Samsung quietly launches Galaxy Buds On with open-ear design and 9.5-hour battery

Samsung has quietly launched the Galaxy Buds On, its first clip-on earbuds, alongside the Galaxy Tab S12 series and the SmartTag 3. The open-ear wearable rests around the outside of the ear rather than sitting in the ear canal and goes on sale in South Korea on October 27 for KRW 299,000 (about $220).

The launch places Samsung in an open-ear category that already includes models from Sony, Shokz and Bose. Each bud attaches with a flexible band that clips around the ear. Samsung says it studied different ear shapes and used simulations to decide where the speaker and battery should sit and widened the section that touches the ear to spread pressure more evenly.

Audio comes from Samsung's TwinBoost Speaker system, which runs on Qualcomm's Snapdragon S7 Gen 1 Sound Platform with a Class-D amplifier. An Audio Leakage Reduction system limits how much sound escapes to people nearby, while automatic volume adjustment changes playback levels based on the surrounding environment.

Calls are handled by three microphones and a bone-conduction voice pickup sensor. Samsung uses machine learning to separate the wearer's voice from background noise. The earbuds also support Galaxy AI features, including hands-free access to Gemini Live and quick voice memos on compatible Galaxy devices. Head gestures can be used to answer or end calls and dismiss alarms, and touch controls are located at the rear of each bud.

Samsung rates battery life at up to 9.5 hours of continuous playback. The company has not detailed charging case capacity, weight, or water resistance. Black is the only color confirmed for the South Korean launch. Samsung says a global release will follow but has not announced dates or pricing for other markets.