Raycon Essential Open Earbuds Review: I Ran, Walked & Scootered in Them Around Brisbane
It's always when you're actually trying to be healthy that your gear lets you down. You're running on the beach on the Gold Coast or down by the river in Brisbane, you finally get into a rhythm — and then your earbuds start slipping, or you can't hear a thing because the wind and traffic are going crazy. So when Raycon reached out about the Raycon Essential Open Earbuds, I was genuinely excited to try them. I've already reviewed the Raycon Everyday earbuds on the channel, but these are a different style: open-ear, hook over the top, built specifically for workouts and outdoor use.
In this review I test them properly — walking, running, a scooter ride through Brisbane City, training on the beach and at the gym. Unboxing, how to fit them so they actually sound right, sound quality in quiet spots versus outdoors, battery, Bluetooth and call quality. I'll tell you what I actually like, what I don't, and who they make sense for. If you're new here, I'm Andy, and I test tech in the real world — not at a desk with stock footage.
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01What Are the Raycon Essential Open Earbuds?
Instead of jamming a silicone tip into your ear canal, these sit just above it and beam the sound in, with a little hook that wraps around the top of your ear. The idea is simple: you get music, podcasts and calls, but you can still hear traffic, people, bikes, waves and gym announcements. If you hate that plugged-in feeling, this style immediately feels a lot more natural — and because nothing's wedged in your ear, it stops a lot of the hearing stress you sometimes get after a long session.
02Unboxing & Design
Out of the box it's pretty straightforward: the earbuds in their charging case, a USB-C charging cable, and some guides. The case is compact enough to throw in a gym bag or a pocket, and the earbuds sit inside with the hooks folded in. The design on the Essential Open model is definitely more sporty than the Everyday one — these look like something you'd wear for a run or a workout, not just for commuting. I also really like the finish on the cases: they come in four colours from what I've seen, and they look great.
03Fit: How to Wear Them Properly
Fit is one of the most important things with this style of earbud, so here's how I've been doing it. Rest the hook over your ear first, position the little speaker toward your ear, then wiggle it into place until it hits the sweet spot. It took me a couple of goes when I first started, because you want the music sitting in the right spot — but once you've done it once or twice, it becomes muscle memory.
One honest tip: the first time I slapped them on like normal earbuds, the sound was a bit thin. Once I followed Raycon's tip and moved them into the right spot, it made a noticeable difference. We've all got different ear sizes, and because the tips are so flexible you can literally move them around until they sit right. So if you pick these up and they don't sound great straight away, spend a minute on the position before you judge them.
04Comfort Over Long Sessions
Out running and walking around Brisbane, they stayed put. No wiggling loose with every step, no constant readjusting. And because they're not wedged in your ear, you don't get that pressure build-up or soreness after long listening sessions. For workouts and walking around the city I could happily leave them on for hours without wanting to rip them out — which I definitely can't say for every in-ear pair I've tested. Sitting outside the ear, you also get a lot less of the fatigue you get with in-ears.
05Sound Quality: Quiet Spots vs Outdoors
Sound is always the question with open-ear designs. You're never going to get the same thumping, sealed-in bass as a deep in-ear — that's just physics at play. But Raycon have done really well with the design of these and clearly tried to balance things: you get a clean, crisp sound with decent bass presence and solid mids, especially on vocals.
In quiet environments — walking in a park or sitting at home editing — they sound really nice. Podcasts and YouTube are clear, voices sit front and centre, and music still has enough low end to feel fun. Outside with traffic and wind you do lose some bass, like you do with all open-ear products, but you can still follow your playlist and hear what people are saying around you. Honestly, I enjoyed the sound of them. If you love chest-thumping bass and total isolation, these don't do it — go for big ANC in-ears. But they sound better than a lot of bone conduction and cheap open-ear stuff, and they keep you connected to the real world.
06Battery, Bluetooth & Calls
Battery life is one of the strong points here. The earbuds themselves hold around 8 hours on a single charge, and the case carries another 40 hours. In practical terms, that meant I could charge them once and then do multiple days of walks and workouts without thinking about it. If you're someone who just wants to throw them in your bag and know they'll work, that charge-once-and-forget-it thing comes in really handy.
On the connectivity side you've got Bluetooth 5.2. Pairing with my phone was quick and stable, and once they were paired, every time I opened the case they connected straight back to my audio. Switching between music, calls and my phone's voice assistant was simple, and call quality was actually pretty usable for quick calls on the go — people could hear me clearly enough when I was walking near a road.
