TOZO OpenWear Review: Affordable Open-Ear Headphones (Tested)
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I started reviewing TOZO earbuds and headphones about a year ago, and something struck me immediately: outstanding value for money, with a real focus on sound and build quality. TOZO products are usually on the more affordable side, but they’ve managed to keep the sound tuning impressive and the overall build genuinely solid for the price.
Recently, TOZO sent me their latest release: the Openwear. Open-style earbuds aren’t new to me, I’ve tested similar designs from Edifier, 1More, and a few other brands, so I already know the main appeal. The biggest advantage is comfort and stability: they’re lightweight, they stay in place, and for the gym or a run you’re far less likely to have them slipping out.
The other big benefit is awareness. Because of the open design, you can still hear what’s happening around you, which is great for outdoor walks, commuting, or just keeping an ear on real life.
But there’s also a downside: open earbuds often don’t sound as loud or as full as classic in-ear models. So the real question is simple: can the TOZO Openwear change my view on open earbuds, and deliver genuinely good sound without losing the benefits of the open design?
How I tested the TOZO OpenWear
I tested the TOZO OpenWear the way I actually use open-ear earbuds in real life: quick pairing, daily listening at home, phone calls, and outdoor walks where awareness matters. I focused on comfort, stability, and whether the sound is genuinely enjoyable despite the open design.
Quick verdict
What’s in the box + first impressions
The packaging is classic TOZO: fairly standard, not especially premium, but it doesn’t feel cheap either. It’s clean, simple, and it does the job.
Inside the box you’ll find the OpenWear already sitting in the charging case, plus the user guides, a warranty card, and quite possibly the shortest USB-A to USB-C charging cable I’ve ever seen. Everything is well packed and protected, and the presentation feels tidy and well organised.
First impressions are positive. The charging case is on the big side, but it actually feels nicer in the hand than the 1More S70 case. It does feel quite plastic if I’m being honest, but there’s a really handy little battery level display on the case, and that’s genuinely useful day to day.
As for the OpenWear earbuds themselves, they’re very light, but they don’t feel flimsy at all. They feel well built, and the overall design gives a good first impression especially considering TOZO’s usual price point.
Fit and comfort
One of the big advantages of open-ear earbuds is that they tend to work with most ear shapes and that’s definitely the case here. The OpenWear fit my ears perfectly (and I tried them on my wife as well), and because they’re so light they’re genuinely comfortable to wear for long periods.
That’s the big difference versus classic in-ear earbuds. With the OpenWear, there’s no “pressure in the ear canal” feeling, and no constant need to adjust them. I’ve worn them for hours at a time and honestly almost forgot I had them on which is exactly what I want from this type of design. I’m really pleased with the comfort.
Sound quality and loudness
I’ve always loved the idea of open-ear earbuds, but I’ll be honest: I’ve often been disappointed by the sound and especially by the volume. So going into this review, I didn’t expect much.
Well, I’m glad to say I was wrong.
Before we even talk about sound quality, we need to talk about loudness. The OpenWear can get loud (really loud) and that’s genuinely surprising for an open design. Straight away, that changes the whole experience because you’re not constantly fighting to hear your music outdoors.
Sound-wise, it’s punchy, balanced, and honestly closer to a “proper” pair of earbuds than I expected. It has that typical TOZO tuning that I usually enjoy: clear mids and crisp highs that don’t feel muffled. Vocals come through nicely, podcasts sound clean, and there’s enough energy in the sound to make music enjoyable.
Bass is the tricky part with any open-ear model. TOZO talks about their Bass+ Acoustic Technology, and yes you can get a bit of extra punch depending on your EQ settings (more on that in the app section). But let’s keep it real: this is still open-ear audio. Don’t expect deep, in-ear rumble.
The OpenWear also doesn’t support LDAC or Hi-Res Audio, but in day-to-day use I don’t see that as a dealbreaker here especially because the tuning is good and the volume output is more than enough for real life.
Calls / mic quality
Let’s be honest: most of us don’t spend our days on phone calls anymore, so it’s not always easy to “properly” test mic quality unless you live in meetings.
