Samsung has announced the on-sale date for the Galaxy Buds On, its first clip-style earbuds. They go on sale in South Korea on 27 October at 299,000 won, around $220. According to Sammy Fans, Japan gets them the same day. Samsung is cautious about a global launch: it is being prepared, but there is no date or price for other countries yet.
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What they are and how they differ from regular Galaxy Buds
The Galaxy Buds On do not go into the ear canal. Each bud is held on the ear by a flexible arc that wraps around the outer ear, while the speaker stays outside. This is known as an open-ear (OWS) design: you hear your music and everything around you at the same time. Samsung officially unveiled the model in South Korea on 30 September, alongside the Galaxy Tab S12 tablets and the SmartTag 3 tracker, and has now set a sales date.
The company stresses that the new model complements the familiar in-ear Galaxy Buds rather than replacing them. The logic is clear: in-ear models with noise cancelling are better on the Tube or a plane, while open ones are more comfortable on a run, in the office and anywhere you need to hear traffic and voices.
What we know about the specs
Samsung has revealed some details and is keeping others back. This is what is confirmed so far:
- Design. The arc is made of a special flexible metal that adapts to the shape of your ear. To test fit during movement, Samsung used 119 million data points on ears of people of different ages, plus AI and computer modelling.
- Sound. A TwinBoost system with two drivers and a Class D amplifier, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon S7 Gen 1 platform.
- Sound privacy. Audio Leakage Reduction limits how much sound escapes, so people nearby do not hear your music. Volume adjusts automatically to the surrounding noise level.
- Calls. Three microphones and a bone conduction sensor that picks up the wearer’s voice. Machine learning algorithms separate speech from background noise.
- Controls. Touch zones on the back of the earbuds and head gestures: a nod answers a call or dismisses an alarm.
- Galaxy AI. Hands-free quick access to Gemini Live and voice notes on compatible Galaxy phones.
- Battery life. Up to 9.5 hours of continuous playback. Samsung has not stated the case capacity.
Still missing from the official data are the weight, the water resistance rating and the Bluetooth version. There is a single colour at launch, black. A white version may follow, but the company has not promised one. The model, numbered SM-U600, passed FCC certification in the US as a Bluetooth headset back on 15 September, and Samsung India has already published a support page. That hints at an early release outside Korea, but it is not a guarantee.
Why Samsung is moving into open earbuds
The segment is growing fast. According to Omdia figures quoted by Sammy Fans, open earbud shipments rose 12% year on year in the second quarter, to 11.1 million units. Bose, Sony, Anker and Nothing already sell such models, so Samsung is catching up with the market rather than creating it. It does have one trump card: deep integration with its own phones and Galaxy AI features that third-party brands cannot offer.
What this means for buyers
If you are in the UK or elsewhere in Europe, you cannot officially buy the Galaxy Buds On yet. The Korean price converts to around $220, and when the model reaches other markets it will almost certainly go up because of taxes. Importing the Korean version through a middleman only makes sense for those who accept the warranty risk and do not mind overpaying.
The real choice right now is to wait for a global announcement or pick clip-style open earbuds from another brand. There are plenty of them on AliExpress, and the best sellers here cost a fraction of the Korean price, from £19.16 to £29.41. They will not have Samsung’s signature features such as head gestures and Gemini Live, but the basic idea is the same: music and calls without blocking your ear. For running, cycling, desk work and long calls, that is usually enough.
When choosing clip-style earbuds, look at how comfortable the arc is (its stiffness and thickness), the number of microphones for calls, sweat resistance if you plan to exercise, and multipoint connection if you switch between a laptop and a phone. Keep the main limitation of the format in mind: on noisy public transport, open earbuds lose to in-ear ones and you have to turn the volume up.
Alternatives to the Galaxy Buds On you can buy now
We picked the best-selling open clip-style earbuds on AliExpress from the official Baseus and QCY stores. Specs are taken from the product listings.
Baseus Bowie MC2 Air
The most popular model in this roundup, with more than 11,000 sales. Clip-on earbuds with Bluetooth 6.0, four microphones and ENC noise reduction for calls. A good option if you want a format similar to the Buds On for little money.
Price on 21 October: £29.41
Sold: 11 225+ pcs, positive reviews: 96.3%
View on AliExpress
Baseus BC1
A sportier model from the same brand. It has Bluetooth 6.0, four microphones, a Super Bass boosted-bass mode and IP55 protection against dust and splashes, so sweat and rain are no problem.
Price on 21 October: £20.20
Sold: 9 857+ pcs, positive reviews: 95.9%
View on AliExpress
QCY Crossky C50
QCY’s flagship among clip-style earbuds. Bluetooth 6.0, four microphones with AI Clear Call for clean calls, and a Bass Boost mode. The manufacturer positions them as comfortable sports earbuds.
Price on 21 October: £28.45
Sold: 8 615+ pcs, positive reviews: 97.5%
View on AliExpress
QCY Crossky C30
A simpler model with useful features: spatial audio, multipoint connection to two devices and four microphones with ENC. Bluetooth is version 5.4 here.
Price on 21 October: £19.16
Sold: 5 304+ pcs, positive reviews: 97.1%
View on AliExpress
Verdict
The Galaxy Buds On look like a well-thought-out product for Galaxy phone owners, especially for the head gestures, the bone conduction sensor and the Gemini integration. For now, though, they are a Korean and Japanese release with no UK price. If you need open earbuds today, the Baseus and QCY clips cover the basics for little money, and by the time Samsung launches globally it will be clear whether the signature features are worth paying extra for.
