The best bone conduction headphones of 2023: Expert tested

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You may have heard that headphones and earbuds are not the greatest for hearing health, despite the fact that everyone seems to use them. How else could we listen to our favorite podcasts, music or audiobooks, after all? But it turns out over-the-ear headphones and earbuds aren’t the only option. The lesser-known bone conduction headphones have an untraditional form factor, which may make them the best option for your hearing health and even safety.

Unlike in-ear buds or over-ear headphones, bone conduction headphones work by emitting vibrations to your inner ear. This unique engineering might reduce the inner-ear trauma that occurs when you’re jamming in (and out to) earbuds. Additionally, many runners attribute the open-air design to increased safety from cars. But don’t worry, you can still feel each note and every beat for a new way of enjoying your favorite content.

If you’re interested in trying them out, ZDNET has done hands-on testing and research to round up the best bone conduction headphones on the market. The Shokz OpenRun Pro is our pick for the best bone conduction headphones overall, thanks to their top-notch audio quality, comfortable fit and long battery life. Check out the rest of our selections below to find the best bone conduction headphones for you.

Also: The best headphones for workouts and running

Pros

Immersive sound
Quick charge support
Lightweight and comfortable

Cons

Limited to IP55 water resistance

Unlike earlier iterations of bone conduction headphones, the Shokz OpenRun Pro skip the in-ear buds design without jeopardizing audio quality and clarity. Thanks to Shokz TurboPitch engineering and Shokz ninth bone conduction technology, our testing concluded that with these headphones, safer running no longer has an ample sound tradeoff.

To help them stay in place during your workout, there is a Shokz headband included with your bone conduction headphones, and the titanium frame simply wraps around your head for a lightweight fit that is easy to wear when you are most active.

Review: Shokz OpenRun Pro review: Outstanding bone conduction headset for safe training

Pros

Comfortable and secure fit
IP67 rating
Decent battery life

The AfterShokz Aeropex are a lightweight open-ear pair of bone conduction headphones that ZDNET loves for exercise and travel. They employ Bluetooth 5.0 technology for connectivity, and there is a single button to control your music and use your voice assistant.

With an eight-hour battery life and IP67 waterproof rating, they make for a great companion to bring to the pool or beach. Plus, your charger will even let you know if it detects moisture when charging.

Review: AfterShokz Aeropex review: Impressive bone conduction headset with long battery life, solid performance

Pros

Noise-canceling boom microphone
Long battery life
Bluetooth 5.1 technology

Cons

Some pairing issues
Pricey

For remote workers on calls all day, these bone conduction headphones from Shokz are a offer a pressure-build-up free approach that will provide you with all-day comfort. The mic here is what really shines: an adjustable DSP noise-canceling boom microphone blocks outside noise while you speak, making it ideal for use in a range of workplace environments.

These headphones also use Bluetooth 5.1 technology, meaning you can stay connected up to about 328 feet away. However, you can also use the Loop 100 USB-A wireless adapter, the headset and the computer can establish a more stable and continuous connection between your PC and the headset, so you can be sure no work calls will drop.

The Shokz OpenComm UC can also quick charge if needed: a five-minute charge can last you up to two hours of talk time. In comparison, a full charge will take you a full hour.

Review: AfterShokz OpenComm wireless headset: Bone conduction with DSP boom mic optimized for remote work

Pros

Built-in 8GB of storage
Extremely waterproof
Secure fit to stay on even underwater

Cons

Bluetooth connection doesn’t work well in water

These on-ear bone conduction headphones from H2O Audio are rated IPX8, meaning that they are water resistant up to 12 feet (3.6 meters) of water. They are also super comfortable to wear — both under and above water.

Aside from their waterproof rating, what makes these bone conduction headphones stand out is their built-in MP3 player that can store up to 8GB of music. Transferring music from your computer to these over-ear bone conduction headphones is easy with the micro-USB cable provided.

Review: These $99 bone conduction headphones work underwater — and when you don’t have your phone

However, you can still connect these headphones to your smartphone or other device to listen via Bluetooth, but keep in mind the Bluetooth range is only four inches when underwater.

You can expect up to nine hours of battery life with these headphones, but this varies depending on volume level and whether you are listening via MP3 or Bluetooth mode.

Pros

Extremely lightweight
Rated for swimming
Great clarity

Cons

No Bluetooth
Feature suite comes at a cost

Shokz offers yet another wonderful bone conduction option with its waterproof OpenSwim headphones. These open-ear headphones skip the in-ear buds and incorporate excellent IP68 waterproofing, so these are ideal for swimming and other water activities. Additionally, Shokz includes a nose clip.

Another standout feature of the OpenSwim headphones is its inclusion of internal MP3 storage with room for up to 1,200 songs, so you can have all your favorite tunes during your swim. And with accessible touch controls, it’s easy to skip a song or hit the pause button straight from the headphones themselves.

