Samsung and OnePlus Launch Open-Ear Buds You Cannot Buy Yet

Two big names join the open-ear cuff race

Earbuds that clip around your outer cartilage instead of clogging your ear canal are dominating personal audio launches, and two heavyweight smartphone makers just made their moves. Samsung is launching the Galaxy Buds On, its debut effort in the open-ear category, while OnePlus has pulled the curtain back on the OnePlus Buds Clip.

The OnePlus Buds Clip come with a clever trick: automatic left-right detection. That means you can snap either bud onto either ear without checking tiny embossed letters, and the onboard processing will route the stereo channels correctly. OnePlus is also packing in dual drivers, dedicated sound-leakage reduction, and battery life that outlasts conventional buds by skipping power-hungry active noise cancellation.

OnePlus Buds Clip: key features and specs

Why ambient clip-ons are flooding the shelves

Open-ear designs have shifted from a niche fitness novelty into a runaway mainstream trend. Brands from Bose to Shokz and Anker's Soundcore have expanded their line-ups with clip-style form factors that anchor firmly while leaving the ear canal wide open.

The appeal is straightforward. Traditional silicon tips create ear fatigue and completely isolate you from your surroundings. Clip-on designs let runners hear traffic, office workers hear coworkers, and commuters listen to podcasts without getting startled on the sidewalk. Because they rarely bother with active noise cancellation hardware, manufacturers can also dedicate more internal volume to battery cells and acoustic tuning.

It reflects an ongoing hardware pivot where companies seek differentiation through tailored industrial ergonomics rather than brute-force specs—much like how Boox Palma 2 Pro arrives as a phone-sized color E Ink reader to carve out a distinct pocketable reading niche.

Availability and pricing

If you live in the United States or the United Kingdom, picking up either pair is frustratingly difficult right now. Samsung's Galaxy Buds On launch on Tuesday, October 27, strictly in South Korea. While brief accidental product listings on European retailer websites hint that a broader EU debut is around the corner, Samsung has not announced official US, UK, or EU release dates and prices.

The situation is even bleaker for OnePlus fans in the West. Following OnePlus's withdrawal from the US and UK retail channels earlier this year, the OnePlus Buds Clip are planned for sale across parts of Asia, continental Europe, and selected other regions, with no direct US or UK distribution.