Open-Ear Earbuds · The rankings
Best open-ear earbuds for phone calls: mics that beat wind and a gym
An open ear means you hear the caller and the room. The mic has to do the opposite: hear you and ignore the room. Ranked by mic count, wind rating and the one design with a boom.
By Mike M.Updated Researched · every spec sourced
#adReader-supported: we may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never decides a ranking. How we rank · Disclosure
Top pick
Best Open-Ear for Calls
Shokz OpenFit Pro
Shokz's flagship hook: triple wind-resistant mics, an open-ear noise-reduction mode, 12 hours with it off, and titanium hooks. The heaviest OpenFit at 12.3 g, and the most expensive.
Shokz list price $249.95 as of November 13, 2026
Also on Amazon — $249.95#ad · Disclosure for the link to Shokz OpenFit Pro
Jump to the full write-up or read the whole ranking below.
Quick picks
The rankings at a glance
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shokz OpenFit Pro Shokz's flagship hook: triple wind-resistant mics, an open-ear noise-reduction mode, 12 hours with it off, and titanium hooks. The heaviest OpenFit at 12.3 g, and the most expensive. | Best overall for callsOpen-ear hook | 9.6 /10 | Check price at ShokzAlso on Amazon — $249.95 |
| 2 |  Shokz OpenDots 2 The clip-on with a real sweat rating: IP57 buds, 6.4 g, 10 hours plus 40 with the case, a 5-minute quick charge and a bone-conduction mic for calls. This is the clip-on for people who sweat. | Best clip-on for callsOpen-ear clip-on | 9.6 /10 | Check price at ShokzAlso on Amazon — $199.95 |
| 3 |  Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) Same cuff, 9 hours instead of 7, Bluetooth 5.4, two mics with SpeechClarity and a wireless-charging case. Still IPX4, so the sweat story hasn't changed. | Best voice clarity featureOpen-ear clip-on | 8.8 /10 | $299.00Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) |
| 4 |  Shokz OpenComm2 UC A bone conduction neckband with a boom mic and 16 hours of talk time. It's a work headset that happens to be IP55 and sweatproof, which makes it the call-quality pick. | Best with a boom micBone conduction (neckband) | 9.2 /10 | Check price at ShokzAlso on Amazon — $199.95 |
| 5 |  Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 The bone conduction pick for most people: the neckband stays put through anything, 12 hours of battery, and Shokz's DualPitch driver adds an air-conduction unit for bass the older models can't make. | Best neckband for callsBone conduction (neckband) | 9.5 /10 | Check price at ShokzAlso on Amazon — $179.95 |
| 6 |  Soundcore AeroFit 2 A four-position adjustable hook, IP55, 10 hours per charge and LDAC, for less than the Shokz OpenFit 2. The adjustable hinge is why it fits more ears than a fixed hook. | Best value four-mic hookOpen-ear hook | 9.5 /10 | $79.99AeroFit 2 |
| 7 |  Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro An ear-hook with a hinge that swings the driver into the canal for ANC when you want isolation, then back out for awareness. IP55, Bluetooth 6.1, 7 hours open or 5 hours sealed. | Best for noisy gymsOpen-ear hook | 9.2 /10 | $149.99AeroFit 2 Pro |
| 8 |  Soundcore AeroClip IP55, 6 g, 8 hours plus 32 with the case, LDAC and four beamforming mics. A clip-on with a jet-spray sweat rating for less than Bose or Shokz. | Best value four-mic clipOpen-ear clip-on | 9.2 /10 | $129.99AeroClip |
| 9 |  Shokz OpenFit 2 The open-ear pick for most people: 11 hours per charge, IP55 buds, a physical button plus touch, and Shokz's DualBoost dual-driver sound. The hook fit is the reference the others get compared to. | Solid everydayOpen-ear hook | 9.4 /10 | Check price at ShokzAlso on Amazon — $179.00 |
#ad · Prices come live from Amazon, last checked November 13, 2026. Scores are ours, built from published specs and cited independent reviews, with every figure linked to its source. Photos are illustrative stock. Tap a row for the full write-up.
