The best open earbuds are similar to true wireless earbuds with one key difference: they sit around your ears, instead of diving into them. True wireless earbuds stay secure by pushing into your ear canal for a snug fit. Open earbuds are designed to clip onto or hook over the ear itself, using the ears to stay in place while not putting pressure on the ear canal. If you want headphones that feel less invasive, feel more comfortable during workouts or enable you to hear more of the world around you, then open earbuds may be the right choice.
For athletes, or anyone prone to walking, running and cycling outdoors, audio devices that sit in the ears can be potentially dangerous because they remove your ability to stay aware of your surroundings — especially if you’re using active noise-canceling headphones. To find the best open earbuds that don’t block out your surroundings, I’ve brought together my top picks with advice from experts.
SKIP AHEAD The best open earbuds | How to shop for the best open earbuds | Why trust NBC Select?
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How we picked the best open earbuds
When picking these suggestions, I drew on the advice of other gadget reporters including Connor Jewiss, a staff writer for Stuff, while also using my expertise as a headphones tester for TechRadar and Trusted Reviews. When choosing individual models, I kept the below criteria in mind:
Value: Open earbuds are for very different kinds of shoppers than those who would want high-end ANC headphones. Open earbuds usually cost less, but there’s a wide range of price points. I made sure to include options for cost-conscious buyers as well as those after a higher standard of audio and build quality.
Comfort and fit: I looked for models with a range of different styles and fits, to cater to different preferences — though in general open earbuds should be more comfortable and less invasive than standard true wireless devices.
The best open earbuds
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
- Great comfort
- Stays firmly in place
- Average call quality
- Pricey
NBC Select reporter Harry Rabinowitz, reviewed the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds earlier in the year, saying that they wrap “around the side of your outer ear like an ear cuff leaving your ear canal open to hear the world around you. They have speakers pointed toward your inner ear, almost as if you had a portable Bluetooth speaker sitting on each ear.” He praised the comfort and secure fit, especially for outdoor workouts, given how the earbuds clip over the outer ear — though the microphone quality is a little disappointing for the $300 price tag.
Battery life: 7 hours (23 hours with case) | Weight: 0.014 lbs (earbud), 0.096 lbs (case) | Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 (audio), USB-C (charging) | Water resistance: IPX4
SHOKZ OpenRun
- Sweat resistant
- Stays in place while running
- Good battery life
- Decent audio
The NBC Select team tested the Shokz OpenRun for Wellness Awards 2024. It stood out thanks to its design, sweat resistance and bone conduction technology, which uses vibrations to transmit sound. NBC Select editorial director, Lauren Swanson, liked them so much she used them during a race. “They say you should do nothing new on race day, but I ignored that rule for my second NYC marathon when I wore the Shokz OpenRun headphones for the first time ever,” says Swanson. “They lasted the entire length of the race and I had no issues with connectivity (even on the bridges). My favorite part was the open-ear design, which made it so I could hear the cheering of spectators while simultaneously listening to my run playlist.” The OpenRun also has a 10-minute quick charge for up to 1.5 hours of battery life and its IP67 water and dust resistance, according to the brand.
Battery life: 8 hours | Weight: 0.9 oz | Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.1 | Water resistance: IP67
Shokz OpenFit Headphones
- Water and dust resistance
- Fast charging
- No bone conduction
These Shokz OpenFit earbuds have a 4.3 Amazon rating across over 3,600 reviews and come recommended by Jewiss. Shokz is mainly known for its bone conduction headphones, which vibrate audio through your skull — but these OpenFit headphones stick with more traditional audio, just with an ear hook design that clips over your upper ear. Its IP54 rating means it’s water and dust-resistant, making it ideal for outside workouts and travel. NBC Select SEO editor Nikki Brown was also a fan although it took her a couple of months to get used to the fit. Now, she says, “I can’t stop raving to other people about them. Shokz is definitely my favorite brand so far — I enjoy the snug fit and crisp sound. And it’s my go-to pair for phone calls when I need to be hands-free.”