07The Brisbane Scooter Test
Next I took them on a scooter ride through Brisbane City, scooting along the river on a beautiful, slightly windy afternoon. They stayed fitted the whole way, and I wasn't getting too much wind noise when I was using them — which is exactly what you want, because wind washing through the earbuds is where a lot of open-ear buds fall apart. You can hear how they actually sound on the ride in the video above.
08Running at Kangaroo Point & Staying Aware
Where these really make sense is in those real-world scenarios. I went for a run at Kangaroo Point in Brisbane with a bit of wind in the background, and they didn't move at all. Walking on the river or the beach, I can hear the environment — bikes coming up behind me, cars at crossings, people saying "excuse me" — all while listening to music. I can even order my coffee without taking them out. That's exactly what I want when I'm using them for fitness: awareness first, soundtrack second.
09At the Gym
At the gym I liked them for lighter sessions and cardio, where I still want to hear what's happening around me. If I was doing heavy lifts and wanted to block the world out, I'd probably still reach for traditional in-ears with more isolation. But for most normal workouts, these feel like a really good balance between staying safe and staying motivated.
⚙Full Specs
The Verdict & Who It's For
The Raycon Essential Open Earbuds come out positive for me. They're comfortable, they stay put when you're moving, they sound good for an open-ear design, and the battery life is genuinely solid. They're not trying to be everything for everyone — but as a fitness and outdoor pair, you throw them in and forget about them, and they do their job really well. I've reviewed a number of open earbuds now, and these really are up there with the top of the marketplace.
The catches, honestly: you won't get sealed-in bass or isolation — outdoors in wind and traffic the low end drops away, like it does with every open-ear pair. For heavy lifting or blocking out a noisy gym, in-ear ANC buds are still the better tool. Fit takes a minute to learn: put them on like normal earbuds and they'll sound thin until you find the sweet spot. And the 20% off storewide deal is current as of September 2026 — it may not last, so check the price before you buy.
Who's it for? Runners, walkers, cyclists and scooter riders, and anyone who does cardio outdoors and wants to hear traffic, bikes and people around them. Also anyone who finds in-ear tips sore after an hour. If you want maximum bass and total silence, go ANC in-ears instead.
What I Love
- Stayed put running, walking and scootering
- No ear pressure — comfortable for hours
- Clean, crisp sound with decent bass for open-ear
- ~8 hrs in the buds + 40 hrs in the case
- Low wind noise on the scooter ride
- Great-looking cases in four colours
Watch Out For
- Bass drops off outdoors in wind and traffic
- No isolation — not for heavy, focused lifting
- Sounds thin until you nail the fit
$Where to Buy + Giveaway
Any purchase through these links supports the channel at no extra cost to you. If you've got any questions about how they go for running, walking or day-to-day use compared to the other open earbuds I've tested, drop a comment on the video and I'm happy to help. For more real-world tech reviews, subscribe to MrYouWho on YouTube — who tests it for you? MrYouWho.
?Frequently Asked Questions
Are Raycon Essential Open Earbuds good for running?+
Yes — that's exactly what they're built for. I ran with them at Kangaroo Point in Brisbane and tested them on the Gold Coast, and they didn't move at all. The over-ear hook holds them in place, and because they're open-ear you can still hear bikes, cars and people around you while you run.
How long does the Raycon Essential Open battery last?+
Around 8 hours on a single charge, with the charging case adding about another 40 hours. In my testing, one charge covered several days of walks and workouts. The case charges over USB-C, so your phone cable will do it.
Do open ear earbuds have good bass?+
Good for an open-ear design — these are clean and crisp with decent bass presence and strong vocals. They can't match the sealed-in bass of in-ear ANC buds, and outdoors in wind and traffic you'll lose some low end. If you want chest-thumping bass and total isolation, go for in-ears instead.
How do you wear Raycon Essential Open earbuds?+
Rest the hook over your ear first, then position the speaker toward your ear and wiggle it until it hits the sweet spot. If they sound thin, they're not sitting right yet — spend a minute adjusting them. After a couple of goes it becomes muscle memory.
Can you use open ear earbuds at the gym?+
Yes, especially for cardio and lighter sessions where you want to hear what's going on around you. For heavy lifts where you want to block everything out, traditional in-ear earbuds with more isolation are the better pick.
Do they get wind noise when you're riding or running?+
Not much in my testing. I rode a scooter along the Brisbane River on a windy afternoon and wasn't getting too much wind washing through them, which is where a lot of open-ear earbuds struggle. You do lose some bass outdoors, but you can still follow your music.
Is there a Raycon discount code?+
Right now you can get 20% off storewide at Raycon through the MrYouWho link — no code needed. Deals change, so check the current price and colour options on the Raycon site before you buy.
Affiliate Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. As a Raycon affiliate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. All opinions are based on hands-on real-world testing.
