Open earbuds are the big new thing in headphone land. Unlike in-ear variants, open earbuds are like tiny speakers that rest on the ear and let outside sound in naturally, so you can fully hear the world around you. Some use a hook style that wraps around the back of your ear, while others are clip-ons that look more like statement-piece earrings. Style aside, they are excellent for anyone who finds traditional earbuds uncomfortable or wants full environmental awareness for activities like running, biking, or even just doing chores around the house.
I’ve tested dozens of models since 2022, and while I still recommend having a pair of noise-canceling earbuds, I also love open earbuds for specific use cases.
For more headphone recommendations, check out our guides to the Best Wireless Earbuds, Best Workout Headphones, and Best Wireless Headphones.
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Best Open Earbuds Overall
Specs
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 6.1 |
| Battery life | 10 hours, 40 with case |
| Water/dust resistance | IP57 |
| Wireless charging | Yes |
The Shokz OpenDots 2 are everything I want open earbuds to be. These are truly take-everywhere, do-anything headphones. That’s partly thanks to extremely long battery life—10 hours on a single charge, and 40 hours total with the charging case. They also have an IP57 dust and waterproof rating, the same as premium, flagship earbuds like Apple AirPods Pro 3 and Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro. I’ve worn them in the rain, on the beach, and fully submerged them in water multiple times without issue.
They’re clip-ons that wrap around the earlobe, with the speaker end resting at the ear canal opening and the other end behind the ear. Importantly, the top of your ear is free for glasses, sunglasses, or hats. Like nearly all open earbuds, they let in sound from your surroundings, so don’t expect them to be a great companion for long-haul flights or daily gym sessions.
They are a bit pricey, though. Shokz recently launched the lower-priced Shokz OpenDots Air and Shokz OpenFit Air 2—I may update this recommendation depending on how my testing goes.
Runner-Up
Specs
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Battery life | 8 hours, 32 with case |
| Water/dust resistance | IP55 |
| Wireless charging | No |
Former WIRED reviewer Ryan Waniata is a huge fan of the Soundcore Aeroclip for a lot of the same reasons I love the OpenDots 2. The Aeroclip buds are light, comfortable, and stable on your ear, plus they have stellar battery life and strong water and dust resistance (not waterproof). Waniata used them for daily life: walking the dog, strolling with the baby, riding bikes, making dinner, and hanging out at home—any situation where you want your music but also want to be aware or talk to people. The Soundcore app is easy to use and offers plenty of customization for controls, EQ, and multipoint pairing.
The brand recently announced the Soundcore Aeroclip 2 and Aeroclip 2 Pro, which I will be testing soon. Look out for deals on these original Aeroclips as a result.
Best Premium Open Earbuds
Specs
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Battery life | 7.5 hours, 27 with case |
| Water/dust resistance | IPX4 |
| Wireless charging | No |
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds were a big deal when they launched in 2024—a brand-new design from Bose and one of the biggest swings from a major brand in clip-on open earbuds. Two years later, they are still a solid, if expensive, option. That’s mainly because of sound quality—these earbuds have a clearer, more defined sound than most competitors. Another differentiator is physical button controls on each bud, which I find easier to use than touch alternatives, especially when running or biking.
Like the Shokz and Soundcore, they are supremely comfortable, so much so that I sometimes forgot I was wearing them. But they are much pricier by comparison, and only worth it if you want the best sound quality in this clip-on form factor.
Best Cheap Open Earbuds
Specs
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Battery life | 7.5 hours, 30 with case |
| Water/dust resistance | IPX5 |
| Wireless charging | No |
It can be a little nerve-wracking to spend big bucks on a concept (open earbuds) you aren’t totally convinced by. That’s one reason I love this $50 option—the PearClip Pros aren’t super pricey and are a great way to find out if you even like open earbuds in the first place, especially the kind that clip onto the outside of your ear.
They are far less refined than Shokz or Soundcore. Things like the app and touch controls can be a little finicky. But that’s common at this super-low price point, and you can always upgrade to a more premium earbud if you fall in love with the clip-on form factor.
Best Open Ear Headphones
Specs
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Battery life | 12 hours |
| Water/dust resistance | IP55 |
| Wireless charging | No |
The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 are more headphones than earbuds—they have a wraparound headband styling, long battery life, great sound quality (for open headphones), and no charging case. They use a combination of bone conduction (think vibrations) and air conduction (think tiny speakers pointed toward your ears) to deliver sound that’s clearer than most smaller open earbuds, especially in noisy environments. That combination of technologies is why these are some of my favorite earbuds for outdoor fitness activities like running and biking.
