Best Open Wireless Earbuds for 2024 (2024)

Updated Dec. 31, 2023 9:00 p.m. PT

Best Open Wireless Earbuds for 2024 (1)

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David Carnoy

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Best Open Wireless Earbuds for 2024 (2)

David Carnoy Executive Editor / Reviews

Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET's Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He's also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.

Expertise Mobile accessories and portable audio, including headphones, earbuds and speakers Credentials

  • Maggie Award for Best Regularly Featured Web Column/Consumer

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$40 at Amazon

Best Open Wireless Earbuds for 2024 (4)

Best new budget open earbuds

Amazon Echo Buds 2023

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$48 at Amazon

Best Open Wireless Earbuds for 2024 (5)

Best cheap open earbuds

Soundpeats Air3 Deluxe HS

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$140 at Amazon

Best Open Wireless Earbuds for 2024 (6)

AirPods 3rd Generation

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$150 at Amazon

Best Open Wireless Earbuds for 2024 (7)

Best comfortable open earbuds with ear hooks

Shokz OpenFit

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$178 at Amazon

Best Open Wireless Earbuds for 2024 (8)

Most innovative design

Sony LinkBuds

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$15 at Amazon

Best Open Wireless Earbuds for 2024 (9)

Good for kids and those with small ears

1More ComfoBuds 2

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$47 at Amazon

Best Open Wireless Earbuds for 2024 (11)

Unique design

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live

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$170 at Amazon

Best Open Wireless Earbuds for 2024 (12)

Best-sounding open-style earbuds with ear hooks

Cleer Audio Arc 2 Sport

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$40 at Amazon

Best Open Wireless Earbuds for 2024 (13)

Best value open-ear neckband-style headphones

Soundpeats RunFree Lite

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Many popular earbuds are designed with noise-isolating silicone ear tips that seal off the canal of the ear. This design is required to get the best active noise cancellation experience. However, not everybody likes the feel of having ear tips jammed in their ears and some may prefer a bud with an open or semi-open design that can offer a more comfortable fit. Apple'sthird-gen AirPodsare the most popular open earbuds option out there at the moment, but we've rounded up our top picks of all the best open earbuds on the market right now below.

Open earbuds also have a safety benefit. Because they don't seal off your ear canal, they let ambient sound in so you can hear what's going on around you. That can be an important feature for some people, including runners and bikers who want to hear cars approaching. However, the downside to their openness is that if you're in a noisy environment, the ambient sound will make it harder to hear what you're listening to. Also, open earbuds have a harder time producing strong bass, which affects sound quality.

Here's a look at the top open-style buds. I'll update this list as I test more worthy candidates.

Read more:Best True Wireless Earbuds for 2024

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Pros

  • Well-designed inexpensive earbuds
  • Good sound for open earbuds
  • Strong feature set, including hands-free Alexa

Cons

  • May not fit everyone's ears comfortably
  • Not a ton of bass
  • No ANC (they're open earbuds)

Battery life Rated up to 5 hours

Noise Canceling No

Multipoint Yes

Water-Resistant Yes (IPX2-- splash-proof)

Full Review Read full review

$40 at Amazon

Best new budget open earbuds

Amazon Echo Buds 2023

Amazon's 2023 Echo Buds impressed me in a few ways that I wasn't expecting. For starters, they sound good for inexpensive open earbuds, delivering decent clarity and ample bass. But they also have a robust feature set, including multipoint Bluetooth pairing, hands-free Alexa and ear-detection sensors that pause your audio when you take one or both buds out of your ears.

Their sound falls short of that ofApple's AirPods 3, which deliver fuller bass and overall fuller, smoother sound (they're better at handling more complicated music tracks with a lot of instruments playing at the same time). But the AirPods 3 cost around $150 and offer only about 15% to 20% better audio. In short, if you're looking for open earbuds -- or "semi-open" as these types of earbuds are sometimes called -- the Echo Buds are good value at their $50 list price and even easier to recommend when they go on sale.

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$48 at Amazon

Best cheap open earbuds

Soundpeats Air3 Deluxe HS

What makes these Soundpeats Air3 Deluxe HS buds special is that they sound surprisingly good for open earbuds -- they're pretty close to what you get from Apple's AirPods 3 for sound. On top of that, they support Sony's LDAC audio codec for devices that offer it. Not too many cheap open earbuds have good sound but these Soundpeats have good bass response and clarity. They're also good for making calls and have a low-latency gaming mode. Battery life is rated at 5 hours at moderate volume levels, and these are IPX4 splash-proof.

