Leaks of Samsung's next iteration of its Galaxy Buds headphones have begun circulating around the web, and it appears that the company is borrowing from Apple's AirPods Pro design.
In new photos, published to X by leaker Teqhnikacross who claimed to have found them on Korean retailer Coupang's website, Samsung's next pair of earbuds appear to be designed for storage in a rectangular case that opens at the top. The earbuds themselves, which were earlier written about by The Verge, appear to have a bulb that goes into the ear with an attached angular stem that hangs next to the owner's earlobe. Presumably, the stem contains a directional microphone pointed toward their mouth, similar to Apple's designs.
Samsung appears to be using dark and metallic colors in its designs, rather than Apple's white with black vents, judging by the photos. The carrying case for the Galaxy Buds 3 appears to have an indicator light on its front, placed similarly to Apple's AirPods and AirPods Pro. At least one of the photos also suggests the Galaxy Buds 3 might have a transparent top to the case, in order to let users quickly tell whether both buds are inside.
Read more: The Galaxy S24 Is Just the Start. Here's What Else Samsung May Launch in 2024
The Korean device-maker's previous designs were more circular, without the stems that Apple's headphones have become known for. A different leaker earlier posted a photo they said was published on one of Samsung's support sites, showing a settings screen for the "Galaxy Buds3" and "Galaxy Buds3 Pro."
Leaks about Samsung foldable phones
The images of Samsung's reported upcoming headphones are the latest indication the company is planning a large product release event sometime this summer. Leakers across the web have been publishing purported details and images of upcoming Samsung devices for months, previewing details about its Galaxy Fold 6 foldable tablet, Galaxy Flip 6 foldable phone and Galaxy Ring body sensor.
The leaks have become so pervasive that when the US Federal Communications Commission published testing records in May, they mostly confirmed details that had already been circulating about increased battery capacity and the Galaxy Ring's finger-size options.
Read more: Samsung's Galaxy Watches Are Getting a Bunch of New Health Features
Though Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 likely won't be as strong sellers as its more mainline smartphones, such as the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus and Galaxy S24 Ultra, its Galaxy Buds might be another matter. Samsung has already said it plans to use its devices to bolster its Galaxy AI in a variety of ways. The Galaxy Ring and upcoming smartwatches, for example, are expected to tap into the company's AI tools for health. The Galaxy Buds may similarly help people to interact with the company's variety of AI services through the company's voice assistant.
Samsung, Google and Apple have all begun adding generative AI tools to their devices to offer features such as more advanced media editing, language translations and messaging.