Best open-ear headphones with a mic for calls
Updated 2026-11-12 · Pick: Shokz OpenComm2 (2025), $159.95 on Amazon (checked 2026-11-12), buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFWM4TWW?tag=dealectric-20
Short answer. The best open ear headphones with mic for calls in 2026 are the Shokz OpenComm2 (2025): its boom microphone is rated for 16 h of talk time per charge. Clip-on earbuds such as the Soundcore AeroClip 2 drop from 8 h of music to 5 h on calls.
Searched as: best open ear headphones microphone call quality 2026 Shokz OpenFit 2 soundcore AeroFit 2 Bose Ultra Open
How this table was made: each figure comes from the maker's own US product page or manual, or from the reviewer named next to it, checked 2026-11-08. Dealectric does not test units itself. Rows with a Buy link are products Dealectric lists: the links are affiliate links, and their codes are re-tested in the brand's own cart every day (last check 2026-11-13).
| Model | Type | Call mic and named test | Rated battery (maker) | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shokz OpenComm2 (2025) | Bone-conduction headset with boom mic, Bluetooth | DSP noise-canceling boom mic (Shokz). In SoundGuys' listener poll of the 2023 UC version, 79% rated it Good or Perfect (1,079 votes) | 16 h talk per charge | $159.95 on Amazon (checked 2026-11-12) | Buy on Amazon |
| Soundcore AeroClip 2 | Clip-on open-ear earbuds | 4 mics + 2 VPUs on the Thus AI chip. Guinness World Records certificate for highest G-MOS speech score among clip-on open earbuds (2026-08-31) | 5 h calls / 8 h music per charge; 20 h / 32 h with case | $169.99 on soundcore.com, 2026-11-05 | Buy |
| Nuroum OpenEar Pro 2 | Open-ear headset with boom mic and USB-A/C dongle, 31 g | 2 omni ECM mics on a 210° boom, mute button on the boom (Nuroum) | 12 h talk / 15 h music at 50% volume | $129 on Amazon (checked 2026-11-12) | Buy on Amazon |
| Shokz OpenComm2 UC (2025) | Bone-conduction headset with boom mic and Loop110 USB adapter for Mac or PC | Dual noise-canceling boom mic (Shokz). 79% Good or Perfect in SoundGuys' poll of the 2023 UC | 16 h talk per charge | $199.95 on Amazon (checked 2026-11-12) | Buy on Amazon |
| Shokz OpenFit 2 | Ear-hook open earbuds | 2 mics per earbud (RBE) | 48 h listening with case | $179.95 on Amazon (checked 2026-11-12) | Buy on Amazon |
| Soundcore AeroFit 2 | Ear-hook open earbuds, 4-level adjustable hooks | 58% Good or Perfect in SoundGuys' listener poll (923 votes) | 10 h music per charge; 42 h with case | $129.99 on soundcore.com, 2026-11-07 | $104 through this link code AFSC20 at checkout; tested 2026-11-02 |
| Shokz OpenDots 2 | Clip-on open earbuds | 3 mics (Shokz) | 40 h listening with case | $199.95 on Amazon (checked 2026-11-12) | Buy on Amazon |
| Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) | Clip-on open earbuds | 2 mics (Bose) | 9 h music (5 h with Immersive Audio or Auto Volume); case adds 19.5 h | $299 on Amazon (checked 2026-11-12) | Buy on Amazon |
What the differences mean
- An 8-hour call day: the Shokz OpenComm2 (2025) finishes with 8 h of talk time left (16 h − 8 h). The Nuroum OpenEar Pro 2 finishes with 4 h left (12 h − 8 h). The Soundcore AeroClip 2 runs out 3 h early (8 h − 5 h) and has to go back in its case.
- Boom headset vs clip-on: the OpenComm2 (2025) gives 3.2 times as many call hours per charge as the AeroClip 2 (16 h ÷ 5 h = 3.2).
- The AeroClip 2's case: the 20 h call rating with the case adds up to 4 call-length charges (20 h ÷ 5 h = 4): one from the earbuds and 3 refills from the case ((20 h − 5 h) ÷ 5 h = 3).
- Price per rated talk hour, one charge: OpenComm2 (2025) $10.00 ($159.95 ÷ 16 h). Nuroum $10.75 ($129.00 ÷ 12 h). OpenComm2 UC $12.50 ($199.95 ÷ 16 h). AeroClip 2 $34.00 ($169.99 ÷ 5 h), or $8.50 when you count the case ($169.99 ÷ 20 h).
- What the UC's extra cost buys: $40.00 more ($199.95 − $159.95) gets you the Loop110 USB adapter. The talk rating is the same 16 h.
