Samsung Joins Cuff-Shaped Earbuds Trend With $229 Galaxy Buds On

Samsung Electronics Co. unveiled its first pair of cuff-style earbuds, adding to a growing category that includes products from Sony Group Corp., Bose Corp. and several Chinese brands.

The $229 Galaxy Buds On, announced Wednesday, have a C-shaped appearance, also referred to as a “clip-on” design, which hugs the earlobe almost like an earring. The earbuds are designed to let people listen to music and other audio while remaining aware of their surroundings. Since they hug the lobe, the ear canal remains unobstructed, making ambient noise easy to hear. The earbuds are available in black and will go on sale on Nov. 6.

In a press briefing ahead of Wednesday’s announcement, Samsung said it developed the Galaxy Buds On through an AI-driven computational design process informed by over 119 million ear-data points, ultimately settling on an ergonomic fit that works across a diverse range of ear shapes.

The earbuds include tap controls and can be configured to automatically adjust volume based on how loud the environment is. Sound leakage can sometimes be an issue with open-fit earphones, potentially disturbing people nearby. But Samsung said it took steps to keep listening sessions more private, including “projecting reversed sound waves from the rear of the speaker.”

The On earbuds have a dust and water resistance rating of IP54, meaning they can endure splashes but shouldn’t be fully submerged and aren’t recommended for poolside use or taking to the beach. Battery life is rated for 9.5 hours of continuous playback — the longest of any Galaxy Bud product to date, according to the company. That usage time is possible largely because the earbuds don’t include active noise cancellation, which drains power more quickly. When including top-offs from the charging case, they can last as long as 38 hours, Samsung said.

Like previous Galaxy Buds, the On model supports hands-free voice commands with Alphabet Inc.’s Google Gemini assistant. Users can answer or dismiss calls with head gestures, while a long press activates Quick Voice Memo for recording a thought or to-do.