Samsung has started selling two new products in the US: the Galaxy Buds On open-ear clip earbuds and the Galaxy SmartTag 3 tracker. According to Android Central and Digital Trends, both appeared in Samsung’s store and at retailers on 6 November. The earbuds cost $229, the tag $29.99, and a four-pack of tags is around $99. Here is what Samsung is offering, what is still missing, and what you can buy right now without waiting for an official launch in the UK and Europe.
This article contains affiliate links. If you buy something through them, the site may earn a small commission from AliExpress, at no extra cost to you.
Galaxy Buds On: earbuds that leave your ear open
The Buds On are nothing like the usual Galaxy Buds. They are an open-ear design: each earbud clips onto the edge of your ear rather than sitting in the ear canal. Bose, Huawei, Baseus and dozens of other brands have pushed this format for the past couple of years, and now Samsung has joined in.
The earbuds were announced in late October and went on sale in the US on 6 November. The price in Samsung’s own store is $229, while Digital Trends lists $229.99. Droid Life reported a black case.
What we know about the specs
- Weight. Each earbud weighs 6.65 g. That matters for an open design, which stays in place only thanks to its shape and the pressure of the clip.
- Fit. Samsung says the shape was designed using more than 119 million ear measurements.
- Sound. Inside are TwinBoost drivers, which Digital Trends puts at 11.3 mm. The platform is the Snapdragon S7 Gen 1 Sound with a class D amplifier.
- Sound leakage. An Audio Leakage Reduction feature is meant to cut down what people around you can hear. Leakage is the main drawback of open earbuds, so the feature makes sense.
- Battery life. Up to 9.5 hours of continuous music playback and up to 38 hours with the case.
- Smart features. Automatic volume adjustment, Gemini Live, and answering or declining calls with head gestures.
What the sources do not say: an exact date and price for Europe, any water and dust resistance rating, or codec support. It is too early to compare the Buds On with rivals on those points.
Galaxy SmartTag 3: smaller, lighter and with directional finding
The second product will interest more shoppers, because it costs eight times less. The SmartTag 3 is 35% smaller and 33% lighter than its predecessor. It comes in two colours: black and white.
The tag has Bluetooth 6.0 with Channel Sounding, plus UWB. Together they allow precise tracking: in Compass View mode, your phone points towards a lost item at distances of up to 60 metres. Samsung has also added arrival notifications for a chosen place (Place Notification), an alert when the tag moves (Movement Detection Alert) and a location history.
The headline figure is the battery: up to 550 days of use, and up to 790 days in power-saving mode. For pet owners, Samsung also offers an accessory for attaching the tag to a collar.
What about iPhone?
You can use the SmartTag 3 with an iPhone through the SmartThings Find app, but with limits. According to Digital Trends, Compass View, the ring-your-phone-from-the-tag function and the left-behind alert do not work on iOS. In other words, an iPhone owner gets basic finding, while the full feature set is for Galaxy users.
What this means for shoppers
For now, both products are officially sold only in the US. Samsung has not given UK or European prices, and the reviews we relied on name no dates for other markets. If you are waiting for the Buds On at the US price, bear in mind that an official European launch usually means a higher price once taxes are included.
The bigger takeaway is different. Samsung is confirming a trend that has lived in the budget segment for years: open clip earbuds have become a mainstream product for running, cycling, office work and city walks, where you want to hear traffic and the people around you. You do not push them deep into your ear, they do not press, and they tire you less over long wear. There is a known trade-off too: less bass than noise-cancelling in-ear models, and they are harder to hear on the Tube or a noisy street.
Trackers are similar. Samsung is betting on precise directional finding and a long battery, but for the simple job of finding keys and a rucksack, inexpensive trackers on Apple’s Find My network or Google’s Find Hub are enough. Just pick a tag for your own phone: Apple and Android devices are usually different, and one tag rarely supports both networks.
What to buy instead: popular AliExpress alternatives
We picked open earbuds and tags that people buy by the thousand, with ratings of 96% or higher. Specifications come from the product descriptions.
Baseus BC1: the best-selling open clip earbuds
Clip earbuds with Bluetooth 6.0, four microphones for calls and IP55 protection, so sweat and splashes are no problem. By sales, this is one of the most popular models of its kind in the official Baseus store. A good choice if you want to try open earbuds without spending much.
Price on 7 November: £18.16
Sold: 11042+ pcs, positive reviews: 96.0%
View on AliExpress
QCY Crossky C50: open earbuds focused on calls
QCY is known for affordable true wireless earbuds, and the Crossky C50 continues that line. It has Bluetooth 6.0, four microphones and AI voice processing for clear calls, plus boosted bass according to the manufacturer. This model comes from the official QCY store and has a 97.5% rating.
Price on 7 November: £26.91
Sold: 9343+ pcs, positive reviews: 97.5%
View on AliExpress
Baseus Inspire XC1 Sound by Bose: closest to the Buds On in class
If you want a step up, look at the Inspire XC1. Its sound was tuned together with Bose, as the name suggests. It has Bluetooth 6.1, four microphones and an ear clip fit. It costs noticeably more than the BC1, but still less than the Samsung at its US price.
Price on 7 November: £125.73
Sold: 3581+ pcs, positive reviews: 96.3%
View on AliExpress
UGREEN Smart Tag: a tracker for iPhone owners
The UGREEN tracker works on Apple’s Find My network and is for iOS only. The manufacturer says the battery lasts up to two years. It is easy to hang on your keys or drop into a bag, and you can find it in the standard Find My app.
Price on 7 November: £11.61
Sold: 1711+ pcs, positive reviews: 98.5%
View on AliExpress
Google Find My tracker: an option for Android
For Android phones, a tag with Google Find My support (the network is now called Find Hub) will do. It is the cheapest option in this roundup and one of the best sellers: almost 7,000 orders at a 98% rating. It lacks the directional finding of the SmartTag 3, but for keys, a bag or a suitcase that is usually enough.
Price on 7 November: £3.27
Sold: 6981+ pcs, positive reviews: 98.0%
View on AliExpress
In short
The Galaxy Buds On at $229 and the SmartTag 3 at $29.99 are already on sale in the US. The earbuds stand out for their 6.65 g weight, head gestures and up to 38 hours of battery with the case, while the tag gets UWB, directional finding up to 60 metres and a battery of up to 550 days. Nothing is known yet about a UK or European launch. If you want open earbuds or a tracker now, mainstream models from Baseus, QCY and UGREEN do the same job for noticeably less.
