Samsung Galaxy Buds Able Delayed to Q4 2026: Clip-On Open-Ear Earbuds Skip Unpacked, Expected October

Samsung's first clip-on open-ear earbuds will not launch at today's Galaxy Unpacked event in London. According to Korea's Electronic Times, the earbuds — now officially called Galaxy Able (dropping the "Buds" branding) — have been pushed to early Q4 2026, with an October launch expected.

What Changed

Despite appearing in the Galaxy Wearable app alongside Galaxy Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2 references, the Galaxy Able was reportedly delayed multiple times during development. The latest reports indicate Samsung wants more time to refine the bone-conduction audio technology and the AI interface that makes these earbuds distinct from traditional models.

What We Know About Galaxy Able

• Design: Clip-on style that doesn't block the ear canal — a first for Samsung
• Audio: Open-ear or bone-conduction technology for ambient sound awareness
• AI focus: Designed as an "always-worn AI interface" for voice commands, real-time translation, and contextual information
• Model number: SM-U600, breaking from the SM-R prefix used on every previous Galaxy Buds
• Name: "Galaxy Able" confirmed in the Galaxy Wearable app, not "Galaxy Buds On" as previously reported

What This Means for Buyers

If you're waiting for Samsung's open-ear earbuds, the wait extends to October at the earliest. For buyers who want open-ear audio now, the AirPods 4 at $127 and Shokz OpenFit 2 at $136 are the leading options. For traditional noise-cancelling earbuds launching alongside today's Unpacked event, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro at $140 remain Samsung's best. Browse all options in our wireless earbuds guide.