What actually makes a call clear
Open-ear earbuds have a structural disadvantage on calls: the mic sits outside the ear, further from your mouth than a stem-style earbud and fully exposed to wind. Makers compensate with three things, and the ranking above follows them in order.
- Mic count and processing. Two mics can subtract background noise by comparing what each hears; three do it better. Every pick here has at least two per side with some form of noise-canceling processing.
- A wind rating. Shokz publishes one: the OpenFit Pro, OpenRun Pro 2 and OpenRun Air 2 are listed as wind-resistant to 25 km/h (about 15 mph). No other maker on this page publishes a number, which is itself information.
- A second sensing path. The OpenDots 2 uses a bone-conduction mic that picks up your voice as vibration through the jaw, which wind cannot reach. Bose's SpeechClarity is a processing feature rather than a sensor, but it exists for the same reason.
Every claim above is what the maker publishes, linked to its page. The scores weight the mic spec at 10% of the total, so a pair with a great mic and a poor sweat rating still ranks by sweat first: use the table below to pick the one whose wind strategy matches where you actually take calls.
The mic table
| Evidence | Shokz OpenFit Pro | Shokz OpenDots 2 | Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) | Shokz OpenComm2 UC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fit system | Open-ear hook | Open-ear clip-on | Open-ear clip-on | Bone conduction (neckband) |
| Microphones | Triple AI noise-canceling, wind-resistant to 25 km/h | Triple AI noise-canceling: two air-conduction mics plus one bone-conduction mic | 2 microphones with SpeechClarity | Dual noise-canceling boom microphones |
| Wind handling | — | — | — | — |
| Battery | Noise reduction off: 12 h / 50 h with case; on: 6 h / 24 h | 10 hours; 40 hours with case | 9 hours; 5 hours with Immersive Audio or Auto Volume on; 4 with both; up to 19.5 more in the case | 8 hours listening / 16 hours talk |
| Water & sweat rating | Earbuds IP55; charging case not waterproof | Earbuds IP57; charging case IP54 | IPX4 | IP55 |
| Score | 9.6/10 | 9.6/10 | 8.8/10 | 9.2/10 |
| Evidence | Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 | Soundcore AeroFit 2 | Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro | Soundcore AeroClip | Shokz OpenFit 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fit system | Bone conduction (neckband) | Open-ear hook | Open-ear hook | Open-ear clip-on | Open-ear hook |
| Microphones | Dual AI noise-canceling, wind-resistant to 25 km/h | 4 mics with AI noise reduction | 4 mics with AI | 4 beamforming mics with AI noise reduction | Dual AI noise-canceling |
| Wind handling | — | — | — | — | — |
| Battery | 12 hours listening | 10 hours; 42 hours with case | Open-ear form 7 h / 34 h with case; ANC form 5 h / 24 h | 8 hours; 32 hours with case | 11 hours; 48 hours with case |
| Score | 9.5/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.4/10 |
Wind is the real enemy
Indoors, any modern dual-mic array handles a gym. Outdoors at a jog, wind across an exposed mic sounds like someone crumpling paper next to the caller's ear. Two of the picks here address it directly: Shokz's wind-resistant rating on the OpenFit Pro and OpenRun Pro 2, and the OpenDots 2's bone-conduction mic. If you take calls on a bike, the boom-mic OpenComm2 UC puts a mic in front of your mouth with its own windscreen, which is why call-center headsets look the way they do.
The winner, in full
The OpenFit Pro leads this list on microphone hardware, and the rest of its spec sheet is worth reading before you commit: it is the heaviest OpenFit, and its noise-reduction mode halves the battery. The full read is in the Shokz OpenFit Pro review.
In detail
The picks, in full
Rank 1
Best overall for calls
Shokz OpenFit Pro
Shokz's flagship hook: triple wind-resistant mics, an open-ear noise-reduction mode, 12 hours with it off, and titanium hooks. The heaviest OpenFit at 12.3 g, and the most expensive.
