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Samsung Galaxy Buds pop up on Bluetooth SIG: Gear IconX to get a new name?
August 11, 2025
Bluetooth earbudshave become another trendy device category for mobile manufacturers, as the likes ofGoogle,HMD GlobalandSamsungall now offer their own products. Today, it looks like the latter company is readying its next take, possibly calledGalaxy Buds.
A filing for “Galaxy Buds” popped up on theBluetooth SIG websiteearlier, noting the product was a “Samsung Smart Wearable.” The listing also reveals the new hardware will supportBluetooth 5.0.
The model number in the filing (SM-R170) seems to line up with aprevious claimbySamMobile. The Samsung-focused outlet noted at the time that these were the 2019 Gear IconX earbuds. It’s unclear if Samsung will keep the IconX name or if they’ll adopt the Galaxy Buds name per the Bluetooth listing.
We’d expect a new generation of Samsung earbuds to supportBixbyfor voice commands, much like the company’s previous buds. However, the confirmation of Bluetooth 5.0 means the new hardware has at least one improvement over the 2018 IconX (which used Bluetooth 4.2).
Our sister websiteSoundguysfound the2018 Gear IconXto be a pretty solid pair of buds, but noted that battery life was its fatal flaw. Additionally, the website’s Adam Molina said the touch-sensitive pads were “fundamentally flawed”. Hopefully, Samsung addresses these issues with the Galaxy Buds, or whatever they end up being called.
What would you like to see from Samsung’s new Bluetooth buds? Let us know in the comments!
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