My 2026 Headphones Forecast Might Surprise You, but It's an Open Secret
CNET • • general
Key Points:
- The market for open-design true wireless earbuds, which allow ambient sound for situational awareness, is rapidly growing, with many new models announced at CES 2026 focusing on this style, including sporty ear-hook and clip-on designs from brands like Shokz, Anker, and JBL.
- Open earbuds face challenges incorporating effective active noise cancellation (ANC), but companies like Baseus and Anker are working on innovations to improve sound quality and noise reduction within this form factor, with products like Anker's convertible AeroFit 2 Pro aiming to offer adjustable ANC modes.
- Shokz's new OpenFit Pro earbuds ($250) provide good sound and comfort but offer limited noise reduction compared to Apple's AirPods 4 with ANC; they feature
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