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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 pick for open earbuds, praising their design and comfort.
The Shokz OpenDots 2 are part of a growing trend in the headphone market, offering a new way to enjoy audio while maintaining situational awareness.
Unlike traditional earbuds, open earbuds like the Shokz OpenDots 2 rest on the ear and allow outside sound to pass through naturally.
The brand has also launched the Shokz OpenDots Air and Shokz OpenFit Air 2, which the reviewer is currently testing.
Bose's Ultra Open Earbuds, introduced in 2024, were also noted for their comfort and innovative design.
Open earbuds are designed to be supremely comfortable, with many users forgetting they are wearing them while engaging in activities like running or biking.
The Soundcore Aeroclip 2 and Aeroclip 2 Pro are among the latest additions to the open earbud market, joining brands like Bose and Soundcore in expanding this category.
These earbuds are clip-ons that wrap around the earlobe, with the speaker end resting at the ear canal opening and the other end behind the ear.
Open earbuds are ideal for those who find traditional earbuds uncomfortable or who need to stay aware of their surroundings.
They also offer an IP57 dust and waterproof rating, comparable to premium earbuds like the Apple AirPods Pro 3 and Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro.
WIRED recommends having a pair of noise-canceling earbuds for certain situations, but open earbuds are excellent for specific use cases.
For more headphone recommendations, WIRED offers guides to the Best Wireless Earbuds, Best Workout Headphones, and Best Wireless Headphones.
What this adds
WIRED's review adds to the growing interest in open earbuds, with leading brands like Bose, JBL, and Soundcore entering the market with feature-packed options at various price points.
Background
WIRED recommends the Shokz OpenDots 2 for their 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.