Open-ear headphones weren't invented because people suddenly got bored with in-ears. Instead, they became a thing because runners and cyclists wanted a music background while out on the streets, without worrying as much about traffic.
To begin with, the idea was more about letting the soundtrack sit alongside the real world rather than blocking it out. And while that’s still fundamentally what it boils down to, the tech has had time to catch up. Open-ear technology has started to feel less like a niche option among workout headphones and more of a practical one, especially if you like hearing what’s going on around you while still getting decent audio.
