Most earbuds in the market have a noise-isolating design. They come with silicon ear tips, which can seal off your ear canal. Such a design is a must for active noise canceling. But not everyone likes having ear tips jammed into the ears. And if you’re one of them, you might be looking for the best open ear headphones.
Yes, you can argue that some high-end earbuds have exceptionally ergonomic designs to deliver the best possible comfort. Even so, the isolating nature of those wireless headphones can be a little uncomfortable for some. And let’s not forget that open ear headphones let you stay aware of your environment without needing any fancy tech such as Ambient Aware or Transparency Mode.
That eventually leads to better battery life. But the thing is, not all the open ear headphones are a good pick for the money. Some can sound incredibly muddy, offering a below-average music listening experience. However, some of them nail it in all departments. And if you keep on reading, you can learn all about them.
Best Open Ear Headphones – Top Picks for the Money
Shokz OpenRun – Best Overall Open Ear Headphones
The Shokz OpenRun should be the go-to option for anyone looking for the best open ear headphones. Of course, there’s no denying that this pair of wireless headphones fall into its own category. And that would be bone-conducting headphones.
Regardless, with bone-conduction technology, the Shokz OpenRun properly keeps your ears free. It comes with an ear hook that places the buds directly on your cheekbones. But how does it make the sound get to your ears? Well, that’s where the bone-conducting tech comes into play.
With the bone-conducting tech, this pair of open ear headphones can send sound down to your ear canals through vibrations. And even though it doesn’t use a conventional design, the sound quality is pretty good.
But like any other bone-conducting headphone, there’s a lack of bass. However, the midrange and sub-bass are pretty clear. Also, for having PremiumPitch 2.0+, this pair of open ear headphones can get pretty loud. Moreover, the overall build quality is quite premium. This pair of headphones can basically endure any lifestyle.
Highlighted Features of Shokhz OpenRun
- Comfortable design and fits most head sizes
- Decent overall sound quality
- IP67 water and dust-resistant build
- Up to 8 hours of run time
Sony LinkBuds WF-L900 – Best Open Ear Headphones for Comfort
Unlike the Shokz OpenRun, the Sony LinkBuds WF-L900 look and feel like a pair of typical earbuds. But it stands out because the open ear headphones offer an unsealed fit. That basically allows you to hear background noise alongside the music.
In addition to that, you get a highly lightweight and comfortable fit from the Sony LinkBuds WF-L900. And to make sure that the buds offer a secure fit, Sony includes wing tips. If you’re an athlete who wants to keep the headphones in place while making explosive moves, these wing tips will work like a charm.
But what about the sound quality? Well, the sound quality of this pair of open ear headphones is really good. You get quite an amount of depth, clear midrange, and precise treble out of the drivers. And thanks to the robust control mechanism, it’s easy to gain full control over the playback on these buds.
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Highlighted Features of Sony LinkBuds WF-L900
- Can deliver a comfortable and highly secure fit
- Features a unique and easy-to-use control mechanism
- Offers decent sound
- Up to 20 hours of battery life
Amazon Echo Buds 2023 – Best Budget-Friendly Open-Ear Headphones
Amazon has refreshed its Echo lineup of wireless headphones with the Echo Buds 2023. And even though this pair of open-ear headphones costs less than the competition, you’ll be thoroughly impressed with its performance.
To start with, the drivers are very capable of delivering clear and detail-rich sound. And even though it’s a pair of open ear headphones, there’s an ample amount of bass. Of course, the sound quality falls a bit short when you compare it against the Sony LinkBuds WF-L900. But still, for the money, it’s more than good enough.
There are a great number of advanced features on the Amazon Echo Buds 2023. For example, you get multipoint Bluetooth pairing, letting you keep the headphones connected to multiple devices at the same time. Also, the buds have ear detection that can pause the music when you take the buds off.
Highlighted Features of Amazon Echo Buds 2023
- Great sound quality
- Comfortable fit
- Comes with advanced features
- Up to 25 hours of run time
AirPods (3rd Gen) – Best Open Ear Headphones for iPhone Users
The AirPods (3rd Gen) is the best overall option for iPhone users looking for a pair of open ear headphones. Even though it works perfectly with Android, there are some iPhone-specific features that truly make it special for users who are already deep in the Apple ecosystem.
For example, you get hands-free Siri access with the AirPods (3rd Gen). Also, there’s an automatic device switch for Apple devices, which allows you to seamlessly switch between iPhone, Mac, and iPad.
And let’s not forget to mention that the earbuds have Apple Spatial Audio with head tracking. This feature makes the audio sound more immersive and lets you get more depth from the playbacks. Besides that, the sound quality is great for a pair of earbuds that don’t offer sealing. But the sub-bass is a bit on the quieter end.
Moreover, the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) have a redesigned shape. It’s geared for comfort, and you can easily keep the buds on your ears for hours.
Highlighted Features of Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)
- Decent sound performance with good bass delivery
- Spatial audio and automatic device switching
- Tons of advanced features geared for an enhanced experience
- Up to 30 hours of battery life