Pros

LED indicator
Comfortable fit
Sweat-resistant

These bone conduction headphones are ideal for someone looking for a pair of headphones to take from the office to the gym. They have an IP66 rating, making them water-resistant and sweatproof. Their open-ear form factor makes them a great choice for someone who wants to be as aware of their surroundings as the streamed content. And according to ZDNET’s testing, they “stay comfortably in place” even when running or jogging.

On the neckband of the Philips A6707 is a bright red LED light that can be controlled via the Philips Headphones app. This LED light helps you stay visible to cars and people if you prefer to exercise at night.

Review: Why these bone conduction headphones are my go-to for outdoor listening

The best bone-conduction headphones are the AfterShokz Aeropex, an IP67 waterproof set with built-in Bluetooth technology. With their traditional over-the-ear design and lightweight build, they earn our vote for the best bone conduction headphones.

To see how they stack up, here is an overview of the other top picks on this list.

Best bone conduction headphones	Price	Battery life	Waterproofing
Shokz OpenRun Pro	$180	10 hours	IP55
AfterShokz Aeropex	$130	8 hours	IP67
Shokz OpenComm UC	$200	8 hours	IP55
H2O Audio TRI Multi-Sport	$100	9 hours	IPX8
Shokz OpenSwim	$150	8 hours	IP68
Philips Go A760	$170	9 hours	IP66

Want to make sure you choose the pair of bone conduction headphones best fit for your needs and ears? This chart further breaks down our favorite features.

Choose these bone conduction headphones…	If you want…
Shokz OpenRun Pro	An excellent choice for workouts. Coming with a Shokz headband to keep the headphones in place during physical activity, they’re sturdy, lightweight, and even pack in 10 hours of battery. Plus, Shokz’s TurboPitch engineering and ninth bone conduction technology doesn’t compromise surrounding awareness for good quality audio.
AfterShokz Aeropex	A premium pair of bone conduction headphones that provides excellent sound quality, eight hours of battery life, and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. With its IP67 rating, the headphones are waterproof and sweat-resistant, making them perfect for outdoor workouts.
Shokz OpenComm UC	Bone conduction headphones to make work calls. The headphones feature a noise-canceling boom microphone, ensuring that you can hear and be heard clearly, use Bluetooth 5.1 technology, and provide up to 16 hours of talk time and 8 hours of listening time.
H2O Audio TRI	Affordable waterproof bone conduction headphones with up to 8GB of storage. With its IPX8 rating, the headphones can be submerged in up to 12 feet of water, making them perfect for swimming and other water activities.
Shokz OpenSwim	A pair of lightweight bone conduction headphones for swimming in up to 10 feet of water. Additionally, these headphones feature an internal MP3 player that can store up to 1200 songs, allowing you to listen to your favorite tunes while swimming and a nose clip to ensure a secure fit.
Philips Go A7607	A versatile pair of bone conduction headphones that enhance outdoor listening and safety. The headphones feature a bright red LED light on the neckband that can be controlled via the Philips Headphones app, making it easy to stay visible while exercising at night.

To find the best bone conduction headphones, I collected ZDNET’s hands-on testing and research into these products and considered the following factors:

Type: There are many different types of bone conduction headphones, such as over-the-ear or in-ear bone conduction headphones. Everyone has a preference, so it all depends on the style of headphones you want and how you intend to use them.
Battery life: It is important to consider the battery life of bone conduction headphones, so you know how long to expect each set to last before requiring a charge.
Sweat and waterproof rating: If you are a swimmer, you may want to consider a pair of bone conduction headphones that are rated for water resistance or waterproofing, so you do not risk damaging them.
Cost: We chose bone conduction headphones that meet a variety of different budgets to help ensure that there is something for everyone.

Bone conduction headphones use vibrations to transmit sound waves directly to the inner ear, bypassing the eardrum. This technology was first developed for military and medical use but has since been adapted for consumer use.

These headphones typically sit on the cheekbones and use a small transducer to send vibrations through the bones of the face to the inner ear. This allows users to hear the audio clearly, while still being able to hear their surroundings. This can be useful for people who work in noisy environments or for those who are hard of hearing. They also can be used for people who are unable to wear traditional headphones due to physical conditions.

Not all bone conduction headphones are waterproof, so it is important to check the waterproof or water-resistant rating on a set before making a purchase.

Bone conduction headphones can vary significantly in price, depending on the manufacturer and model that you choose. Our picks for the best bone conduction headphones range in cost from $100 to more than $200 each.

Outside of these five bone conduction headphones, there are also a handful of others that caught our attention. Brands like AfterShokz and Pyle Bone make great alternative choices.