The Honor Earbuds Open may have convinced me to embrace the open-ear style.

      I view myself as a bit of an audiophile, but not to the extent that I become bothersome at gatherings. I have a genuine appreciation for high-quality music and generally prefer in-ear earbud designs for everyday use. After spending some time with Honor’s Earbuds Open at MWC 2025, I'm amazed by how well the open-ear design manages sound quality.

      I've listened extensively to music and podcasts with Nothing’s Ear (open), which serve their purpose during walks with my dogs, but I seldom find the sound quality impressive. Because the speaker sits outside the ear canal, they tend to lack the bass precision that I easily achieve with in-ear models like the OnePlus Buds Pro 3. However, not everyone enjoys having earbuds inserted directly into the ear canal, and many dislike the isolation that comes with closed-ear designs.

      Open-ear models, such as the Honor Earbuds Open, address both of these frequent issues, and I am pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoy the sound.

      Stylish and Functional

      The Honor Earbuds Open effectively combine sleek design with practicality. The charging case is slim and easily fits in your pocket, though it is slightly larger than what you would expect from the OnePlus Buds Pro 3. It feels sturdy and features a satisfying magnetic closure, a small but appreciated detail that enhances the premium feel. The earbuds themselves have a large, reflective touch surface that not only looks modern but also functions as an effective control interface.

      In terms of color choices, the Polar Black variant is subtly minimalist, almost nondescript, which might appeal to those who prefer their technology to be less obtrusive. Conversely, the Polar Gold version offers more visual contrast, with silver accents on the pogo pins, speaker grille, and touchpad that add style. I found myself drawn to the black version for its simple elegance, but the gold version undeniably has more character.

      The Most Comfortable Open-Ear Buds I've Tried

      Honor has made thoughtful material choices with these earbuds. The housing is primarily plastic, yet it feels durable, providing a lightweight and comfortable option. The ear hooks are made from skin-friendly silicone and have a noticeably thinner profile compared to the Nothing Ear (open). After wearing them for an hour, I was surprised by how seamlessly they blended into my experience.

      Honor has also included a nitinol memory alloy in the ear hooks, which the company claims enhances stability during movement. I jumped and moved around to test their staying power, and they remained securely in place, making them a good option for exercise. Although a snug fit can sometimes be uncomfortable, I found the earbuds to be neither rigid nor tight. The weight distribution, aided by the weighted tip resting behind the ear, provides a nice counterbalance, making them feel natural and unobtrusive. Plus, each earbud weighs only 7.9 grams, so they are hardly noticeable.

      The open-ear design prevents additional pressure on the ear canal, a common complaint associated with traditional in-ear models. Compared to the Nothing Ear Open, which has a more angular shape, these earbuds feel smoother and more refined against the skin.

      Not Quite Audiophile, but Quite Loud

      Initially, I was impressed by the sound quality of the Honor Earbuds Open. However, after listening to various music styles, I found that they tend to overemphasize the low-end and low-mid frequencies. This results in a sometimes muddled bass response that made me want to adjust the EQ for more balance.

      When testing with Lee Burridge’s tech house set from Burning Man 2024, I noted that while the high frequencies were clear and the midrange well-defined, the low-end felt a bit excessive. Even lowering the volume didn’t alleviate the smearing in the bass I noticed.

      Switching to more melodic songs like "Let It Be" by The Beatles and "The Less I Know the Better" by Tame Impala revealed similar traits. The earbuds did an excellent job of providing clarity and were undoubtedly louder than the Nothing Ear Open, but the bass continued to dominate.

      This boosted low-end might appeal to those who enjoy a bass-heavy sound, but I found myself yearning for more balance across the sound spectrum. Nevertheless, I am impressed by the notable low-end capabilities of these open-ear earbuds and their high volume, addressing one of my main concerns with open-ear designs.

      The Honor Earbuds Open also offer Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), which is an unusual feature for open-ear designs, as blocking external noise is challenging due to their nature. A long press on the left earbud enables ANC mode, and while the effect is noticeable, I had to focus to detect how much noise was being canceled. I doubt they would be sufficient for use on an airplane, based on my brief experience testing them in a loud environment.

      If you pair the Earbuds Open with an Honor phone, like the Honor Magic 7 Pro, you can unlock additional features like AI Translation, although I was unable to test this