[Edaily Reporter Shin Yeong-bin ] SamsungElectronics(005930)is entering the market for “ear-hook” wireless earbuds, which are worn over the ear without blocking the ear canal. The company plans to differentiate itself in this clip-on market—where competitors include Huawei, Bose, and Shokz—through comfort, sound quality, and artificial intelligence (AI) features integrated with Galaxy devices.

On the 20th, SamsungElectronics held a press briefing at the Taepyeong-ro Building in Jung-gu, Seoul, to introduce the development process and key technologies behind the “Galaxy Buds On,” the first clip-on wireless earbuds in the Galaxy lineup.

The product will be released on the 27th in a single color: black. The price is 299,000 won.

SamsungElectronics focused on consumers who switch between different types of earbuds depending on the situation. According to a SamsungElectronics survey, approximately 73% of clip-style earbud users also owned traditional in-ear earbuds. They tend to choose in-ear earbuds when noise cancellation and immersion are needed, and clip-style earbuds when they want to stay aware of their surroundings while being active.

Nam Hyun-jung, a product planning manager in the Wearables Product Planning Group at SamsungElectronics’ MX Business Division, explained, “Recently, there has been a growing number of users who want to enjoy content in their daily lives while still being able to hear ambient sounds,” adding, “The Galaxy Buds On was designed so that users can comfortably enjoy audio without blocking their ears.”

A key challenge during development was ensuring both comfort and a secure fit. While a firm grip keeps the earbuds stable during movement, it can cause discomfort during prolonged wear. The team also had to account for the fact that everyone’s ears are shaped differently.

SamsungElectronics utilized 119 million data points collected from ears of various ethnicities and age groups in 4D-based simulations. The company adjusted the band length and angle, as well as the placement of the speakers and battery, and analyzed the contact area and pressure distribution on the ear. Shape-memory alloy material was applied to the connecting parts.

Lee Myung-hwan, Head of the Wearable Product Planning Group at SamsungElectronics’ MX Business Division, said, “Since the device is worn for long periods, comfort is key, and secure fit is crucial during various activities,” adding, “We are using computational design techniques to find the optimal settings.”

In terms of acoustic design, the team focused on compensating for the loss of bass—a common weakness of clip-on designs. This is because the speaker is positioned on the outside of the ear, creating distance from the eardrum, which can cause sound leakage and weaken bass reproduction.

The Buds On adopts a “Twin Boost” structure that uses two identical woofer speakers. Unlike the Buds 4 Pro, which features separate tweeters for high frequencies and woofers for low frequencies, the Buds On boosts output using two woofers. It also includes an automatic volume control feature that increases the volume when ambient noise rises and returns it to the original level when it subsides.

It also marks the first application of sound leakage reduction technology to minimize sound escaping to the outside. This method utilizes out-of-phase sound waves generated from the rear of the speaker to cancel out the escaping sound. However, Samsung explained that sound leakage may still occur depending on the shape of the ear and how the earbuds are worn.

Call quality has been enhanced through three microphones per earbud, a bone-conduction-based vibration sensor, and machine learning technology. It detects vibrations generated when speaking and separates the user’s voice from background noise. It also features an accelerometer that detects the wearing orientation, automatically assigning left and right audio regardless of which ear the earbud is worn in.

Integration with Galaxy devices is another key differentiator. When connected to a supported smartphone or tablet, users can summon Gemini Live via voice command to continue a conversation. The earbuds also support “Quick Voice Memo,” which allows users to record spontaneous thoughts by long-pressing the back of the earbud, as well as searching recorded content via Bixby.

It also offers head gesture controls, such as nodding to answer a call or shaking your head sideways to dismiss an alarm. However, dismissing alarms and viewing message notifications require meeting certain requirements, such as running One UI 9.0 or higher. The product has an IP54 dust and water resistance rating.

The market is seeing growth in open-ear products that do not block the ears. According to market research firm Omdia, shipments of open-ear wireless earbuds (OWS) in the second quarter of this year reached 11.1 million units, a 12% increase from the same period last year. Clip-on models accounted for 61% of this total. Competitors include Huawei’s “FreeClip 2,” Bose’s “Ultra Open Earbuds 2nd Gen,” and Shokz’s “Open.dot 2.”

SamsungElectronics believes that even when competing with low-cost clip-style products, comfort, call quality, and the Galaxy user experience will be key purchasing factors. The group leader stated, “When using a Galaxy phone and the Buds together, every step—from the initial connection to the setup process—is convenient,” adding, “I believe they offer sufficient premium value.”