You’ve heard people talking about wired and wireless headphones or earbuds and how they use those headphones.
Earbuds for everyday tasks such as intense swimming sessions, gym sessions, driving, bike or cycle riding, studying, and various other daily life tasks.
When people take online classes or listen to their favorite tracks at full volume using traditional headphones. Those people have no idea what’s going on around them. Even if someone is yelling at them.
They don’t respond to them as well and people think they might be acting rude but to be honest. They can’t hear a thing happening outside. That’s where bone-conduction headphones enter the picture.
Table of Contents
Use of Bone-Conduction Headphones?
Traditional headphones (or earphones) fit over the ears, on the ears, or inside the ear, but bone-conduction headphones fit in front of the ear and sit on the bone.
Bone-conduction headphones convert audio waves into vibrations which act as your eardrum which means it will go directly through your cochlea. Let’s see all this nerds’ stuff in detail.
Working of Bone-Conduction Headphones
To understand the working of bone-conduction headphones. We first need to understand the working of traditional headphones and for understanding their working. We need to hit our 3rd-5th grade science books again 😁.
The sound travels as a wave in the air and when it reaches our ears, that wave collides with the eardrum in the outer ear.
During the collision, that wave produces some vibrations which further travel to the inner ear and when the vibration reaches the cochlea, the cochlea converts that vibration into the electrical impulse.
This electrical impulse which is basically signals reaches our brain through the auditory nerve and that’s how we can hear the sound.
The traditional headphones or earphones work similarly because when you put them on and their diaphragm vibrates, it produces a vibration that reaches your outer ear’s eardrum and the rest of the procedure is the same.
Often when you hear the sound at full volume with traditional headphones, there’s always remain a danger of destroying that eardrum permanently which results in hearing loss.
So, bone-conduction headphones eliminate the eardrum from the picture because these headphones directly send the sound to the inner ears and human brain, so you can easily the music.
The Invention of Bone-Conduction Technology
Bone-conduction technology is not an invention or a new thing because often experts in audiology mark this technology as an accidental discovery.
Beethoven who was deaf and a music composer gave the concept of bone-conduction technology by discovering that we can hear the sound through bones as well in the 18th century.
That’s how bone-conduction headphones come into the picture and just like traditional headphones, you can hear the music tracks, answer the calls, and All other stuff (you usually do with traditional headphones or earphones) with bone-conduction headphones as well.
Today’s Agenda
You will find a lot of bone-conduction headphones in the market, but before making your purchase, you should hear us out. Today, we’ll talk about what are the best bone-conduction headphones available in the market.
If you are looking to buy bone-conduction headphones for your calling needs then, you should hover over the best bone-conduction headphones with a mic because we’ve discussed all that stuff in detail.
If you like to wear bone-conduction headphones for swimming you can find them below:
Similarly, if you are looking for bone-conduction headphones that can suit your swimming needs, then check out the best bone conduction headphones for swimming.
Anyway, moving onto our today’s topic, we’ll start with some buying guides that will help you pick the best bone-conduction headphones. Then, we’ll move to our list of best bone conduction headphones 2023 and discuss some pros and cons of bone-conduction headphones.
Last but not least, we’ll answer some most commonly asked questions related to bone-conduction headphones. So, without any further delay, let’s start!
Buying Guide for Bone-Conduction Headphones
1. Pick Headphones with Warranty
If a product has an authentic warranty, you can complain to the manufacturer of the product, if there’ll be any manufacturing default.
So, whichever product you’ll choose, always look for the one that has a warranty because it’s better to choose the wise option even for premium products as you are getting the company’s assurance for that product.
They may cost a few more bucks but it’s worth spending money if you are getting the quality.
2. Ergonomic and Comfortable Design
For indoor or outdoor activities, you should look for bone-conduction headphones that are comfortable to wear because even if you’ve spent great bucks if that product isn’t comfortable enough, then you’ve wasted your money.
3. Prefer Waterproof Technology
With bone-conduction headphones, it’s better to pick a piece that is at least water-resistant if not waterproof. Because you are buying these headphones for outdoor activities and if they can’t resist the water, then these headphones are of no use.
4. Sound Quality
When it comes to the sound quality of bone-conduction headphones, even the premium ones often lack behind traditional headphones or earphones, so if you are conscious about the sound quality and that’s your main preference.
These headphones might not be a pick for you. But if you want surroundings awareness with a little compromise on sound quality, then bone-conduction headphones should be your pick.
