The Best Bone Conduction Headphones 2024: A Clear Winner For UK Editor’s Choice [Updated Monthly]
Bone conduction headphones are one of the hottest trending products in 2024, and for good reason. Thanks to leaps forward in battery life, signal strength, and sound quality, the time is right to buy.
That said, the UK market is cluttered with cheap name brand knockoffs and dodgy internet sellers. Even well recognised brands are rushing to put out subpar product that is not worth your hard earned dollars. This is where we come in…
If you are thinking of purchasing new bone conduction or open ear headphones, our list (updated monthly) will help you make the best choice with a focus on sound and call quality, features, and overall value for your money.
Sonictrek Solo Pro 3: Editor’s pick for best bone conduction headphones – £69.99 at Mifo.co.uk →
Where to buy the Sonictrek Solo Pro 3 bone conduction headphones in the UK: Rated 4.7 / 5.0
The best bone conduction earphones including commuting, the office, running, and all around gym use come from a brand that is new to the UK. But don’t let that scare you off, as these headphones are easily some of the best we have ever tested.
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So what makes the Sonictrek Solo Pro 3 the best all around bone conduction earphones?
- The best bone conduction headphones for active lifestyles, period. The Solo Pro 3 come with a bevy of features that improve the tasks of the day immensely, beginning with their form factor. Weighing in at just a few grams, the Solo Pro 3 headphones feel supremely comfortable, and easily wearable during a full day of activity. Further, once on it’s nearly impossible to get them to fall off. Readers may remember propensity to fall out was a major problem that prevented us from recommending Aftershockz in our last wireless review.
- Absurd battery life and durability. The Solo Pro 3 will play continuously for 7+ hours, a feat we tested over several days. Not only that, but the included USB-C charging cable offers rapid charging to restore hours of use in as little as 15 minutes. To boot, the headphones are built around a flexible, titanium alloy frame that retains shape even after being crushed or deformed. That’s welcome news as these headphones are meant to withstand the training regimen of professional athletes.
- Excellent sound with patented multi-point bone conduction technology. The Solo Pro 3 pack some of the best sound quality in any bone conduction headphones we have tested. Highs and mids are crisp, while bass is ample without being annoying. That’s particularly helpful if you prefer energetic tracks when pushing yourself to the limit.
- UK-based customer support. We have been continuously disappointed with true wireless earbuds in the past, even from tech giants like Samsung. Part of that disappointment comes with poor or absent customer service. We tested Sonictrek on several occasions with questions and every time received proper replies within an hour. That demonstrates commitment to the UK market and contributes greatly to our award of Editor’s Pick.
AfterShokz OpenRun Pro: Solid but pricey bone conduction headphones – £159.95 at Amazon.co.uk →
Where to buy the Aftershockz Aeropex bone conduction headphones in the UK
If you aren’t price sensitive, Aftershockz may be the brand for you. These wireless bone conduction headphones come with fewer accessories than the Sonictrek Solo Pro 3, but offer a more generalist approach to the format.
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£159.95 at Amazon.co.uk – free 2-day delivery for Prime members ►
Why Aftershockz makes the list of best bone conduction earbuds for sports
- Good overall quality for bone conduction headphones. Since bone conduction headphones were invented, we have lamented at poor signal quality, dropped calls, and pairing fiascos. Aftershockz include top quality chipsets and firmware, and we can recommend the overall experience from unboxing to first use.
- Excellent marks for sound quality. While bass isn’t as rich as the Sonitrek Solo Pro 3, the overall high and low tones of the OpenRun are quite good. We’ll leave it to you to determine if they sound £160 good. The rigid frame is a hit or miss for sound quality, and the temple pads must align and make close skin contact to transmit sound. In some cases, the frame was too tight or too loose.
- Robust features for calling. Aftershockz include dual microphones and inbuilt noise canceling software for calls. While not perfect, these features are nice when making calls throughout the day. While this solution is not likely to replace purpose built options for phone calls, it does add something valuable to the kit.
Bose Ultra Open: Open ear earphones that live up to the Bose name, at a Bose price – £299.00 at Amazon.co.uk →
Where to buy the Bose Ultra Open earbuds in the UK
Bose has delved into the wireless bone conduction category by focusing on sports. And while the Sport Open are an excellent first product, it suffers from an odd hybrid positioning between true wireless earbuds and bone conduction headphones, costing Bose a higher position in our list.
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£299.00 at Amazon.co.uk – free 2-day delivery for Prime members ►
Why Bose gets our approval for their open ear tech
- Great sound that comes at a cost. While Bose has engineered a product that is indeed worthy of the name, it does come at a cost. Reduced battery life due to form factor hurt the product and age it to the first generation of bone conduction headphones. Which brings us to the next point…
- Hybrid earbuds form factor instead of headphones. Bose have come up with a truly unique design concept, and seemingly pulled it off. But all is not as it appears. The reliance on a true wireless form factor means the earbuds rest somewhat uncomfortably on top of the ears, rather than distributing weight and pressure around the head a la Aftershockz and Sonitrek. This can create pain and irritation when wearing for longer periods of time.
- Built for sports, but may not work for you. Whilst the Sport Open is for active movement we find it bulky. If you have smaller ears, you may experience some discomfort or a feeling that the earbuds may fall out. That’s not particularly reassuring when you are trying to focus on your workout.
Runners-up: Best Bone Conduction Headphones
There are many, many bone conduction headphones in the UK market. And while we attempt to test as many as possible for our readers, some units simply don’t make the cut. Here’s a quick peek at headphones that didn’t make the list.
Aftershockz OpenFit Air – £119.00 at Amazon.co.uk →
Aftershockz second entry into our list doesn’t quite make the cut due to poor sound quality, an ancient Bluetooth 4.2 chipset, and overall low marks for comfort relative to their newer Aeropex model. But for the bargain hunter the Trekz Air does carry a reduced cost, and could be an option if the Aftershockz name is a must have.
Oladance OWS2 Open Ear Headphones – £169.99 at Amazon.co.uk →
Oladance offers bone conduction sound, but the sound quality, feature set, and customer support are casual at best. This brand does not have a long track record in the UK market, and could use another year or two to work before it deserves of your hard earned dollars.