- Cheapest boom headset with a dongle: the Nuroum costs $70.95 less than the OpenComm2 UC ($199.95 − $129.00).
| Your calls | Fits |
|---|---|
| Phone and laptop calls over Bluetooth most of the day | Shokz OpenComm2 (2025) |
| Zoom or Teams on a computer, using a USB adapter | Shokz OpenComm2 UC (2025), or the Nuroum OpenEar Pro 2 for less |
| Under 5 hours of calls a day, music the rest, no boom | Soundcore AeroClip 2 |
| Music and workouts with the odd call | Shokz OpenFit 2 or Soundcore AeroFit 2 |
Call hours are not music hours
Earbud battery claims are usually music playback. Soundcore's own comparison table does give a call figure for the AeroClip 2: 5 h per charge in call mode against 8 h in music mode, and 20 h against 32 h with the case. On calls you get 62.5% of the music rating (5 ÷ 8). The same Soundcore post mentions 10 to 11 h in another section. The table's 8 h / 32 h matches the rating Andy White quotes in his Expert Reviews test, so this page uses the table.
Boom headsets work the other way round. Shokz rates both the OpenComm2 (2025) and the OpenComm2 UC (2025) at 16 h of talk time. Nuroum rates the OpenEar Pro 2 at 12 h of talk and 15 h of music at 50% volume. In SoundGuys' test, Jasper Lastoria measured 17 h 59 min of playback on one charge from the earlier 2023 OpenComm2 UC (firmware 409-27). He did not test the 2025 model.
Makers rate the other earbuds in music or listening hours only. Shokz gives the OpenFit 2 48 h and the OpenDots 2 40 h, both counting the case. Soundcore gives the AeroFit 2 10 h of music per charge. Bose gives the Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) 9 h, or 5 h with Immersive Audio or Auto Volume. Treat each figure as a ceiling for calls: the AeroClip 2, the only clip-on here with a published call-mode figure, loses 37.5% of its music time on calls.
Microphone results point the same way. In SoundGuys' listener polls, 79% of 1,079 voters rated the 2023 OpenComm2 UC boom mic Good or Perfect, against 58% of 923 for the Soundcore AeroFit 2. Where the AeroClip 2 earns its place is the call itself. It uses 4 mics plus 2 voice pickup units on Anker's Thus AI chip. Guinness World Records certified it on 2026-08-31 for the highest objective G-MOS speech-quality score among open-ear clip-on earbuds. Andy White at Expert Reviews calls it "head and shoulders above their rivals in the call quality department". If your calls add up to less than 5 hours a day, it is the clip-on to buy: $169.99: https://dealectric.com/go/soundcore-aeroclip-2
Not recommended
The first-generation Soundcore AeroClip at the AeroClip 2's price. Soundcore's US store lists the original AeroClip at $169.99, the same as the AeroClip 2. Its listing describes "4 beamforming mics" and doesn't claim the Thus chip or the voice pickup units that the AeroClip 2's call claims depend on. Check that the listing says AeroClip 2 before you buy.
Sources
- Shokz OpenComm2 (2025): $159.95, DSP noise-canceling mic, 16 h talk time (maker store, read 2026-11-08) — shokz.com
- Shokz OpenComm2 UC (2025): $199.95, dual noise-canceling boom mic, Loop110 adapter, 16 h talk (maker store, read 2026-11-08) — shokz.com
- AeroClip 2 call mode 5 h / 20 h with case; music mode 8 h / 32 h (Soundcore comparison table, read 2026-11-08) — www.soundcore.com
- AeroClip 2: $169.99, 4 mics + 2 VPUs, Thus AI chip, Guinness G-MOS certificate 2026-08-31 (maker store, read 2026-11-08) — us.soundcore.com
- AeroClip 2 call quality judgement and 8 h / 32 h rating (Andy White, Expert Reviews, 2026-10-30, read 2026-11-08) — www.expertreviews.co.uk
- Nuroum OpenEar Pro 2: $129.00, 12 h talk / 15 h music at 50% volume, 2 ECM mics, 210° boom, mute button, USB-A/C dongle, 31 g (maker, read 2026-11-08) — nuroum.com
- OpenComm2 UC (2023) SoundGuys listener poll 79% Good/Perfect of 1,079 votes; 17 h 59 min measured battery (Jasper Lastoria, read 2026-11-08) — www.soundguys.com
- Soundcore AeroFit 2 SoundGuys listener poll 58% Good/Perfect of 923 votes (Dave Carr, read 2026-11-08) — www.soundguys.com
- Soundcore AeroFit 2: $129.99, 10 h music / 42 h with case (maker store, read 2026-11-08) — us.soundcore.com
- Shokz OpenFit 2: $179.95, up to 48 h listening with case (maker store, read 2026-11-08) — shokz.com
- Shokz OpenFit 2 mic count, 2 per earbud (RBE, read 2026-11-08) — realbuyerexperiences.com
- Shokz OpenDots 2: $199.95, 3 mics, up to 40 h listening (maker store, read 2026-11-08) — shokz.com
- Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen): $299.00, 9 h music (5 h with Immersive Audio or Auto Volume), case adds 19.5 h, 2 mics (maker, read 2026-11-08) — www.bose.com
- First-generation Soundcore AeroClip: $169.99, 4 beamforming mics (maker store, read 2026-11-08) — us.soundcore.com
Published 2026-11-06; updated 2026-11-12. The buy links are affiliate links; see the disclosure. Corrections welcome at [email protected] or /feedback.