And be sure to activate the instant 15% off coupon to save a few bucks at checkout.

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$140 at Amazon

AirPods 3rd Generation

Water-resistant:Yes(IPX4 rating -- splash-proof)

Take one look at the new design of the third-gen AirPods, and the first thing you'll probably think is: "Those look like theAirPods Prowithout ear tips." You wouldn't be wrong. While they're more fraternal than identical twins, the AirPods 3rd Generation are shaped like the AirPods Pro, with the same shorter stems and same pinch controls as those of the Pro. Aside from the design change, which should fit most ears better than the AirPods 2nd Generation (though not very small ears), the biggest change is to the sound quality: It's much improved. Also, battery life is better, and the AirPods 3 are officially water-resistant and support Apple's spatial audio virtual surround feature (for Apple users only).

Like AirPods Pro, the AirPods are top-notch for making voice calls. Callers said they could hear me clearly even with a lot background noise in the streets of New York City. The only issue is that since they are open earbuds, they let sound in, so you may not be able to hear callers as well as they can hear you in noisier environments.

Best Open Wireless Earbuds for 2024 (18)

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$150 at Amazon

Best comfortable open earbuds with ear hooks

Shokz OpenFit

Shokz, the company formerly known as AfterShokz, has long been the leader in bone-conduction headphones. Models like the OpenRun Pro, which deliver sound to your ear through your cheekbones, are popular with runners and bikers who like to leave their ears open for safety reasons. However, Shokz's new OpenFit model, the company's first true-wireless earbuds, don't use bone-conduction technology. They have an open design that fire sound into your ears using custom speaker drivers, which Shokz dubs "air conduction" technology.

I was impressed by how lightweight (8.3 grams) and comfortable they are -- they have one of the best ear-hook designs I've tried (Shokz calls it a Dolphin Arc ear hook). It's soft and offers just the right amount of flexibility to conform to the shape of your ear, with "dual-layered liquid silicone that provides a pliable fit," according to Shokz. The earbuds also sound quite good for open earbuds, though not quite as good as Cleer's Arc 2 Open Ear Sport earbuds ($190) that also have an ear-hook design.

Best Open Wireless Earbuds for 2024 (20)

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$178 at Amazon

Most innovative design

Sony LinkBuds

The LinkBuds are, in a sense, Sony's answer to Apple'sstandard AirPods. While they don't sound as good as Sony's flagshipWF-1000XM4noise-isolating earbuds, they offer a discreet, innovative design and a more secure fit than the AirPods, as well as good sound and very good voice-calling performance.

Like the third-gen AirPods, their open design allows you to hear the outside world -- that's what the ring is all about. That makes them a good choice for folks who want to hear what's going around them for safety reasons or just don't like having ear tips jammed in their ears. They also have a few distinguishing extra features, including Speak to Chat and Wide Area Tap. Instead of tapping on a bud, you can tap on your face, just in front of your ear, to control playback.

They're IPX4 splash-proof and thanks to their fins -- Sony calls them Arc Supporters -- they lock in your ears securely and work well for running and other sporting activities.

Best Open Wireless Earbuds for 2024 (22)

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$15 at Amazon

Good for kids and those with small ears

1More ComfoBuds 2

1More has a slightly different take on the standard AirPods for those who have trouble keeping them in their ears. The ComfoBuds 2 have mini ear tips on them that help secure them in your ear. This second-gen version offers improved sound from the originals with better bass (it's still not great sound, but it's good for the money). As their name implies, they're lightweight, comfortable to wear and work well for making calls.

It's worth noting that their charging case is remarkably narrow and compact. It looks like a tiny hot-dog bun. They're IPX5 splashproof and also available in black.

Best Open Wireless Earbuds for 2024 (24)

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Pros

  • The second-generation AirPods add a couple of small but key improvements to the original, including always-on voice recognition and a wireless charging case option. They're a top-notch headset for making calls, indoors and out. Apple's new H1 chip also allows for faster connections with all of your Apple devices, rock solid wireless connectivity, and an hour more talk time.

Cons

  • No design changes to help them fit more ears securely; their sound hasn't improved, and their open design allows for a lot of ambient noise to leak in.

