Samsung is launching its new Galaxy Buds On in the US on November 6. The earbuds will cost $229. They are Samsung’s first open-ear earbuds and come with a new clip-style design that wraps around the ear.

Unlike regular earbuds, the Galaxy Buds On do not go inside the ear. This design allows users to listen to music while hearing sounds around them, such as traffic and conversations. Users can also adjust the angle of the earbuds for a better fit.

The earbuds include sound leakage reduction technology, which helps stop music from disturbing people nearby. Samsung says this feature works automatically without using extra battery power.

For sound quality, each earbud has two 11.3mm drivers designed to deliver clear sound and stronger bass. Samsung claims the earbuds can provide up to 9.5 hours of battery life on a single charge. Their charging case also supports wireless charging.

Other features include Google Gemini Live support, clearer phone calls, and an IP54 rating for protection against dust and water splashes.

However, the Galaxy Buds On have some drawbacks. They do not support active noise cancellation (ANC), which blocks outside noise. They also lack Bluetooth multipoint, so users cannot connect to multiple devices at the same time.

Samsung will sell the earbuds in only one size and one color, black. The Galaxy Buds On could be a good choice for people who want to enjoy music while staying aware of their surroundings.

Samsung has soft-launched the One UI 9 Watch release date. The Wear OS 7-based software is final on the Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, in Beta on three older generations, and still without a stable release date for everyone else. A Samsung announcement on October 28 about an AI-powered sleep apnea feature adds a fresh clue about when older watches could catch up.

Samsung’s One UI 9 Watch update

One UI 9 Watch is Samsung’s interface layer on top of Wear OS 7, the version Google shipped in stable form alongside Android 17. Google says Wear OS 7 can deliver up to 10 percent more battery life than Wear OS 6, though results on Galaxy Watches may differ.

On the Google side, Wear OS 7 adds Live Updates for ongoing activities, easier control of compatible devices, a media output switcher, and music streaming to several speakers or headphones at once. We expect Live Updates to tie into Samsung’s Now Bar on Galaxy Watches.

Samsung’s own additions include a slightly more vibrant design, new widgets, quicker access to AI assistants such as Gemini, and new health and fitness tools. Early Beta builds for the Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch Ultra added Antioxidant Index and Vascular Load, with a Blood Pressure Trend feature replacing both in the US.

The software also carries a longer promise. The Galaxy Watch 9 and Ultra 2 are confirmed to receive updates until July 2031, five years from launch.

Official debut in August 2026

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 at Galaxy Unpacked in London on July 22, with sales beginning on August 7. Both ship with One UI 9 Watch on Wear OS 7 and run on Qualcomm’s 3nm Snapdragon Wear Elite chip.

That makes August 7 the practical release date for the finished software, since it was the first day customers could use it without joining a Beta.

This is why the rollout reads as a soft launch. Samsung has said earlier watches will follow through its usual tiered approach, but it gave no stable window or Beta announcement on launch day.

Beta Program on several models

Samsung opened the One UI 9 Watch beta in South Korea in waves, working backward through its lineup. The Watch 8 beta reached the US within days, and enrollment runs through the Samsung Members app.

Recent builds carry the October 2026 security patch and fix issues with Always On Display, quick settings, and the Now Bar. Samsung has not announced a stable date. Global builds typically follow Korean ones by a week or two.

The Galaxy Watch 5 is not in Beta but has reportedly been in internal testing. Beta software can be unstable, so anyone who relies on their watch daily may prefer to wait for the stable version.

Older models may finally get it next month

A Samsung press release in Korea on October 28 offers the freshest clue. The company said its upgraded, AI-powered sleep apnea feature has won approval from Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. It reaches the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Ring in Korea in November, then expands step by step through software updates to existing models running Wear OS 7.0 or later, including the Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch 8.

The feature sorts breathing disruptions into three levels (mild, occasional and frequent) after at least five hours of sleep recorded on two nights within 10 days, through the Samsung Health Monitor app. Samsung positions it as a screening aid for adults 18 and older without a prior diagnosis, not a substitute for a doctor’s assessment.

What it means: Samsung is planning around Wear OS 7 reaching older watches. The release gives no date for that update, and it does not say older models get the feature in November. Given the late-stage beta builds, our reading is that stable One UI 9 Watch for the Watch 8 and Watch 7 could land in November or December, but that is an inference, not a commitment.

Samsung Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Ring users will receive an upgraded AI-powered Sleep Apnea tracking feature. The company announced that it has secured approval for a Korean rollout and detailed the eligibility scope as well.

Detailed Sleep Apnea tracking

On October 28, Samsung announced that its 3-level sleep apnea tracking obtained approval from South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). This follows the approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last July.

