Samsung Galaxy Buds On Launch Today: Why I Love the Clip-On Design

Samsung has officially launched its new Galaxy Buds On today, 27 October 2026, bringing a rather different design to its wireless earbuds range.

Unlike traditional Galaxy Buds, these new earbuds clip around the outside of your ears rather than sitting inside the ear canal. The idea is simple: enjoy your music, podcasts and phone calls without completely shutting yourself off from the world around you.

And I have to say, I'm very pleased to see Samsung embracing this design.

Over the past couple of years, I've reviewed several open-ear and clip-on earbuds from brands including Edifier and QCY, and I've become a big fan of this style. They're comfortable, practical and, in my experience, particularly useful when walking, working from home or simply enjoying music without feeling isolated.

So, what exactly is Samsung bringing to the table?

Samsung Galaxy Buds On: A Different Approach to Wireless Earbuds

The Galaxy Buds On are Samsung's first clip-on wireless earbuds, designed to sit gently around the ear while keeping the ear canal open.

Samsung says it has studied different ear shapes to improve comfort and stability, using a flexible design that should stay securely in place even during exercise.

This is something I find particularly important.

When I'm walking my dog or spending time outdoors, I don't necessarily want to block out every sound around me. I still want to hear approaching cars, bicycles or someone speaking to me.

It's one of the main reasons I've become so fond of open-ear earbuds.

Samsung's approach looks promising, although I'll reserve judgement on comfort until I've had the opportunity to wear them myself.

TwinBoost Speakers, AI Features and Improved Call Quality

Samsung has equipped the Galaxy Buds On with its TwinBoost speaker system, designed to improve bass performance while maintaining the advantages of an open-ear design.

There's also Audio Leakage Reduction technology, which aims to limit how much of your music other people can hear.

That's worth mentioning because sound leakage is one of the compromises I've noticed with some open-ear earbuds, particularly when listening at higher volumes in quiet environments.

Samsung is also promising improved phone calls with Intelligent Clear Call technology. It combines three microphones, a bone-conduction voice pickup sensor and machine learning to help separate your voice from background noise.

Battery life is rated at up to 9.5 hours of music playback on a single charge.

Then there are the smart features.

When paired with a compatible Galaxy AI smartphone or tablet, the Galaxy Buds On support Gemini Live, Quick Voice Memo and head gestures.

You can, for example, nod your head to answer an incoming call or shake it to decline one. You can also record quick voice notes without reaching for your phone, provided you have the required Samsung apps and settings configured.

These aren't features everyone will use every day, but I can certainly see the appeal.

I've Tested Similar Earbuds From Edifier and QCY

This is probably the part that interests me most about Samsung's announcement.

I've already spent plenty of time testing earbuds with similar designs, including the Edifier Comfo C, QCY Crossky C30and QCY Crossky C50.

And I've genuinely enjoyed using them.

One of my favourites in terms of comfort and design has been the QCY Crossky C50. They're lightweight, flexible and easy to wear for several hours. I also like their stylish charging case.

The Edifier Comfo C impressed me with its warm sound and practical everyday design, especially considering its affordable price.

What I've learned from testing these products is that you don't always need powerful noise cancellation or incredibly deep bass to enjoy a good pair of earbuds.

Sometimes comfort, convenience and being able to hear your surroundings are more important.

Of course, traditional in-ear earbuds still have their advantages, particularly for bass performance and blocking out background noise.

But for everyday listening, I'm increasingly convinced that clip-on earbuds make a lot of sense.

And that's why I'm interested in seeing what Samsung can achieve with the Galaxy Buds On.

Samsung Galaxy Buds On Price and Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Buds On are available in South Korea from today, 27 October 2026, priced at 299,000 won.

For now, they're available in black.

Samsung has indicated that a wider international release will follow, but official UK and US release dates and prices haven't yet been confirmed.

The pricing also suggests Samsung is positioning these as a premium product rather than an affordable alternative to traditional earbuds.

That's where things could become interesting.

I've tested some excellent open-ear earbuds costing considerably less, so Samsung will need to deliver more than an attractive design and a handful of AI features to justify the difference.

My Early Thoughts: A Design I'm Happy to See Samsung Embrace

I haven't tested the Galaxy Buds On yet, so I can't comment on their actual sound quality, comfort or battery performance.

However, based on my experience with similar earbuds from Edifier and QCY, I'm genuinely pleased to see Samsung entering this category.

The design looks elegant, the features are interesting and the combination of open-ear listening with Samsung's AI ecosystem could make these particularly appealing to Galaxy smartphone owners.

For me, the biggest question is whether Samsung can combine the comfort and convenience I've come to love with sound quality that justifies the premium price.

I'll certainly be interested in finding out.

Jerome

Source: Samsung Global Newsroom – A Day With Galaxy Buds On