Summary
- Samsung has launched two new gadgets in the United States: the Galaxy Buds On wireless earbuds and the Galaxy SmartTag3 item tracker. Both are available now.
- Galaxy Buds On costs $229.99 in Black. The earbuds support hands-free conversations, voice memos and selected head-based controls, with up to 9.5 hours of playback and up to 38 hours when combined with a fully charged case.
- Galaxy SmartTag3 costs $29.99 for one tag or $99.99 for a four-pack. It tracks keys, bags, equipment and other assets, with distance and directional guidance of up to 60 metres under certain conditions.
- The earbuds work with Gemini Live through a spoken command and offer Quick Voice Memo. Head Gestures let users nod to accept a call or shake their head to decline one.
- SmartTag3 adds Place Notification, Movement Detection Alert and Location History, with records stored for up to seven days.
- Both products make the strongest case for people already invested in Samsung phones and services.
Two Gadgets, One Pitch: Less Friction in the Working Day
Samsung has added two new gadgets to its US lineup, both aimed at the same friction: staying connected and keeping track of your things. The Galaxy Buds On earbuds handle the first half. The Galaxy SmartTag3 tracker handles the second.
Both products are available now in the United States. Galaxy Buds On costs $229.99 in Black, while Galaxy SmartTag3 costs $29.99 for one tag or $99.99 for a four-pack. Samsung announced the pair on 13 November 2026. The earbuds are the bigger story of the two: at $229.99, Buds On sits in premium territory, above Samsung’s standard Galaxy Buds line, and the price buys features built around not touching your phone — voice control, head gestures and quick memos. Samsung is not the only brand betting on personal audio this month — Sony has brought back its Walkman headphones with USB-C — but Buds On is aimed at hands-free work rather than nostalgia.
The tracker is the quieter, cheaper half. At $29.99, a single SmartTag3 costs less than most phone cases, and the four-pack at $99.99 works out to just under $25 a tag.
Galaxy Buds On: Calls, Memos and Head Gestures
Galaxy Buds On is designed for people who need to stay connected without reaching for a phone — a contractor on job sites, a retailer answering calls while restocking shelves, a delivery operator capturing reminders on the go. That is the use case Samsung is pitching, and it explains why so many of the earbuds’ headline features are about voice and gestures rather than sound quality alone.
The earbuds support hands-free conversations and voice memos. Users can speak to Gemini Live by saying, “Hey Google, let’s talk live,” although Samsung notes that the feature requires a Google Gemini account, an internet connection and a compatible device, app, language and country. The earbuds can also capture thoughts through Quick Voice Memo.
Samsung also highlights Head Gestures. Users can nod to accept a call or shake their head to decline one. The feature can support notification reading and alarm dismissal on compatible software versions, but it is turned off by default and requires configuration. Some functions require One UI 8.5 or later, while notification reading and alarm dismissal require One UI 9.0 or later.
Head gestures may work well when a worker’s hands are occupied, but businesses should test the feature in noisy or safety-sensitive environments before relying on it. Voice assistants can also produce inaccurate results, and Samsung advises users to check Gemini responses.
Battery Life: A Full Workday, With a Caveat
Battery life could make the earbuds useful through a workday, but Samsung qualifies its figures. The company says the earbuds provide up to 9.5 hours of playback, while the case provides up to 38 hours when both the earbuds and case are fully charged. Those figures come from Samsung’s internal testing, and actual results will depend on settings, Bluetooth strength, usage and charging patterns.
Owners should also account for the cost of replacing or repairing premium earbuds, particularly in field-based work. At $229.99, Buds On is not a throwaway accessory.
Galaxy SmartTag3: Finding Keys, Bags and Equipment
Galaxy SmartTag3 targets a different problem: finding assets before they become lost, delayed or expensive to replace. A landscaping company could attach tags to tool cases, a catering business could track transport boxes, and a small retailer could tag display materials or frequently moved inventory.
The device’s Place Notification feature lets users define an area and receive an alert when a tagged item moves into or out of it. Movement Detection Alert can notify users when movement occurs after the tag disconnects from a device. Location History lets users review where a tag has been, with records stored for up to seven days.
