Listening to music, podcasts and audiobooks on the go means you’ll need some headphones, but in 2025 firms are charging more and more for them. Apple’s white AirPods may be iconic, and a great option for wireless earbuds, but even the cheapest pair will set you back £129.
These AirPods sit in your ear rather than the design of pricier models that have a silicon tip, meaning you get an ‘open’ fit and feel that many people prefer.
This means you can pop the earbuds in your ears and still hear the world around you, be that traffic as you’re crossing the road, the announcements over the tannoy at the airport or your colleagues in your office, all without needing to take the earbuds out like you would have to if silicon tips were jammed in your lugholes blocking out sound.
If this sounds like your cup of tea but you want to spend less than what Apple is charging there is a new option from an iconic audio brand that keeps the price well below £100 and the tunes flowing from your iPhone or Android phone.
German sound pioneers Sennheiser has just announced its Accentum Open, a pair of AirPods-rivalling true wireless earbuds that are lightweight at just 4.4 grams her bud and have have decent battery life of 6.5 hours with fast charging tech the firm says offers 1.5 hours of playback from 10 minutes plugged into the mains. With the charging case fully juiced up, you should get 28 hours of playback overall after a few recharges.
Given Sennheiser’s legendary audio reputation, the buds should also ensure an excellent sound experience.
Available today in cream or black, the Accentum Open cost just £69.99, £59 less than Apple’s entry-level AirPods. The design looks familiar with a rounded ear tip to push gently into your ear opening with a downward-facing stem that contains touch sensitive controls, microphones both to pick up your voice for phone and video calls, and to pick up ambient background noise and filter it out so your voice is crystal clear.
“Accentum Open was designed to complement your busy life — not complicate it,” said Friederike Menking, Sennheiser product manager. “Whether you are listening to music, catching up on a podcast at your desk or checking in with your friends on your way to the train, the ease of use is second only to the sound.”
Each featherlight bud has a 11mm dynamic transducer that beams sound down your ear canal, just like you are used to with AirPods or any kind of traditional old-style wired earphone. They’re also IPX4 water resistant, which is good for sweat resistance if you use them when exercising.
If you don’t want silicon tips or finicky wing tips or hooks to keep buds secure in your ears, this new model could be an excellent choice. Add to that Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint connectivity so you can, for instance, be hooked up to your phone and laptop at the same time, the Accentum Open could be a great choice if you want to quickly switch audio throughout the day while working on video calls, or simply to blast your latest Spotify playlist.