5. Wired or Wireless
As most people use bone-conduction headphones for outdoor activities, so wireless headphones are a better pick than wired headphones.
Even for indoor activities, they (wireless headphones) will make a perfect fit but that doesn’t mean wired headphones can fit the situation because, in the end, it depends upon the user.
However, wireless headphones will be a little bit more expensive than wired headphones.
List for Best Bone Conduction Headphones
Keep in mind that the following list is a ranked list and we‘ve tested every product on this list. Since there’s no price limit, we are ranking products based on the quality they’ve given but that doesn’t mean the prices are too high; all of these are reasonably priced bone-conduction headphones.
So, let’s start the list!
1. AfterShokz Aeropex
| HEADPHONE HIGHLIGHTS | |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth Technology: | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Behavior with Water: | IP67 Waterproof but not for Swimming |
| Battery Life: | 8 Hours |
| Weight: | 0.92 ounces |
| Strength: | Comfortable + Lightweight |
No matter what query you type for searching for the best bone-conduction headphones or what expert you ask. You will always get AfterShokz Aeropex as the top contender for the list of best bone-conduction headphones.
So, without hesitation, we’ve put this on the top spot in our list of what are the best bone conduction headphones.
So, let’s prove this with the result of our testing.
Insights of these Headphones:
With the best battery life in the bone-conduction headphones lineup from AfterShokz, these headphones are considered one of the best products, AfterShokz has ever produced.
The titanium build of these headphones makes them lightweight and comfortable to wear. These headphones will sit comfortably between the cheek and ear.
We’ve done testing on these headphones with various helmets, but not even once, we’ve experienced any fitting issues. So, it’s safe to say that these will fit comfortably on anybody’s head.
But this comes at a cost and that cost is the sound quality. AfterShokz has traded sound quality with environmental awareness. Moreover, the bass of these headphones is very thin, which means they won’t get louder. In our testing, we’ve experienced that even the noise overwhelmed these headphones at a higher speed.
The earplugs will be a surprise for more tech-savvies because if someone buys an open-ear headphone, he wants to keep their ears open but it must be there for a reason. Since we trust the company, as it has been one of the best bone-conduction headphones producing company.
Overall, the battery life is exceptional and that’s why it’s the choice of most runners, cyclists and if you want a pair of comfortable non-invasive headphones then these headphones are a great pick.
- Waterproof
- Comfortable
- Excellent battery life
- Great surrounding awareness
- Low volume
- Thin bass
2. AfterShokz OpenComm
| HEADPHONE HIGHLIGHTS | |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth Technology: | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Battery Life: | Up to 16 Hours of Talk Time |
| Behavior with Water: | IP55 Water-Resistant |
| Weight: | 1.06 Ounces |
| Strengths: | Premium Model with Quick Charging |
| Range: | Up to 30 ft. |
AfterShokz has specifically designed OpenComm headphones for phone calls and that’s not the only reason, why we’ve put this on the second spot in our list of what are the best bone conduction headphones. So, let’s take a look at what AfterShokz OpenComm provides its users.
Insights of these Headphones:
The OpenComm is a brand-new product in the bone-conduction headphones lineup from AfterShokz and it comes with a microphone which makes them a perfect fit for calling (either audio or video).
From the design perspective, you will find the conventional open-ear headphones design of AfterShokz. These headphones will give you extreme flexibility because there are no rough edges at all and the headband is nice and smooth.
On the left side, you will find the control buttons for these headphones: Volume Up and Volume Down. You can use the volume down button as a mute button also as there is no separate button for muting the sound.
The AfterShokz OpenComm has 16 hours of battery life, which is amazing for something this small. These headphones also support fast-charging technology, but not with the USB Type-C cable. Instead, it uses a magnetic cable with a USB Type-A port on the other side that allows you to charge these headphones.
However, five minutes will give you two hours of additional use which means these can last multiple days. So, these headphones can easily cover any long lecture.
These headphones also support Bluetooth 5.0 which will give you a great range of over 30 feet and we haven’t faced any syncing issues when streaming Netflix. Moreover, they also support multi-pairing which means they can connect to multiple devices as well which will prove very handy.
These headphones have the support of NFC, so any device with NFC support will be easily connected to these headphones by putting the devices in pairing mode.
These headphones support IP55-rating which means you will be able to use these while working out. If you are taking a phone call while working out in the gym, you can bring down the microphone of these headphones. Being a noise-canceling microphone, these headphones will give fantastic noise-canceling while calling someone.
