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What you need to know
- Samsung’s $229 Galaxy Buds On arrive in the US in early November, bringing clip-on, open-ear listening to more buyers.
- Each bud weighs 6.65 grams and wraps around the ear, with Samsung using over 119 million ear data points to refine the fit.
- TwinBoost speakers and automatic volume adjustment aim to improve listening, while Audio Leakage Reduction helps limit sound leakage.
Samsung will start selling its Galaxy Buds On in the US in early November. The company’s first clip-on, open-ear earbuds combine an unusual design with AI-powered features for people who want to stay aware of their surroundings while listening, and at $229, they’re not cheap.
As we saw earlier this month with the reveal of the earbuds, the Galaxy Buds On are a departure from Samsung’s traditional in-ear Galaxy Buds. Each earbud clips around the ear with a flexible band for a secure, comfortable fit, instead of sitting inside the ear canal. Samsung says it used more than 119 million ear data points, AI-assisted optimization, and physics simulations to optimize the design for different ear shapes. Each earbud weighs only 6.65 grams.
The open design makes the Buds On a potentially useful pick for runners, commuters, and anyone who would rather hear approaching traffic or a coworker calling their name than shut the world out completely.
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Better sound, fewer interruptions
The Buds On use TwinBoost speakers for richer sound, automatically adjust the volume to compensate for ambient noise, and use Audio Leakage Reduction technology to keep your music from becoming everyone else’s problem.
Three microphones use a Voice Pickup Unit sensor and machine learning to recognize your voice and separate it from background noise for calls. This means the system can make calls sound better in noisy environments.
Battery life is rated at up to 9.5 hours on a single charge and up to 38 hours using the charging case. That should be sufficient for several days of normal listening depending on usage.
Galaxy AI gets hands-free update
The Buds On also play to Samsung’s Galaxy ecosystem. Users with compatible devices can launch Gemini Live using voice commands, long-press an earbud to record quick voice memos, and search recordings using Bixby via voice commands. With Head Gestures you can nod to accept a call or shake your head to decline a call.
Some features require compatible Galaxy devices and newer One UI software, so Android users outside of the Samsung ecosystem may not get the full experience.
Samsung has already released the earbuds in South Korea, and listings from European retailers have hinted at broader availability.