Samsung IconX: The Fitness Tracking Earbuds You Never Had

Say hello to a tangle-free listening experience. Samsung announced the release of its first set of wireless earbuds at its “Unpacked” event in New York City and they’re marketing it first and foremost as a fitness tracking device. The Samsung Gear IconX earbuds will hit stores on Aug. 15. Bluetooth powered and reminiscent of tiny blueberries, these earbuds were designed with your fitness goals in mind. There’s a built-in fitness tracker for all you runners out there.

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Wireless headphones have become something of a craze and there isn’t a shortage of releases from startups and larger companies. Sennheiser and Bose have both taken a stab at this new product category, but the IconX marks the first release from a major company. Samsung’s first foray into a wireless listening experience is mostly music to the ears and unique in its focus on fitness.

The IconX will be available in blue, white and black. No wires connect the IconX earbuds and they come nestled in a sleek, oblong wireless charging case. The earbuds may look small, but they pack in 4GB of internal memory. On its own, the battery life lasts about three hours. Unfortunately, when paired with and streaming from your phone it’s about half that. That seems to be the biggest setback for the IconX earbuds.

Still, critics appreciate its light weight and great fit. The Verge reported, “Each IconX weights just little more than a US quarter and has hooks to lock it in the cartilage in your ear. It’s surprisingly comfortable and easy to use design…I was able to pop the IconX in my ears and have them lock in place easily.” The IconX also block out noise from outside for a crisp listening experience. The IconX also does a good job blocking out noise from outside for a cleaner listening experience. Each bud is controlled using touch technology. To skip tracks, control volume or access the menu users tap and swipe the earbuds. For now, the IconX work with most Android phones, but no iOS devices.

The IconX also does a good job blocking out noise from outside for a cleaner listening experience. Each bud is controlled using touch technology. To skip tracks, control volume or access the menu users tap and swipe the earbuds. For now, the IconX work with most Android phones, but no iOS devices.

That the earbuds come packed with a fitness tracker is no surprise. The data collected by the earbuds–heart rate, distance traveled, calories burned, movement–is synced to Samsung’s S Health app and make for a functional and pleasurable listening experience.