with the speaker and battery positioned around the ear instead of inside it. The design leaves the ear canal open — for runners, commuters, and anyone who wants to hear the world while they listen.
Fighting the open-ear tradeoff
Open-ear designs always leak sound and lose bass. Samsung's answer is a proprietary TwinBoost speaker system that increases bass output, paired with Audio Leakage Reduction and automatic volume adjustment that responds to ambient noise. Three microphones and a Voice Pickup Unit handle call clarity.
Battery life is rated at up to 9.5 hours. Samsung has not yet disclosed the driver configuration, Bluetooth version, codecs, or detailed charging specs.
The ecosystem perks
Paired with compatible Galaxy devices, the Buds On unlock hands-free call control via head gestures — nod or shake to answer or decline — plus Gemini Live support and a Quick Voice Memo feature activated by pressing and holding the touch area.
Price and availability
The Galaxy Buds On launch in South Korea on October 27 in a single black colorway, priced at ₩299,000 (approximately $220 USD). Global availability has not been announced.
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Key facts
Reporting this story is based on
- Samsung Galaxy Buds On Open-Ear Earbuds Release Date
Hypebeast — 2026-10-03 - Samsung Galaxy Buds On Unveiled With Clip-On Design, Up to 9.5 Hours of Battery Life
Gadgets 360 — 2026-10-01
