What are open earbuds? The benefits, cons, and everything else you need to know.

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As a professional headphones tester, I try out a lot of consumer audio, but in the past couple of years, I've received the most questions from people about open earbuds. First and foremost, people want to know what exactly open earbuds are, then if they should buy a pair, and then if they're better than regular noise-cancelling earbuds.

The (somewhat) short answer to the first part: They're one of the most popular earbud designs that's gained more popularity in recent years (hence the increased questions I get), but they've actually been around for a minute. Bose makes the most well-known pair of cuff-style open earbuds — chances are you've spotted them on social media — but they actually released their first pair of open earbuds all the way back in 2021. Brand new technology it is not.

In addition to the cuff-designed Bose earbuds that focus on the listening experience first and foremost, there are open buds that use ear hooks to stay in place, designs made for exercise, and even open headphones.

Major audio brands seem to be going all in on the rising popularity of this design, likely due to the fact that improved tech allows for audio quality that's genuinely worth checking out. In 2026 alone, JBL announced five new styles of open earbuds at CES, Soundcore revealed an open earbud that can also be used as a noise-cancelling earbud, Shokz introduced noise reduction into the open earbud space, and Sony revamped its donut open earbuds in favor of a pastel clip design.

So, to those latter two questions — are any of those options better than in-ear noise-cancelling earbuds, and should you be buying open earbuds? As always, it depends on what you're looking for in a pair of earbuds. So let's start with the basics:

Open earbuds are any earbuds that don't sit directly in your ear canal. Generally, this means they use air conduction to transmit the sound to your ears. Some folks also consider bone conduction headphones, like the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, to be a type of open earbud, as they don't sit in the ear canal and send vibrations to the bones of your head, which then transmit as sound in your inner-ear canal. However, for the purposes of this guide, I'll be speaking primarily about the air conduction open earbuds.

A significant part of open earbuds' appeal is that they essentially provide a permanent transparency mode, without any annoying hissing or weird amplification of environmental sound. For some folks, that makes them more comfortable, while other folks may appreciate the increased awareness while exercising in public spaces. And for others, they're simply a great alternative to in-ear earbuds, especially if you don't like the feeling of having something in your ear, find in-ear buds fall out easily, or are prone to ear infections (open buds leave your ear canal completely free and clear).

Do open earbuds offer noise cancellation?

Open earbuds sit outside of the ear canal and don't encompass the ear (like a traditional over-ear headphone), so it's essentially impossible for any open earbuds to provide active noise cancellation.

Instead, open earbuds rely on using music to drown out the world around you, to an extent (though they will be noticeably less effective than a pair of ANC buds). Still, this is the point of an open earbud — they're designed for excellent noise transparency, not noise cancellation.

What exactly does that mean? It means that in the best pairs of open earbuds, you'll find a balance between external sounds and the audio you're streaming. You'll be able to hear a barista calling your name clearly, cars driving along the road next to you, or yourself singing along to your music. Frequently, transparency modes on traditional in-ear earbuds can amplify environmental sounds to an unnatural degree — because the transparency mode is built into the design, open earbuds essentially give you the experience of having your own personal speakers. They're an excellent solution for anyone who frequently finds themselves wearing only one earbud or sliding one ear cup slightly off their ear with over-ear headphones.

If the lack of ANC turns you off from using open earbuds, I wouldn't check out just yet. As I mentioned briefly up top, Soundcore introduced a pair of open earbuds earlier this year that can also be used as ANC buds. They perform decently, mastering neither form, but offering a level of versatility no other brand has matched (yet). They are on the slightly more expensive end of open earbuds, but they are essentially a two-in-one. Just be aware that the ANC mode does require that they be worn as semi-in-ear buds, but the open earbud wear is the true experience.

The Shokz OpenFit Pro are another notable release on this front. Unlike the Soundcores, they're worn solely as open earbuds, and provide noise reduction — you'll still hear the world around you well, but it will be dampened in an effort to make the audio you stream easier to listen to.

Can other people hear open earbuds?

Ideally, the sound leakage from open ear headphones is minimal to nonexistent, but that's not always the reality. While it won't be like you're actually using small Bluetooth speakers, certain models, especially at higher volumes, might play music clearly enough that someone standing within a couple feet of you might be able to make out the lyrics of what you're listening to.

Though I didn't have a pair on hand to confirm this theory, the sound leakage felt somewhat reminiscent of what you'd experience with the early 2000s on-ear headphones that often came with portable CD players.

The benefits of open earbuds, summarized

Open earbuds won't appeal to everyone's taste, but anyone looking for their earbuds to give them the following is much more likely to be pleased:

• Comfortable wear: Open earbuds don't obstruct your ear canal, and can generally be much lighter on the ear than traditional earbuds and headphones.

• General awareness: You can still hear the world around you the entire time you're wearing open earbuds, making them great for taking out in public, whether on a run or for a stroll in the park.

• Exercise-friendly: Many open earbuds have IP scores that deem them water resistant or even waterproof, meaning they're okay to sweat in. Awareness of the world around you can come in handy when you're running down the street or want to stay alert at the gym. Finally, the ear hook design can help hold earbuds in place, making them ideal for use during more movement.

Beyond the lack of ANC, open earbuds have two major cons. For one, the audio itself won't sound as robust, because they're sitting outside your ears — hearing finer details or well-rounded bass is less likely across the board, even with the best-sounding earbuds. Some brands may also be prone to more audio leakage, meaning using them in already quiet settings (like studying at the library) could pose some risk of disturbing others.

How to wear open earbuds

How exactly you'll wear an open earbud depends somewhat on the design and the brand. Ear hook designs tend to take a little more finessing to situate comfortably, while ear cuff buds can be more straightforward to put on.

However, with both styles, you'll likely spend some time during your first few wears adjusting where exactly the earbud sits on your ear. Though this is something you'll do to some extent with all earbuds, it's especially important with open earbuds, as the sound quality can legitimately be affected by where the earbud is situated. Finding the right spot is simple: While playing music, slightly adjust the earbuds until they sit where they sound best.

Are open earbuds worth it?

Open earbuds can absolutely be worth it to anyone who wants more situational awareness or the most comfortable personal audio experience possible. I've yet to find a pair of in-ear or on-ear headphones that I can wear for longer periods of time than most open earbuds. They're great for taking on solo walks, for afternoons spent reading in the park, or on any gym trip.

If you're on a budget, there are plenty of options you can find for $50 or lower. If you want to invest in the best of the form, there are also plenty of options in that $200+ range. Picky audiophiles should probably abstain, though. Open earbuds can sound pretty great, but they're still not going to replicate the sound of more traditional earbud and headphone designs.

Our favorite open earbuds

Like regular earbuds, open earbuds sit at a range of prices — below, I included tried and tested open earbuds models from price points high to low.

Check out Mashable's full guide to the best open earbuds.

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