Most modern true wireless earbuds come with a transparency mode that let you hear ambient sounds with a simple tap or swipe. Only problem is, you have to be aware that you need to hear what’s going on around you, which won’t always be the case. That’s why open-ear earbuds have started carving their own niche in the category, as it’s squarely aimed at those folks who want to enjoy music and podcasts while still being fully aware of their surroundings.
Unlike traditional earbuds that plug into the ear canal, effectively shutting outside sounds passively, open-ear earbuds are designed such that ambient sounds will be able to easily go through. No need to perform any electronic magic doing that, either, as it’s purposely made to leave openings in the ear canal, so you can easily hear any environmental sounds happening around you.
The best open-ear earbuds are a great choice for folks who want full environmental awareness at all times. However, it’s a design that also inherently has pitfalls. For instance, they cant have any noise-cancellation, neither passive nor active, so you won’t be able to fully zone in on whatever audio you have playing. Because the sound coming from the drivers will be competing with outside noises, they also aren’t likely to deliver the best sound quality compared to more traditional earbuds, often coming short in terms of dynamism, clarity, and intensity. They still sound terrific, with some even managing to deliver a weighty bass sound, in spite of the design challenges.
It pays to note that open-ear earbuds are different from bone conduction headphones. The former still delivers sound through the ear canal like regular headphones, while the latter transmits it as vibrations through the upper cheek or jawbone. In our opinion, open-ear earbuds still sound significantly better. However, they’re likely not to find much use in one area where bone conduction designs are popular, which is waterproof headphones for swimming.
These are the best open-ear earbuds available today.
Baseus Eli Sport 1
Pros
- Very affordable price
- Comfortable and secure
- Excellent bass enhancement mode
Cons
- Tap controls are hit or miss
Style: Ear Hooks
Battery Life: 7.5 hours, 30 hours with charging case
Water Resistance: IPX4
The most affordable open-ear earbuds in our list, this hook-secured model sounds surprisingly good for the price. Sure, fidelity isn’t the same level as the best-sounding ones in the list, but those 16.2mm drivers bring enough power and clarity to deliver satisfying audio. We especially love the “bass enhancement mode” that gives it just that little bump in intensity that makes it suitable for wearing during grueling workouts. On top of that, they’re extremely comfortable, even coming with a neck lanyard to ensure they don’t fall off and end up lost forever. It packs a lot of features for something this affordably-priced, with IPX4 waterproofing, Bluetooth multipoint, and 30 hours total battery life with the charging case (7.5 hours without it). They even threw in tap controls, although you need to be very precise, lest your taps won’t register, so it can be frustrating to use.
- Baseus Open Ear Headphones - Eli Sport 1
Anker Soundcore AeroFit 2
Pros
- Excellent sound with real bass
- Adjustable four-position earpieces
- Good battery life
Cons
- Heavier than some
Style: Ear Hooks
Battery Life: 10 hours, 42 hours with charging case
Water Resistance: IP55
Anker did a major redesign for their second generation open-ear earbuds, which improves upon the original in significant ways. It sounds a whole lot better, wears more comfortably, and even comes with an earpiece that can pivot into four different positions, so you can find which angle works best for your individual ear size and shape. That adjustability is such a unique feature in the category, making this pretty special. Comfort is topnotch, allowing you to forget about having it on when wearing for extended periods, along with excellent touch controls that work pretty accurately, complete with an option to customize the controls from the companion app. We’re also impressed with the sound, which feels fuller than what you’ll normally find in the category, with an impressive bass punch that’s not very common in open-ear designs. Suffice to say, we’re utterly impressed, especially since they’re selling it at a very attractive price point.
- All-Day Comfort: Experience unrivaled breathability and comfort with our open-ear headphones. Boast...
Nothing Ear
Pros
- Ideal placement position for earpiece
- Superb EQ options in the app
- Sleek looks
Cons
- Charging case is too big
Style: Ear Hooks
Battery Life: 8 hours, 30 hours with charging case
Water Resistance: IP54
We love the look of these open-ear earbuds. They just seem very sleek and stylish. Using ear hooks, these earbuds place the speakers very close to the ear canal without obstructing it, which results in fuller, beefier sound than many others. Heck, even the bass sounds great. Suffice to say, these newer designs are really figuring out how to maximize sound quality. We’re especially fond of the EQ options in the app, which really help dial in the audio quality to your liking, They even have a parametric equalizer in there, so you can make adjustments across the entire frequency range. We also like how securely it holds, allowing you to wear it during training without any worries, especially since it’s IP54 rated for dust and sweat resistance.