Spec sheetResearched · sources linked
| Fit system | Open-ear hook. Ear canal stays open: you hear the room and traffic. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | Earbuds IP55; charging case not waterproof |
| Weight | 12.3 g per earbud; case 99.3 g |
| Battery | Noise reduction off: 12 h / 50 h with case; on: 6 h / 24 h |
| Quick charge | 10 min = 4 hours |
| Charging | Case: wireless and USB-C; earbuds 70 min |
| Bluetooth | 6.1 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Microphones | Triple AI noise-canceling, wind-resistant to 25 km/h |
| Controls | Physical buttons |
| Driver / tech | SuperBoost + open-ear noise reduction + Dolby Atmos optimization |
| Noise control | Open-ear noise reduction mode (halves battery when on) |
| Launched | January 2026 |
How the 9.6 score is built
- Fit security (25%)
- 9
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 8
- Awareness (open canal) (15%)
- 9
- Sound & leakage (15%)
- 9
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 9
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 9
- Value (5%)
- 4
Criterion marks are on the rubric's own 0–10 scale, which is why they read lower than the published score. The published score maps the weighted rubric total onto the site's 8.4–9.8 recommendation scale — one formula, every product, order unchanged. Full method at How We Rank.
What the spec sheet supports
- Three wind-resistant mics, the best call spec of any ear-hook here
- Noise-reduction mode for the treadmill row without sealing the ear
- 12 hours with reduction off and a 10-minute charge worth 4 hours
Trade-offs worth knowing
- 12.3 g per side; you feel the hook more than on the Air 2
- Noise reduction halves the battery to 6 hours
- The priciest ear-hook on this site
Good to know
Not the one for you if your gym is quiet and your calls are rare; the OpenFit 2 delivers the same fit and IP55 for a lot less.
Shokz list price $249.95 as of November 13, 2026
Also on Amazon — $249.95#ad · Disclosure for the link to Shokz OpenFit Pro
Rank 2
Best clip-on for calls
Shokz OpenDots 2
The clip-on with a real sweat rating: IP57 buds, 6.4 g, 10 hours plus 40 with the case, a 5-minute quick charge and a bone-conduction mic for calls. This is the clip-on for people who sweat.
Spec sheetResearched · sources linked
| Fit system | Open-ear clip-on. Ear canal stays open: you hear the room and traffic. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | Earbuds IP57; charging case IP54 |
| Weight | 6.4 g per earbud; case 38.8 g |
| Battery | 10 hours; 40 hours with case |
| Quick charge | 5 min = 2 hours |
| Charging | Case: wireless and USB-C; earbuds 1 hour |
| Bluetooth | 6.1 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Microphones | Triple AI noise-canceling: two air-conduction mics plus one bone-conduction mic |
| Controls | Touch controls (upgraded) |
| Driver / tech | Bassphere 2.0 + Dolby Audio + DirectPitch + MirrorPitch |
| Launched | June 2026 |
How the 9.6 score is built
- Fit security (25%)
- 8
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 10
- Awareness (open canal) (15%)
- 9
- Sound & leakage (15%)
- 8
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 9
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 9
- Value (5%)
- 5
Criterion marks are on the rubric's own 0–10 scale, which is why they read lower than the published score. The published score maps the weighted rubric total onto the site's 8.4–9.8 recommendation scale — one formula, every product, order unchanged. Full method at How We Rank.
What the spec sheet supports
- IP57 on the buds: immersion-rated, which no Bose clip-on is
- 10 hours per charge and a 5-minute charge worth 2
- Bone-conduction mic picks up your voice through the jaw on windy days
- Even the case is IP54
Trade-offs worth knowing
- Touch controls rather than buttons
- Clip-ons sit lighter than hooks but can shift on heavy impact; check the fit on the first sprint
Good to know
Not the one for you if you want buttons; the Bose cuffs have them, or go to an ear-hook.
Shokz list price $199.95 as of November 13, 2026
Also on Amazon — $199.95#ad · Disclosure for the link to Shokz OpenDots 2
Rank 3
Best voice clarity feature
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen)
Same cuff, 9 hours instead of 7, Bluetooth 5.4, two mics with SpeechClarity and a wireless-charging case. Still IPX4, so the sweat story hasn't changed.
