- Samsung may be building a pair of Galaxy Buds with a removable neckband.
- The unique True Wireless Buds are designed for underwater use.
Samsung is considering a pair of hybrid (if you can call them that) truly wireless Galaxy Buds that can be used for swimming. People passing by LetGoDigital came across a Samsung patent for waterproof Galaxy Buds with a detachable neckband.
The really wireless Galaxy Buds from Samsung are generally comfortable to wear, but you can’t really jump into the pool with them. Why? First of all, most Galaxy Buds models are not completely waterproof. The recently released Galaxy Buds Pro and Galaxy Buds 2 are IPX7 certified, the highest waterproof rating you can get on any of Samsung’s TWS earbuds. This means that they are resistant to clean water up to 1 meter for a maximum of 30 minutes. If you go longer or deeper, you risk damaging the earbuds. Samsung also strongly advises against using the buds for swimming.
The second, possibly more practical, reason you can’t swim with any of the Galaxy Buds is because they are completely wireless. You may end up losing a bud or both in the pool. Adding a detachable neckband to the Galaxy Buds could solve this problem.
The utility model describes and shows a pair of real wireless earphones with several built-in microphones, sensors and a two-way loudspeaker. This also includes touch controls. The unique accessory is a hollow, flexible neck strap that can be attached to the buds for swimming. The back of the earbuds attach to the neckband at each end, making them more stable while maintaining their wireless connectivity.
Samsung can also use such earbuds to make certain health information accessible. For example, users can measure their calories burned, speed and swing.
It’s unclear whether Samsung plans to upgrade the IP rating of these patented Galaxy Buds as well. However, this is still at the patent stage for the time being. As promising as they sound, there is no guarantee Samsung will ever bring them to market.