Samsung might be gearing up to shake things up in the headphone world. If the latest rumors are true, the company is working on its very first pair of bone conduction headphones, and they could be launching as soon as this summer. Multiple reports suggest these new headphones will make their debut at Samsung’s Unpacked event in July, alongside the much-anticipated Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 smartphones.

According to well-known industry tipsters, Digital Chat Station and Ice Universe who shared their insights on Weibo, Samsung’s MX division is developing a pair of bone conduction headphones, supposedly codenamed “Able.” While we don’t have all the details yet, the headphones are expected to have an open-ear design—similar to what we’ve seen from brands like Sony, Bose, and Shokz.

So, what makes bone conduction headphones different? Unlike traditional earbuds or over-ear headphones, these don’t sit inside or over your ears. Instead, they send sound through vibrations on your skull, bypassing the eardrums completely. This lets you listen to music while still staying fully aware of what’s going on around you. It’s a popular choice for runners, cyclists, and anyone who wants to hear their surroundings while enjoying their tunes.

Here’s where things get a little unclear. Some reports call Samsung’s upcoming product bone conduction headphones, while others describe them as “open wireless stereo” (OWS) earbuds. The difference? OWS earbuds use air conduction, meaning they don’t vibrate your bones to deliver sound—they just don’t seal off your ears like regular earbuds do.

That means we’re still not entirely sure if Samsung is going all-in on bone conduction tech or just experimenting with a different type of open-ear audio. Either way, these headphones will likely offer a non-invasive way to listen to music without blocking out the world around you.

There’s been a growing demand for audio products that don’t completely isolate users. Traditional earbuds, while great for immersive sound, can make it tough to stay aware of your surroundings—especially if you’re out for a run or commuting in a busy city.

Bone conduction headphones have been around for a while, but they’re still somewhat of a niche product. Companies like Shokz have led the charge, and brands like Sony and Bose have dipped their toes into the open-ear market as well. If Samsung enters the space, it could help bring these types of headphones into the mainstream and potentially lower the cost, making them more accessible.

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds series has been a solid alternative to Apple’s AirPods, offering great sound quality, a comfortable fit, and seamless integration with Galaxy devices. If Samsung’s new headphones are part of this lineup, we might see features like Galaxy AI enhancements or adaptive sound settings tailored to open-ear listening.

That said, bone conduction and open-ear designs have their challenges. They’re great for keeping you aware of your surroundings, but they don’t always offer the deep bass or immersive audio experience that traditional headphones do. It’ll be interesting to see how Samsung tackles this issue—assuming these leaks are accurate.

At this point, Samsung hasn’t officially confirmed anything, and a lot of details—like battery life, price, and specific features—are still a mystery. But with multiple sources backing up the rumors, there’s a good chance we’ll learn more as we get closer to the Unpacked event.

If Samsung does jump into the bone conduction or open-ear headphone space, it could be a sign that these types of headphones are becoming more mainstream. Whether they’ll be true bone conduction headphones or just another take on open-ear audio remains to be seen—but either way, it looks like Samsung is ready to experiment with new ways to deliver sound while keeping users connected to their surroundings.

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