We have two Samsung Galaxy Folds, two watches and a Flip in Unpacked, but no Buds: this is when it is said that Samsung's legendary open bracelet-style headphones will arrive

Galaxy Unpacked 2026 did not have Buds
New report points to year-end announcement
Perhaps announced alongside tablets and FE (or ‘Fan Edition’) devices.

Samsung’s latest product launch event, Galaxy Unpacked 2026, passed without incident. Well, uneventful for audio fans; There were three foldable phones, two smartwatches, and some all-seeing glasses… but where were the much-rumored Galaxy Buds Able?

This is a new pair of open-back headphones, which we had heard would be released alongside the foldable ones (they didn’t). So where are they?

Well, shortly before Galaxy Unpacked, we may have heard our answer. According to a Korean publication called Electronic Times, which commonly reports on industry news, the Ables will arrive much later in the year.

Can’t start?

According to the report, Samsung delayed the launch of the Galaxy Buds Able, implying that they were originally due to launch alongside the Folds and Flips.

They are said to be delayed so Samsung can evaluate “product quality and launch timing.” The last point is fair enough; The Galaxy Buds 4 haven’t been on shelves for long.

The last point also implies that Samsung doesn’t think the Able is “there” yet, and that’s fair enough too; Open hearing aids, especially newer ones such as armband or clip-on types, are not as user-friendly as regular hearing aids. Fit and audio architecture are much more important, and brands must find a way to ensure that audio quality is not lost when music is transmitted from the headphones to the ear.

To compete with big rivals from Shokz and Bose, the Galaxy Buds Able need to be of the highest quality, and I imagine Samsung won’t release anything until it can meet that bar.

Basically, mark an approximate ‘September or October’ date on your calendar for these new headphones and follow our news coverage. As we know, you will know too.