Samsung patents next-gen TWS earbuds that also convert into potentially waterproof neck-buds

Samsung's Galaxy Buds are already a prominent alternative for Apple's AirPods. They owe much of their success to the prevailing trend for truly wireless (or TWS) earbuds that, as the name suggests, go unencumbered by cables of any kind. Then again, this choice of form-factor means the OEM forfeits the potential for full ingress protection in the majority of cases. The South Korean giant's latest patent might be intended to solve that problem - albeit with a potentially critical compromise.

The document, accepted by the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) as of September 10, 2021, describes devices that come across as Galaxy Buds2 successors, yet come with an additional "accessory" to "support their communication". This phrase ostensibly translates to a kind of detachable neck-band that can connect the pair of TWS earbuds at the user's discretion.

Add-ons such as these are not exactly unheard-of, although it is less usual for a given OEM to design and provide a first-party version. Samsung notes that this slim, almost tube-like take on the idea covers the earbuds' antennae on their installation, thus presumably maintaining the stereo connection between the two.

The company is less specific on the subject of its application in its new claim. However, its design and description has given rise to speculation that it might make the buds in question completely waterproof while in use. Furthermore, it is now projected that the optional neckband might support the advanced health-tracking attributes with which next-gen Samsung Galaxy Buds are also now predicted to launch.

They might include features such as new kinds of calorie-tracking, not to mention potential advanced swim-tracking. These new specs might be necessary in order to keep pace with AirPods 3 successors currently rumored to come with similar new abilities. They may not emerge until 2022 at the earliest, although it would not, of course, hurt Samsung to anticipate and even pre-empt them at this stage.