Battery life: 7 hours (28 hours with case) | Weight: 8.3g (earbud), 18.6g (case) | Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2 (audio), USB-C (charging) | Water resistance: IP54
Soundcore by Anker AeroFit Pro
- High water resistance
- Optional neckband
- Long battery life
- Neckband does not fit in case
The Soundcore by Anker AeroFit Pro is a great choice if you are looking for open earbuds with a high level of water resistance, thanks to an IPX5 rating, which allows it to withstand sustained jets of water (rather than simply passing splashes). Another perk is that it comes with an optional neckband, to help prevent loss of either earbud during use, though it’s a shame you can’t fit the band itself in the included charging case. And with a total of 46 hours of battery life through its case, these open earbuds will last you a long time — which may explain the 4.3 Amazon rating across over 600 reviews.
Battery life: 14 hours (earbuds), 46 hours (charging case) | Weight: 12.23g (earbud), 64.28g (charging case) | Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 (audio), USB-C (charging) | Water resistance: IPX5
Shokz OpenFit Air
- Water and dust resistance
- Fast charging
- No bone conduction
The Shokz OpenFit Air open earbuds are a great choice for cost-conscious shoppers, thanks to their more affordable price compared to the OpenFit model above. You’re getting largely the same specification as the older OpenFit, just at a lower price. It has the same IP54 water/sweat/dust resistance, Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity and fast charging. It does have an hour less of battery life (six to the OpenFit’s seven), and the audio quality may be a little less impressive. They come with a 4.2 Amazon rating across over 400 ratings.
Battery life: 6 hours (28 hours with case) | Weight: 8.7g (earbud), 17.4g (case) | Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2 (audio), USB-C (charging) | Water resistance: IP54
Soundcore by Anker V30i
- High water resistance
- Affordable
- Good battery life
- No neckband
The V30i open earbuds cost just $50, making them a good choice for shoppers on a tight budget. They also feature IPX5 water resistance and 12 hours of use on a single charge for a total of 36 hours with its charging case, which should get you through a handful of workouts if not a couple of very long hikes. Unlike the Aerofit Pro, there’s no connective neckband between the earbuds.
Battery life: 12 hours (earbuds), 36 hours (charging case) | Weight: 9.4g (earbud) | Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 (audio), USB-C (charging) | Water resistance: IPX5
Amazon Echo Buds (2023)
- Low cost option
- Semi-open design
- 5 hour battery life
- USB-C cable not included
Amazon describes the Echo Buds as “semi-in-ear earbuds that are designed to rest in your ear without the use of ear tips,” meaning that they’ll generally function, and look like, any other true wireless earbuds, but still leave your ear canal broadly clear and able to hear other ambient sounds around you. Because of their low price, they might be a good first step for someone curious about open earbuds who doesn’t want to commit to the design entirely.
Battery life: 5 hours (20 hours with case) | Weight: 5g (earbud), 36g (case) | Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2 (audio), USB-C (charging) | Water resistance: IPX2
How to shop for the best open earbuds
Price:
Choosing the right open earbuds will depend on a number of factors — particularly price. You can get budget open earbuds for just $50, though the audio and build quality are likely to be limited. At the same time, while the $300 Bose Ultra Open Earbuds come with a modicum of assured quality, many listeners will be more comfortable spending something in the middle. So it can be helpful to pin down your price range and pick the best option from that.
Weather resistance:
IPX2, IP54 — the various levels of water, sweat and dust resistance vary widely between open earbuds. Any outdoor athlete will likely need a higher rating to cope with rainfall and the ongoing impact of sweat without anything seeping into the gadgets, especially if you’re running or working out along the coast or beach.
When looking at a resistance rating, you want to look at the third digit for dust (‘X’ meaning ‘unrated’) and the fourth digit for water resistance (4 is ideal for headphones used in light rain, though 2 will still offer some decent resistance).
Comfort and placement:
While most true wireless earbuds fit into your ear in the same way, open earbuds have a lot more variety. They might clip onto your upper ear, your lower ear or hook around the ear entirely.
It’s important to check if you’re happy with the kind of fit a specific model is going to give you, and also whether, aesthetically, you like how it’s going to look on your ears.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. Cynthia Hogan is a clinical audiologist who works in the Mayo Clinic Hearing Aid Program. Her research focuses on the impact of hearing loss at all ages, and in-ear amplification technologies such as hearing aids.
- Connor Jewiss is a Staff Writer for Stuff, with seven years of experience covering gadgets and headphones across print and digital media, including iMore and TechRadar.
Why trust NBC Select?
I have been a gadget reporter since 2017, covering the latest developments in consumer hardware, from TVs and headphones to smart speakers and VR headsets. I previously worked as the News & Features Editor at TechRadar and now freelance for NBC Select, Healthline and The Independent.
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