The Best Open Earbuds for Everyone
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Open earbuds (AKA open-ear buds) are among the fastest-growing trends in audio. Thanks to their distinctive design that keeps your ear canals clear, the best open earbuds let you enjoy your favorite music or media while staying naturally aware of the world around you. Without any way to block ambient sounds, these probably can't be your everything buds, but they will let you hear everything. We’ve tested dozens of open-ear gadgets, from clip-on buds to audio glasses and everything in between. These are our favorite open earbuds for every fit and budget.
Don’t forget to check out our other guides, like the Best Wireless Earbuds, the Best Workout Headphones, and the Best Wireless Headphones for more traditional options.
Updated May 2025: We've added the Earfun OpenJump, Shokz OpenDots One, and Nothing Ear Open, and updated prices and copy with new information.
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What exactly are open earbuds and how do they sound?
Open earbuds are similar to regular wireless buds, but instead of plugging your ear canals for a good seal, they leave them open to exterior sounds. This means their audio performance won’t be as intimate or full-sounding as regular earbuds, particularly in the bass. They're also less versatile than buds with ambient audio features like noise canceling and transparency mode that can suppress or let in exterior sounds on demand. Their primary advantage is an unaltered path to exterior sounds, which makes them a perfect fit when you want to pepper in music and media with your natural environment.
When or where would I use open earbuds?
As limited as open earbuds can be in situations like a loud office, a long flight, or a busy commute, they can slot in brilliantly when you want to multitask without missing out. They’re an obvious fit for workouts like hiking, jogging, the gym, or even biking/ebiking where wind resistance overpowers the tiny microphones in traditional earbuds. Beyond workouts, open earbuds can be a convenient solution anytime you want to stay aurally alert, from cooking dinner while keeping tabs on the kids to sneaking in some football on your phone while the family enjoys a Christmas movie.
What about semi-open earbuds?
Semi-open earbuds like Apple's standard AirPods give you a semblance of what open earbuds offer, but it’s not the same experience. I’d even argue that a semi-open fit can give you a worst-of-both-worlds scenario—you can’t get a good seal for a full representation of you’re music or media, and you’re not able to hear your environment as clearly as even sealed buds with transparency mode, let alone fully open earbuds. Some people who have trouble with regular ear tips swear by the standard AirPods design from a fit perspective, but if you want to keep in touch with the world around you, fully open earbuds are better.
What kind of features can I expect in open earbuds?
Open earbuds support many of the same features found in traditional earbuds like multipoint pairing to connect to multiple devices at once, sensors for auto-pause, water-resistance, and even spatial audio. Most provide an app for extras like EQ or an earbuds finder, and you'll find onboard touch or push controls. Because of the limitations of their physical designs, open earbud controls are often more limited or less effective than those on traditional earbuds, but the best pairs work around these constraints for convenient control
One feature you shouldn't look for in open earbuds is noise canceling, which relies on a mix of passive sound isolation and microphones to measure your environment and reverse the polarity of exterior sound frequencies to “cancel” them out. The basic physics of the process requires a good seal to work effectively. While it’s true that some semi-open earbuds like the AirPods 4 offer noise canceling, it's generally very limited with only lower frequencies seeing any noise reduction. If you need noise canceling, you’re better off with options like the AirPods Pro, Bose’s top-ranked QuietComfort Ultra, or any of our other noise-canceling favorites.
Best Open Earbuds for Most
Soundcore’s Aeroclip (8/10, WIRED Recommends) strike a brilliant balance between quality and value, making them my top pick for most budgets. Their high-tensile loop is made with titanium to keep them light and stable, while their clip-on fit is comfy and hassle-free. Sound is spacious and clear, and features like multipoint pairing and a customizable EQ help them adapt to your needs. The touch controls along the exterior loops are responsive and convenient, even when your hands are full, and they round things out with eight hours of play time (32 with their compact case) for a great package at a reasonable price.
(Note: As of our latest update, Anker has raised the price from $130 at launch to $170. The company has no comment on the price increase.)
Another Excellent Pair
These are WIRED Editor Adrienne So's favorite buds to work out in, and that means a lot: She spends the majority of her time outside, chasing her family and pets around the Pacific Northwest. She likes that they are slim and comfortable—only 19 mm wide. Unlike most open-ear buds that are round or stick out, these have a tiny directional driver that fits nicely inside your ear, and they fit easily under a hat or a helmet, which makes them a true go-anywhere pair.