That said, I did make a few calls (mainly to my wife), and the feedback was consistently positive: she said I sounded clear and perfectly fine. She could tell I was using earbuds (which is normal) but overall the mic quality was more than acceptable for everyday calls, quick check-ins, and voice notes.
Controls
If there’s one area where TOZO could still improve a little, it’s usually touch controls. In the past I’ve found TOZO controls to be fine, but not quite as polished as some other brands like Edifier.
That said, the OpenWear surprised me, the touch controls are actually accurate and responsive. I’m guessing the larger touch surface helps, but either way, everything works as it should. Even the more “fiddly” commands are reliable: for example, three taps on the left earbud to wake up Siri on iPhone worked consistently for me, which is genuinely impressive.
The user guide also does a good job here, with a clear, simple explanation of all the touch controls, so you’re not left guessing.
Battery and charging
I’m not a “power user” with earbuds. I usually wear them a few hours a day, then put them back in the case, so I’m not the guy doing eight-hour listening marathons.
But even with that usage, one thing became obvious very quickly: the battery on the OpenWear is seriously impressive. TOZO claims up to 38 hours with the charging case, and from my real-life use that feels believable because the OpenWear genuinely seems to never die. I kept using them day after day without that constant “low battery anxiety” you get with some earbuds.
Charging is straightforward via USB-C, and you also get fast charging. TOZO says a 10-minute top-up can give up to 2 hours of playtime, which is exactly the kind of feature that makes a difference in real life when you realise you forgot to charge them.
TOZO app
Now we need to talk about the TOZO app, because with the OpenWear it’s a must-have companion. I already own a few TOZO earbuds and headphones, and what I like is that everything sits in one place: you can manage whatever TOZO product you’re using from the same app.
When you open the app for the first time, just tap the “+” icon and add your earbuds. It’s genuinely simple, and if you already have other TOZO devices, they’ll show up in the main menu as well.
The reason I love the TOZO app is the EQ options. You get a solid selection of presets (and this is where you can really improve the bass), but there’s also a large community creating and sharing personalised equalisers and that’s actually really cool. It makes the app feel more alive, and it’s a great way to fine-tune the OpenWear depending on what you listen to.
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you’ll know I talk a lot about Edifier, and one of my biggest frustrations there is how messy the app situation can be, with multiple apps depending on the product. With TOZO, I really value the simplicity of having one clear app that just works… and it helps that the TOZO app looks great too.
Final Thoughts.
The TOZO OpenWear surprised me. Comfort and fit are exactly what I want from open-ear earbuds( light, stable, and easy to wear for hours) but the real shock is the volume. These get properly loud for an open design, and the sound is punchy and enjoyable once you dial in the EQ in the TOZO app. They won’t replace in-ear earbuds for deep bass or maximum isolation, but that’s not the point. If you want awareness, comfort, and a genuinely fun listening experience at a sensible price, the OpenWear are an easy recommendation.
Jerome.
FAQ: TOZO OpenWear
Are open-ear earbuds worth it?
Yes: if comfort and awareness matter to you. Open-ear designs are great for walking, commuting, and workouts because you can still hear what’s going on around you. The trade-off is that you won’t get the same deep bass or isolation as in-ear earbuds.
Do the TOZO OpenWear leak sound?
Like most open-ear earbuds, some sound leakage is normal at higher volumes. At sensible listening levels it’s usually fine, but if you crank them up in a quiet office, people nearby may hear a little.
Are the TOZO OpenWear loud enough for outdoor use?
The OpenWear has more volume than I expected and performs well for real-life listening.
Can open-ear earbuds have proper bass?
They can sound punchy, but they won’t produce the same deep bass as sealed in-ear earbuds. With the TOZO app EQ you can boost the low end a bit, but it’s still open-ear audio: think “clean and lively” rather than “subwoofer”.
Do I need the TOZO app?
I highly recommend it. Pairing works fine without it, but the app is where you can adjust EQ, try different presets, and really get the best sound out of the OpenWear.
Are the touch controls reliable?
Yes. Touch controls can be a weak point on some earbuds, but on the OpenWear they’re responsive and accurate. Even the multi-tap actions (like waking Siri on iPhone) worked reliably in my testing.
TOZO OpenWear review: open-ear comfort, loud volume, solid sound and a great app.