Spec sheetResearched · sources linked
| Fit system | Open-ear clip-on. Ear canal stays open: you hear the room and traffic. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | IPX4 |
| Weight | 0.013 lb per earbud (about 5.9 g) |
| Battery | 9 hours; 5 hours with Immersive Audio or Auto Volume on; 4 with both; up to 19.5 more in the case |
| Quick charge | 10 min = up to 2 hours |
| Charging | 1 hour; wireless charging case |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Microphones | 2 microphones with SpeechClarity |
| Controls | Button on each barrel |
How the 8.8 score is built
- Fit security (25%)
- 8
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 5
- Awareness (open canal) (15%)
- 9
- Sound & leakage (15%)
- 9
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 8
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 8
- Value (5%)
- 3
Criterion marks are on the rubric's own 0–10 scale, which is why they read lower than the published score. The published score maps the weighted rubric total onto the site's 8.4–9.8 recommendation scale — one formula, every product, order unchanged. Full method at How We Rank.
What the spec sheet supports
- 9 hours per charge, up from 7
- SpeechClarity mics and Bluetooth 5.4
- Wireless charging and a metallic finish
Trade-offs worth knowing
- IPX4 again
- Both spatial features on together drops battery to 4 hours
- The most expensive clip-on here
Good to know
Not the one for you if the first-gen is on sale; the fit and the IPX4 rating are identical, and 2 more hours is the main gain.
#ad · Price as of November 13, 2026 · Disclosure for the link to Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen)
Rank 4
Best with a boom mic
Shokz OpenComm2 UC
A bone conduction neckband with a boom mic and 16 hours of talk time. It's a work headset that happens to be IP55 and sweatproof, which makes it the call-quality pick.
Spec sheetResearched · sources linked
| Fit system | Bone conduction (neckband). Ear canal stays open: you hear the room and traffic. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | IP55 |
| Weight | 35 g |
| Battery | 8 hours listening / 16 hours talk |
| Quick charge | 5 min = 2 hours talk time |
| Charging | USB-C, 1 hour to full |
| Bluetooth | 5.1, 98 ft range; USB adapter included (UC) |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Microphones | Dual noise-canceling boom microphones |
| Controls | Physical buttons; mute button |
| Driver / tech | 7th-gen bone conduction (PremiumPitch 2.0) |
| Launched | January 2025 |
How the 9.2 score is built
- Fit security (25%)
- 9
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 8
- Awareness (open canal) (15%)
- 10
- Sound & leakage (15%)
- 4
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 10
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 8
- Value (5%)
- 5
Criterion marks are on the rubric's own 0–10 scale, which is why they read lower than the published score. The published score maps the weighted rubric total onto the site's 8.4–9.8 recommendation scale — one formula, every product, order unchanged. Full method at How We Rank.
What the spec sheet supports
- Boom mic: the only pick here with a microphone in front of your mouth
- 16 hours of talk time and a 98 ft Bluetooth range
- IP55, so a walking meeting in the rain is fine
Trade-offs worth knowing
- Heaviest Shokz neckband at 35 g, and the boom arm is visible
- Older 7th-gen driver for music
- You're paying for the UC dongle whether you use it or not
Good to know
Not the one for you if calls are a side use; the OpenRun Pro 2's wind-resistant dual mics are good enough for most and it sounds far better for music.
Shokz list price $199.95 as of November 13, 2026
Also on Amazon — $199.95#ad · Disclosure for the link to Shokz OpenComm2 UC
Rank 5
Best neckband for calls
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
The bone conduction pick for most people: the neckband stays put through anything, 12 hours of battery, and Shokz's DualPitch driver adds an air-conduction unit for bass the older models can't make.
Spec sheetResearched · sources linked
| Fit system | Bone conduction (neckband). Ear canal stays open: you hear the room and traffic. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | IP55 (dust, sweat and water resistant) |
| Weight | 30.3 g standard / 30 g mini |
| Battery | 12 hours listening |
| Quick charge | 5 min = 2.5 hours |
| Charging | USB-C, 1 hour to full |
| Bluetooth | 5.3, 33 ft range |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Microphones | Dual AI noise-canceling, wind-resistant to 25 km/h |
| Controls | Physical buttons |
| Driver / tech | 10th-gen bone conduction (DualPitch: bone + air conduction unit) |
| Sizes | Standard (over 9.25 in head circumference) and Mini |
| Launched | August 2024 |
How the 9.5 score is built
- Fit security (25%)
- 10
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 8
- Awareness (open canal) (15%)
- 10
- Sound & leakage (15%)
- 6
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 8
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 9
- Value (5%)
- 6
Criterion marks are on the rubric's own 0–10 scale, which is why they read lower than the published score. The published score maps the weighted rubric total onto the site's 8.4–9.8 recommendation scale — one formula, every product, order unchanged. Full method at How We Rank.
