On October 1, 2026, Samsung Electronics unveiled the Galaxy Buds On, the first clip-style wireless earbuds in the Galaxy Buds line. Instead of an in-ear design that goes into the ear canal, they hook over the edge of the ear, so you can listen to music without blocking your ears and still hear what’s around you.
They launch first in Korea on October 27, priced at ₩299,000. Black is the only color, and other countries will follow in stages.
Galaxy Buds On earbuds and charging case — Source: Samsung
Product overview
- Form: clip-style worn over the ear, controlled by touching the back of the earbud
- Chip: Snapdragon S7 Gen 1 Sound Platform, Class D amplifier
- Playback: up to 9.5 hours of continuous music per charge
- Calls: three microphones, bone-conduction vibration sensor, Intelligent Clear Call
- Other: TwinBoost speaker, automatic volume adjustment, sound leakage reduction, head gestures
Samsung explained that it wants people to choose by use case — in-ear Galaxy Buds when they need deep immersion, and Buds On when they need to stay aware of their surroundings, such as running outdoors.
How they’re worn
Galaxy Buds On ear-fit design — Source: Samsung
Samsung said it analyzed and simulated data on a wide range of ear shapes to decide where the speaker and battery go. It widened the area in contact with the ear to spread pressure evenly, and tuned the elasticity of the band that wraps the ear so they stay on even through big movements.
The advantages of not blocking the ear are less strain during long wear and being able to hear what’s around you, like cars, while walking or running. The trade-off is sound leakage, and bass tends to sound weak.
The sound-leakage problem
Samsung Electronics logo — Source: Samsung
Samsung applied three technologies to compensate for the acoustic limits of the open design.
[Sound leakage reduction] Reduces sound escaping outward; Samsung says it is “the first to apply” it
[TwinBoost speaker] Makes up for the bass that weakens when the ear isn’t sealed
[Automatic volume adjustment] Adjusts volume automatically based on ambient noise
Samsung said leakage reduction makes them usable in public places such as libraries and cafes. It didn’t publish figures for how much leakage is reduced.
Calls and AI features
Three microphones, a bone-conduction vibration sensor that picks up the vibrations of speech, and machine-learning noise removal work together to isolate your voice. Samsung said calls stay clear even outdoors in strong wind or indoors with a vacuum running.
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- Quick Voice Memo: press and hold the back of the earbud and speak to record instantly, searchable with Bixby
- Head gestures: nod or shake your head to answer or end calls, dismiss alarms, and read notifications
Quick Voice Memo works only on Galaxy AI–capable devices and requires the Samsung Voice Recorder app, the Bixby app, and a press-and-hold assignment in Settings.
Price and connectivity
Galaxy Buds On charging case — Source: Samsung
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Korea launch | October 27 |
| Price | ₩299,000 |
| Color | Black only |
| International launch | In stages after Korea |
Opening the charging case connects them right away to a Galaxy smartphone or tablet. You can adjust volume and the equalizer from the phone’s Settings screen and Quick Panel without installing the Galaxy Wearable app.
Detailed specs will be published on Samsung.com on the October 27 launch date. Weight, playback time including the case, and water-resistance rating weren’t disclosed in the announcement.
Prices of clip-style earbuds in Korea
| Product | Korean price | Released |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Buds On | ₩299,000 | October 2026 |
| Shokz OpenDots 2 | ₩299,000 | July 2026 |
| Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) | ₩359,000 | September 2026 |
Prices are list prices on each company’s official store. Buds On costs the same as the Shokz OpenDots 2, which advertises up to 10 hours per charge, 6.4g per earbud, and IP57 water resistance.
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) is listed in its product disclosure as a September 2026 model, with a weight of 5.9g.
What to watch next
- Weight, water-resistance rating, and playback time including the case on Samsung.com on October 27
- How well sound leakage reduction actually works, and real-world reviews
- International launch schedule and pricing
Sources
- [Samsung Newsroom] Samsung unveils Galaxy Buds On, the first clip-style Galaxy wireless earbuds (2026-10-01; specs, price, launch date; source of three images in this post)
- [Shokz Official Store] Shokz OpenDots 2 (price, playback time, weight, water resistance)
- [Bose Official Online Store] Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) (price, release date, weight)