Best Open Earbuds (2026): Shokz, Bose, Soundcore, and More

Best Open Earbuds (2026): Shokz, Bose, Soundcore, and More. Best Open Earbuds OverallPhotograph: Harry RabinowitzPhotograph: Harry RabinowitzPhotograph: Harry RabinowitzPhotograph: Harry RabinowitzSave to wishlistShokzOpenDots 2$200 Amazon$200 Best Buy$200 ShokzSpecsAccordionItemContainerButtonConnectivityBluetooth 6.

What happened

Best Premium Open EarbudsPhotograph: Harry RabinowitzPhotograph: Harry RabinowitzPhotograph: Harry RabinowitzSave to wishlistBoseUltra Open Earbuds$299 $199 (33% off) Amazon$299 Bose$299 Best BuySpecsAccordionItemContainerButtonConnectivityBluetooth 5. 1Battery life10 hours, 40 with caseWater/dust resistanceIP57Wireless chargingYesThe Shokz OpenDots 2 are everything I want open earbuds to be. 5 hours, 27 with caseWater/dust resistanceIPX4Wireless chargingNoThe Bose Ultra Open Earbuds were a big deal when they launched in 2024—a brand-new design from Bose and one of the biggest swings from a major brand in clip-on open earbuds.

Best Cheap Open EarbudsPhotograph: Harry RabinowitzPhotograph: Harry RabinowitzPhotograph: Harry RabinowitzSave to wishlistSoundpeatsPearlClip Pro$50 Amazon$80 SoundpeatsSpecsAccordionItemContainerButtonConnectivityBluetooth 5. Best Open Ear HeadphonesPhotograph: Harry RabinowitzPhotograph: Harry RabinowitzPhotograph: Harry RabinowitzSave to wishlistShokzOpenRun Pro 2$180 Amazon$180 REI$180 Best BuySpecsAccordionItemContainerButtonConnectivityBluetooth 5. 3Battery life12 hoursWater/dust resistanceIP55Wireless chargingNoThe Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 are more headphones than earbuds—they have a wraparound headband styling, long battery life, great sound quality (for open headphones), and no charging case. Shokz OpenFit Pro for $250: The Shokz OpenFit Pro has a great premise: open earbuds with noise canceling.

The wider picture

TechGadgetsNewsBose’s next open earbuds have more bass, more volume, and more battery lifeThe second-gen Ultra Open Earbuds are joined by a new sport option providing a more secure fit when you’re active. The second-gen Ultra Open Earbuds are joined by a new sport option providing a more secure fit when you’re active. by Andrew LiszewskiSep 17, 2026, 1:00 PM UTCIf you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. Bose announced a new version of its Ultra Open Earbuds that helped kick off the industry trend of clip-on wireless earbuds nearly two-and-a-half years ago.

They’re also joined by a new cheaper alternative called the Bose Sport Open Earbuds designed to provide a more secure and stable fit during physical activities. The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) will be available for preorder on September 19th for $299 with availability starting on October 1st. Preorders and availability for the Bose Sport Open Earbuds are the same, but they’re $100 cheaper at $199. Image: BoseLike the original version, the new Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) feature a design that clips to your outer ear with a transducer that directs audio into your ear canal with “minimal sound leakage,” Bose claims.

Image: BoseThe Bose Sport Open Earbuds take a similar approach with a design that clips to your ear to project sounds inward, but they feature a thinner cuff with a “soft silicone matte finish” providing more grip to keep them in place.

What has been reported

I’ve tested dozens of open earbuds. My favorite ones let you hear the world and your tunes equally. Skip to main contentSave this storySave this storyOpen earbuds are the big new thing in headphone land. Unlike in-ear variants, open earbuds are like tiny speakers that rest on the ear and let outside sound in naturally, so you can fully hear the world around you. I've tested dozens of models since 2022, and while I still recommend having a pair of noise-canceling earbuds, I also love open earbuds for specific use cases.

For more headphone recommendations, check out our guides to the Best Wireless Earbuds, Best Workout Headphones, and Best Wireless Headphones. Like nearly all open earbuds, they let in sound from your surroundings, so don't expect them to be a great companion for long-haul flights or daily gym sessions. Shokz recently launched the lower-priced Shokz OpenDots Air and Shokz OpenFit Air 2—I may update this recommendation depending on how my testing goes. Runner-UpPhotograph: Ryan WaniataSave to wishlistSoundcore by AnkerAeroclip$170 $150 (12% off) Amazon$150 Best Buy$170 $150 (12% off) SoundcoreSpecsAccordionItemContainerButtonConnectivityBluetooth 5.

What happens next

4Battery life8 hours, 32 with caseWater/dust resistanceIP55Wireless chargingNoFormer WIRED reviewer Ryan Waniata is a huge fan of the Soundcore Aeroclip for a lot of the same reasons I love the OpenDots 2. Like the Shokz and Soundcore, they are supremely comfortable, so much so that I sometimes forgot I was wearing them. 5 hours, 30 with caseWater/dust resistanceIPX5Wireless chargingNoIt can be a little nerve-wracking to spend big bucks on a concept (open earbuds) you aren't totally convinced by.

That's one reason I love this $50 option—the PearClip Pros aren't super pricey and are a great way to find out if you even like open earbuds in the first place, especially the kind that clip onto the outside of your ear. They are far less refined than Shokz or Soundcore. They use a combination of bone conduction (think vibrations) and air conduction (think tiny speakers pointed toward your ears) to deliver sound that's clearer than most smaller open earbuds, especially in noisy environments.

I'm currently testing the recently released, more affordable Shokz OpenRun Air 2, and hopeful they can be a budget-friendly alternative.

The report has been compiled by The Daily Waves using information reported across wired.com, theverge.com, skysports.com. Details are presented according to the information available at the time of publication and may change as authorities, organisers or other relevant parties provide updates.