Samsung has officially unveiled the Galaxy Buds On, its first clip-on earphones, in South Korea. The open-design earbuds attach around the ear rather than sealing the ear canal, and Samsung says they are designed for comfortable extended use, including while running.

The Galaxy Buds On will launch in South Korea on October 27 for KRW 299,999, or about $220. Samsung says the earphones will reach other regions in phases, but it has not provided further timing in the available announcement.

Open clip-on design keeps users aware

The Galaxy Buds On use a clip-style design that leaves the ear open. This allows wearers to continue hearing their surroundings while listening to audio, which may be useful during outdoor activities. Samsung presents the design as an alternative to conventional in-ear earbuds that block more of the ear.

Music playback and calls can be controlled through touch interactions. The relevant sensors are positioned on the rear of the earbuds, giving users access to controls without needing to reach for a connected phone.

Up to 9.5 hours of battery life

Samsung says the Galaxy Buds On can provide up to 9.5 hours of continuous use on a single charge. The earphones are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S7 Gen 1 chipset alongside a Class D amplifier.

The company has not provided additional battery details in the announcement, such as the capacity of the charging case or total runtime with the case. The 9.5-hour figure therefore applies to continuous use from the earbuds themselves.

Voice calls and Galaxy AI features

For calls, the earbuds include three microphones and a bone conduction-based vibration sensor. Samsung says the sensor can detect when the wearer is speaking, helping reduce background noise during conversations.

When paired with a Galaxy smartphone or tablet that supports Galaxy AI, the Galaxy Buds On can invoke the assistant and carry out various actions. Samsung also says the earbuds work with Gemini Live, extending access to Google’s conversational assistant from a compatible device.

Head Gestures add hands-free controls

The earbuds support Samsung’s Head Gestures feature. Users can answer or end calls, check notifications, cancel alarms and perform other actions with gestures rather than touch controls or voice commands.

Samsung has not listed every supported gesture or specified which features require a particular Galaxy device. Availability may also vary as the Galaxy Buds On begin their phased international rollout.