What the spec sheet supports
- Titanium neckband plus ear hooks: nothing to fall out of an ear canal
- 12 hours per charge and a real quick charge, on USB-C instead of a proprietary cable
- DualPitch adds an air-conduction driver, so bass exists where older bone conduction sets had none
- Wind-resistant dual mics rated to 25 km/h for calls on the move
Trade-offs worth knowing
- IP55, not IP67 like the cheaper OpenRun and OpenRun Air 2: fine for sweat, not for rinsing under a tap
- Bone conduction still leaks at high volume in a quiet room
- The most expensive of the three OpenRun models
Good to know
Not the one for you if you want to rinse the headphones under a tap after a soaked run (get the IP67 OpenRun Air 2) or you train mostly indoors where a sealed earbud's bass would matter more than an open ear.
Shokz list price $179.95 as of November 13, 2026
Also on Amazon — $179.95#ad · Disclosure for the link to Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
Rank 6
Best value four-mic hook
Soundcore AeroFit 2
A four-position adjustable hook, IP55, 10 hours per charge and LDAC, for less than the Shokz OpenFit 2. The adjustable hinge is why it fits more ears than a fixed hook.
Spec sheetResearched · sources linked
| Fit system | Open-ear hook. Ear canal stays open: you hear the room and traffic. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | IP55 |
| Weight | 10 g per earbud |
| Battery | 10 hours; 42 hours with case |
| Quick charge | 10 min = 4 hours |
| Charging | USB-C; case supports wireless charging |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Microphones | 4 mics with AI noise reduction |
| Controls | Touch control |
| Codecs | LDAC Hi-Res (Android only) |
| Driver / tech | 20 x 11.5 mm drivers |
| Extras | Four-level adjustable ear hook |
How the 9.5 score is built
- Fit security (25%)
- 9
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 8
- Awareness (open canal) (15%)
- 9
- Sound & leakage (15%)
- 8
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 7
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 9
- Value (5%)
- 8
Criterion marks are on the rubric's own 0–10 scale, which is why they read lower than the published score. The published score maps the weighted rubric total onto the site's 8.4–9.8 recommendation scale — one formula, every product, order unchanged. Full method at How We Rank.
What the spec sheet supports
- Four hook positions: the fix for ears a fixed hook never quite fits
- 10 hours and a 10-minute charge worth 4 hours
- LDAC and large drivers for open-ear sound with some bass
- Wireless-charging case
Trade-offs worth knowing
- 10 g per side; heavier than the Shokz OpenFit Air 2
- Touch controls, not buttons
- IP55 earbuds; Soundcore doesn't rate the case
Good to know
Not the one for you if you want a button you can hit mid-set; the Shokz OpenFit 2's physical button is more reliable when wet.
#ad · Price as of November 13, 2026 · Disclosure for the link to Soundcore AeroFit 2
Rank 7
Best for noisy gyms
Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro
An ear-hook with a hinge that swings the driver into the canal for ANC when you want isolation, then back out for awareness. IP55, Bluetooth 6.1, 7 hours open or 5 hours sealed.
Spec sheetResearched · sources linked
| Fit system | Open-ear hook. Ear canal stays open: you hear the room and traffic. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | IP55 |
| Weight | 10.4 g per earbud; case 88.2 g |
| Battery | Open-ear form 7 h / 34 h with case; ANC form 5 h / 24 h |
| Quick charge | 10 min = 3.5 hours |
| Bluetooth | 6.1 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Microphones | 4 mics with AI |
| Controls | Button control |
| Codecs | Hi-Res, LDAC (Android only) |
| Driver / tech | 11.8 mm composite drivers |
| Noise control | Dual-form design: open-ear or ANC by switching hook level |
How the 9.2 score is built
- Fit security (25%)
- 9
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 8
- Awareness (open canal) (15%)
- 8
- Sound & leakage (15%)
- 9
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 7
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 7
- Value (5%)
- 6
Criterion marks are on the rubric's own 0–10 scale, which is why they read lower than the published score. The published score maps the weighted rubric total onto the site's 8.4–9.8 recommendation scale — one formula, every product, order unchanged. Full method at How We Rank.
