If you find in-ear headphones tedious and unpleasant to use, worry not. Here, we have made a list of the best open-ear wireless headphones. These headphones bring the best of both worlds and combine good acoustics with a comfortable fit that doesn’t bite in your ears.
SoundPEATS Wireless Earbuds Air 3 Deluxe HS
- Driver size: 14.2mm | Codecs supported: SBC, LDAC
- Battery life: Up to 5 hours | IP Rating: IPX4
SoundPEATS’ Wireless Earbuds Air 3 Deluxe HS are affordable and offer IPX4 rating. They also support the coveted hi-res audio certification from the Japan Audio Society. The latter can be accredited to the earbuds’ support for LDAC Bluetooth codec, which allows the Air 3 Deluxe HS to relay hi-res, lossless media to the listener.
These earphones work best with Android phones, especially if you want to make the most of the LDAC codec — iPhone users will not be able to leverage the earbuds’ LDAC codec. At the same time, we recommend using the earbuds with a streaming service like Apple Music or Tidal that supports lossless streams. The battery life isn’t bad either, and it lasts up to five hours at a stretch.
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Marshall Minor III True Wireless earbuds
- Driver size: 12mm | Codecs supported: SBC, aptX
- Battery life: Up to 5 hours | IP Rating: IPX4
Marshall Minor III sounds excellent, thanks to its 12mm custom drivers. The earbuds offer a bright sound signature that does justice to songs from the rock genre. Additionally, the all-black fit and finish give them a unique look. They are IPX4 certified and feature touch controls.
At the same time, the presence of two microphones at the bottom results in crystal-clear phone calls. However, the earphones don’t support Apple’s AAC codec. On the upside, Android users can leverage the aptX codec, which offers a significantly higher bitrate than AAC and SBC codecs. Lastly, you can use the buds for up to five hours at a stretch, while the case can add another 25 hours.
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What We Don’t Like
Nothing Ear Stick
- Driver size: 12.6mm | Codecs supported: SBC, AAC
- Battery life: Up to 7 hours | IP Rating: IP54
Another pair of open-ear wireless headphones is the one by London-based Nothing. They feature custom 12.6mm drivers, which deliver a fantastic listening experience. One of the significant highlights is the adequate instrument separation and imaging. Like the one above, the earpieces are IP54 rated, like the above-mentioned earphones.
While the case sports a rather unique cylindrical look, it doesn’t support wireless charging. On the upside, the earbuds can relay media via AAC and SBC Bluetooth codecs. The Ear Stick can last up to seven hours off a single top-up, and the case provides an additional 29 hours. While you should take the numbers with a grain of salt, they match the theoretical numbers to some extent.
What We Like
What We Don’t Like
Sony LinkBuds WF-L900
- Driver size: 12mm | Codecs supported: SBC, AAC
- Battery life: Up to 5.5 hours | IP Rating: IPX4
You’d be hard-pressed to find another TWS headset resembling the Sony LinkBuds. These earphones incorporate a unique design that allows the listener to consume media while staying in the loop with the outside world. Despite their unorthodox design, the LinkBuds are superbly comfortable to wear. The LinkBuds also have an IPX4 rating, meaning the earpieces can hold out against sweat and water splashes.
Notably, the LinkBuds sound decent for the price. While the earbuds lack a satisfying thump in the low end, they reciprocate the mids and highs well. That said, they lack the support for Sony’s high-res LDAC codec and only support SBC and AAC codecs. Lastly, the LinkBuds can play music for up to 5.5 hours at a stretch, and the bundled case adds another 11 hours of music playback time. While that isn’t as impressive, you can still enjoy your favorite artist and be in sync with your surroundings.
What We Like
What We Don’t Like
Apple AirPods (3rd Generation)
- Driver size: 11mm | Codecs supported: SBC, AAC
- Battery life: Up to 6 hours | IP Rating: IPX4
If you have an iPhone, the new AirPods (3rd generation) is the one you should get. For one, Apple’s open-ear wireless headphones connect seamlessly and instantly with an iPhone. Secondly, they also ship with dual beamforming microphones that translate into an excellent calling experience.
Unlike the older AirPods, the 3rd-generation ones feature IPX4 certification, too, making them impervious to damage from sweat or moisture. The performance is top-notch, and so is the battery life. The newer AirPods should last you about six hours off a single charge. And thanks to the bundled case, you’ll get an additional 30 hours.
What We Like
What We Don’t Like
FAQs
For the most part, yes. Open-ear headphones will always leak some sound, however, you can always mitigate that by lowering the volume.
Open-back headphones are a pair of over-ear headphones. They are designed to let the sound and air pass through the outer housing, which is ideal for analytical listening. Open-ear headphones, on the other hand, sit in your ears without completely covering them. As a result, you can be aware of your surroundings and enjoy music together.
Open-ear headphones can sound a bit timid to their in-ear counterparts in the bass department. At the same time, open-ear headphones can offer a wider sound stage too.
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Last updated on 12 April, 2024
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Is “open ear” an agreed-upon term that describes this type of earbuds? I’ve heard “semi in-ear” and “half in-ear,” which both make sense because those earbuds do go in the ears but not as tightly or deeply as the ones with silicone tips, but I’ve never heard of “open ear.” Can you please educate me?