Best open-ear headphones and earbuds

Open-ear headphones and earbuds are a unique breed of audio gear designed to allow you to simultaneously listen to audio while keeping your ears open to environmental sounds around you. Unlike traditional headphones and earbuds that cover or insert into the ear canal, open-ear models leave your ears completely exposed. If you want to enjoy music and podcasts or take calls while maintaining environmental awareness, open ears are an increasingly popular hands-free solution.

Editor’s note: this list was updated on September 24, 2024, to add the Nothing Ear (open) as the new top pick and the AirPods 4 as the best pick for iPhone users. Updates will follow as the market changes.

Best open-ear headphones overall: Nothing Ear (Open)

The Nothing Ear (Open) proves to be a well-designed and capable pair of open-ear true wireless earbuds. They feature an ergonomic design that places the driver closer to the ear canal, resulting in improved sound quality compared to other open-ear models. The flexible, hooked shape provides a secure and comfortable fit, ideal for workouts or daily use.

Sound quality is impressive for an open design, with a surprisingly decent bass response that can be further enhanced using the advanced parametric EQ in the Nothing X app. The midrange is prominent, while treble frequencies offer detailed clarity.

Useful features include an IP54 dust/sweat resistance rating for both earbuds and case, multipoint connectivity, and intuitive pinch controls. The futuristic design with a clear-top charging case adds to the appeal.

Battery life meets the 8-hour rated spec, with the charging case providing an additional 22 hours of portable power. While not the smallest, the pocket-friendly case charges via USB-C, though it lacks wireless charging capabilities.

Overall, the Nothing Ear (Open) represents a well-built, feature-rich open-ear option with enough battery life and performance capabilities to make it a top choice for those seeking awareness without completely sacrificing sound quality.

Best unsealed headphones for iPhone: Apple AirPods (4th Gen)

The Apple AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC offer two excellent options for iPhone users seeking unsealed earbuds. Both feature a redesigned shape that may improve fit for some users, though comfort varies widely due to the one-size-fits-all approach.

The AirPods 4 with ANC ($149.99 at Micro Center) introduce noise cancelation to Apple’s entry-level earbuds, canceling about 20dB of noise in mids and highs. The standard AirPods 4 ($129 at Amazon) provides a more affordable option without ANC.

Both models include the H2 chip for seamless iOS integration, Spatial Audio with head tracking, and Adaptive EQ. They offer around 6 hours of battery life per charge, with 30 hours total, including the case. Sound quality is decent for open-ear earbuds, with good representation in mids and highs, though sub-bass is limited due to the unsealed design.

The open design allows for environmental awareness but offers minimal isolation. While suitable for outdoor activities, they may not be secure enough for vigorous exercise. Overall, both models are solid choices for iPhone users who prefer open-ear designs and Apple ecosystem integration.

Most comfortable open-ear headphones: Sony LinkBuds

The Sony LinkBuds take an unconventional approach with a donut-shaped ring design that allows audio in while leaving your ears completely open and aware of surrounding sounds. This innovative unsealed fit is surprisingly comfortable thanks to the lightweight 4g earbuds and flexible ear fins to secure them in place.

Unsurprisingly, the open design means severely compromised sound quality, with an almost total lack of bass below 150Hz. While mids and highs come through decently indoors, any external noise will drastically impact and mask the audio. The unsealed nature also means you’ll likely need to raise volume levels frequently.

Unique features include a Wide Area Tap control that lets you tap in front of your ear to control playback, though it looks quite odd. Battery life is average at around 5.5 hours with an extra 12 hours from the compact charging case.

Best premium open-ear headphones: Bose Ultra Open earbuds

The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds take a unique “cuff-like, clip-on” design approach to open-ear audio. The earbuds hug around the outer ear rather than inserting into the ear canal, allowing you to maintain complete awareness of your surroundings.

Bass response is severely lacking, while mid and treble frequencies are over-emphasized, resulting in a thin, bright sound signature prone to masking from external noise. The “Immersive Audio” spatial audio mode is also of questionable usefulness, but perhaps that’s a feature you value.

Physical aspects impress more, with a secure, lightweight fit aided by flexible rubber wings, IPX4 sweat/water resistance, and nearly 9 hours of battery life with USB-C fast charging. Touch controls and app customization are functional if basic.

Call quality is a letdown, however, with the microphones struggling in any environment beyond ideal conditions. At $299, the Ultra Open Earbuds are quite expensive but they are the most premium option when it comes to open-ear headphones.

Best budget open-ear headphones: Anker Soundcore AeroFit Pro

The Anker Soundcore AeroFit Pro have an IPX5 water resistance rating and a secure over-ear fit with an optional neckband, they are well-suited for activities like running and cycling.

