Most people don’t like wearing in-ear earbuds because of their discomfort and turn to open-ear earbuds. This is because open-ear earbuds are much more comfortable to wear and reduce ear fatigue. That is why today we will be looking at the best open earbuds in the market.
These earbuds don’t go inside your ear canal; some wrap around the ear while others rest just outside the ear.
It is important to note that while these earbuds don’t go inside the ear, they still deliver some of the best audio possible. They are also better for you in the long term as they preserve your hearing.
So, what are the best open earbuds for the money, and what should you consider before purchasing them? Read on to find out!
Best Open Ear Wireless Earbuds
These are the best open earbuds that deliver great audio and are comfortable to wear:
1. Best Overall: ACREO Next Generation Open Ear Headphones
The first of the best open earbuds we will look at is the ACREO Next Generation buds. They are wireless with ear hooks that make them perfect for anyone who hates wearing in-ear buds.
The fit is comfortable and doesn’t slip, allowing you to go about your work without worrying that it will slip. They make the perfect companion for high-intensity activities due to their snug fit.
Do not be put off by their design; these earbuds still deliver great audio. They have headphone amplifiers that, while does not go in your ear, still enable you to receive powerful audio.
The thing that puts them above other headphones is that they take away the bone vibration transmission in other earbuds, making for a smooth listening experience.
You can tell ACREO put in the work with these earbuds with the design. There is no sound interference with the noise reduction feature, allowing you to get crystal-clear music or calls.
Audio control is also easy; two clicks on the right bud to increase volume and two clicks on the left to reduce.
The earbuds are also sweat, water, and splashproof, making them great companions for working out or outdoor activities.
These features, combined with the 6-hour battery life on a single charge and 18 hours in the charging case, make the ACREO earbuds worth every penny.
2. Premium Pick: Sony LinkBuds Truly Wireless Earbuds
These earbuds have a slightly different design from the ACREO ones. Their open-ring design makes them have a more snug fit than the previous ones, providing better sound quality.
hey also come in 5 different sizes with different ear shapes, so you can pick the one with the best fit.
The LinkBuds design is perfect for anyone who doesn’t want something hanging out of their ear. These ones fit right inside your ear; you should make you get the correct ear shape and size because, otherwise, the fit will not be as comfortable.
The multipoint connection allows you to connect the earbuds to two devices at once. They also have a built-in ALEXA, enabling a hands-free design.
You can use Alexa to access your music, answer calls, and more through voice access, a handy feature when doing something with your hands.
Battery use is also more modern with the LinkBuds. They are fast-charging, giving you 60 minutes of playtime from a 5-minute charge. On full power, the earbuds deliver up to 6 hours of playtime.
Their IPX4 rating protects them against water or sweat damage for longer use.
3. Best Sound: Apple AirPods (3rd Generation) Earbuds
Apple AirPods have broken records since they came out, and the newer designs show why they belong on this list. Their long, up to 30 hours of playtime with the charging case is one of the reasons.
This means you can use your earbuds for more than 24 hours without a problem. The AirPods have 6 hours of listening time on a single charge.
Sound quality is something the AirPods do very well. They have an inward-facing microphone that directs all the sound into your ear; something audiophiles will love.
The 3rd Generation earbuds have taken everything that was poor with the previous generations and improved on it. You can now listen to crystal-clear audio that is leagues above the previous versions.
Hands-free control is made possible by Siri, which you can easily access through voice control. The easy setup and comfortable design are also other reasons the AirPods make this list.
4. Bone Conduction: OUFUNI Bone Conduction Headphones
These bone-conduction earbuds are made for your safety, especially for people with sensitive ears. The open-ear design wraps around the head, connecting to the other ear.
Don’t worry; they have a waterproof and sweatproof design, so sweat or water will not ruin them, especially when out during activities.
One of the reasons the OUFUNI earbuds are worth it is the comfortable fit. You will not experience any ear fatigue, and because you don’t have to wear them inside the ear, you will not be uncomfortable either.
They use Bone Vibration technology that connects to your cheekbones, giving you clear audio. The earpiece sits snugly outside the ear, playing music directly into the ear from the outside.
They have an ENC chip that helps with noise canceling. However, the earbuds don’t have the best noise cancellation, but the audio quality is so clear and crisp that external noise will not be a problem.
The audio balance is some of the best available; the lack of ambient noise makes for the best sound quality. The earbuds also have a long battery life, giving you 6 hours of playtime.
5. Best Budget: PSIER Open Ear Earbuds
These are the best open earbuds that deliver an immersive audio experience for such a price. The earbuds are designed to give a snug fit in the ears without disturbing the ear canal for better listening.
The design reduces ear fatigue and eases stress on the ear, allowing for longer listening times. It is also suitable for preserving hearing as the earbuds don’t touch the ear canal.
The earbuds use silicone hooks that fit snugly on your ears to ensure comfort. This makes them suitable for outdoor or high-intensity activities such as running or working out.
The listening experience is improved by the diaphragm speaker driver that vibrates to produce powerful stereo sound. It also gives you balanced audio with incredible clarity, allowing you to hear everything clearly without distortion.
Open earbud designs like this allow you to hear your surroundings while listening to your music. PSIER made this even more possible by designing an ear tip that does not block your ear canal or pinch the auricle, which eases the pain in the ear.
6. EASARS Open Ear Earphones
EASARS earphones have an over-the-ear design, much like the PSIER earbuds, for comfort. A sign of good open ear earbuds is the drivers.
