Samsung's $229 Galaxy Buds On sit outside the ear canal so you can hear your surroundings, and they come with hands-free voice, nod and shake controls.
Samsung has announced the Galaxy Buds On, a pair of open-ear earbuds that let you hear music or calls while still hearing the world around you. They cost $229 and launch in the U.S. in Black in early November 2026, according to Samsung.
Open-ear means the earbuds do not seal your ear canal. That helps you stay aware of traffic, customers or coworkers while you listen. Samsung says it shaped the speaker and battery layout and the connecting band for a low-pressure, stable fit. Each earbud weighs 6.65 grams. The charging case weighs 41 grams.
Samsung says three microphones and a sensor that picks up speech through vibrations from bone and skin help the earbuds filter out noise such as car horns and construction equipment. Results will depend on the environment, network and connected device.
Android 12 or later is supported, but Samsung warns some features may not work on non-Samsung phones. Quick Voice Memo, head gestures, Gemini functions and call noise setup all carry extra software or account requirements. iPhone users may not get the full experience.
Automatic volume adjustment is labeled experimental. It must be turned on in the Labs menu on devices running One UI 8.5 or later. Open-ear designs also generally offer less audio privacy than sealed headphones, so others nearby may hear some sound.
Samsung rates music playback at up to 9.5 hours, or up to 38 hours with the case. Calls are rated at up to 5.5 hours, or up to 25 hours with the case. Real results vary. The earbuds have an IP54 rating for dust and brief fresh-water splashes. The case is not water resistant, and Samsung advises against beach or pool use.
If you take calls on the move, test the call quality and check phone compatibility first, especially if you use an iPhone.
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