These $100 open-ear headphones beat my Bose Ultra Open in one practical way

ZDNET's key takeaways

For $100, the Soundcore C40i are decent open earbuds with a mid-range price tag. The button controls make it simple to command music -- far better than any touch control I've used on higher-end earbuds. The earbuds are chunky and, after a while, tend to make your ears ring.

Yet another pair of open earbuds has entered the market. This fall product launch season is rife with this new-ish style of earbud that prioritizes an aware listen over a noise-canceling fit. The most recent addition comes from Soundcore by Anker, the maker of affordable but value-packed audio devices like its Space One headphones and the Sleep A20 earbuds.

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I tried out the latest Soundcore C40i on runs and walks for a few weeks and have found them pleasant exercise earbuds for those interested in an affordable bone conduction alternative.

If you're unfamiliar with open earbuds, think of them as a hybrid between bone conduction and traditional earbuds. They hang or clip onto your ears, not fully sealing into place, to keep you aware of your surroundings and allow for external noises, like car horns or a herd of bicyclists. Unlike bone conduction headphones, the bass and volume on open earbuds are far more pronounced. 

That's one of the reasons I prefer them while running -- I've never been pleased with the measly volume levels on a Shokz OpenRun Pro or its competitors.

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The sound on this pair is neutral and nearly crystal clear. They can get a smidge tinny every so often, but they aren't bad for a pair of open earbuds. I loved listening to podcasts and playlists with these as I went on my six-mile runs and walks around the park. They delivered clear and loud sound with a comfortable build that hung around my ear like a tech-packed earring.

The build is chunkier but not heavier than other open earbuds I've tried. At 0.19 ounces, they're the same weight as the Bose Ultra Open, lighter than the Sony LinkBuds Open, and lighter than the JLab Flex.

Weight aside, they take up more space on my ears compared to other open earbuds. Unlike the Bose Ultra Open, they don't cling to my ears as tightly, and the earbuds' matte finish makes them less tactile around your ears. 

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I had to put the plastic ear grips around the buds to get them to fit my ear size, latch on, and stay in place. If you have medium to large ears, these will work just fine without the ear grips. If you have smaller ears like me, you'll need the ugly plastic grips for sure.

Many earbud manufacturers these days forgo button controls for wireless touch controls. I personally hate wireless touch controls for earbuds because of how finicky they can be -- no matter the quality of the earbud. Touch controls are particularly terrible for earbuds designed for exercise, given that a runner is supposed to operate these precarious controls while they're on the go.

So, when I ran with the C40i, I was happy to find button controls, making these some of the easiest open earbuds to operate -- far easier than the Sony LinkBuds Open that requires in-app setting configurations to make the touch controls more sensitive and responsive or the JLab Flex that is only temporarily responsive.

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I've worn these earbuds several times and haven't charged them once. That's in line with the Soundcore's claim of seven hours of battery life for the buds alone and 21 hours with the case. You're also getting an IPX4 rating, so the earbuds can endure some water splashes without breaking down, and Bluetooth 5.4.

Recording audio on the earbuds is flimsy and tinny, so I'd advise against using the C40i for phone calls or voice recordings. They're mainly exercise earbuds. On that note, my ears tend to hurt and gradually become sensitive after a prolonged wear of the C40i, which makes these incompatible for desk-side listening. Some earbuds can cause my ears to sting after a while, and these fell into that camp. 

ZDNET's buying advice

These earbuds are $100, but they will presumably be on sale during deals events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or Prime Day. You don't need to buy the C40i earbuds at full price, and I'd encourage that you wait, or find a pair that's a little cheaper and more comfortable. 

While the earbuds deliver good sound, button controls, and long battery life, I wasn't sold on the C40i's comfort and fit (or lack thereof). If you have larger ears, you'll have no issue with the fit, but you might have an issue with the stinging inside your ears after a few hours.

I'd recommend the JLab Flex open earbuds instead if you want a cheaper open earbud with a tighter fit (but worse touch controls) or the Bose Ultra Open for a luxury open earbud with an adjustable fit, great button controls, and great sound.