Samsung's first open-ear earbuds, the Galaxy Buds On, clip on and leave your ears open
Samsung's Galaxy Buds On, its first open-ear earbuds, launch in South Korea Oct. 27 for 299,000 won, with Gemini Live and head gestures.
The skim
- Samsung's first open-ear earbuds, the Galaxy Buds On, clip lightly onto your ears instead of sealing the ear canal, so you can hear traffic, coworkers or your running partner.
- They go on sale in South Korea on October 27 in black only for 299,000 won (about $225, per Yonhap). Other markets haven't been announced.
- They support hands-free Gemini Live, Quick Voice Memo, head gestures and touch controls when paired with a phone or tablet.
What Samsung announced
Samsung said on Tuesday that the Galaxy Buds On will go on sale in South Korea next week, on October 27, in a single black color for 299,000 won. It's the first open-ear model in the Galaxy Buds line, and Samsung's Korean newsroom describes it as the first clip-style Galaxy earbud.
Instead of sitting inside your ear like a regular earbud, the Buds On rest on the outside of the ear, leaving the ear canal open. Samsung is pitching them at runners who need to stay alert to their surroundings and anyone who wants to hear ambient sound throughout the day. The company says it used AI-based simulation and ergonomic design principles to shape the fit.
The AI angle
Like Samsung's other recent wearables, the Buds On lean on Google's Gemini. "If an idea suddenly comes to mind, users can call up Gemini Live to flesh it out through conversation or quickly record ideas and to-do lists using Quick Voice Memo," Samsung wearables official Nam Hyun-jeon told Yonhap. Paired with a phone or tablet, they support hands-free AI voice commands, plus head gestures and touch controls.
Why it matters
Open-ear audio has gone from niche to mainstream over the last few years, with clip-style designs from audio brands and fitness companies finding fans among runners, cyclists and office workers who don't like the plugged-up feeling of noise-isolating buds. Samsung getting in signals the category is big enough for the phone giants to care.
The trade-off is the same as with any open-ear design: you give up noise isolation and some bass for comfort and awareness. Samsung hasn't announced pricing or dates for the US or Europe yet, so if you want to try the style now, there are plenty of established open-ear clip earbuds on Amazon.
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Sources: Yonhap, Samsung Newsroom Korea.
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