I tested 11 pairs of open earbuds in 2025: these are the only 5 you should look for on Black Friday

Date:
Tue, 11 Nov 2025 22:30:00 +0000

Description:
I've spent the entire year testing earbuds and headphones, 12 of which were open earbuds (and a further 22 sets were more 'traditional' headphones): here are the only 5 open earbuds I recommend this Black Friday

FULL STORY ======================================================================

Since I test audio but also like to exercise, Ive started to become a big fan of the best open-earbuds ; in fact, TechRadar has published 12 of my reviews of these ear canal freeing earbuds in the last year alone ( counting , as I'm currently listening to the next pair).

In 2025, I've tested 34 pairs of headphones or earbuds for TechRadar, but the category of open earbuds is the one that's seen the most growth and the one I want you to know about now. It's got much better here, people but only if
you buy the right pair.

Not versed in open earbuds? I can be your guide. They're like your average earbud, except they don't go fully into your ear. This lets you hear surrounding sounds like traffic, dogs, train announcements, your name at your doctor's surgery and so on. This is great for safety and awareness (though traditionally not so much for sound quality more on this in a minute).

Some of these have been fantastic, others pretty painful to use (sonically, and in one or two cases, literally). Given that theyre a fairly niche kind of design, its understandable that you might not have bought any yet, but the Black Friday deals could prove a great way to test them out without breaking the bank.

In fact theres one particular pair of open earbuds I tested this year that
was so good, Id consider buying another pair as a gift or back-up (if theres
a good deal, of course). And Ive got two other picks which Ive already waxed lyrical about in features for TechRadar but thatd be absolute must-buys if they see a discount.

Following that, Ive got two more picks that are worth keeping an eye out for. So let's go! The only 5 Black Friday open earbuds deals to look for

Shokz OpenDots One
These clip-on earbuds were incredibly comfortable to use, as I could easily forget they were in my ear, and never ran the risk of getting dislodged at
the gym. They sounded great too, and while they didnt cost an astronomical amount, a great deal could encourage people on the fence to try them out.
View Deal

Huawei FreeArc
As the best-sounding open-ear buds Ive tested, the FreeArc solved the lingering sound issue that most such earbuds contend with. Theyre also comfortable and supremely affordable, thanks in part to various discounts which will hopefully continue over Black Friday. View Deal

Honor Earbuds Open
My other must-watch buds (must-listen? must-hear?) come from Honor, and its their range of features which makes them great picks; theyre the only open-ears Ive tested with noise cancellation. Theyve seen fewer discounts
than the Huawei but hopefully thatll change over Black Friday. View Deal

Earfun OpenJump
While I gave the OpenJump a middling review, it has something my other picks dont: a really low MSRP. Add to that any potential Black Friday savings, and they could end up being the must-buy deal of the season as a way to get you
to check out open-ears for an affordable price. View Deal

OneOdio OpenRock S2
Another budget option that should be on your radar is the OpenRock S2; theyve not seen as many discounts since launch as the Earfun but the brand is a reliable one for sales, so Im hoping Black Friday could bring these down to a tempting price. View Deal

The Shokz at the very top of this roundup are the pair Im really hoping to
see a deal on, if their higher-than-the-rest price didnt make that clear. But Id also love to see the Huawei or Honor get a discount, as theyre the two
best non-clipping type open-ears of 2025.

And for the budget-conscious among you, the Earfun and OneOdio options are still worthy buys, only missing out on higher star ratings due to missing few extra perks and unique selling points in what is now a fiercely competitive open-ear market.

Here are current best prices on the above earbuds as a roundup for quick comparison. The two types of open earbuds

There are two types of open earbuds you can buy.

The most common kind, and the one that describes most of my picks above, are sports-loop style buds. Like your average exercise headphone, they're kept in place with a loop that goes around your ear, and which holds the speaker
above your ear.

The other kind, which I've actually got in my top pick (the Shokz), and in
one of my longer watchlist picks above, is clip or cuff-style headphones. They're smaller and sit at the bottom of your ear, held by a counterweight.

I've found the latter kind, on average, more reliable. Sports-loops range in fit and hold, but I've never tested a clip-style bud that shakes or falls
out. They also tend to offer a higher standard of audio quality; some of the best-sounding open-ears have been sports-loop, but all of the worst ones are too.

Which should you buy? I'd honestly recommend trying to find a way to check
out both, just so you can see which you prefer. But if you're going by sport, clipping earbuds are best for cyclists (as they don't get in the way of headphone straps) while I prefer sports-loop ones for gym workouts or ones where I'll go prone, as the design keeps them firmer in place. For running, I've found both can be alright. Places to check for Black Friday deals

US: Walmart: some of the most competitive discounts we'll see Target: really big discounts on popular models Best Buy: a place worth checking for some alternative discounts Amazon: one of the main places to check for headphone discounts

UK: John Lewis: decent savings and a great warranty Amazon: the biggest
range of headphones available Currys: solid discounts in-store or online Argos: has a fairly large audio department apparently?!



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/audio/i-tested-11-pairs-of-open-earbuds-in-2025-thes e-are-the-only-5-you-should-look-for-on-black-friday


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