From WIRED · Harry Rabinowitz · · 3m
Open earbuds are the new outdoor audio essential
These clip-on headphones let you hear music and the world around you. Here's which ones are worth buying.
In brief
These clip-on headphones let you hear music and the world around you. Here's which ones are worth buying. Open earbuds are ideal for outdoor activities and casual listening when you need environmental awareness, but they sacrifice audio quality and noise cancellation compared to traditional earbuds. Originally…
What are open earbuds exactly
Open earbuds rest on the outside of your ear instead of inside your ear canal, letting you hear surrounding sounds naturally. They come in clip-on styles or hook designs that wrap around your ear.
Why people are switching to open earbuds
They're excellent for anyone who finds traditional earbuds uncomfortable or wants full environmental awareness for activities like running, biking, or doing chores around the house.
Shokz OpenDots 2 are the best overall
These clip-ons offer 10 hours of battery life, 40 hours with the case, and an IP57 waterproof rating. They work in rain, on beaches, and fully submerged in water.
“The Shokz OpenDots 2 are everything I want open earbuds to be.”
OpenDots 2 design keeps your ears free
They wrap around your earlobe with the speaker at the ear canal opening. The top of your ear stays free for glasses, sunglasses, or hats.
OpenDots 2 trade-off: not for flights
Like all open earbuds, they let in surrounding sound, so they're not ideal for long-haul flights or daily gym sessions where you want isolation.
Soundcore Aeroclip is the runner-up
At 170 dollars, these are light, comfortable, and stable with 8 hours of battery life and IP55 water and dust resistance. They're great for walking, biking, and household tasks.
Aeroclip app offers solid customization
The Soundcore app is easy to use with plenty of options for controls, EQ settings, and multipoint pairing across devices.
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds for sound quality
At 299 dollars, these premium earbuds deliver clearer, more defined sound than competitors. Physical buttons on each bud make them easier to control while running or biking.
Bose earbuds are supremely comfortable
They're so comfortable that you might forget you're wearing them. But they cost significantly more than Shokz and Soundcore options.
Soundpeats PearlClip Pro for budget buyers
At just 50 dollars, these are a low-risk way to test if you like the open earbud concept before spending more on premium models.
Budget earbuds have rough edges
The app and touch controls can be finicky, which is typical at this price point. But they're still a solid entry point to the category.
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 for headband style
These wraparound headphones use bone conduction and air conduction to deliver clearer sound than smaller earbuds, especially in noisy environments. They offer 12 hours of battery life.
OpenRun Pro 2 excel at outdoor fitness
The combination of bone conduction and air conduction technology makes them ideal for running and biking where you need better sound clarity and environmental awareness.
Open earbuds sound different than regular ones
Because they rest outside your ear canal, audio is less clear, intimate, and bassy than traditional earbuds. They also typically lack noise-canceling features.
When to use open earbuds
They're perfect for outdoor activities, household chores, or anytime you want music but need to hear people around you. They're not ideal for offices or air travel.
Semi-open earbuds are a middle ground
Products like Apple AirPods sit inside your ear without a sound seal, offering better audio than open earbuds but less stability for fitness activities.
The takeaway
Open earbuds are ideal for outdoor activities and casual listening when you need environmental awareness, but they sacrifice audio quality and noise cancellation compared to traditional earbuds.
