Samsung has announced the Galaxy Buds On, a new pair of open-ear wireless earbuds designed for people who want to enjoy music, podcasts, and calls without blocking out their surroundings. Priced at $229, the earbuds will arrive in the United States in early November 2026.
Unlike traditional in-ear earbuds that seal the ear canal, Galaxy Buds On use a clip-on design that rests around the ear. The approach makes them particularly appealing for outdoor workouts, commuting, and situations where hearing nearby conversations or traffic matters.
A Lightweight Design Built for Comfort
Samsung developed the Galaxy Buds On using AI-assisted simulations and more than 119 million ear data points to refine their fit. Each earbud weighs 6.65 grams, with a flexible band designed to distribute pressure comfortably.
The earbuds feature an 11.3mm TwinBoost Speaker powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S7 Gen 1 Sound Platform. Samsung’s Audio Leakage Reduction technology uses reversed sound waves to limit how much audio escapes to nearby listeners.
An experimental Auto Volume feature can adjust playback levels based on surrounding noise, though it requires One UI 8.5 or later.
Battery life reaches up to 9.5 hours of music playback per charge, extending to 38 hours with the included charging case. The earbuds carry an IP54 rating for dust and splash resistance.
AI Features and Hands-Free Controls
Samsung is bringing several Galaxy AI capabilities to its open-ear earbuds, including hands-free Gemini Live access, Quick Voice Memo recording, and Bixby-powered searches of saved recordings.
Users can control music and calls with taps or head gestures. Nodding can accept calls, while shaking the head can decline them. Compatible Galaxy devices support additional actions, including dismissing alarms and reading notifications, with certain functions requiring One UI 9.0.
For calls, Samsung combines three microphones with a Voice Pickup Unit that detects speech vibrations. Machine-learning noise reduction is designed to reduce background distractions, including traffic and construction sounds.
Galaxy users can pair the earbuds by opening their charging case without installing a separate Galaxy Wearable app. Audio settings and EQ adjustments are accessible through the Quick Panel.
Pricing and Availability
The Samsung Galaxy Buds On will be available in Black for $229 beginning in early November 2026.
They support Bluetooth 6.2 and devices running Android 12 or later with more than 1.5GB of memory, though some features are reserved for compatible Samsung Galaxy devices.
The Galaxy Buds On give Samsung another option for listeners who prioritize environmental awareness over the isolation offered by traditional noise-canceling earbuds. Their appeal will largely come down to comfort, sound quality, and how well Samsung manages audio leakage in everyday use.
More information is available through the official Samsung Galaxy Buds website.