Battery Life Rated up to 5 hours

Noise Canceling No

Multipoint No

Headphone Type Wireless earbuds

Water-Resistant Yes (IPX4 -- splash-proof)

Full Review Read full review

$120 at B&H Photo-Video

Apple's most affordable AirPods

AirPods (2nd Gen)

The new AirPods (third gen) are a nice upgrade over the second-gen AirPods. That said, the AirPods 2, which came out in 2019, are now selling for around $100 and sometimes a little less. While they don't sound as good as the AirPods 3 and have a longer stem, they fit some people's ears better. Those with smaller ears may prefer these older AirPods due to their slightly smaller design.

Best Open Wireless Earbuds for 2024 (26)

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Pros

  • Unique, eye-catching design
  • Comfortable ergonomic fit
  • Compact charging case with wireless charging
  • Open sound with good bass and detail
  • Good noise reduction when making calls
  • IPX2 water-resistant

Cons

  • Noise canceling is comparatively mild
  • Open design lets some ambient sound in
  • Little bit of distortion at high volume

Battery Life Rated up to 8 hours

Noise Canceling Yes (ANC)

Multipoint No

Headphone Type Wireless earbuds

Water-Resistant Yes (IPX2 -- sweat-resistant and protection against light splashes)

Full Review Read full review

$47 at Amazon

Unique design

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live

Say what you will about the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live's bean-shaped design, but it's certainly innovative. Like the standard AirPods, they have an open design, so you don't jam an ear tip into your ear. They're comfortable to wear and fit my ears more securely than the AirPods. These wireless buds are discreet and basically sit flush with your ear, which reduces wind-noise while biking. I regularly use them for running and biking, and they're great for sporting activities if they fit your ears well. But one warning: Some people won't get a secure fit, so buy them from a retailer that has a good return policy.

They deliver good sound and work well as a headset for making calls, with good background noise reduction so callers can hear you clearly even when you're in noisier environments. While they feature active noise canceling, it's mild compared to the noise canceling in earbuds that have a noise-isolating design. In other words, buy them for their design and sound, not their noise-canceling features.

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$170 at Amazon

Best-sounding open-style earbuds with ear hooks

Cleer Audio Arc 2 Sport

Cleer's original Arc earbuds were solid sport earbuds that featured decent sound for open-style buds that sit on top of your ears and fire sound into them. This new-for-2023 model steps up the sound quality and offers additional refinements and feature upgrades, including a new "enhanced" charging case with UV sterilization and multipoint Bluetooth connectivity (Bluetooth 5.3), all of which makes for a significantly improved product.

Cleer says the Arc 2 Sport buds feature "greater flexibility for improved comfort," and I did find them more comfortable to wear than the original Arcs. That said, not everyone loves this style of open earbuds, which lets sound in so you can hear ambient sound around you for safety purposes.

With a new six-axis motion sensor, you can actually control the buds with head gestures -- you answer calls by nodding and skip tracks forward by turning your head to the right and skip a track back by turning your head left. Thankfully, those motion controls can be turned off if you don't want to use them.

These are among the first buds to support Qualcomm's aptX Lossless format, if you're one of the few to have an Android device that supports that audio codec (plenty of Android phones support aptX Adaptive). Since these aren't high-end noise-isolating earbuds, you probably won't be able to tell the difference in sound quality -- I couldn't -- but all that aside, these do sound very good for open-style earbuds. They lack a bit of oomph to their bass but they're punchy enough, offer good clarity and didn't distort at higher volumes. They also played sufficiently loud.

They have an IPX5 water- and sweat-resistance rating, which means they can withstand a sustained spray of water, and battery life is very good at up to eight hours on a single charge, plus there's a little more than three additional charges in the slim but still somewhat bulky charging case. It's big compared to an AirPods charging case, but svelte compared to other cases that house this style of earbuds.

These offer respectable performance for voice calls, but callers did say they heard a certain amount of white noise when I spoke to them from the noisy streets of New York -- that whooshing sound is the by-product of the earbuds' noise-reduction efforts.

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$40 at Amazon

Best value open-ear neckband-style headphones

Soundpeats RunFree Lite

Like some of the other open-ear neckband style options on this list, the Soundpeats RunFree Lite buds sit just outside your ears and fire sound into them from small speakers with 16mm drivers. The sound quality isn't the greatest -- it lacks some clarity -- but it's better than I expected given the price of these headphones (there's a reasonable amount of bass), and they're just fine for casual listening.

