Open earbuds guide: What they are, who should buy them, and why theyre popping up everywhere
As a professional headphones tester, the question people around me have asked me the most this year is some version of: What exactly are open earbuds? That often gets followed up with: Are they better than regular noise-cancelling earbuds?
The (somewhat) short answer to the first part: They're one of the most popular earbuds trends. If you haven't heard of them yet, you might have seen their other names: open-ear earbuds or open-ear headphones. This earbud type is unique in that no part of the earbud sits in your ear canal. Chances are, if you've seen one pair, you've seen the Bose Ultra Open earbuds, which, though great (I recommend them as one of the best open earbuds), are just one option of many on the market.
In addition the the cuff-designed Bose earbuds that focus on the listening experience first and foremost, there are open buds that use ear hooks to stay in place, designs made for exercise, and even open headphones. So to that second question — are any of those options better than noise-cancelling earbuds? As always, it depends on what you're looking for in a pair of earbuds. So let's start with the basics:
What are open earbuds?
Open earbuds are any earbuds that don't sit directly in your ear canal. Generally, this means they use air conduction to transmit the sound to your ears. Some folks also consider bone conduction headphones, like the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, to be a type of open earbud, as they don't sit in the ear canal and send vibrations to the bones of your head, which then transmit as sound in your inner-ear canal. However, for the purposes of this guide, I'll be speaking primarily about the air conduction open earbuds.
A significant part of open earbuds' appeal is that they essentially provide a permanent transparency mode, without any annoying hissing or weird amplification of environmental sound. Some folks also find them more comfortable, suited for exercise, and a good alternative to traditional earbuds (if they don't like the feeling of earbuds in their ears).
Do open earbuds offer noise cancellation?
Open earbuds sit outside of the ear canal and don't encompass the ear (like a traditional over-ear headphone), so it's essentially impossible for any open earbuds to provide active noise cancellation.
Instead, open earbuds rely on using music to drown out the world around you, to an extent (though they will be noticeably less effective than a pair of ANC buds). Still, this is the point of an open earbud — they're designed for excellent noise transparency, not noise cancellation.
What exactly does that mean? It means that in the best pairs of open earbuds, you'll find a balance between external sounds and the audio you're streaming. You'll be able to hear a barista calling your name clearly, cars driving along the road next to you, or yourself singing along. Frequently, transparency modes on traditional in-ear earbuds can amplify environmental sounds to an unnatural degree — because the transparency mode is built into the design, open earbuds essentially give you the experience of having your own personal speakers. They're an excellent solution for anyone who frequently finds themselves wearing only one earbud or sliding one ear cup slightly off their ear with over-ear headphones.
Can other people hear open earbuds?
Ideally, the sound leakage from open ear headphones is minimal to nonexistent, but that's not always the reality. While it won't be like you're actually using small Bluetooth speakers, certain models, especially at higher volumes, might play music clearly enough that someone standing within a couple feet of you might be able to make out the lyrics of what you're listening to.
Though I didn't have a pair on hand to confirm this theory, the sound leakage felt somewhat reminiscent of what you'd experience with the early 2000s on-ear headphones that often came with portable CD players.
The main benefits of open earbuds, summarized
Open earbuds won't appeal to everyone's taste, but anyone looking for their earbuds to give them the following is much more likely to be pleased:
Comfortable wear: Open earbuds don't obstruct your ear canal, and can generally be much lighter on the ear than traditional earbuds and headphones.
General awareness: You can still hear the world around you the entire time you're wearing open earbuds, making them great for taking out in public, whether on a run or for a stroll in the park.
Exercise-friendly: Many open earbuds have IP scores that deem them water resistant or even waterproof, meaning they're okay to sweat in. Awareness of the world around you can come in handy when you're running down the street or want to stay alert at the gym. Finally, the ear hook design can help hold earbuds in place, making them ideal for use during more movement.
Beyond the lack of ANC, open earbuds have two major cons. For one, the audio itself won't sound as robust, because they're sitting outside your ears — hearing finer details or well-rounded bass is less likely across the board, even with the best-sounding earbuds. Some brands may also be prone to more audio leakage, meaning using them in already quiet settings (like studying at the library) could pose some risk of disturbing others.
How to wear open earbuds
How exactly you'll wear an open earbud depends somewhat on the design and the brand. Ear hook designs tend to take a little more finessing to situate comfortably, while ear cuff buds can be more straightforward to put on.
However, with both styles, you'll likely spend some time during your first wears adjusting where exactly the earbud sits on your ear. Though this is something you'll do to some extent with all earbuds, it's especially important with open earbuds, as the sound quality can legitimately be affected by where the earbud is situated. Finding the right spot is simple: While playing music, slightly adjust the earbuds until they sit where they sound best.
Our favorite open earbuds
Like regular earbuds, open earbuds can run you anywhere from $25 to $300 — below, I've included tried and tested open earbuds models from across the price spectrum.