These sound pretty excellent, with enough bass to satisfy her bass test, Beyoncé’s “Partition.” In two weeks of testing, they didn't have to recharge—you'll get about 30 hours of playback time. It has an IP54 water rating, so they're protected against water spray, if not direct immersion. Like other Nothing earbuds, there are very thoughtful design choices like a red dot on the right bud so you're not constantly puzzling over where the manufacturer has written the tiny R or L. Her only concern? The case doesn't clamp shut quite as firmly as she'd like, so you'll want to be careful before throwing them around your bag.
Best Premium Open Earbuds
If you’re willing to splash out, Bose’s Ultra Open Earbuds (7/10, WIRED Recommends) are the top pick. These are simply the best-sounding open earbuds I’ve tried, offering clear and zingy sound with plenty of instrumental detail to elevate your media. Their compact, rollable design clings tightly with minimal pinching, though they require a learning curve to attach properly. You’ll get a few advanced features, including multipoint pairing and Bose Spatial Audio, along with accessible push-button controls for playback, calling, and volume. They’re anything but cheap, but if you want the best sound in a chic design, Bose’s open buds deliver.
Best In-Ear Option
Sony’s original Linkbuds were just the second open earbuds I reviewed, and they’re still among the most distinctive. Their claim to fame is a ring-shaped driver with a center hole to let in the world, deviating from most clip-on or wrap-around buds. The Linkbuds Open (7/10, WIRED Recommends) build off the original with an attachable fin to keep them more tightly in place and an updated sound signature for more bass. I felt the need to adjust their EQ for clarity, and their novel touch controls—which let you tap either the buds or the side of your face—aren’t the most responsive. Otherwise, these are a solid option for those who’d rather insert their buds than wrap or clip them on.
Best Bone Conductors
These halo-style headphones from Shokz (formerly Aftershokz) aren’t technically open earbuds, but like all models on our list, they keep your ears naturally open for workouts and other activities. The OpenRun Pro 2 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) use the brand's signature bone-conduction vibrating pads to send sound through your cheekbones rather than your ears. Shokz has perfected the technique to provide a richer and more balanced sound which includes adding “air conduction” that blends directional drivers with the pads. WIRED contributor Michael Sawh enjoyed the Pro 2's boosted bass, even if they lost some clarity over the original Open Run Pro. They offer IP55 dust- and water-resistance in a light and durable circlet to help you push your body while busting your jams.
Best Cheap Pair
These affordable buds from Soundpeats have served me well over many miles of ebike testing, bike rides, and even the occasional boat ride. They are a simple, nondescript pair that cling easily to your ears without a pinching feeling, and they offer shockingly good sound for the price. Sure, you're not getting full fidelity like you would with closed buds, but these have a lot of bass for open-ears, and they do particularly well with the human voices on podcasts or phone calls. They are IPX5 rated for occasional dips (and frequent sweat), and six hours of battery life between trips to the charger means they're ready for a meandering marathon. — Parker Hall
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Honorable Mentions
Open earbuds are becoming the hot trend in wireless audio, meaning there are plenty of good options that don't make our top list. Here are some other pairs worth considering.
Earfun OpenJump for $80: Earfun’s OpenJump offer accessible sound and impressive waterproofing in one of the most comfortable wrap-around designs I’ve put on. It’s hard to beat their price, but they fall into one of the biggest pitfalls of open earbuds right now: awkward controls with hit-or-miss response, especially on the move. They’re still a good value, and would be all the more tempting on a good sale.
Shokz OpenDots One for $200: Shokz’s first clip-on open earbuds are a solid effort, with great battery life and a sporty design that feels like a mix between Bose’s Ultra and Soundcore’s Aeroclip. Their most intriguing trick is the ability to swap either bud for your left or right ear, which is cool if not all that practical. Their sculpted sound is clear and relatively thumpy, but leaner up top than my favorites. I was hoping for more for the money, along with better call quality and more versatile controls, though features like a wireless charging case add value. If you like the style and don’t mind paying up for swappable buds, they could be worth considering.
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