Discover the Best Budget Open Earbuds: A Comprehensive Review
Open earbuds are super-hot right now, especially with great options from more premium brands. Our guide to the best open earbuds is full of these options. However, prices have been coming down, allowing you to find affordable models on Amazon, many priced under $40 / £40. Some are from brands you’ve never heard of, while others come from well-known brands offering older models at discounted prices.
While purchasing budget tech often includes a few sacrifices, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider them. Just look at the impressive picks in our best budget earbuds guide for proof!
However, open earbuds can be tricky to design successfully. To achieve an ideal balance of stability and an engaging audio mix—while also allowing ambient noise to penetrate—requires precise engineering. The only way to determine if a product has succeeded in this regard is through testing. Thus, I selected three options from reputed budget earbuds brands to evaluate, each under £35.99 / $35.99.
I tested the Tozo OpenEarRing, Soundcore Anker V20i, and Belkin SoundForm ClearFit earbuds. My two-week evaluation involved listening to various music genres and podcasts.
Top Picks: Quick Overview
For those who prefer brief summaries, I can say upfront that the Tozo OpenEarRing are commendable, the Anker Soundcore V20i present a solid choice, while the Belkin buds didn’t meet expectations. Let’s delve deeper into the reasoning behind these conclusions.
Today’s best Tozo OpenEarRing deals
Today’s best Anker Soundcore V20i Open Earbuds deals
(Image credit: Future)
Open earbuds aim to keep your ear canals unobstructed, allowing for ambient sound awareness alongside your music. However, this design can be challenging, as there are no in-ear tips for stability. The earbuds often employ either an ear hook design or an ear clip that secures them in place. While some earbuds sit in the ear like regular models, the focus here is on hooks or clips.
The Belkin SoundForm ClearFit buds utilize an ear hook design, but the short hook and its angle did not provide the comfort I expected behind my ear. Additionally, the main unit of the bud felt bulky, leading to a distribution imbalance that caused slippage during walking and running.
Control Issues with Belkin
Worse yet, the touch controls on the side were overly sensitive. In my attempt to adjust the fit, I frequently found myself unintentionally pausing or skipping tracks.
The Belkin SoundForm ClearFit pictured here in their charging case
(Image credit: Future)
Conversely, the Soundcore Anker V20i feature longer ear hooks that provide additional stability and allow for customization at the base of the hook. This feature accommodates various ear shapes and improves fit. While I found them somewhat unstable during intense workouts, their design ensures a better fit than the Belkin option.
The Soundcore Anker V20i buds in their charging case. Those hooks can be every so slightly adjusted to give you a better fit
(Image credit: Future)
The Tozo OpenEarRing features a unique clip-on design. You slightly part the buds and slip them over your ear’s helix, creating a much more secure fit than traditional ear hook styles. This design not only offers comfort but also ensures that the buds sit closer to your ear compared to the hook styles, thereby enhancing audio quality.
The Tozo OpenEarRing buds pictured here in their charging case, which has a cool little screen that displays battery levels
(Image credit: Future)
Evaluating Sound Quality and Performance
I did not expect high-fidelity sound quality from these budget earbuds, but I wanted to assess if they could achieve decent listening volumes—often challenging for open designs—and provide engaging sound quality. I also tested for vocal clarity, particularly for podcasts, frequently recommended for open earbuds.
The Belkin SoundForm ClearFit buds were underwhelming in terms of audio quality across different music genres. Even at maximum volume, they produced a quiet sound, and pushing them higher resulted in a tinny, distant quality with little bass presence. They might serve well for podcast listening in quieter settings.
(Image credit: Future)
The Soundcore V20i performed better in terms of loudness, boasting improved bass presence. Although it handled bass-heavy tracks relatively well, it doesn’t provide an immersive experience. The podcasts sounded clear, making them a fine option for casual listening.
On the other hand, the Tozo buds excelled with their proximity to my ears. Their volume capacity surprised me, and they offered notable instrument separation and clarity. While the bass wasn’t imposing, it was impressive for an open, budget-friendly design. Their accompanying app also facilitates easy EQ adjustments, enhancing sound profiles.
Sound Leakage Considerations
While open designs usually direct sound towards the ear, some sound leakage is inevitable. I conducted tests to assess leakage at different volumes and distances.
The Soundcore buds managed sound leakage well at medium volumes but were audible from a distance when pushed to full volume. The Belkin option exhibited the most noticeable leakage, and the Tozo variant performed comparably to the Soundcore pair.
These models aren’t ideal for quiet office environments, but investing in a clip-on design, such as the Tozo, may reduce leakage due to its proximity to the ear.
(Image credit: Future)
Fit, Comfort, and Control
During walks or runs, maintaining awareness of my surroundings is crucial. Therefore, I also focused on the control mechanisms for each pair of earbuds.
The Belkin buds faced challenges with overly sensitive touch controls, making it difficult to adjust the fit without unintentionally activating various functions. Unfortunately, these earbuds lack an app to manage settings or turn off controls.
Soundcore’s controls were also sensitive but easier to manage. The supporting app provides customization options, which enhances usability. Tozo’s design doesn’t register single taps, minimizing accidental touches, although the double-tap feature sometimes required multiple attempts to work.
(Image credit: Future)
The Tozo OpenEarRing emerged as the clear winner regarding fit, stability, and sound quality. They offer exceptional value for a budget-friendly option while maintaining the fundamental open-ear design principles.
For more advanced and expensive clip-ons, consider brands like Soundpeats. Currently, the Soundpeats Clip1 is leading in our best open earbuds guide under the £100/$100 price range.
For those committed to ear hooks, the Anker Soundcore V20i provides satisfactory sound and reasonable fit, as long as intense workouts aren’t a primary concern.
Ultimately, it’s crucial to be aware of the trade-offs that come with budget earbuds and decide which limitations you’re willing to accept. That approach will help you find the best earbuds for your budget.
Today’s best Tozo OpenEarRing deals
Today’s best Anker Soundcore V20i Open Earbuds deals
Image Credit: www.techradar.com
