Not everyone likes headphones with silicone tips. They can be too snug for some – not to mention the dreaded earwax. Enter “open” headphones. These are like the standard ones Third generation Apple AirPods great alternative. Their simple design and comfortable fit make them perfect for people who run while listening to music or podcasts, as they don’t drown out all the sound around them. You have to be careful there, but open headphones can make running much safer than doing it with silicone headphones.
Whether you’re a runner or cyclist who wants to hear the outside world, or you’re just someone who doesn’t like having the tip stuck in your ear canal, the open bud is the perfect choice. Apple’s AirPods are certainly an option, but there are plenty of good alternatives, some of them cheaper. Here’s a look at the top buds in an open style. I will update this list as I test more worthy candidates.
Read more: The 22 Best True Wireless Headphones of 2022
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The LinkBuds are, in a sense, Sony’s answer to Apple’s standard AirPods. While they don’t sound as good as Sony’s flagship WF-1000XM4 noise-cancelling headphones, they offer a discreet, innovative design and a more secure fit than AirPods, as well as good sound and very good voice call performance.
Like third-generation AirPods, their open design lets you hear the outside world—that’s what the ring is all about. This makes them a good choice for people who want to hear what’s going on around them for safety reasons, or who just don’t like the tips getting stuck in their ears. They also have several distinctive additional features, including Speak to Chat and Wide Area Tap. Instead of touching a bud, you can touch your face, right in front of your ear, to control playback.
They’re IPX4 splash-resistant, and thanks to their fins—Sony calls them Arc Supporters—they lock securely in your ears and work well for running and other sports.
Waterproof: Yes (IPX4 rating — splash resistant).
Read our Sony LinkBuds review.
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Waterproof: Yes (IPX4 rating — splash proof)
Take one look at the new third-generation AirPods ($179) design, and the first thing you’ll probably think is, “They look like AirPods Pro without the ear tips.” You won’t be wrong. Although they’re more fraternal than their identical twins, the AirPods 3rd Generation are shaped like the AirPods Pro, with the same shorter arms and the same pinch controls as the Pros. Aside from the design change, which should fit most ears better than the 2nd generation AirPods (though not very small ears), the biggest change is in sound quality: It’s much improved. Plus, battery life is better, and AirPods 3 are officially waterproof and support Apple’s spatial audio virtual surround feature (Apple users only).
Read our Apple AirPods 3 review.
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Waterproof: Yes (IPX2 rating — sweat resistant and protects against light splashes)
Say what you will about the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live’s bean-shaped design, but it’s certainly innovative. Like standard AirPods, they have an open design so you don’t stick an earbud in your ear. They are comfortable to wear and fit my ears more securely than AirPods. These wireless tips are discreet and basically flush with your ear, reducing wind noise while cycling. I regularly use them for running and cycling and they are great for sports activities if they fit your ears well. But a word of caution: Some people won’t get a secure fit, so buy them from a retailer that has a good return policy.
They provide good sound and work well as headphones for making calls, with good background noise reduction so that callers can hear you clearly even in louder environments. Although they feature active noise cancellation, it’s mild compared to the noise cancellation in headphones that have a noise-isolating design. In other words, buy them for their design and sound, not their noise canceling features.
Read our Samsung Galaxy Buds Live review.
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Waterproof: Yes (IPX4 rating — splash proof)
I’ve never tried the original Fiil CC headphones, but the next-gen CC2 improves on the performance of the originals, with better battery life (they’re rated at five hours on a single charge) and no audio lag issues when watching videos.
They stayed in my ears better than standard AirPods. They pair quickly — they’re equipped with Bluetooth 5.2 — there’s a companion Fiil app for tweaking settings, and they sound pretty decent for an open-style headphone, with enough bass to keep you from feeling shy. They are also decent for making calls and have touch controls.
One of their distinguishing features is their open case, which makes it easy to access the buds and put them back in their case. Thanks to some integrated magnets, they stay in the case securely – you can turn it upside down and the buds won’t come out. Unlike the AirPods, they have squared, rather than rounded, lugs, which seems a bit odd at first, and as a result they fit in your ears a little differently than the AirPods.
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Waterproof: Yes (IPX4 rating — splash proof)
SoundPeats says its Air 3 buds are 10% smaller than their predecessors, the TrueAir 2, and the case is really small, smaller than an AirPods case. The buds stayed in my ears more securely than the AirPods (I have trouble keeping the AirPods in my ears, especially if I start running). They use Qualcomm’s 3040 chipset, which has Bluetooth 5.2, and I had no trouble pairing them with the iPhone 12 Pro and Google Pixel 4 XL. My connection was pretty stable. The headphones support the aptX audio codec with compatible devices.
Sound quality is good for open headphones. It’s right up there with the AirPods and they even have a bit more bass. I think most people will be happy with the sound. The only problem I’ve noticed is that you can only push them so far. When playing certain songs at higher volumes, I encountered some distortion; rock songs where multiple instruments play at the same time can be a challenge. As a result, I kept the headphones at about 60% of maximum. You can adjust the volume using the touch controls which work well. They play loud at higher volumes.
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The new AirPods 3rd generation are a nice upgrade over the AirPods 2nd generation. However, AirPods 2, which came out in 2019, now sell for around $100, and sometimes a little less. While they don’t sound as good as the AirPods 3 and have a longer handle, they fit some people’s ears better (those with smaller ears may prefer these older AirPods due to their slightly smaller design).
Read our Apple AirPods 2019 review.
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Waterproof: Yes (IPX4 rating — splash proof)
As far as headphones go, Bose’s Sport Open Earbuds are great. Not to be confused with the company’s more traditional in-ear sport headphones and QuietComfort headphones, they have an open, tipless design, meaning the earbud sits on top of your ear and doesn’t intrude into your ear canal.
Aimed at runners and cyclists who want their ears open to the world for safety reasons—or people who don’t like having any kind of bud in their ears—they sound surprisingly good. I ended up liking them, but their design isn’t for everyone, and how comfortable you find them will determine how much you like them. Read our Bose Sport Open Earbuds review.
Amazon
Waterproof: Yes (IPX5 rating — can withstand prolonged splashing)
1More has a slightly different take on standard AirPods for those who have trouble keeping them in their ears. The $54 ComfoBuds (which sometimes drop below $50 with an instant coupon) have mini ear tips that clip them into your ear. They don’t sound fantastic (bass is slightly lacking), but as the name suggests, they’re light, comfortable to wear, and work well for making calls.
It’s also worth noting that their charging case is remarkably narrow and compact. It looks like a little hot dog bun. Also available in white.
David Carnoy/CNET
Waterproof: Yes (IPX52 rated — can withstand prolonged splashing and are dustproof)
Back in 2015, Swedish company Earin was the first to launch a range of true wireless headphones. It’s now released its third-generation A-3 headphones, and they look a lot like what standard AirPods would look like if you removed their trademark extruding stems.
They fit snugly in my ears and sound decent—perhaps better than AirPods—for this type of headphone, though they’re a bit bass-limited. I also found them to work well for making calls despite not having grips (their noise reduction is decent, if not fantastic), and I liked their charging case.
The A-3 Buds have an IPX52 water resistance rating (they can withstand a prolonged splash of water, but are not completely waterproof) and provide five hours of battery life with five additional charges from the charging case. They have 14mm drivers, Bluetooth 5.0 and Qualcomm’s higher-end QCC5121 chipset. AAC and aptX audio codecs are supported. (Some Android devices, such as Samsung Galaxy smartphones, support aptX streaming, but the iPhone does not.)
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