When it comes to the audio experience, you won’t get the same experience that premium traditional headphones provide because instead of going in your ear, these headphones fit on your temples on the sides. However, it delivers enjoyable music, but it’s not going to be high fidelity.
When you put on the AfterShokz OpenComm, you will be amazed by the comfort these headphones bring because it’s like you’re wearing nothing. Whether you’re in a car or you’re running, these will be great because you can hear everything that’s going around you.
Even when you are in your home and some of us don’t like wearing typical headphones that cover our ears, you can always use something small and lightweight like AfterShokz OpenComm.
- Perfect fit
- Best bone-conduction headphones for making calls
- Bass and volume
3. AfterShokz OpenMove
| HEADPHONE HIGHLIGHTS | |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth Technology: | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Behavior with Water: | IP55 Water-Resistant |
| Battery Life: | 6 Hours |
| Weight: | 0.063 lb. (29 g) |
| Strengths: | 7th Gen Bone Conduction Technology |
| Range: | Up to 33 ft. |
At number three on our list of what are the best bone conduction headphones, we have AfterShokz OpenMove. One of the reasons why we have put this on this list is, it has a dedicated mode for audiobooks only, but let’s find out more about these headphones.
Insights of these Headphones:
In a noisy environment, the AfterShokz OpenMove headphones will offer you high-quality sound because it has Premium Pitch 2.0.
You won’t experience any sound leakage because these headphones have great protection against sound leakage, which is a plus point for us and will be for most users.
The availability of the Bluetooth 5.0 Module makes connecting to other devices faster and more reliable. Moreover, you can enjoy the music up to 33 feet since it has a range of 33 feet.
You have also got 3 Equalizer settings (Standard, Vocal Booster, and Earplug Mode). Each of the modes serves under a different scenario such as Earplug Mode will suit you.
If you are using the free foam earplugs. Similarly, the Standard mode will be suitable for regular listening and the Vocal Booster mode will be good for listening to Audiobooks and Podcasts.
With the IP55 module, the dust and water-resistant capability will make these headphones suitable for intense swimming or gym sessions.
One of the major plus points of these headphones is their ability to connect with two different audio devices simultaneously. You will also get notifications for incoming calls for both devices and the headphones will automatically connect you to the right device.
- Due to Bluetooth 5.0, the connection is efficient and reliable
- Simultaneous pairing with multiple devices
- Customizable listening modes
- Affordable
- Good sound quality
- For long usage, this model is not comfortable enough
4. AfterShokz Air
| HEADPHONE HIGHLIGHTS | |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth Technology: | Bluetooth 4.2 |
| Behavior with Water: | IP55 Water-Resistant |
| Battery Life: | 6 Hours |
| Weight: | 30 g |
| Strength: | Comfortable + Lightweight |
At the fourth place on our list of what are the best bone-conduction headphones, we have AfterShokz Air. It’s considered one of the best bone conduction headphones for swimming which makes these a perfect fit for intense swimming seasons.
Insights of these Headphones:
The AfterShokz Air wraps around the back of your neck easily. The design of AfterShokz Air may not be as good as earphones, but the speakers are exceptional.
Speaking of the speakers, these headphones allow you to hear what’s going on around you, which is a good option for every cyclist, biker, or even for someone who is using these at home.
On the left-hand side, you will find the mute button which is easily pressable. You can easily set up these headphones with a female voice called Audrey and it confirms that the Bluetooth pairing process with a phone has worked.
On each side of these headphones, there’s a small fingertip-sized housing that contains batteries and controls. They also play a role in keeping the AfterShokz Air still on the back of the head.
Moreover, the controls are simple too. On the right-hand side, you will find volume buttons, and being open-ear headphones, there’s a risk of sound leakage.
The short battery life of AfterShokz Air is one of the biggest drawbacks of these headphones. But the lightweight design will prove that these headphones will be good in any scenario. The AfterShokz Air is superb in the gym and even if you’re out on a run or at home, these headphones will make the perfect fit.
- Comfortable fit
- Easy-to-use
- Good battery life
- Great sound quality
- Compatible with iOS and android
- Ambient sound
- Low volume
- Below-par microphone quality
5. Tayogo S2
| HEADPHONE HIGHLIGHTS | |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth Technology: | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Battery Life: | Up to 6 Hours of Playback Time |
| Weight: | 0. 0.065lb. (29.7 g) |
| Compatibility: | With both Android and iOS |
| Specialty: | Dynamic Range and Base |
| Range: | Up to 30 ft. |
The fifth entry on our today’s list of what are the best bone conduction headphones is the Tayogo S2, which is one of the budget picks on our list today.
