Samsung may finally be getting ready to make a proper move into the over-ear headphone market.
References to a new pair of wireless headphones have been found inside the Samsung Galaxy Wearable app. The headphones are currently listed under the name Galaxy H1, although that is likely just an internal codename and not the name Samsung will use in stores.
The leak is interesting because Samsung has never really had a direct Galaxy-branded rival to products such as Apple’s AirPods Max or Sony’s WH-1000XM series. The company already has a strong earbud lineup, but an over-ear model would fill a noticeable gap in its audio range.
The Galaxy H1 has already shown up in the app
The biggest clue comes from Samsung’s own Galaxy Wearable software. SamMobile found references to the headphones along with icons showing what appears to be a traditional over-ear design.
The leaked graphics show the headphones in several colors, including white, gray and black. The ear cushions are also shown in gray and green.
From the design, Samsung seems to be taking a fairly familiar approach. The headband looks wide, while the earcups are fairly large and thick. There are some similarities to both the AirPods Max and Sony’s WH-1000XM6, although it is far too early to say what the final hardware will look like.
For now, these are only software icons, so Samsung could still change the design before launch.
It could arrive in 2027
Samsung has not announced the Galaxy H1, so there is no official release date yet.
Current reports point to an early 2027 launch, with spring being one possible timeframe.
That would give Samsung plenty of time to finish the product and decide where it fits in the Galaxy lineup. It also means we probably should not expect the company to reveal everything about the headphones just yet.
And Galaxy H1 probably won’t be the final name. Samsung commonly uses internal names during development, so the retail version could eventually launch under a completely different Galaxy-branded name.
What about the features?
There is not much information about the hardware at this point.
Bluetooth support has been spotted in the leaked software, while reports also point to features such as active noise cancellation (ANC), ambient sound and AI assistant support. Long battery life is also expected, although there are no reliable battery figures yet.
Samsung could also bring its high-quality UHQ audio technology to the headphones. The company’s current Galaxy Buds4 Pro already supports 24-bit/96 kHz UHQ audio, showing that Samsung is putting more attention on wireless audio quality.
Whether the Galaxy H1 can actually compete with Sony and Apple on sound quality, noise cancellation and battery life is another question. We will need more details before making that call.
Samsung already has the Galaxy audio ecosystem
An over-ear Galaxy headphone would make sense for Samsung.
The company already sells Galaxy Buds and has been adding more audio features to its ecosystem. The Galaxy Wearable app is also used to manage Samsung’s wearable products and their settings, so finding the new headphone references there is a pretty strong sign that this is more than a simple concept.
The bigger question is how Samsung will make the headphones stand out. Apple has tight integration with its devices, while Sony has built a strong reputation around ANC and sound quality. Samsung will need more than the Galaxy name to convince buyers to switch.
A serious rival to AirPods Max and Sony?
If Samsung gets the basics right, the Galaxy H1 could become an interesting alternative to the AirPods Max and Sony’s WH-1000XM6.
But there is still a lot we don’t know. Samsung has not confirmed the headphones, and details such as the price, drivers, battery capacity, microphone setup and exact ANC performance are still missing.
For now, the Galaxy H1 is best treated as a product in development rather than a confirmed upcoming launch. Still, the appearance of the headphones inside Samsung’s own software suggests the company is seriously working on bringing its Galaxy brand to a new type of audio product.
Sources: SamMobile | Lee Campbell (teaser image)
Nick, the Co-founder of Earbuds Arena, is a seasoned freelance tech journalist with over ten years of experience covering wearables, apps, headphones, and gadgets. When he’s not immersed in the tech world, you’ll likely find him unwinding with video games, going for a run, or enjoying a game of soccer on the field.