What the spec sheet supports
- The only pick that is genuinely both open-ear and noise-canceling
- Button controls and IP55
- Bluetooth 6.1 with multipoint
Trade-offs worth knowing
- 7 hours open is short of the AeroFit 2's 10
- The heaviest Soundcore hook, and the hinge is one more moving part
- ANC form seals the ear, so the awareness benefit disappears when you use it
Good to know
Not the one for you if you never want isolation; the plain AeroFit 2 is lighter, lasts longer and costs less.
#ad · Price as of November 13, 2026 · Disclosure for the link to Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro
Rank 8
Best value four-mic clip
Soundcore AeroClip
IP55, 6 g, 8 hours plus 32 with the case, LDAC and four beamforming mics. A clip-on with a jet-spray sweat rating for less than Bose or Shokz.
Spec sheetResearched · sources linked
| Fit system | Open-ear clip-on. Ear canal stays open: you hear the room and traffic. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | IP55 |
| Weight | 6.0 g per earbud |
| Battery | 8 hours; 32 hours with case |
| Quick charge | 10 min = 3 hours |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Microphones | 4 beamforming mics with AI noise reduction |
| Controls | Tap control |
| Codecs | LDAC (Android only) |
| Driver / tech | 12 mm titanium-coated driver |
How the 9.2 score is built
- Fit security (25%)
- 8
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 8
- Awareness (open canal) (15%)
- 9
- Sound & leakage (15%)
- 8
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 8
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 8
- Value (5%)
- 7
Criterion marks are on the rubric's own 0–10 scale, which is why they read lower than the published score. The published score maps the weighted rubric total onto the site's 8.4–9.8 recommendation scale — one formula, every product, order unchanged. Full method at How We Rank.
What the spec sheet supports
- IP55 where Bose is IPX4
- LDAC and a 12 mm driver
- 10-minute charge worth 3 hours
Trade-offs worth knowing
- 8 hours is two short of the OpenDots
- Tap controls
- No wireless charging
Good to know
Not the one for you if you want the best sweat rating in a clip-on; the OpenDots 2's IP57 is a step up.
#ad · Price as of November 13, 2026 · Disclosure for the link to Soundcore AeroClip
Rank 9
Solid everyday
Shokz OpenFit 2
The open-ear pick for most people: 11 hours per charge, IP55 buds, a physical button plus touch, and Shokz's DualBoost dual-driver sound. The hook fit is the reference the others get compared to.
Spec sheetResearched · sources linked
| Fit system | Open-ear hook. Ear canal stays open: you hear the room and traffic. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | Earbuds IP55; charging case not waterproof |
| Weight | 9.4 g per earbud; case 53 g |
| Battery | 11 hours; 48 hours with case |
| Quick charge | 10 min = 2 hours |
| Charging | USB-C case; earbuds 1 hour, case 100 min |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Microphones | Dual AI noise-canceling |
| Controls | Physical buttons and touch controls |
| Driver / tech | DualBoost dual drivers + DirectPitch |
| Launched | January 2025 |
How the 9.4 score is built
- Fit security (25%)
- 9
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 8
- Awareness (open canal) (15%)
- 9
- Sound & leakage (15%)
- 8
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 7
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 9
- Value (5%)
- 6
Criterion marks are on the rubric's own 0–10 scale, which is why they read lower than the published score. The published score maps the weighted rubric total onto the site's 8.4–9.8 recommendation scale — one formula, every product, order unchanged. Full method at How We Rank.
