Honorable Mentions
Open earbuds are becoming the hot trend in wireless audio, meaning there are plenty of good options that don’t make our top list. Here are some other pairs worth considering.
Acefast Acefit Pro for $80-125: Acefast’s Acefit Pro are more stylish than the cheaper Acefit Air above, most notably in their snazzy transparent case that shows battery life in slick LEDs when you open or close it. Otherwise, the sound quality isn’t notably better than the Air, and the buds themselves are bulkier, so they don’t fit my ears as well. These are still a solid pair of wrap-around open buds, especially since the price seems to be dropping, often available well below their $125 launch price. If you can get them for $80 or less, they’re a sweet deal.
Earfun Clip for $70: These affordabe clip-style buds seem to have it all. You’ll get a snappy design in a compact case, a comfy fit, accessible push-button controls, and extras like multipoint pairing and a headphones finder. The package feels a step or two above the asking price, save for the sound quality. The basic performance is fine for podcasts and light listening, but leaves a lot of meat on the bone for instrumental timbres and detail, keeping this pair off our top list. Even so, at their lowest sale price of around $50, these are a good buy for basic use.
JLab Epic Open Sport for $115: JLab’s Epic Open Sport don’t have standout audio quality or a slimline design, but their mix of a comfy and stable fit and great usability makes them worth a look. Their combination of real buttons and touch pads provides convenient and customizable control on the go, still a rarity in this genre. I wish they had better call quality, and their lack of instrumental body or detail makes music rather dull, but they get the job done without breaking the bank.
Earfun OpenJump for $80: Earfun’s OpenJump offer accessible sound and impressive waterproofing in one of the most comfortable wrap-around designs I’ve put on. It’s hard to beat their price, but they fall into one of the biggest pitfalls of open earbuds right now: awkward controls with hit-or-miss response, especially on the move. They’re still a decent value, especially on a good sale.
Shokz OpenDots One for $200: Shokz’s first clip-on open earbuds are a solid effort. You’ll get great battery life, a sporty design that borrows from the Bose Ultra and Soundcore Aeroclip, and the ability to swap either bud for left or right (if that’s something you’re into). At this price, I was hoping for a more polished sound, better call quality, and more versatile controls, but features like a wireless charging case add good value. If you like the style and don’t mind paying up for swappable buds, they could be worth considering.
Edifier Lolliclip for $130: Edifier’s Lolliclip offer a hybrid open/semi-open design, with an AirPods-style tip looped to a backside battery. The fit feels more intrusive than my favorite open earbuds and creates too much wind resistance for biking, but they’re comfy enough for general wear and let you swap either bud for left or right. The buds pile on the extras, from multipoint pairing to health features, but their marquee option, noise canceling, does more harm than good in most scenarios. Their best asset is clear sound with relatively beefy bass, which combines with their long battery life for a viable option for the money.
Other Open Earbuds We’ve Tested
Skullcandy Push 720 for $150: I’m not quite sure what Skullcandy was aiming for in the Push 720, but they mostly miss the mark for me. The hybrid pouch/charging case adds nothing notable in its pouchiness besides being harder to pocket. The semi-open fit is more intrusive than my favorite pairs, and the buds pinch my ears over time. The sound is clear enough, but there’s an edge to the upper register that doesn’t quite jive with my ears, and surprisingly little bass. There are some cool features here, and I do like the push-button controls, but in this highly competitive segment, you can do better.
