Most wireless earbuds have a “closed-ear” design, meaning they fit in your ear canals and physically block outside sounds from seeping in. This provides the best listening experience and limits music leakage (so people around you can’t hear what you’re listening to).
Wireless earbuds with an “open-ear” design are admittedly more niche. They rest around your ears instead of directly in them, sacrificing sound quality but enabling you to hear the world around you better. They also leak sound, so, if you tend to play music loud, the people around you will hear it.
These open-ear wireless earbuds have been more popular in recent years, particularly for runners and cyclists, as their design lends itself to safety — you can still hear the traffic while enjoying your music. If you’re running or cycling in a group, they don’t prevent you from communicating with them either.
To date, most open-ear wireless earbuds have had an ear-hook design — a large ear-hook grips the outside of your ear (Nothing’s Ear Open are a prime example). But largely thanks to Bose, there’s a new form factor on the scene.
Bose recently discounted its previous open-ear wireless earbuds, the Bose Sport Open Earbuds, which had an ear-hook design, in favor of the 2024-released Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, which have a clip-on design.
