Fifty percent off: The perfect, high-end open ear buds for the sporting types | Technology News

It is a good time for those who want to try open-ear earbuds. These earbuds broadly resemble conventional, truly wireless earbuds (TWS) like the AirPods. However, unlike most TWS devices that cover the ear canal totally or need to be inserted inside it, these lie on top of the ear canal, and do not block it completely. As a result, external sounds do get into the ears, letting you be aware of your surroundings, without having to rely on a software-driven transparency mode, which can be erratic and drains batteries.While such earbuds were relatively few in number some years ago, they are now getting popular, especially among athletes and those who work outdoors and need to be aware of what is around them. And with great popularity comes more brands and greater competition, which in turn leads to reduced prices.
One of the best open-ear earbuds comes from Anker’s audio sub-brand Soundcore, the AeroFit Pro. It was available initially at a price in the range of Rs 17,999 – Rs 19,999 in India, but is now available on Amazon and Flipkart at almost half that price: Rs 8,999 or Rs 9,999, which can come down even further with the right offers.
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Staying open while looking sleek
While you can get open-ear earbuds at much lower prices (check out our take on a more budget-friendly open-ear buds deal from Soundcore here), these often come with their compromises, most notably in terms of audio quality, which is anyways difficult to maintain thanks to the “open” nature of these buds. If one is looking for relatively good audio quality and also additional features like spatial audio, then one has to – as in all things tech – spend a little more. Which is where earbuds like the Soundcore AeroFit Pro come in.
The Soundcore AeroFit Pro come with a relatively polished design. (Express Photo)
The buds come with a premium price tag – they initially were priced close to the AirPods and Sony’s 1000XM series – but come with features that you normally would not get in routine open-ear buds. And at their highly-reduced price, they are easily the best open ear buds for those who want a good audio experience, while sticking to an open-ear design.
The Soundcore AeroFit Pro come with a relatively polished design, with the buds attached to hooks that you place around the ear to ensure that the buds do not fall off (as the buds do not go into their air canal, they need to be kept stable). The back of the buds have Soundcore’s branding and so do the hooks which need to be tucked behind your ears.

Also on each of the buds is a physical button, which you can press to access different functions. Placing the buds in your ear takes a bit of practice – you need to place the hook behind your ear first and then place the buds near your ear canal – but one gets the hang of it. The buds are heavier than your usual TWS but as they are larger and made of soft material, you do not feel their weight. We have worn them for hours without feeling any discomfort. The design of the buds is also sleeker than those of lower priced alternatives, so it does not look as if you are wearing a large hearing aid in your ear.Story continues below this ad
The charging case weighs about 200 grams. (Express Photo)
The charging case itself is a little large and at about 200 grams, heavier than some phones, but comes with rounded edges and looks like a large, smooth pebble. Also included in the package is a neckband that you can attach to the buds to ensure that they do not fall to the ground and stay around your neck – a very nice touch. The buds come with IPX5 water resance so can easily survive gym sessions and even jogs in the drizzle.
Very good sound, awesome call quality…and they NEVER fall off
They look sleek for open ear earbuds but what makes the AeroFit Pro really special is their audio quality and the set of features they bring to the table. The buds come with very large 16.2 mm drivers, which deliver excellent clarity and decent volumes. Unlike lower priced open ear buds, where sound leakage tends to be on the high side, letting those close overhear what you are lening to, leakage levels are low. The companion Soundcore app also gives you a number of presets for different kinds of audio, and even gives you the option for spatial audio, with or without head tracking.
The buds are heavier than your usual TWS. (Express Photo)
As in the case of most open ear buds, the Soundcore AeroFit Pro do not come with booming bass, but you do get a slightly bass friendly signature and thanks to excellent audio clarity, the lening experience on them is an excellent one. Yes, external sounds do come in, but they seldom get too much in the way of your lening experience – we used them in noisy cafes and the Delhi Metro, and were able to len to music tracks and podcasts, without missing announcements.
Also included in the package is a neckband. (Express Photo)
Call handling is brilliant, making these the perfect buds for those who want to handle phone calls on the move, Soundcore’s decision to use a physical button for controls reduces the number of accidental touches (which can happen, especially when you are trying to adjust the buds in your ears) and works smoothly. Spatial audio is surprisingly effective too.Story continues below this ad
The buds come with IPX5 water resance. (Express Photo)
 
These are not earbuds for immersive lening, but are superb for those who want a good audio experience in crowded areas, while not missing out on ambient sounds. They are great to use while walking and running, and thanks to the hook and neckband, they never fall off (keeping the neckband safe is an issue, though, as it is stiff and does not fold – we are terrified of losing it).

Being high-end buds, they also come with multi-point connectivity, so you can switch between two devices. And we left one of the best features for last – the Soundcore AeroFit Pro deliver about 14-15 hours of battery life on a single charge, and close to 45-50 hours with the case. In simple terms, you can get through an entire week of heavy lening on a single charge.
The perfect blend of your sound and that of the world outside it
At Rs 17,999, we would have found the Soundcore AeroFit Pro to be on the expensive side, and too close to AirPod territory. However, at their reduced price, we think they are an absolute steal, especially for those who like to work on the move and be aware of their surroundings. You can get your audio fix, handle calls, even while being aware of the world around you. These are not for losing yourself in the world of sound, but for adding some very good sound to your world.Story continues below this ad
On each of the buds is a physical button, which you can press to access different functions. (Express Photo)
And at Rs 8,999, we would say they are not only the perfect gym and running companions, but also look sleek enough for those who work on the move. There are less expensive options, but they do not sound or look this good, nor do they have this sort of feature set!