Battery life is excellent at over 17 hours per charge, plus nearly 30 additional hours from the charging case. Connection is reliable thanks to Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC codec support. Physical button controls on each earbud allow control of playback, volume, and calls.

The default SoundCore Signature EQ setting provides help to improve the sound quality, but due to the nature of the open-ear design, they still lack treble detail and inconsistent bass response. Call quality is usable in ideal conditions but suffers in noisier environments. Overall, the AeroFit Pro succeeds as affordable open-ear workout headphones that let you exercise safely while staying connected to your tunes and your surroundings.

Want something different? Try bone conduction headphones

Bone conduction headphones offer a distinctive approach to listening that bypasses the eardrum. Instead, they transmit sound directly to the cochlea through vibrations on the cheekbones. This unique method makes them an intriguing option for those seeking open-ear audio products, combining situational awareness with a form of hearing that’s accessible even to those with certain types of hearing impairments. See our picks of the best bone conduction headphones to get started.

The best open-ear headphones: Notable mentions

• Anker Soundcore AeroFit ($129.99 at Amazon): Considering the AeroFit’s open-ear design, secure over-the-ear fit, and IPX7 protection rating, these earbuds are best suited for outdoor fitness enthusiasts.
• Bose Sport Open Earbuds (on the product’s website): The Bose Sport Open Earbuds are explicitly for outdoor enthusiasts who want a soundtrack to underscore their adventures. Despite the unoccluded design, music sounds pretty good, and the earbuds stay in place during all kinds of exercise.
• Bose Frames Tempo ($249 at Amazon): If you like the idea of audio-enabled sunglasses, Bose’s implementation may be the best one out there, but it doesn’t quite hit the mark due to the variable sound.
• Jabra Elite Active 45e ($349 at Amazon): The ear hook design here is stable, while the proprietary ear tips keep listeners vigilant. The IP67 rating means you can exercise worry-free and spend more time focusing on your workout.

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What you should know about open-ear headphones

By their very nature, open-ear headphones provide zero sound isolation from external noise – in fact, they are purposely designed to let in ambient sounds for listener safety and awareness. This inherently impacts their frequency response and sound quality compared to sealed in-ear or over-ear headphones.

The open design means bass frequencies tend to be diminished, while midrange frequencies are often emphasized to improve the clarity of voices and instruments over environmental noise. Additionally, active noise cancelation is not a feature found on open-ear models.

Still, there are a few key reasons why someone may want open-ear headphones or earbuds. Firstly, they allow you to remain aware of your surroundings for safety reasons, like being able to hear traffic noise or someone trying to get your attention. This makes them ideal for runners, cyclists, and other active users who need to be tuned into their environment. Secondly, open-ear audio devices eliminate that closed-off, isolated feeling you get from regular headphones. They also avoid causing any pain or pressure if you have sensitive ears.

Most open-ear sport headphones like the Soundcore AeroFit Pro feature IPX water and dust resistance ratings making them suitable for use while exercising outdoors. The earpieces themselves are also designed with hooks or wings to keep them securely in place during activities.

The designs vary, from headphone-style bone conduction transducers that rest on your cheekbones to earbuds that clip onto the ears without obstructing the canal. But the core premise is the same – delivering audio while keeping you connected to the world around you.

How we test open-ear headphones

At SoundGuys, we put open-ear headphones through a variety of objective tests to measure their performance characteristics like battery life, Bluetooth connectivity, microphone quality, and, most importantly, their sound quality and frequency response. While judging audio fidelity is inherently subjective, we utilize advanced measuring tools and software to obtain objective data on their sound reproduction capabilities.

We then combine these objective test results with real-world listening experiences and use cases to provide a comprehensive review that covers all the strengths, weaknesses, and unique attributes of each product.

How we choose the best open-ear headphones

When selecting the best open-ear headphones, we look for models that achieve their intended purpose of allowing environmental awareness during activities like running, cycling, and other exercise.

The top priorities are a secure, stable fit that won’t easily dislodge during motion, an open earcup design that provides good ambient noise passthrough, and, ideally, some level of water/dust protection. Battery life, wireless connectivity performance, and physical control options are other key factors.

While not expecting audiophile sound quality, we still evaluate their frequency response, clarity, and overall audio performance realistically within the constraints of the open-air design.

Why you should trust SoundGuys

The SoundGuys team has many years of combined experience reviewing and testing consumer audio products of all types. We have sophisticated facilities for objectively measuring audio gear and follow strict ethical principles to remain impartial and unbiased in our reviews and recommendations.

All products are purchased through normal retail channels or provided as temporary loaners directly from manufacturers. We maintain full editorial control over the review process, forming our own opinions and ratings that are never influenced by any outside parties.

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