[DigitalToday reporter Jinju Hong (홍진주)] Signs have emerged that Samsung is preparing to launch its first clip-on open earbuds. The new product may launch under a new name, 'Galaxy Able', rather than the existing 'Galaxy Buds' brand.

TechRadar reported on July 6 that a recent Galaxy Wearable app update showed a new product name, 'Galaxy Able', alongside Galaxy Watch9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra2.

The most notable point is the name. The industry had expected the new open earbuds could be released as 'Galaxy Buds Able', but the app showed only 'Galaxy Able'. That suggests Samsung may be preparing a new product line separate from the existing Galaxy Buds series.

The form factor is also expected to differ from Galaxy Buds. TechRadar said Galaxy Able is likely to be Samsung's first clip-on open earbuds. It said the design and name differ from the Galaxy Buds4 series and that the product targets the fast-growing open-earbud market.

Open earbuds do not fully block the ear, allowing users to listen to music while still hearing surrounding sounds. Recently, clip-on designs that wrap around the ear have been spreading quickly, particularly for sports and everyday use.

Samsung has introduced various products through audio brands such as JBL, AKG and Harman, but it has not yet released Samsung-branded clip-on open earbuds. The industry sees a direct Samsung entry into open earbuds as a possible signal that the market has entered a full-scale mass-adoption phase.

Audio performance is expected to be a new challenge. The existing Galaxy Buds series has been recognized for sound quality competitiveness, but open earbuds require a completely different approach to acoustic design and fit stability because they do not block the ear. TechRadar also said, "Open earbuds are a product category that requires different sound tuning from existing wireless earbuds and a stable fit."

There is also speculation that the launch is not far off. Samsung is expected to unveil Galaxy Watch9, Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and next-generation foldable smartphones this month. If Galaxy Able is unveiled at the same event, Samsung's wearable ecosystem is expected to expand beyond smartwatches and smartphones to include open-audio devices.

The information is not an official Samsung announcement, but was found during a Galaxy Wearable app update. Even so, with a specific product name appearing, expectations are building that Samsung's first clip-on earbuds may be nearing the final stage ahead of launch.