Samsung Galaxy Buds On leak reveals the company’s first clip-on earbuds

Samsung appears to be preparing to enter a different corner of the wireless audio market with its first-ever clip-on earbuds. According to a new report by Android Headlines, the earbuds will reportedly be called Galaxy Buds On, rather than the previously rumored Galaxy Able. Images shared by Android Headlines provide a closer look at the design, showing an earring-like form factor that clips around the ear rather than sitting entirely inside it.

The earbuds first surfaced in July under the Galaxy Able name, but the latest report says Samsung will use the Galaxy Buds On branding. The leaked images also show how the earbuds are positioned when worn, giving a clearer idea of Samsung’s approach to open-ear audio.

Galaxy Buds On take an earring-like approach to audio

Unlike traditional Galaxy Buds, the Galaxy Buds On appear to attach to the ear at two points. The speaker section sits on the inside of the ear, while the other portion wraps around the outer part, creating a clip-on design that resembles an earring. One side is wider and appears to house the speaker, while a microphone is also visible for making calls.

The report says Samsung is allegedly planning to use open-ear air conduction technology, which would direct sound toward the ear through the edges of the ear canal. However, this detail has not been confirmed, so it is worth treating it as a leak rather than a final specification.

The open-ear approach could make the Galaxy Buds On particularly interesting for people who want to listen to music while remaining aware of their surroundings. It could also make the design useful for activities such as exercise, although the report notes that clip-on earbuds can come with compromises in sound quality compared with conventional in-ear models.

Head gestures, automatic volume and sleep detection could be coming

Samsung may also be looking beyond audio with several smart features. According to the report, users could potentially control certain actions by nodding or shaking their heads, with gestures possibly being customisable.

The earbuds are also rumored to support automatic volume adjustment, allowing them to increase volume when the surrounding environment becomes noisier. They could additionally let users trigger voice assistants, with the report speculating that Gemini and Bixby could be supported.

Another rumored feature is sleep detection, which could automatically pause playback when the earbuds detect that the wearer has fallen asleep. None of these features has been officially confirmed by Samsung yet.

The latest images reportedly offer the clearest look at Samsung’s first clip-on earbuds so far, but details such as pricing, battery life, launch date, connectivity and final audio specifications remain undisclosed in the source. For now, the Galaxy Buds On remain a reported product, with Samsung yet to officially announce them.