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Shokz OpenDots 2 Top Wired's List of Best Open Earbuds
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In Short: WIRED recommends the Shokz OpenDots 2 for their comfort and functionality.
WIRED recently named the Shokz OpenDots 2 as the top open earbud, highlighting its superior comfort and functionality.
The Shokz OpenDots 2 are part of a growing trend in the headphone market, where open earbuds are becoming increasingly popular.
Unlike traditional earbuds, open earbuds like the Shokz OpenDots 2 rest on the ear and allow outside sound to pass through naturally.
WIRED also noted that the Shokz OpenDots 2 are supremely comfortable, to the point where users sometimes forget they are wearing them.
The brand recently introduced the Shokz OpenDots Air and Shokz OpenFit Air 2, which may also be considered for future recommendations.
In addition to the Shokz models, WIRED tested the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, which were also praised for their comfort and design.
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, launched in 2024, represent a significant shift for Bose in the clip-on open earbud category.
WIRED also tested the Soundcore Aeroclip 2 and Aeroclip 2 Pro, which are positioned as stylish, comfortable, and durable options.
These open earbuds are designed to deliver clear sound while maintaining situational awareness, making them a preferred choice over bone-conduction headphones.
The Soundcore AeroFit Pro, in particular, is noted for its great sound quality and stylish design, making it a strong contender in the open earbud market.
What this adds
WIRED's recommendation is based on extensive testing of multiple models, highlighting the growing popularity and functionality of open earbuds.
Background
WIRED recommends the Shokz OpenDots 2 as the top open earbud, praising its comfort and functionality.
What's confirmed
- When you want to listen to music or a podcast, but need to keep your head on a swivel, open-ear headphones are a best-of-both-worlds solution.
- Open-ear headphones and earbuds ditch silicone ear tips and other noise-canceling features, allowing you to listen to podcasts and music while maintaining your situational awareness.
- The best open-ear headphones position their audio drivers close to the ears to make sure you can hear their output clearly, even with the outside world pouring in.
- I personally would take a pair of open-ear buds over bone-conduction headphones any day of the week, though, as the sound quality is far better when the sound come from a speaker.
- Until recently, both options were considered fairly niche, but a recent flurry of interest has led leading brands like Bose, JBL, and Soundcore to enter make their own open-ear headphones, expanding the category with feature-packed options in various form factors at many price points.
- To find the best open-ear headphones in this big new open-ear world, I spent over a month testing earbuds nonstop.
- The Soundcore AeroFit Pro is stylish, comfortable, durable, and delivers great sound.
What's still developing
- Style aside, they are excellent for anyone who finds traditional earbuds uncomfortable or wants full environmental awareness for activities like running, biking, or even just doing chores around the house.
- 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.
- They also have an IP57 dust and waterproof rating, the same as premium, flagship earbuds like Apple AirPods Pro 3 and Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro.
- They're clip-ons that wrap around the earlobe, with the speaker end resting at the ear canal opening and the other end behind the ear.