Samsung reportedly gearing up to launch wireless earbuds alongside the Galaxy S8, likely an AirPods competitor

There have been a lot of rumors and reports flying around the release of Samsung’s next flagship, the Galaxy S8. We’ve heard it’ll ditch hardware navigation keys, pack a massive display on one variant, and sadly, drop the headphone jack. Along with that omission, Samsung is reportedly looking to push wireless audio further with the release of a new pair of truly wireless earbuds.

Wireless earbuds are nothing new for Samsung as just this year the company released the Gear IconX as one of its debut wireless earbud products. However, it wasn’t all that impressive once in the hands of consumers. Now, according to a report from SamMobile, Samsung is gearing up to launch a new set of earbuds right alongside the Galaxy S8.

It’s unclear how these new earbuds would differ from the Gear IconX, but I’d wager that Samsung will be looking at a simpler approach for these earbuds. Where the IconX were feature heavy, specifically in the fitness department, these new earbuds would likely focus on audio quality and improving battery life.

Of course, it’s no coincidence that Samsung is releasing wireless earbuds alongside its flagship. Apple just did the same with the iPhone 7 and the slightly delayed AirPods, which have proven to be a huge success with customers. While AirPods do work with Android devices, Samsung’s release may be a fantastic option for those looking to stick with something designed specifically for Android devices. It’s unclear if these earbuds will ship with the S8 or if they will be sold after the fact, in which case pricing is also unclear. We should hear more, though, when Samsung officially debuts the S8 in April.