Samsung has begun selling its first open-ear earbuds, the Galaxy Buds On, starting in Korea, where they rest against the ear rather than sealing inside the canal. The design marks a quiet shift in how a familiar gadget is worn, pairing comfort with Google's Gemini Live assistant for those who want to stay aware of their surroundings. Much of what is known so far comes from the company itself and from early coverage, and the wider world has yet to test the claims. Europe's price and timing remain rumors, waiting for Samsung to speak.
Samsung's First Open-Ear Galaxy Buds On Arrive With Gemini Live, Launching in Korea First
Earbuds that don't actually enter your ear
So what's actually new here? Samsung has made earbuds for years.
What's new is that these don't go in the ear canal. The Galaxy Buds On are Samsung's first open-ear design, and they're on sale in Korea now.
And Gemini Live is part of that?
Yes, Neowin reports they arrive with Gemini Live, so you can talk with the assistant through them.
I'd slow down on what that means. The reporting says Gemini Live is included. It doesn't tell us how well it works on these earbuds or whether every feature is available in every country.
What about the hands-on coverage? Does it tell us if they're good?
It focuses on comfort and daily convenience, which fits a design that doesn't sit inside the ear.
But one of those pieces is on samsung.com. That's Samsung describing its own product. I wouldn't treat it as an independent verdict, and nothing here covers sound quality or battery life.
And the European pricing?
It's a leak through retailers, per SammyGuru. Not confirmed. Dates and prices could change.
So the thing to watch is whether Samsung makes it official, and what outside reviewers say once they've lived with them.
Il Polso
- Samsung's first open-ear earbuds are already on sale in Korea, and buyers there are the first to find out whether the design lives up to its promise.
- The earbuds sit outside the ear canal, a deliberate break from the in-ear Galaxy Buds that came before them.
- Gemini Live is built in, giving the product a voice-driven assistant to match its everyday-wear pitch.
- Early hands-on coverage praises comfort and convenience, but independent testing of sound, battery, and calls has not yet arrived.
- Leaked European pricing and launch timing, passed through retailers, are circulating unconfirmed, and Samsung has yet to answer them.
Samsung has begun selling its first open-ear earbuds, the Galaxy Buds On, starting in Korea, where they rest against the ear rather than sealing inside the canal. The design marks a quiet shift in how a familiar gadget is worn, pairing comfort with Google's Gemini Live assistant for those who want to stay aware of their surroundings. Much of what is known so far comes from the company itself and from early coverage, and the wider world has yet to test the claims. Europe's price and timing remain rumors, waiting for Samsung to speak.
Samsung has put its first open-ear earbuds on sale, and the product is called Galaxy Buds On. For now, Korea is the only market where anyone can actually buy a pair, according to SamMobile.
The defining choice is physical. Unlike the in-ear Galaxy Buds before them, these do not sit inside the ear canal, and that is what open-ear means. Early coverage keeps returning to comfort and everyday convenience, the idea that a pair meant to be worn all day should not feel like a plug.
The other headline is software. The Buds On arrive with Gemini Live, Google's conversational assistant, so the open-ear hardware comes paired with a voice-driven way of talking to an assistant.
One caution belongs here. Samsung's own first-person piece, "A Day With Galaxy Buds On," makes the comfort case, and it comes from the company describing its own product. No independent testing or detailed specifications have surfaced yet, so claims about sound, battery life, or call quality remain unverified.
European timing and pricing have reportedly leaked through retailers. That is a leak, not an announcement, and buyers outside Korea should treat those figures as provisional until Samsung confirms them.
Samsung has put its first open-ear earbuds on sale, and they are called Galaxy Buds On. The product is now available for purchase in Korea, according to SamMobile, which makes the home market the first place anyone can actually buy a pair.
The defining feature is in the design. As BGR put it in its headline, these are earbuds that don't actually enter your ear. Unlike the in-ear Galaxy Buds that came before them, the Buds On do not sit inside the ear canal, which is what the term open-ear means here.
The other headline feature is software. Neowin reports that the Buds On arrive with Gemini Live, Google's conversational assistant, built into the experience. That pairs Samsung's first open-ear hardware with a voice-driven way of talking to an assistant, which is a natural fit for a product meant to be worn comfortably through a day.
Comfort and convenience are the themes in the hands-on coverage. Samsung's own site published a first-person piece titled "A Day With Galaxy Buds On," built around those same ideas. Because that piece appears on samsung.com, it is the company describing its own product, and it should be read that way. The reporting available so far does not include independent testing results or detailed specifications, so claims about sound quality, battery life, or call performance cannot be stated here.
The next question is where else the product will go. SammyGuru reports that a European launch timeline and pricing have leaked through retailers. That is a leak, not an announcement, and Samsung has not confirmed the dates or prices in the material available. Anyone planning a purchase outside Korea should treat those numbers as provisional until the company speaks.
What can be said with confidence is limited but clear. The Galaxy Buds On exist, they are Samsung's first open-ear model, they include Gemini Live, and they can be bought in Korea now. What to watch is whether Samsung confirms the European details, and whether independent reviewers weigh in on how the open design performs in daily use compared with in-ear earbuds.
Citazioni salienti
Samsung's new Galaxy Buds On are earbuds that don't actually enter your ear.— BGR headline