Apple, by far the biggest name in wireless earbuds (its AirPods business alone generates billions of dollars in revenue each year), is finally jumping on board with this popular trend, or at least openly embracing it. It is said that
When the company announced AirPods 4 last month, Apple first touted its wireless earbuds as having an “open-ear” design. The entry-level AirPods released in 2019 and the AirPods released in 2021 (both now discontinued) fit similarly, but were not advertised as such. (Respective press releases can be found here and here.)
When Apple calls it an “open-ear design,” it simply means that its wireless earbuds aren’t seated deep in your ear canal and don’t have silicone tips (like the AirPods Pro). This allows ambient sound to penetrate into the earbuds, so in theory you can hear the outside world better while listening to music.
Of course, anyone who’s worn non-Pro AirPods in recent years probably wouldn’t consider them “open-ear” wireless earbuds. They were just wireless earphones. However, “open ear” has become a buzzword in the field of wireless earphones. And most manufacturers seem to be getting on board with this initiative.
AirPods 4 without ANC (left) and with ANC (right) are the first AirPods that Apple touts as an “open-ear” design. Photo by Tucker Bowe of Gear Patrol
open ear movement
Wireless earbuds with an open-ear design aren’t new by any means, but they’re definitely becoming mainstream. Over the last couple of years, some of the biggest companies in headphones (and audio in general) have gotten in on the action. These include Sony, Bose, Beyerdynamic, Soundcore (Anker), Nothing, and more.
The rise of open-ear wireless earbuds predictably coincided with the boom in cycling and running. The open-ear design allows you to better hear traffic and other distractions, allowing you to exercise more safely.
