Samsung is apparently working on a new type of wireless earbuds. A slew of leaked design images show the clip-on, open-ear style of the Galaxy Buds On.
These new buds could offer a comfort fix for many people (including myself) who just can't find a comfortable pair of in-ear buds and don't want the weight of big over-ear headphones.
Galaxy Buds On images found in Samsung app
Design illustrations of the Samsung Buds On. | Images by SamMobile
Our colleagues at SamMobile have unearthed a bunch of design images from an unnamed Samsung app, showing the pair of buds and their charging case.
The design is very similar to Huawei's FreeClip buds, with two spheres connected by a cable. One contains the speakers and sits on top of the ear canal, while the other most likely houses the battery and tucks behind your ear.
The cable or arm wraps around the outer part of the ear, helping to keep the buds in place.
What's your favorite headphone design?
Bone-conducting technology on board?
Bone-conducting tech uses your skull bones to transmit sound. | Image by Shokz
Some early rumors about the Galaxy Buds On (also called Galaxy Buds Able) mentioned bone-conducting technology. This tech uses your skull bones to transmit sound, rather than blasting it out in the open air.
However, looking at these images, these buds look like conventional open-ear headphones. The fact that the speaker most likely rests on the ear canal suggests that they are air-conducting like most regular earbuds out there.
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Open-ear design offers comfortable fit
The Huawei FreeClip 2 is one of the most comfortable model I've ever tried. | Image by PhoneArena
This rather new, open-ear design has been getting traction in the past year or two, with similar designs from Motorola, Bose, and the aforementioned Huawei.
Placing the speaker directly over the ear canal and not inside allows users to hear both the audio and the surrounding sounds.
When I first tried a pair of open-ear buds, I couldn't believe how comfortable they felt. Normal in-ear buds either fall off my ears or start giving me discomfort in 15 minutes or so. Having your ear canal open and unobstructed gives an amazing feeling of not wearing earbuds at all.
When are we getting the first Samsung open-ear buds?
The Galaxy Buds On will most likely launch along with the Galaxy S26 FE this fall. | Image by PhoneArena
That's hard to tell. Samsung hasn't officially announced anything yet, so the Galaxy Buds On launch date is anyone's guess. My personal guess is that these buds will most likely launch along with the Galaxy S26 FE. This could happen around the IFA 2026 expo at the beginning of September, or early October.
As for the price, this type of earbuds normally fall into the midrange category, as there are design constraints, rendering expensive tech such as ANC or spatial audio pointless. I don't expect a premium price tag for the Galaxy Buds On, my bet is they will fall somewhere between $100 and $150.
What do you think about the open-ear design? Have you ever tried it?
Read more about new and exciting earbuds and headphones here:
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Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
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