Galaxy Buds On: Price, Release Date and How Samsung’s Clip-On Earbuds Differ From the Buds4 Pro
Key takeaways
- Samsung’s first clip-on, open-ear Galaxy Buds; $229 in the US from early November 2026.
- Up to 9.5 hours per charge, 38 with the case, IP54, and Audio Leakage Reduction.
- Best for runners and all-day wear; the Buds4 Pro is better for noisy commutes.
The Galaxy Buds On are Samsung’s first clip-on, open-ear wireless earbuds, and they are worn very differently from earlier Galaxy Buds. Instead of sealing your ear canal, they hook over the outer ear so you can still hear what’s around you. That style has caught on with runners and with anyone who finds in-ear buds stuffy over long sessions.
Samsung sold them in South Korea first, starting Oct. 27, 2026. Below are the main features and the differences from the Galaxy Buds4 Pro.
Galaxy Buds On price and release date
Samsung announced on Oct. 28 that the Galaxy Buds On will be available in the US in black for $229 starting in early November 2026. Black is the only color at launch.
Unlike the in-ear Buds lineup, this model carries its own model number, SM-U600. The Buds4 Pro blocks outside noise so you can focus on music; the Buds On is an open-ear (OWS) design that lets you listen while hearing your surroundings.
The timing makes sense. Global wireless earbud shipments fell 0.7% while open-ear models grew 12%, and more people are looking for earbuds they can wear on a run.
Clip-on design: a flexible band and a shape-memory alloy
The Buds On rest on the outer ear rather than pushing an ear tip into the canal. A flexible band links the speaker in front with the battery behind, and the joint uses a shape-memory alloy. The band bends to the shape of your ear, which spreads out the pressure.
Samsung drew on more than 119 million ear data points and simulations to tune where the weight sits.
Each earbud weighs about 6.65 g (0.23 oz), and the charging case weighs 41 g (1.45 oz). The two earbuds are identical, and a sensor detects which ear each one is on. Put them in either way and the left and right stereo channels are set automatically.
Chip, codecs, battery and water resistance
Inside are a Qualcomm Snapdragon S7 Gen 1 Sound Platform and a Class-D amplifier. The earbuds support Bluetooth 6.2, 24-bit/96kHz audio through Samsung Seamless Codec (SSC UHQ), and the LC3 codec. Samsung lists Android 12 or later with more than 1.5GB of memory as the requirement, and some features may not work with non-Samsung phones. iPhone is not on that list.
Battery life is up to 9.5 hours on the earbuds and up to 38 hours with the case. An IP54 rating means sweat and light rain during a workout are fine. The rating covers the earbuds only; the charging case is not water resistant.
Bass and sound leakage: what Samsung changed
Open-ear earbuds don’t seal the ear, so bass tends to dissipate into the air. To make up for it, the Buds On use an 11.3 mm (0.44 in) TwinBoost Speaker with two woofers dedicated to low frequencies. The idea is to deliver full bass even with a gap between the ear and the speaker.
Samsung also went after the sound that escapes to the people around you. The Buds On are the first Galaxy Buds with Audio Leakage Reduction. Active noise cancellation (ANC) cuts the outside noise that reaches your ears; leakage reduction cuts the sound from the earbuds that spreads outward.
Samsung says the earbuds project reversed sound waves from the rear of the speaker so the escaping sound cancels out. Put simply, ANC lowers the noise you hear, and leakage reduction lowers what the people next to you hear.
The earbuds can also adjust the volume to the noise around you. Auto Volume is an experimental Labs feature that needs One UI 8.5 or later. In a quiet study room or library, turning the volume up can still let some sound escape, so keep it moderate there.
Galaxy Buds On vs. Galaxy Buds4 Pro
The two differ in how they’re worn and in where they work best. The Buds4 Pro suits listeners who want to shut out noise and focus on music. The Buds On fit people who want music and their surroundings at the same time.
| Spec | Galaxy Buds On | Galaxy Buds4 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Model number | SM-U600 | SM-R640N |
| Fit | Clip-on, open-ear | In-ear, sealed |
| Speaker | 11.3 mm (0.44 in) TwinBoost | 11 mm (0.43 in) woofer + 5.4 mm (0.21 in) planar tweeter |
| Noise control | Audio Leakage Reduction, auto volume | Intelligent adaptive ANC |
| Battery (earbuds / with case) | Up to 9.5 hrs / 38 hrs | 6 hrs / 26 hrs with ANC on |
| Dust and water | IP54 | IP57 |
| Earbud weight | About 6.65 g (0.23 oz) | About 5.1 g (0.18 oz) |
The Buds On costs less than the Buds4 Pro and runs longer per charge. If blocking outside noise or stronger water resistance matters more to you, the Buds4 Pro is the better fit.
The Buds On case has roughly the same outer dimensions as the Buds4 series case, so the 16 existing Buds4 case accessories fit it. That doesn’t mean the charging cases themselves are interchangeable.
Gemini Live and hands-free features
The Buds On also support hands-free features tied to Galaxy AI. On a Galaxy device running One UI 9.0 or later, saying “Hey Google, let’s talk Live” starts Gemini Live. You can then keep asking questions without repeating the wake phrase, which helps when you can’t reach for your phone.
Head Gestures let you handle calls by moving your head. Nod to answer an incoming call or shake your head to decline it. The same gestures can dismiss an alarm.
Press and hold the back of an earbud and speak to record a Quick Voice Memo. You can find saved memos again later with Bixby voice commands.
Calls use three microphones plus a bone-conduction Voice Pickup Unit (VPU). It picks up tiny vibrations in your jaw to separate your voice, and Intelligent Clear Call reduces wind and background noise.
Who should buy the Buds On?
The biggest advantage is that the Buds On keep your ears open so you can hear what’s around you. I think they’ll suit runners, people who spend time outdoors and anyone who found sealed in-ear buds uncomfortable. The long battery life also looks good for everyday use.
On a noisy subway or a plane, the Buds4 Pro with ANC may be the better choice. Clip-on earbuds also fit differently depending on ear shape, so try a pair on in a store before you buy.
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