ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Samsung’s Galaxy Buds On debut in the US.
- They are equipped with advanced AI and connectivity features.
- Samsung is capitalizing on a shift toward clip-style headphones in the US.
Samsung’s new Galaxy Buds On may be about to take open-ear headphones over a music player container for the hyper-aware listener. With smart features like Gemini Live Chats and accepting or rejecting calls via head gestures, Samsung’s clip-style buds are actually smart, and competitors need to take notice.
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Galaxy Buds specifications
The Galaxy Buds On feature two of Samsung’s proprietary Bluetooth codecs: SSC and SSC UHQ, which deliver audio quality up to 24-bit/48kHz and 24-bit/96kHz, respectively, when connected to compatible Galaxy devices.
Samsung’s new clip-style headphones promise up to nine and a half hours of continuous play time, and their charging unit promises an additional 38 hours. Samsung has also fitted the Galaxy Buds On with Bluetooth 6.2, which can set it up for future Channel Sounding support via a firmware update.
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Finally, the Galaxy Buds On have an IP54 durability rating, so they can withstand dust and water protected, not waterproof. So, you can take the Galaxy Buds On with you on a brisk walk in the light rain or wear them during a particularly sweaty workout, but they’re not fit for submersion.
How they compare to Bose, Shokz, and Sony
The durability rating of Samsung’s clip-style headphones is stronger than Bose’s Ultra Open headphones (2.
However, Shokz’s clip-style Open Dots 2 have an IP57 rating, offering the same level of dust protection as the Galaxy Buds On, but their stronger water protection makes them waterproof.
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However, one thing Samsung has over all its competitors is access to an ecosystem, which allows the Galaxy Buds On to be smarter than their counterparts from Sony, Shokz or Bose. Given that Samsung controls its hardware and software ecosystem, it could give the Galaxy Buds On unique access to AI-powered features, making the earbuds a stronger asset to its device ecosystem.
You’ll find features similar to Samsung’s Audio Leakage Reduction, Intelligent Clear Call, and Voice Pickup Unit in many premium open-ear headphones, but the real strength of these headphones is that they work like the flagship Galaxy Buds 4 Pro without the intrusive in-ear design.
Is there a market for clip-on headphones?
Samsung releasing the Galaxy Buds On in Korea before the US is not surprising; not only is Korea its home country, but Asian consumers discovered earbuds—especially the clip-on variety—long before American consumers. Many open-ear headphones made by Asian manufacturers for domestic markets already have smart features, such as AI-powered live translation and notes.
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There are two reasons why American consumers seem so far behind in this technology category: the heavy hitters are banned or scaled back in US markets, and use cases vary across cultures. Asian tech giants such as Xiaomi, Huawei, and Oppo face bans and market problems in the United States and often focus on high-value local markets instead. Plus, Asian consumers show greater demand for fashion-forward clip-style earbuds, such as the Moto Buds Loop, which are available in the US, while Americans seem to be more interested in headphones for exercise features.
However, there is a market in the US for clip-style headphones suitable for training that offer advanced, everyday, useful functions, and Samsung is taking advantage of the opportunity.