What the spec sheet supports
- 11 hours per charge is the longest of the mainstream ear-hooks
- A real button, so a sweaty finger doesn't misfire a touch control
- Dual drivers give it more low end than single-driver open-ears
- IP55 earbuds handle sweat and rain
Trade-offs worth knowing
- The case is not water resistant at all; don't drop it in a wet gym bag
- 9.4 g per side is heavier than the OpenFit Air 2 (7.2 g) or Shokz's clip-ons
- Open-ear leakage: people next to you on a quiet bus will hear it
Good to know
Not the one for you if you have small ears or glasses that fight a thick hook; the 7.2 g OpenFit Air 2 or a clip-on sits lighter.
Shokz list price $179.95 as of November 13, 2026
Also on Amazon — $179.00#ad · Disclosure for the link to Shokz OpenFit 2
Buyer's guide: calls on an open ear
Sidetone and hearing yourself
One quiet advantage of an open ear: you hear your own voice naturally, so you don't shout the way people do in sealed earbuds. That matters more than any mic spec for the person on the other end.
Multipoint
Every pick here supports two devices at once, so a laptop meeting can hand off to a phone call. Check the maker's page for how switching is handled; Shokz uses its app.
Battery in talk mode
Only Shokz publishes a separate talk-time figure (16 hours on the OpenComm2). Assume calls drain a bud faster than music, and prefer a pair with a quick-charge figure.
Don't forget the rating
A call-focused pair that dies from sweat is still a dead pair. The Bose 2nd Gen is IPX4; read can sweat damage earbuds before choosing it for the gym.
In one line
Our recommendation
Top pick
Shokz OpenFit Pro
Shokz's flagship hook: triple wind-resistant mics, an open-ear noise-reduction mode, 12 hours with it off, and titanium hooks. The heaviest OpenFit at 12.3 g, and the most expensive.
Good to know: not the one for you if your gym is quiet and your calls are rare; the OpenFit 2 delivers the same fit and IP55 for a lot less.
Shokz list price $249.95 as of November 13, 2026
Also on Amazon — $249.95#ad · Disclosure for the link to Shokz OpenFit Pro
Runner-up
Shokz OpenDots 2
The clip-on with a real sweat rating: IP57 buds, 6.4 g, 10 hours plus 40 with the case, a 5-minute quick charge and a bone-conduction mic for calls. This is the clip-on for people who sweat.
Good to know: not the one for you if you want buttons; the Bose cuffs have them, or go to an ear-hook.
Shokz list price $199.95 as of November 13, 2026
Also on Amazon — $199.95#ad · Disclosure for the link to Shokz OpenDots 2
How we scored this
The research behind every pick
Each pair on this page is researched and compared the same way: we classify the retention system that holds it on (hook, clip, wing, neckband), read the maker's published IP rating, weight, battery, charging, mic and control type straight off its own product page and manual, check the sweat and water rating against the IEC 60529 standard, cross-reference independent published reviews, and score every pick on a public rubric. Every figure links to the document it came from, so you can check any number in one click.
Prices come live from Amazon, so what you see is what you pay today. Commissions never set a score or decide a pick. The rubric and its weights are published.
Corrections & updates
- First edition.
Questions
Frequently asked
Are open-ear earbuds good for phone calls?
Which Shokz has the best microphone?
Do bone conduction headphones work for calls?
Keep reading
Related on Openear Club
- Best open-ear earbuds for iPhoneRanked on what iOS can actually use.
- Best open-ear earbudsThe main ranking, weighted for fit and sweat.
- Best bone conduction headphones with a micThe neckband version of this list.
- Shokz OpenFit 2 vs OpenFit ProIs the Pro's triple mic worth the premium?
- Wind noise and open-ear earbuds on a bikeWhy wind ruins calls and music, and what helps.
Receipts
Sources
- Shokz — official product comparison table (checked 2026-09-21)
- Bose — Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) product page (checked 2026-09-21)
- Soundcore — AeroFit 2 product page (checked 2026-09-21)
- Soundcore — AeroFit 2 Pro product page (checked 2026-09-21)
- Soundcore — AeroClip product page (checked 2026-09-21)
Every spec here is traceable: figures come from the maker's own product pages and are linked on each product, independent findings are attributed to whoever published them, and prices come live from Amazon so the number you see is the number you pay today. Read the full method.