Insights of these Headphones:
With a range of 30 feet, the Tayogo S2 features a 5.0 Bluetooth module, which guarantees fast and reliable connectivity with various devices. However, in our testing, we’ve experienced some connectivity issues.
For beginners and people with a limited budget, these bone-conduction headphones can be a good choice. You can pair these headphones with wearables and with a single charge, you can listen to music for 6 hours such as the powerful battery of Tayogo S2.
Even if you have a large head, the headphones will fit 99% of the users. The headphones won’t slip down from your head due to the soft rubber pads which are not only comfortable but will also not get in the way of vibration transmission.
These comfortable rubber pads will make your audiobooks, podcasts, audio tracks, and movies more fun.
If you use these headphones with full volume, the person sitting next to you can hear everything and that is why these headphones are preferable in noisy places. However, if you want to use these headphones in a quiet place, then you need to listen to the music at normal or less volume.
- Reliable Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity
- Perfect fit for exercise and sports
- Long-range
- Affordable model
- Great battery life
- The peak sound of these headphones is not loud enough for a noisy environment
6. KppeX BH528
| HEADPHONE HIGHLIGHTS | |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth Technology: | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Behavior with Water: | IP56 Waterproof rating |
| Weight: | 28 g |
| Strength: | Ergonomic Build with 360-Degree Bending Support |
KppeX is not a known brand but it has proved its worth and we consider you should give a shot to KppeX BH528 because it’s a lightweight BH528 bone-conduction headphone.
These headphones have made the sixth spot in our list of what are the best bone conduction headphones and it’s good for anyone whose priority is value and durability for money.
Insights of these Headphones:
The IP56 waterproof rating makes these headphones an ideal pick for outdoor usage such as cycling, running, and gym, and the IP56 module will protect the headphones from dangerous dusty particles and light rain/water sprays.
No matter how long your cycling and gym sessions are, the sweat won’t bother these headphones. However, having said that, it’s not suitable for swimming sessions, but that’s not what we are talking about.
These headphones are very bendy thanks to the silicone sleeve and ABS + titanium alloy. Moreover, you can bend these headphones in 360-degree directions, which means even the twists from violent users can’t do anything bad to these headphones.
What’s more interesting about these headphones is their 28-gram weight which makes them one of the lightest weight bone-conduction headphones, so, you can take them anywhere with you on your long journeys.
The headphones come with great build and sound quality, but when it comes to long call sessions, that’s the area where these headphones lack. The reason is its low microphone volume and for users having high cheekbones, this might be suitable, but not for everyone.
- 360-degree bending support
- Lightweight and ergonomic build
- Waterproof and dust resistant
- Mediocre call quality
7. AfterShokz Titanium Mini
| HEADPHONE HIGHLIGHTS | |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth Technology: | Bluetooth 4.1 |
| Behavior with Water: | IP55 Water-Resistant |
| Battery Life: | 6 Hours |
| Weight: | 29 g |
| Specialty: | 7th Generation Bone Conduction Technology and Suitable for Smaller Heads (as well) |
At number seven, we have Titanium Mini on our list of what are the best bone conduction headphones. It’s almost the same as Titanium from AfterShokz but there’s a difference in the headband. In the case of Titanium Mini, it is one inch shorter.
Insights of these Headphones:
The insights of Titanium Mini are pretty much similar to Titanium. Being a bone-conduction headphone, rather than going over the top of the head. These headphones fit at the back of your head.
So, the Titanium (which has a bigger headband) was less comfortable. But the Titanium Mini solves this problem with its shorter headband.
Overall, these headphones are perfect for adults with shorter heads and teens. AfterShokz has embedded a Bluetooth 4.1 Module instead of 5.0 and that’s the reason, why a lot of people have faced connectivity and audio dropouts issues.
- Sweatproof and dust resistant
- Flexible design with a lightweight build
- Support of pairing multiple devices simultaneously
- Long standby time and above par playback time
- A great choice for listening to podcasts and music
- Perfect for people with small heads
- Bluetooth 4.1 is a bit old now and seems to have connectivity issues
8. Vidonn F1 Titanium
| HEADPHONE HIGHLIGHTS | |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth Technology: | Bluetooth 4.1 |
| Behavior with Water: | IP55 Water-Resistant |
| Battery Life: | 6 Hours Play Time and 7 Days Standby |
| Weight: | 0.083 lb. (38 g) |
| Specialty: | Comfortable Under Swim Cap and Internal Music Storage (only) |
| Range: | 10 meters (30-33 feet) |
The eighth entry on our list of what are the best bone conduction headphones is one of the Vidonn bone conduction headphones named Vidonn F1. Let’s see the functionality that Vidonn F1 offers to its users.