- Innovative Design for Immersive Sound: The Nothing Ear (open) features an innovative stepped driver,...
Cleer ARC II Sport
Pros
- Lots of extra features
- Bluetooth LE Audio and Snapdragon Sound support
- Spring-loaded hinge keeps it securely in place
Cons
- Need to tweak EQ for fuller bass
Style: Ear Hooks with Spring-Loaded Hinge
Battery Life: 8 hours, 35 hours with charging case
Water Resistance: IPX5
Some open-ear earbud designs keep things simple. Others pack as much tech as they can into the package. This one goes the latter route. Instead of just using tap controls, for instance, it also supports head gestures, all while coming with support for hi-res Bluetooth LE Audio and Snapdragon Sound. Heck, the earbuds even come with a step counter function just for the heck of it, which seems so random. Sound quality is good but not quite up there with the best in the category, although being able to play hi-res music files does elevate it a fair bit (you can easily try it if you have a higher-end phone that supports Snapdragon Sound). Its probably one of the best open-ear earbuds we’ve tried for making calls, as sound really goes through loud and clear. Oh yeah, the included charging case with a germ-killing UV system that cleans the darn things when you put them inside.
- Ultra-Light Weight & Comfort, Ergonomic fit: Experience unparalleled comfort with our ultra-light...
Shokz OpenFit 2
Pros
- Best-in-class battery life
- Superb-sounding bass
- Tactile button controls
Cons
- Feels a little big
Style: Ear Hooks
Battery Life: 11 hours, 48 hours with charging case
Water Resistance: IP55
We prefer tactile controls to touch controls – they’re just easier to use overall. That’s why we instantly loved these open-ear earbuds, which came with an actual tactile button control, making it easier to control playback and other things while you’re running, working out, or playing sports. Each earbud actually contains two drivers: a low-frequency one for the bass and a high-frequency driver for the mids/highs. Because it separates the bass, it’s able to really give it a satisfying punch at the low end, all while delivering better overall clarity across the frequency range. Suffice to say, this thing sounds nice for an open-ear design, especially when you listen to it in less noisy environments. We also love the 11-hour battery life, as well as the ten-minute quick charge that gives it two hours’ worth of juice.
- Groundbreaking Audio Experience - The Shokz DualBoost composite drivers and OpenBass 2.0 algorithm...
Sony LinkBuds Open
Pros
- Unique ring-shaped design
- Delivers fuller sound
- Wedges itself securely on the earlobes
Cons
- Might be uncomfortable for smaller ears
Style: Open Ring
Battery Life: 5.5 hours, 22 hours with charging case
Water Resistance: IPX4
While ear hooks are the most common style for open-ear earbuds, there are other more creative designs out there, such as this one, which puts a big hole right in the speaker area for letting in ambient sounds. We really appreciate the lack of an ear hook in this design, instead relying on “air fitting supporters” that wedge themselves onto your ear lobes to keep the whole thing in place. And yes, they do stay in place, although they can be uncomfortable for those with smaller ears. Because the speaker unit is directly outside the ear canal, it’s able to deliver a fuller sound more comparable to traditional earbuds. It sounds better than the original LinkBuds, too, despite packing smaller drivers (11mm versus 12mm from the original). Basically, if you want to minimize the open, airy sound you normally get from other open-ear models, this may be the one you want to get. Battery life is a bit lacking, though, as it only offers 5.5 hours between charges and 22 hours total with the case.
- OPEN RING DESIGN FOR AMBIENT SOUNDS: The open ring design enables fully transparent ambient sound,...
Bose Ultra Open
Pros
- Very compact
- Tactile controls
- Satisfying sound
Cons
- Very expensive
Style: Clip
Battery Life: 7.5 hours, 17.5 hours with charging case
Water Resistance: IPX4
Instead of using hooks to secure itself to the ears, these open-ear earbuds use a clip design, making them a good option for those who wear glasses. The clip design also allows it to put the speakers closer to your ear canal, which improves the sound quality immensely, all while looking more like chunky clip-on earrings than earbuds from a distance. We’re honestly surprised at how well the clip design stays put, as it’s secure enough to wear even when working out, on top of being very comfortable for extended use. There’s really a lot of things to like here, including the tactile button control, spatial audio support (with optional head tracking), and decent battery life. Simply put, it’s one of the best open-ear earbud designs out there. We do wish Bose could sell it just a little cheaper, though.
- OPEN YOUR EARS TO THE WORLD: Hear all of what’s around you while enjoying rich, private sound; the...