In the world of headphones, one trend dominated 2024: open earbuds. After seeing the likes of Sony’s LinkBuds and Huawei’s FreeClip, Apple followed suit with its AirPods 4, while Bose released the Ultra Open Earbuds. But are these innovative designs a game-changer or just a gimmick?
The appeal of open earbuds lies in their unique design, which allows for a more comfortable fit without feeling like they’re buried in your ears. This is particularly appealing to fitness enthusiasts who want to stay aware of their surroundings while running or exercising. However, sound quality remains an area where open earbuds struggle.
While Bose’s Ultra Open Earbuds are the best example of how open earbuds should be designed, with a tripartite structure that allows for easy clipping over the ear, they come at a price. Other brands like Sony and Huawei have offered similar designs, but with varying degrees of success.
The key benefit of open earbuds is indeed their comfort and fit, making them an attractive option for those who struggle with traditional in-ear designs. However, sound quality remains a major concern. Traditional in-ear headphones still offer superior performance, despite the novelty of open designs.
In conclusion, open earbuds are not a revolutionary new technology, but rather an alternative design that addresses the common pain point of discomfort associated with traditional wireless earbuds. If you can handle the in-ear experience, you may not find the benefits of open earbuds worth the trade-off.
Source: https://www.whathifi.com/news/2024-was-the-year-of-open-wireless-earbuds-but-are-they-game-changers-or-gimmicks