I do wish these headphones were a little cheaper. I’m currently testing the recently released, more affordable Shokz OpenRun Air 2, and hopeful they can be a budget-friendly alternative.
Honorable Mentions
Nothing Ear (Open) for $99: Former WIRED editor Adrienne So loves these earbuds and uses them for almost all her outdoor activities. They are very slim (19-mm wide) and lightweight. They fit slightly inside your ear and, like most Nothing headphones, have a distinct transparent design. The case doesn’t clamp shut very firmly, so be careful, but at this price, that’s forgivable.
JLab Epic Open Sport for $100: JLab’s Epic Open Sport stands out for its controls: the JLab emblem is a touch sensor, and each earbud also has physical buttons on top, making it a breeze to control. What holds the Epic Open Sport back is audio quality—the sound isn’t very detailed, and it’s generally boring to listen to.
Other Open Earbuds I’ve Tested
EarFun Clip for $70: For around $70, these are a solid pick for anyone on a budget. Waniata found the overall package punching above its price point, with a snappy, compact case, comfortable fit, push-button controls, and reliable multiple Bluetooth connections. The problem is our budget pick, the Soundpeats PearlClip Pro, is often on sale for less and offers a similar overall experience. Don’t dismiss these earbuds if you find them heavily discounted.
Shokz OpenFit Pro for $250: The Shokz OpenFit Pro has a great premise: open earbuds with noise canceling. Hear the world around you as you would without headphones, and turn on noise-canceling when you don’t, just like regular earbuds. And while they do cancel some noise, it’s not much. The bigger issue is price: for $250, you could get open earbuds and great noise-canceling earbuds that do a better job for each task.
Suunto Wing 2 for $179: These open-ear headphones are designed for endurance athletes—they have a long 12-hour battery life but also come with a wireless power bank you can take on the go. Dock the headphones in the power bank for up to 36 hours of battery life total. There’s nothing inherently wrong with these headphones, but I don’t see a world where I would recommend them over the Shokz Openrun Pro 2, which retail for the same amount and offer more comfort, a sleeker design, better sound, and a more robust app.
Suunto Spark for $179: The Suunto Spark has a similar story to the Suunto Wing 2: with athletes in mind, it has features that sync with Suunto fitness watches, but it is outclassed in the areas that matter (comfort, sound quality, battery) by the similarly priced Shokz Openfit 2.
What Are Open Earbuds and How Do They Sound?
At a glance, open earbuds seem a lot like typical wireless earbuds. The big difference is that, instead of going inside your ear canal, they rest somewhere on the outside of your ear, leaving it open so you can easily hear the world around you. I use them all the time for outdoor exercise like running or biking, where I want my music but also need to hear other runners, bikers, and cars to stay safe.
Because they leave your ears open and the sound comes from farther away (outside your ear rather than inside), audio performance isn’t as clear, intimate, or bassy as regular earbuds. They also typically don’t have noise-canceling features, so they are not a great fit for the office or air travel.
When or Where Would I Use Open Earbuds?
Open earbuds are perfect for outdoor activities, or when you want to talk to other people without taking off your headphones. When I run or go for a bike ride, I only use open earbuds so I can hear my surroundings and stay safe. I also like using them around the house when I am cooking or doing laundry.
What About Semi-Open Earbuds?
Semi-open earbuds, like Apple’s AirPods, sit inside the ear but don’t have eartips that create a sound seal. They can offer better audio quality than other open earbuds because the speakers and microphones are closer to your ear and mouth. Semi-open earbuds are comfortable, but they’re usually pretty loose—they can fall out easily and may be a poor option for fitness activities.
How Do I Test Open Earbuds?
I test open earbuds like I test any pair of headphones: in the real world, in my daily life. I wear each pair for at least a few weeks to test comfort, battery life, ease of use, and onboard controls. I listen to podcasts, watch TV shows, jam out to my favorite playlists, and call friends.
With open earbuds in particular, I also wear them on jogs, bike rides, and errand runs to get a better feel for how stable they are on my ears. I do not expect them to cancel any noise, so I don’t make a point of testing them on airplanes or loud commutes—they aren’t really made for that. My main audio source is Spotify Lossless, but, when possible, I test other formats and codecs as well.