Open-fit AirPods that added active noise cancelling without ear tips. Reviewers were surprised it works at all; the trade-off is that the seal, and therefore the experience, varies a lot by ear.
This entry is written from the 4 sources listed at the bottom of the page. The numbers are our editorial estimates drawn from that material, not measurements, and no statistical sample sits behind them.
It depends on how you will use it. 74% would buy it again, which means roughly 26% would not. Poor fit does not improve with time — it is the whole risk of the design.
Sentiment splits cleanly by fit rather than by time: owners it suits stay happy, owners it does not have usually stopped using them well before six months.
Poor fit does not improve with time — it is the whole risk of the design. Less isolation makes them weak on planes and transit. Same non-replaceable battery ceiling as other AirPods.
Worth it for: People who find in-ear tips uncomfortable; Office and walking use where you want ambient awareness; IPhone owners who want AirPods features under Pro pricing. Think twice if: You fly often and want real isolation; You care about bass or critical listening; Your ears have never got on with stemmed open buds.
Our reading of how sentiment moves across an ownership period, drawn from the sources below. It is an editorial estimate, not tracked longitudinal data.
| At purchase | 7.2 / 10 |
|---|---|
| First week | 8.2 / 10 |
| One month | 7.8 / 10 |
| Six months | 7.5 / 10 |
| One year | 7.3 / 10 |
| Two years or more | 7.3 / 10 |
Owner reviews move this score. The researched figure stays visible next to it, so you can always see what the sources said before anyone voted.
Leave a review on the live pageEvery complaint and every piece of praise above traces back to these. The summaries are ours; nothing is quoted, and no link, quote or username anywhere on this site is invented.
Measurement-led review examining how much isolation an open-fit design can actually deliver.
Weighs the ANC version against the cheaper model and against the Pro.
Comparative testing against other wireless earbuds across fit, sound and noise handling.
Audio-focused assessment of the sound signature and where the open design limits it.