YouTuber Picky Audio recently tested some open-ear earbuds, which is quite interesting.
There’s been a lot of buzz around open-ear headphones. My first experience with this product type was with Oladance in 2021, which ByteDance later acquired to enhance its wearable and AI applications. Brands like Bose and Sony were early adopters of open-ear earbuds. The first generation of the open concept was smart glasses, and over time, people began focusing on the best options for Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC). These products are trendy for sports, where it’s important to hear the environment, and in office settings where full immersion in music isn’t necessary.
In 2024, nearly every major brand, including traditional earbuds and headphone companies, is entering this space. I attended two electronics exhibitions this year, and almost all brands showcased their new open-ear earbuds. As technology advances, we can expect prices to drop while performance improves, meeting both mainstream and niche demands.
Which earbud brands you like are launching open-ear models?