The EASARS earbuds have 16.2mm speaker drivers that cover a large area for better sound effects. This gives them a powerful stereo sound that allows you to hear clear audio and answer calls without interference.
Touch control is also another factor in favor of these earbuds. You can switch between songs, answer calls, control the volume, and more using the simple control features.
The earbuds have up to 28 hours of playtime on a single charge. You have 7 hours of playtime when using them in Music mode. The charging case allows for fast charging, allowing you to enjoy 7 hours ofplaytime only after only 2 hours of charging.
7. Shokz OpenRun Pro
Last on our list is the 9th-generation earbuds from Shokz. The earbuds use bone-conduction technology that plays music through your cheekbones.
This design is great as it allows you to listen to the audio while still hearing what is happening around you, a handy feature when you are in a busy area.
These headphones also have an improved bass quality from the previous versions, something audiophiles will enjoy. The sound quality, in general, however, needs to be worked on, especially compared to traditional headphones.
The overall audio performance is okay, giving a decent listening experience for music and phone calls. Battery life is something Shokz delivers well, and the OpenRun Pro does just that.
Charging the earbuds for just 5 minutes gives you 1 ½ hours of listening time. The earbuds deliver up to 10 hours of playtime when fully charged. The comfortable wrap-around cable is comfortable enough for wearing them for long hours.
Things to Consider When Buying Open Ear Wireless Earbuds
This is a checklist of what you should look for when purchasing the best open earbuds. This list will help you identify the best products that fit your needs.
Design
Open earbuds come in different designs. What they all have in common is that they do not interfere with your ear canal. One example is the wrap-around design.
Much like the name suggests, these earbuds are connected by a cable that wraps around the back of your head. They don’t press against your ear or the ear canal, making them comfortable for long-time wear.
Other designs go close to the ear canal but have a flatter ear tip. This helps you feel more comfortable on your ear and don’t stress out your ears. You need to find the shape and design that helps you feel more comfortable.
Audio Quality
The most important part of buying earbuds is to listen to your music or audio. You want your earbuds to have the best audio quality possible.
You want to make sure that the earbuds give you a clear and discernible audio quality that allows you to enjoy your music. It is important to note that most open earbuds have lower sound quality but not all of them.
The best earbuds, the ones we covered above, will give you the best audio quality. Check the earbuds and look at reviews to see how efficient they are.
Size
The size of the earbuds can determine how efficient they are. Earbuds that are too loose will keep falling out and can be uncomfortable to wear. Too loose earbuds will also release some of the audio outside of your ears, so they’ll be inefficient.
On the other hand, earbuds that are too small can be too loud as they send the vibrations straight to your ear canal. The best earbuds are ones that fit snugly, not too tight nor too loose. You want to make sure the ones you get will not cause ear fatigue.
Recommended: The 5 Best Audiophile Wireless Earbuds That You Can Get In 2023.
Battery Life
Most of us like using our earbuds during the day while working or during our commute and do not have time to keep charging them.
If you are a person who uses their earbuds a lot, you want to make sure you get ones with a long battery life. Look for those with at least 5 hours of battery life. They should also have a charging case that charges them for longer.
Volume Control
This is not a necessary requirement, but it is better to make sure the open earbuds have volume control. This brings a nice balance between the outside noise and the music you listen to.
They allow some ambient noise in while not disturbing the audio quality. This helps you be aware of your surroundings while still listening to your music.
Price
Another determining factor of earbuds is the price. You do not have to buy expensive earbuds to get high-performing ones. On the flip side, earbuds that are too cheap might miss out on some of the features, giving poorer quality than others.
Research, ask questions, and read reviews from others to find the best open earbuds that fit within your budget. You can also check out the 7 best open earbuds above to help you find the ones that fit your pocket and have all the features you need.
FAQs
Are open earbuds better for your ears?
Open earbuds are a better choice for listening to music. They don’t go inside your ear, so they don’t seal the ear canal. This preserves your hearing in the long term, especially if you listen to music for a long time.
They are also better if you use them in areas with high traffic. That is because they let in ambient noise, allowing you to hear what is happening around you while still listening to your music.
The audio, in most cases, is also clear enough, so you don’t have to worry about interference.
Recommended: How To Turn Off Your Powerbeats Pro Quickly and Easily.
Can others hear open ear earbuds?
A common misconception is that those around you can hear what you listen to when wearing open earbuds. However, that is not true. The earbuds trap the sound vibrations in your ear, allowing only you to hear what is going on.
Other open ear earbuds use bone conduction which delivers audio through your cheekbones. This is an even better way of making sure sound does not disturb those around you.
Others might be able to hear what you are playing; however, if you play it too loud or if they get too close to you, which can happen with all earbuds.
Which earbud shape is best?
There are 3 main types of earbud shapes, single, double, and triple flange ear tips. Out of the three, the single flange tip is more comfortable for most people and delivers great audio.
Double and triple flange ear tips can be harder to fit and can be uncomfortable for some. You can get even better quality audio with these if you find the correct tip.
There are also flat-shaped ear tips for those who hate in-ear earbuds. These are more comfortable as they don’t fit inside the ear canal. They provide adequate and balanced audio.
In the end, the earbud shape you choose should depend on how comfortable they are. You can get decent audio from all shapes, so give them a try and find the ones that will not affect your experience.
Conclusion
So, here you go, the best open earbuds you can find. These earbuds take everything into account, such as comfort, audio quality, durability, and battery life.
Remember to go through the buying guide to find what suits you best. Do not compromise; the right earbuds will check all your boxes and ensure you get the best quality.
Choose any of the above earbuds and unlock a world of wonderful audio possibilities.
