Samsung Galaxy Buds On: first open-ear earbuds go on sale in Korea
By Pooja MehraIndustry Trends Analyst, Peepals Tech
Representative image: IqbalStock / Pixabay
Samsung's first clip-on, open-ear earbuds, the Galaxy Buds On, went on sale in South Korea on October 27, 2026 at 299,000 won; no India date yet.
What Happened
Samsung's first open-ear earbuds, the Galaxy Buds On, went on sale in South Korea on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at 299,000 won, about $220 or roughly Rs 21,000, in a single black colour. Unlike earlier Galaxy Buds, which sit inside the ear canal, the new model clips onto the outer ear with a flexible band and leaves the canal open. Samsung has not announced an India launch date or price, and listings elsewhere in Europe suggest a wider release may follow.
Key Facts
- Launch: South Korea on October 27, 2026, priced at 299,000 won; other markets not yet confirmed by Samsung.
- Design: a clip-on, open-ear form that hooks around the ear with a flexible band, using a shape-memory alloy, a metal that returns to its set shape after bending, for a secure fit during exercise, according to the company.
- Sound: each bud has an 11.3mm speaker that Samsung calls TwinBoost, meant to strengthen bass, which is often weak in open designs.
- Privacy and comfort features: Samsung lists Audio Leakage Reduction, to limit how much nearby people hear, and automatic volume adjustment.
- Calls: three microphones, a bone conduction-based vibration sensor that picks up the wearer's voice through vibrations, and machine learning to clean up speech, the company says.
- Battery: up to 9.5 hours of music per charge per bud has been reported; a 38-hour total with the case has also been reported but is not confirmed by all sources.
- The earbuds support Google's Gemini Live voice assistant.
Why It Matters
Open-ear earbuds are a different idea from the sealed earbuds most people know. Instead of sealing the ear like most wireless earbuds, they rest outside it, so the wearer can still hear traffic, colleagues or a train announcement. That makes them popular with runners, cyclists and people who wear earbuds for long hours at work and find in-ear tips uncomfortable. By putting the design into its main Galaxy Buds line, Samsung is treating it as a mainstream product rather than a sports accessory.
The trade-off has always been sound and privacy. With the ear canal open, bass is weaker and some sound escapes for others to hear. Samsung says its larger speaker and leakage reduction address these problems, but these are the company's claims and independent tests will show how well they work in practice. The same applies to call quality: a vibration sensor that reads the voice through the bones of the head can help in noisy streets, but results vary from person to person.
For India, Samsung phone users are the obvious audience once the product arrives. Open-ear models also suit Indian conditions in some ways: long commutes in noisy, crowded transport, where hearing announcements matters, and hot weather, where sealed tips can be uncomfortable. At around Rs 21,000 in Korean pricing, though, the Buds On would be a premium purchase. Readers should be careful with prices shown on listing sites, which are estimates until Samsung India announces official figures.
| Galaxy Buds On at a glance | Detail |
|---|---|
| Korea launch | October 27, 2026 |
| Korea price | 299,000 won (about $220) |
| Design | Clip-on, open-ear, shape-memory alloy band |
| Battery per bud (reported) | Up to 9.5 hours of music |
| India launch | Not announced |
Impact
Short-term: Buyers in Korea can get the earbuds now, while Indian buyers will have to wait for Samsung India to confirm a date and price.
Long-term: A major phone maker adding open-ear earbuds to its main line could push rivals to follow and make the format more common and cheaper over time.
Who is affected: Runners, cyclists and commuters who want to stay aware of their surroundings, Samsung phone users, and other wearables makers competing in the premium earbud segment.
Key Takeaway
Samsung has entered the open-ear earbud market with the Galaxy Buds On, launched in Korea on October 27, 2026 at 299,000 won, with no Indian launch date announced yet.
Questions and Answers
What are the Samsung Galaxy Buds On?
They are Samsung's first open-ear earbuds, which clip onto the outer ear with a flexible band instead of sitting inside the ear canal. They went on sale in South Korea on October 27, 2026.
What is the price of the Samsung Galaxy Buds On?
In South Korea they cost 299,000 won, about $220 or roughly Rs 21,000. Samsung has not announced prices for India or other markets.
When will the Galaxy Buds On launch in India?
Samsung has not announced an India launch date. Prices shown on Indian listing sites are estimates, not official figures.
What does open-ear mean, and who is it for?
Open-ear earbuds leave the ear canal uncovered so you can still hear your surroundings. They suit runners, cyclists and commuters, but usually offer weaker bass and let more sound leak out than in-ear models.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Pooja Mehra, Industry Trends AnalystCovers Industry News & Trends and more for Peepals Tech. All stories by Pooja Mehra
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Pooja Mehra is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
