Samsung Electronics is entering the open-ear earphone market with its first clip-on wireless earbuds, the Galaxy Buds On.
At a media briefing held on the morning of Oct. 20 at the Taepyeong-ro Building in Jung-gu, Seoul, Samsung Electronics introduced the background behind the launch of the Galaxy Buds On, its key technologies and its strategy for differentiating the product from existing models.
Clip-on earbuds are designed to rest on the ears without blocking the ear canals. Samsung Electronics said it focused on the increasingly diverse purposes for which consumers use earphones. According to its own research, 73% of clip-on earbud users also own conventional in-ear earbuds. Consumers tend to use in-ear models with noise isolation when they want to concentrate on music, while choosing open-ear products when exercising or talking with people around them.
“When immersion or concentration is needed, the Galaxy Buds4 Pro with active noise cancellation (ANC) is a good choice, while the Galaxy Buds On is suitable for listening to music while remaining aware of the surrounding environment,” said Nam Hyun-jung, a professional in the Wearable Product Planning Group of Samsung Electronics' Mobile eXperience (MX) Business.
To differentiate the product, Samsung Electronics focused on improving wearing comfort and sound quality, two areas considered limitations of clip-on earbuds. Using artificial intelligence (AI) optimization technology based on 4D computing, the company distributed pressure and weight across the ear and applied a band made of shape-memory alloy to improve wearing stability. It also collected approximately 119 million ear data points to provide a consistent and comfortable fit.
“Because Galaxy Buds are products worn for extended periods, comfort is important, but a secure fit is also essential during various physical activities,” said Lee Myung-hwan, head of the Wearable Product Planning Group in the MX Business of Samsung Electronics' Device eXperience (DX) Division. “Through computational design, we are accumulating data on various ear shapes and working to find the optimal balance.”
For audio performance, the earbuds feature a Twin Boost Speaker system consisting of two woofer speakers to enhance bass output. Samsung Electronics has also introduced sound leakage reduction technology for the first time in the Galaxy Buds series to minimize sound escaping into the surrounding environment. The earbuds also support automatic volume adjustment based on ambient noise levels.
Integration with Galaxy devices has also been strengthened. Users can launch Google's Gemini Live through voice commands, answer calls with head movements and record audio by touching the earbuds.
“There are three values we consistently emphasize for Galaxy wearable products,” Lee said. “They are wearing comfort, call and sound quality, and the experience of connecting with Galaxy devices. Samsung Electronics takes pride in having world-class technology when it comes to wearing comfort.”