Insights of these Headphones:
With attractive packaging, the Vidonn F1 makes a very good first impression as these headphones are packed in a solid and good-looking box.
There’s a plastic holder which makes sure that Vidonn F1 is firmly tied up in the packaging. These headphones are available in black with either gray-blue or yellow accents.
If you’ll buy Vidonn F1 from an authorized distributor, you will be able to enjoy a 30-day refund policy, which is a satisfaction guarantee provided by Vidonn.
Not only that but, the Vidonn F1 also comes with a 12-month warranty.
These bone conduction headphones with mic are lightweight and comfortable to wear and the build quality of these headphones is a titanium alloy structure that is highly flexible. The black TPU plastic looks durable and of high quality.
For controlling the headphone, you’ll have three buttons. One is the Play or Pause button, which you can also use to answer phone calls and the other two buttons are the Volume up and Volume down buttons.
The Play Pause buttons and the flap covering the micro-USB-port are covered with soft plastic, whereas the volume buttons are covered with hard plastic.
The sound quality is a bit puny or sounds like metallic (tinny) and often base gets a little lost. However, if you wear the earplugs with the headphone, you can overcome this issue and you will experience an astonishing difference in the sound quality.
By doing this, you will lose the benefit of hearing other sounds. So, there’s no denying the sound quality of Vidonn F1 (with earplugs) but it just gets a little lost among the background noise. In our testing, the battery life of these headphones is 6 hours which is pretty impressive.
Overall, the headphones are durable, comfortable, with surprisingly good battery life and if you’re looking to invest in some wireless bone conduction headphones and don’t want to spend too much then these are highly recommended.
- Battery life is better than average
- Durable and lightweight build
- Great packaging
- The sound quality isn’t good
- The base often lost
9. Genso Bone Conduction Headphone
| HEADPHONE HIGHLIGHTS | |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth Technology: | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Battery Life: | 200mAh Lithium Battery with 5 Hours of Playback time |
| Weight: | 1.2 ounces |
| Wireless Range: | 33 feet of Transmission |
| Strength: | Even with Tough Exercise Sessions the Build of the Design Allows it to Stay Fit |
At the ninth spot on our today’s list of what are the best bone conduction headphones are Genso Bone-Conduction Headphones and let’s see why we have put it here.
Insights of these Headphones:
People having wax buildup and ear infections prefer this pair of headphones because they have an open ear design.
Considering its price tag, these headphones offer reasonable sound quality, long battery life, long connectivity, and transmission range.
The headphones aren’t suitable for phone conversations, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take calls with these headphones. However, for listening and answering calls, these headphones will first pause the music.
With these headphones, you can stay alert to what is happening in your surroundings since these are suitable for any condition.
Moreover, you’ve got a 60-day return policy and a 1-year warranty, which is very useful because if you’ve faced any issue, then you can always return without any hassle.
- Long battery life
- Long transmission and connectivity range
- Affordable model
- Not suitable for phone conversations
Conclusion
If you want the best among the rest, then AfterShokz OpenComm or AfterShokz Aeropex should be your choice. However, if you want budget picks then you can try Tayogo S2. If are looking for bone-conduction headphones that are specifically designed for small heads, then Titanium Mini should be your pick.
Bone Conduction Headphones Pros and Cons
- More awareness of the surroundings
- Unique listening experience
- More comfortable fit than traditional headphones or earphones
- Sound quality is not as good as traditional headphones
- You can feel the vibration
- Costly as compared to traditional headphones or earphones
AfterShokz is one of the best companies for bone-conduction headphones and they have various bone-conduction headphones products but according to us, their top products are Aeropex (for overall purposes) and OpenComm (for calling).
As discussed earlier, listening to traditional headphones at full volume can damage your eardrums which will result in permanent hearing loss. So, bone-conduction headphones are a viable alternative for people having hearing loss and ear infections.
Listening to music at full volume in any headphones can be dangerous. So, never ignore the message on your device; that says “Listening to music in high volume may damage your ears” while increasing the volume.
The same is the case with bone-conduction headphones but they have various advantages over traditional headphones which you can see in the Pros and Cons section.
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