Samsung appears ready to ditch the usual sealed-earbud formula for something far more unusual: the Galaxy Buds Able, a clip-style, open-ear pair that sits outside the ear instead of plugging the canal. If the reports are right, Samsung is chasing the same airy, listen-without-isolating vibe that has helped products like the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, Sony LinkBuds Clip, and Huawei’s FreeClip 2 get attention.
That is a notable swing for a company whose earbuds have mostly meant silicone tips, noise cancellation, and a proper seal. It also suggests Samsung sees an opening in the open-ear earbuds category, which has reportedly grown from around $3.8 billion last year to about $4.2 billion this year.
Galaxy Buds Able design and sound approach
According to ETNews, Samsung is reportedly using air conduction rather than bone conduction. In plain English: the sound is delivered through the air near the ear canal, not by vibrating the skull, which keeps the listening experience closer to conventional earbuds while leaving outside noise naturally audible.
That places the Galaxy Buds Able in a very different lane from the Galaxy Buds Live, Samsung’s bean-shaped 2020 experiment that never really caught fire. Open-ear designs are having a better moment now, and Samsung looks like it wants a second shot at a category that is finally finding buyers.
Launch timing, delays, and the missing specs
There is still a lot Samsung has not said. No official launch date has been announced, and price plus full specifications are still unknown. Some reports pointed to a possible appearance at Samsung’s rumored July 22 Unpacked event, but SamMobile says delays mean the earbuds are not expected there.
What does seem real is the product itself. Firmware leaks, a battery certification, and South Korean industry reporting all line up, which is usually the point where rumor turns into prelaunch choreography. The bigger question is whether Samsung can make an open-ear design feel premium enough to stand out in a field that already includes Bose, Sony, Huawei, and Anker.
- Design: clip-style, open-ear
- Fit: sits outside the ear, leaving the canal open
- Sound: air conduction
- Price: not known
- Launch date: not confirmed