Best open wireless headphones for 2023
Although the best wireless headphones usually come with silicone tips, not everyone likes the feeling of having the tips stuck in their ears. This can cause hearing fatigue and other discomfort. Many people prefer tipless headphones, which nestle comfortably in your ears or rest on them. Without a tip covering the speaker of the headphones, these headphones are called “open” headphones. The most popular open headphones are Apple’s standard AirPods, now on their third generation (Apple also still sells the second generation AirPods).
Open-back headphones also have a safety advantage. Because they don’t seal off your ear canal, they let ambient sound in so you can hear what’s going on around you. This can be an important feature for some people, including runners and cyclists who want to hear approaching cars. However, the downside to them being open 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 headphones have a harder time producing strong bass, which affects sound quality.
Here is a rundown of the best open style buds. I will update this list as I test more worthy candidates.
Learn more:The 22 best true wireless headphones for 2023
Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET
You are receiving price alerts for SoundPEATS True Wireless Earbuds Bluetooth 5.0 Earphones with Built in Ear Stereo Headphones for Sport, Deep Bass, Binaural Calls, One-Step Pairing, 35 Hours of Playtime, TrueFree Plus Enhanced
What makes these Soundpeats Air3 Deluxe HS earphones special is that they sound surprisingly good for open-back headphones – they’re pretty close to what you get from Apple’s AirPods 3 for sound. Additionally, they support Sony’s LDAC audio codec for devices that offer it. Few cheap open-back headphones sound good, but these Soundpeats have good bass response and clarity. They are also good at making calls and have a low latency gaming mode.
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You receive price alerts for Apple AirPods 3 (MagSafe Case)
Battery life
Rated up to 6 hours
noise cancellation
No
Multipoint
No
helmet type
Wireless headphones
Waterproof
Yes (IPX4 — splash proof)
Take a look at the new design of the third-generation AirPods ($179), and the first thing you’ll probably think is, “These look like the AirPods Pro without the ear tips.” You wouldn’t be wrong. Although they’re more sisterly than identical twins, the third-generation AirPods are shaped like the AirPods Pro, with the same shorter stems and pinch controls as the Pro. Aside from the change in design, which should fit most ears better than the second-gen AirPods (though not very small ears), the biggest change is in sound quality: it’s much improved. Additionally, battery life is better and the AirPods 3 are officially water resistant and support Apple’s Spatial Virtual Surround Sound feature (for Apple users only).
Read our Apple AirPods 3 review.
David Carnoy/CNET
You are receiving price alerts for Sony LinkBuds (Gray)
Battery life
5.5 hours
noise cancellation
No
Multipoint
No
helmet type
Wireless headphones
Waterproof
Yes (IPX4 — splash proof)
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-isolating headphones, they offer a low-profile, innovative design and a more secure fit than AirPods, as well as good sound and great wireless performance. voice call.
Like the third-generation AirPods, their open design lets you hear the outside world – that’s what it’s all about. This makes it a good choice for people who want to hear what’s going on around them for safety reasons or who just don’t like having ear tips stuck in their ears. They also have a few distinctive extra features including Talk to Chat and Wide Area Tap. Instead of tapping on a bud, you can tap on your face, right in front of your ear, to control playback.
They’re IPX4 splashproof and thanks to their fins – Sony calls them Arc Supporters – they lock securely into your ears and work well for running and other sporting activities.
Read our Sony LinkBuds review.
Amazon
You are receiving price alerts for 1More ComfoBuds (Black)
Battery life
Rated up to 4 hours
noise cancellation
Yes (ANC)
Multipoint
No
helmet type
Wireless headphones
Waterproof
Yes (IPX5 — protection against low pressure water currents)
1More has a slightly different take on standard AirPods for those who struggle to keep them in their ears. The ComfoBuds 2 have mini ear tips that help secure them in your ear. This second generation version offers improved sound over the originals with better bass (still not great sounding, but it’s good for the money). As the name suggests, they are lightweight, comfortable to wear and work well for making calls.
It should be noted that their charging case is remarkably narrow and compact. It looks like a hot dog bun. They are IPX5 splash proof and also available in black.
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You receive price alerts for Apple AirPods 2019 (charging case)
Battery life
Rated up to 5 hours
noise cancellation
No
Multipoint
No
helmet type
Wireless headphones
Waterproof
Yes (IPX4 — splash proof)
The new AirPods (third generation) are a nice upgrade over the second generation AirPods. That said, the AirPods 2, released in 2019, now sell for around $100 and sometimes a little less. Although 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.
Read our Apple AirPods 2019 review.
Juan Garzon/CNET
You are receiving price alerts for Samsung Galaxy Buds Live (Black)
Battery life
Rated up to 8 hours
noise cancellation
Yes (ANC)
Multipoint
No
helmet type
Wireless headphones
Waterproof
Yes (IPX2 — sweat resistant and light splash protection)
Say what you will about the bean-shaped design of the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live, but it’s certainly innovative. Like standard AirPods, they have an open design, so you won’t get a tip stuck in your ear. They are comfortable to wear and fit my ears better than AirPods. These wireless earbuds are low-profile and essentially sit flush to your ear, reducing wind noise when cycling. I use them regularly for running and cycling, and they are great for sports activities if they fit well in your ears. But a warning: some people won’t get a secure fit, so buy them from a retailer that has a good return policy.
They sound good 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 louder environments. Although they feature active noise cancellation, it is 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 for their noise canceling features.
Read our Samsung Galaxy Buds Live review.
David Carnoy/CNET
You’re getting price alerts for Cleer Audio ARC Open Ear Wireless Headphones with Touch Controls, Long-Lasting Battery Life, Touch Control and Powerful Audio for Music, Podcasts and More (Light Grey)
Cleer’s Epic Arc headphones are similar to Bose’s Open Sport headphones (see below) but are actually a bit more comfortable to wear thanks to their swivel hinge. Like Bose buds, they sit on top of your ear just above the ear canal and pump sound into your ears. They’re open to let in ambient sound (a plus if you’re a runner or biker and want to hear the traffic), but their 16.2mm drivers provide ample bass and volume. They don’t sound as good as the Bose Open Sport headphones, but they’re pretty close.
I liked the case, which is a bit large but quite thin. Although it has a built-in USB charging cable (that’s good), like the Bose Open Sport headphones case, it doesn’t have a rechargeable battery, so it’s basically a docking station for charge the headphones, which are also available in black. Battery life is rated at 7 hours and they are IPX5 splash-proof.
Some of these types of ear-hook headphones have physical control buttons, but these have touch controls. I found them to work pretty well but not very well. The buds have a companion app that lets you upgrade the firmware and change the sound profile.
David Carnoy/CNET
You receive price alerts for Fil CC2
Battery life
Rated up to 6 hours
noise cancellation
Yes
helmet type
wireless earphone
Waterproof
No IP rating, advertised as sweat resistant
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 latency issues audio when watching videos. They cost $30 but sometimes sell for even less, making them great value for money.
These stayed in my ears better than the standard AirPods. They pair quickly – they’ve got Bluetooth 5.2 – there’s a companion Fiil app to adjust settings and they sound good enough for open-style buds, with just enough bass to keep you from feeling them are shy. They’re also decent for making calls and have touch controls.
One of their special features is their open case, which makes it easy to access the buds and put them back in their case. Thanks to some built-in magnets, they stay securely in place in the case – you can turn it around and the buds won’t come out. Unlike AirPods, these have square, not rounded stems, which seem a bit odd at first, and so they fit your ears slightly differently than AirPods.
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