They're nice and lightweight and fit my head securely and comfortably, but I could see how they might not fit folks with larger heads so well. Equipped with Bluetooth 5.3, they're IPX4 splash-proof and are rated for up to 17 hours of battery life at moderate volume levels (expect to get less than that because you will likely play these at high volume levels, especially outdoors where you'll encounter more ambient noise). They also work decently for making voice calls but don't expect business-class performance.

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More earbud and headphone recommendations

  • Best Headphones for 2024
  • Best Headphones for Samsung Phones
  • Best Wireless Earbuds for 2024
  • Best AirPods Accessories for 2024
  • Best Cheap True Wireless Earbuds
  • Best Over-Ear Headphones for 2024
  • Best True Wireless Headphones
  • Best Noise-Canceling Headphones for 2024
  • Best Workout Headphones for 2024
  • Protect Your AirPods: 5 Cases Under $15
  • 5 True Wireless Earbuds Under $40 Worth Buying
  • Best AirPods Max Accessories for 2024

Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

As an expert and enthusiast, I have direct access to the internet or the ability to browse search results. However, I can provide you with information on the concepts mentioned in this article. Let's go through each concept one by one:

  1. Open earbuds: Open earbuds are a type of earbuds that have an open or semi-open design, allowing ambient sound to enter the ear. They do not seal off the ear canal like traditional earbuds with silicone ear tips. Open earbuds are preferred by some people who find them more comfortable and who want to be aware of their surroundings, such as runners and bikers. However, open earbuds may have difficulty producing strong bass and may not provide the same level of noise isolation as traditional earbuds.

  2. Apple AirPods (3rd Generation): The third-generation Apple AirPods are a popular option for open earbuds. They feature a design similar to the AirPods Pro but without the ear tips. The AirPods 3 offer improved sound quality compared to previous models, better battery life, and water resistance. They also support Apple's spatial audio virtual surround feature. However, since they are open earbuds, they may not provide as much noise isolation as other options.

  3. Soundpeats Air3 Deluxe HS: The Soundpeats Air3 Deluxe HS is a pair of open earbuds that offer good sound quality for their price range. They are known for their bass response and clarity. These earbuds also support Sony's LDAC audio codec and have a low-latency gaming mode. They are rated as splash-proof (IPX4) and have a battery life of up to 5 hours.

  4. Shokz OpenFit: Shokz OpenFit, formerly known as AfterShokz, is a brand that specializes in bone-conduction headphones. However, their OpenFit model is their first true wireless earbuds that use "air conduction" technology instead of bone conduction. These earbuds have an open design and are known for their lightweight and comfortable fit. They feature an ear-hook design and custom speaker drivers. Shokz OpenFit earbuds are popular among runners and bikers who prefer to keep their ears open for safety reasons.

  5. Sony LinkBuds: The Sony LinkBuds are earbuds that offer a discreet and innovative design. They have an open design similar to Apple's standard AirPods, allowing ambient sound to enter the ear. The LinkBuds provide a secure fit with the help of fins called Arc Supporters. They also offer good sound quality and voice-calling performance. The earbuds have extra features such as Speak to Chat and Wide Area Tap, and they are rated as splash-proof (IPX4).

  6. 1More ComfoBuds 2: The 1More ComfoBuds 2 is a pair of open earbuds designed for those who have trouble keeping traditional earbuds in their ears. These earbuds feature mini ear tips that help secure them in the ear. They offer improved sound quality compared to the previous generation and are lightweight and comfortable to wear. The ComfoBuds 2 are rated as splash-proof (IPX5) and are available in black.

  7. Cleer Audio Arc 2 Sport: The Cleer Audio Arc 2 Sport is a pair of open-style earbuds with ear hooks. They are designed for sports activities and feature an enhanced charging case with UV sterilization. These earbuds offer good sound quality, including punchy bass and good clarity. They have an IPX5 water- and sweat-resistance rating and a battery life of up to eight hours on a single charge. The Arc 2 Sport earbuds also support Qualcomm's aptX Lossless format.

  8. Soundpeats RunFree Lite: The Soundpeats RunFree Lite is a pair of open-ear neckband-style headphones. They sit just outside the ears and deliver sound through small speakers. These headphones offer decent sound quality for their price range, with a reasonable amount of bass. They are lightweight and fit securely and comfortably. The RunFree Lite headphones are rated as splash-proof (IPX4) and have a battery life of up to 17 hours.

Please note that the information provided above is a summary of the concepts mentioned in this article. For more detailed information, I recommend referring to the original article or conducting further research.

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