Are you really an audio brand in the year 2026 if you're not coming out with a pair of open earbuds?
It would appear not. In just the past four months alone, brands like Sony, Soundcore, JBL, and Shokz have all released new open-earbuds models, and now, thanks to a new leak, it looks like Samsung will be joining the party.
The all-things-Samsung source SammyGuru uncovered an open earbuds design buried in Samsung's One UI firmware on April 20. The idea that Samsung has open earbuds in the work didn't come completely out of left field: Last March, SamMobile reported on a tip that Samsung would unveil bone conduction open earbuds at last July's Galaxy Unpacked event.
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That release didn't come to fruition, but this latest leak gives us more information about the earbuds, rumored to be named the Galaxy Buds Able. Instead of a bone conduction model, which send vibrations into the bones of the wearer's head to transmit sound, the leaked Able design points to a clip-on open earbuds look.
The potential design of the rumored Samsung Galaxy Buds Able. Credit: SammyGuru
Clip-on open earbuds cuff the ear and sit just beyond the ear canal, using air conduction to transmit audio. This style bud is the same as the very popular Bose Ultra Open earbuds, as well as the new Sony open earbuds, and more affordable options from Soundcore and EarFun.
Samsung recently announced two earbuds — the Galaxy Buds4 and Buds4 Pro — at its Unpacked event in February. SammyGuru notes that this announcement came earlier in the year than expected, potentially pointing to the release of the open earbuds alongside the new line of Galaxy Fold phones, rumored to be announced in July.