Samsung is introducing an enhanced iteration of Sleep Apnea with AI. Galaxy users can analyze respiratory disturbance data by the hour during sleep, broken down into three detailed levels.

Sleep Apnea feature is designed to measure and analyze breathing data during sleep. It lets users check their breathing status while sleeping and detect signs of moderate and severe sleep apnea.

The enhanced Sleep Apnea with MFDS nod analyzes the frequency of hourly breathing disturbances during sleep using an AI algorithm, helping users understand not just simple signs, but the exact level of respiratory disturbance.

Depending on the frequency, users can view results divided into three levels: Mild, Occasional, and Frequent, enabling them to manage their sleep health status much more specifically and systematically than before.

The new sleep apnea feature is available through the Samsung Health Monitor app downloaded on a Galaxy device. If a user measures at least 5 hours of sleep twice within 10 days, it is possible to detect signs of sleep apnea early.

Wear OS 7.0 required for detailed AI sleep apnea tracking

In its press release, Samsung confirmed that Galaxy Watch 9, Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and Galaxy Ring users will receive the new AI-powered Sleep Apnea tracking feature in November 2026.

Older models, such as the Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch 8 series, will receive the feature later, ultimately after getting upgraded to the stable One UI 9 Watch based on Wear OS 7.

The existing version, which only detects the presence or absence of sleep apnea signs, will continue to be provided on the Galaxy Watch 4 and later models running Wear OS 5.0 or higher.

Samsung officially announced its first open-ear earbuds, Galaxy Buds On, priced at $225 (299,000 won). The company revealed that the earbuds will be released tomorrow in South Korea; shoppers will be able to make the purchase.

Galaxy Buds On design

Thanks to the open-ear clip design, Samsung’s Galaxy Buds On cause minimal strain even during prolonged wear. Besides, the earbuds allow users to naturally stay aware of ambient sounds since they do not block the ear canal.

Additionally, the Galaxy Buds On are made with shape-memory alloy. The earbuds flexibly bend to fit the user’s ear shape evenly, providing a stable and comfortable fit during daily activities as well as high-movement workouts.

Due to the open-ear design, some sound may leak depending on playback volume, ear shape, and ambient noise level, which may be more noticeable in quiet environments. Actual performance may vary depending on the usage environment and fit.

Galaxy Buds On features

Samsung’s new open-ear earbuds come with a Twin Boost Speaker to deliver rich bass, sound-leak reduction technology to minimize sound leakage, and Intelligent Clear Call technology for crystal-clear calls.

When connected with Galaxy AI-supported devices, the Buds On enables users to conveniently use various hands-free features, such as AI Assistant Voice Activation, Head Gestures, and Quick Voice Memo.

Hojin Jung, Vice President of Samsung Electronics Korea, said, “The Galaxy Buds On will be a new option for consumers who want to listen to music while staying aware of their surroundings. We hope you will experience its comfortable fit and rich sound in person at offline stores, including Samsung Stores nationwide.”

Samsung also revealed the color, price, and availability. The Galaxy Buds On comes in a Black and is priced at $225 (299,000 KRW). You can buy it online and on open marketplaces, as well as at offline stores, including Samsung Stores.

From October 27 through November 30, the company is offering customers who purchase the Galaxy Buds On two 30% discount coupons for Galaxy Buds accessories, redeemable on Samsung.com online.

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• Samsung Galaxy Buds On open-ear earbuds reportedly arriving globally

Galaxy Buds On could reach European markets in December, suggesting that Samsung may be preparing to expand its new open-ear earbuds globally.

Retailer listings offer the clearest indication yet of an international rollout of the Galaxy Buds On open-ear earbuds, although Samsung has not confirmed availability outside Korea.

According to a report by SammyGuru, Swiss retailers have listed the Galaxy Buds On at CHF 179 to CHF 199. The higher figure could represent the recommended retail price, while the lower price may reflect a discount. The listings reportedly point to a European launch in the first half of December.

Samsung priced the earbuds at 299,000 won in South Korea, equivalent to roughly $226 at direct currency conversion. European pricing includes taxes, so the Swiss figures do not necessarily indicate a higher underlying price.

• Galaxy Buds On, Samsung’s first clip-on earbuds, go on sale next week

A US launch remains unconfirmed, with no comparable retail listings cited in the report. If Samsung expands availability to the US, pricing around $199 is plausible, but that remains speculation rather than an announced plan.

Separately, animations shared by The Cipher Project provide a detailed look at the Galaxy Buds On and their charging case. The case features rounded, cube-like proportions and a transparent lid, with the earbuds’ curved bands visible inside.