I’ve tested a ton of open earbuds, but these are the only three models I’d buy | Tech Radar

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I’ve tested a ton of open earbuds, but these are the only three models I’d buy

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I'll be straight with you. For a long time, I considered myself to be an open earbuds skeptic. See, I'm a bit of an over-ear headphones warrior, and choose them for just about every occasion — even if I'm partial to some IEMs or noise-cancelling models from time to time. Open ears just never seemed to do it for me — you don't get an in-ear seal, and as a result, sound quality can often take a backseat.

But then something changed. That's right, I started testing more open earbuds in 2025, and after trying a bunch of models out, I discovered that there were some genuinely high-quality options out there. Yes, open earbuds are designed to deliver superior awareness of your surroundings, but they can also plate up awesome audio, useful features, and top-tier comfort — if you pick the right pair, that is.

So, I'm here to share the three pairs of open earbuds that I would choose, as someone who's pretty picky. I've included options for a range of budgets, so there really is something for everyone in this list.

Oh, and some of the models I've included are discounted right now thanks to the Amazon Big Spring Sale. And if you're looking for more great offers, make sure to head on over to our Amazon Big Spring Sale live page.

The Soundcore Aero Clip are probably my personal favorite open earbuds I've tested to date. They offer surprisingly clean and immersive audio, an easy to use and well-equipped companion app, and a nice range of color options.

Soundcore also went the extra mile to make this model more comfortable than its predecessors. While using the Aero Clip, I never feel like they're overly tight or anything — in fact I sometimes forget they're even on!

As their name suggests, the Aero Clip use a clip-on design rather than the traditional open ear configuration, although they're still very secure on-ear. And although they're not the most waterproof or feature-rich, their modest price more than makes up for that.

You can currently grab the Soundcore Aero Clip for 35% less in Amazon's Spring Deal days. With great sound, comfort, and color options, the Aero Clip make for strong all-rounders. And for $60 less, they're an absolute steal.

The Shokz Open Fit 2+ currently sit atop our guide to the best open earbuds that money can buy, but it's really not hard to see why.

These open earbuds simply nail the basics. Stellar sound quality? Check. Stable and secure fit? Also check. Plenty of battery life? You guessed it: check! Pair that with a comfortable feel, effective and differentiated sound modes, and IP55 dust and waterproofing, and you're onto a winner.

While we already rated them in terms of value for money, it's always good to see a discount, and these open earbuds have seen their price dwindle in light of Amazon's spring-time sale, so it's the perfect time to snap them up.

Our pick for the best open earbuds here at Tech Radar, is the Shokz Open Fit 2+. With excellent sound, plenty of features, and a brilliant fit, this model really has it all. And for 20% off? You really can't go wrong.

When I reviewed the Edifier Lolli Clip last year, they had a list price in excess of

100. What's more, I already considered them to be a decent value pick, especially considering their blood oxygen and heartrate monitoring capabilities. But right now, they're available for less than

50, and make an awesome budget option.

Sure, they have the health tracking options mentioned above, but the Lolliclip also provide steady audio quality, a high waterproof rating, and...even adaptive noise cancellation. That's quite a rare feature to find on open ears, but I found that it genuinely worked well here.

Considering that the Lolli Clip also offer a decent dosage of battery life and a pretty neat look, you're getting a brilliant overall package.

At the point of launch, these open earbuds were selling for almost

130. But now, you can scoop the Edifier Lolli Clip up for less than

50, which is sensational value for money. Want good sound quality, adaptive noise cancellation, and health monitoring features in one budget-friendly model? Then these would be my go-to pick.

More of today's best Amazon Big Spring Sale deals

Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks, Echo & tablets from $18

Harry is a Reviews Staff Writer for Tech Radar. He reviews everything from party speakers to wall chargers and has a particular interest in the worlds of audio and gaming. Harry has a background in business tech journalism, particularly around the telecoms industry.

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Key Takeaways

I’ve tested a ton of open earbuds, but these are the only three models I’d buy
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission
I'll be straight with you
But then something changed
So, I'm here to share the three pairs of open earbuds that I would choose, as someone who's pretty picky