SmartTag3 also offers Compass View, which Samsung says can provide distance and directional guidance from up to 60 metres away — about three times farther than the previous generation — under line-of-sight conditions on supported Galaxy devices. A short-range tag helps you find keys in a room; a 60-metre tag can guide you across a car park, a warehouse or a job site, which is where equipment actually goes missing.
The Limits Worth Knowing Before You Buy
Businesses should pay close attention to the tracking network’s limitations. Movement alerts rely on signals detected by nearby Galaxy devices that have agreed to participate in Offline finding. If few participating devices are nearby, notifications may arrive late or not at all. Place Notification is also described as a trial feature, and Samsung warns that the displayed location may differ from the tag’s actual position.
The company describes SmartTag3 as offering cross-operating-system support, but its most advanced functions remain tied to Samsung’s ecosystem. Compass View requires compatible Galaxy hardware running Android 12 or later, and some newer Bluetooth Channel Sounding capabilities work only with select Galaxy models. A business using a mix of iPhones, older Android phones and Samsung devices should confirm what each employee can access before buying tags in bulk.
The same ecosystem warning applies to the earbuds. Head Gestures need recent One UI versions, and Gemini Live needs a Google account and a compatible setup. The earbuds will pair with Samsung’s latest phones, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra is the flagship they are most likely to be used with. Neither product is a bad buy on its own, but both deliver their full value inside Samsung’s world.
There are also basic safety considerations. Samsung warns that a detached SmartTag3 can pose a swallowing hazard to young children and pets, so owners should secure the tag properly and inspect it regularly.
Who Should Buy What
For small businesses, the products make the strongest case in targeted use rather than across-the-board deployment. Buds On may help employees manage calls while working, while SmartTag3 can add a low-cost layer of visibility for portable assets. Owners should first identify the items and workflows where missed calls, lost equipment or delayed updates carry a measurable cost.
For everyone else, the buying decision is simpler. Buds On is for someone who already lives in Samsung’s ecosystem, takes a lot of calls, and wants hands-free control without reaching for a phone — and who is willing to pay $229.99 for it. SmartTag3 is for anyone who has ever lost keys or a bag and wants a cheap safety net, with the four-pack making the most sense for a household or a small team. It is a busy season for wearables generally — Xiaomi is bringing new watches and a band to its Paris event on November 17 — but at $29.99, the SmartTag3 is an easy purchase to justify.
Samsung has launched both products at once for a reason. The earbuds keep you connected while you work, and the tracker makes sure the gear you work with does not go missing. Whether that combination is worth $260 for the pair depends on how much of your day is spent with your hands full — and how often you lose your keys.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How much do the Samsung Galaxy Buds On cost? A: Galaxy Buds On cost $229.99 in Black. They are available now in the United States.
Q2: How long does the Galaxy Buds On battery last? A: Samsung says the earbuds offer up to 9.5 hours of playback, with up to 38 hours when combined with a fully charged case, based on the company’s internal testing. Actual battery life will depend on settings, Bluetooth strength, usage and charging patterns.
Q3: What are Head Gestures on Galaxy Buds On? A: Head Gestures let you nod to accept a call or shake your head to decline one. The feature can also support notification reading and alarm dismissal on compatible software versions. It is turned off by default and requires configuration, and some functions require One UI 8.5 or later, while notification reading and alarm dismissal require One UI 9.0 or later.
Q4: How much does the Galaxy SmartTag3 cost? A: Galaxy SmartTag3 costs $29.99 for one tag or $99.99 for a four-pack. It tracks keys, bags, equipment and other assets.
Q5: How far can SmartTag3 track an item? A: SmartTag3 offers Compass View, which Samsung says can provide distance and directional guidance from up to 60 metres away — about three times farther than the previous generation. That range applies under line-of-sight conditions and on supported Galaxy devices, and it relies on nearby Galaxy devices that have agreed to participate in Offline finding.
Sources: Small Business Trends and UnixCommerce, both 13 November 2026.
