Open-Ear Audio Is Having a Big Second Proper Now

If there’s one factor that CES 2026 illustrated to audiophiles, it’s that open-ear audio is the factor proper now. The class isn’t new—large names within the audio area like Bose and Nothing have been promoting open wi-fi earbuds for some time now—however the choices are about to get overwhelming, and it’s not simply earbuds getting in on the development.

One factor that jumped out to me was a few entrants from Asus; specifically, its new ROG Cetra Open Wireless Earbuds. These wi-fi gaming earbuds be a part of a rising variety of gaming-centric buds from corporations like Razer and SteelSeries, however add an open-ear twist. One of the best half is that they don’t shed the issues that make gaming wi-fi earbuds good for gaming; they nonetheless have a low-latency, 2.4GHz dongle and bodily buttons for while you need to use the wi-fi earbuds with out screwing round with contact controls. To my information, they’re among the many solely open-ear choices in relation to gaming-specific wi-fi earbuds.

Asus’ open-ear emphasis didn’t cease there, both. The corporate additionally unveiled a pair of open-ear headphones (a headset, actually), the ROG Kithara, that mix hi-fi audio with the perks of wired audio—zero latency and no audio compression, to call a pair. All of that is available in an open-ear type issue that makes use of a MEMS microphone, which may assist increase sound readability. Briefly, open-ear audio is coming to avid gamers in an enormous manner.

And it wasn’t simply gaming. Corporations like Soundcore and Shokz are pushing the entire class of open-ear audio ahead by tackling arguably the largest draw back of open-style wi-fi earbuds—I’m speaking about energetic noise cancellation (ANC), or lack thereof. For individuals who aren’t baptized within the waters of open-ear audio, let me backtrack for a second.

As nice as open wi-fi earbuds will be, there’s one factor that they (previously, not less than) can’t do, and that’s ANC. That’s as a result of noise cancellation usually requires creating a decent seal within the ear canal by means of a silicone ear tip. Soundcore’s resolution with the AeroFit 2 Professional is a “dual-form” pair of wi-fi earbuds that may be worn exterior the ear like a typical pair of open wireless earbuds or readjusted to a “semi-in-ear” place to perform extra like conventional ANC wi-fi earbuds with ear ideas. I haven’t had an opportunity to attempt the AeroFit 2 Professional myself, however the resolution is an attention-grabbing and distinctive one.

Shokz, alternatively, mentioned screw it and simply gave its new open-ear wi-fi earbuds noise cancellation, or as the corporate calls it, “noise discount.” I obtained to attempt the OpenFit Professional with noise discount myself on the present flooring at CES 2026, and I used to be fairly impressed. Even supposing the OpenFit Professional sit on the skin of the ear like different open-ear wi-fi earbuds, as quickly as noise discount was activated, it quieted my environment considerably. If you happen to have been in search of a best-of-both-worlds pair of wi-fi earbuds, the OpenFit Professional could be it.

Whereas these have been the explicitly labeled open-ear merchandise, they have been removed from the one examples at CES 2026, as a result of boy, have been there fairly a couple of pairs of smart glasses, too. Whereas sensible glasses would possibly garner numerous consideration for in-lens shows, there are simply as many pairs that don’t have a display screen, which makes them much more like a pair of wi-fi earbuds than you’d initially suppose.

Take Rokid’s Ai Glasses Style, for instance, that are the corporate’s screenless rebuttal to Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses. Like Shokz’s OpenFit Professional, I additionally obtained an opportunity to attempt Rokid’s latest Ai glasses at CES 2026, and was truly in a position to hear them on the present flooring, which is saying one thing given the quantity of environmental noise. If sensible glasses are going to be 2026’s subsequent large factor, then so is open-ear audio by proxy.

To recap, that’s rather a lot of open-ear audio, which, if I’m being trustworthy, is good. I really like open-ear designs; they’re snug, they’re handy, they’re safer while you’re exercising, and so they make private audio just a bit bit extra thrilling. And the excellent news is, you gained’t should take my phrase for it—in the event you’re enthusiastic about open-ear audio, there’s in all probability a pair of headphones or earbuds made for you. In that regard, I’ll name CES 2026 a hit, AI slop be damned.