-
Key Features to Look for in Earbuds for Phone Calls
-
Best Earbuds for Phone Calls: Top Picks in the Australian Market
-
How to Choose the Right Earbuds for Your Phone Calls
-
Comparing Open-Ear Technology with Traditional Earbuds
-
Frequently Asked Questions
Poor phone call quality is frustrating. If you’re working from your home office, meeting with clients, or on your morning commute, clear phone calls can make a big difference. Poor audio, dropped voices, and background noise make every conversation more difficult than it should be.
So, what sets a great pair of earbuds apart from ones that will frustrate you on the first call?
This guide examines the top earbuds for phone calls on the Australian market, highlighting what truly matters: mic quality, comfort, and clever design.
Shokz, a global leader in open-ear audio technology, has been quietly revolutionising the way people take calls — and it is time to find out why.
Key Features to Look for in Earbuds for Phone Calls
Not all earbuds are created equal — and that gap becomes painfully obvious the moment someone on the other end asks you to repeat yourself for the third time.
Sound Quality
Clear, natural-sounding audio is non-negotiable. The best earbuds for telephone calls deliver voices that sound lifelike, not hollow or compressed.
Look for earbuds with dedicated voice-optimised drivers and sound profiles tuned for speech clarity rather than bass-heavy music playback.
Noise isolation — whether passive (physical seal) or active (electronic cancellation) — helps keep the call focused even in busy environments.
Microphone Quality and Noise Cancellation
The microphone is arguably the most important feature for phone calls, yet it is the one spec that most buyers overlook.
A high-quality mic uses beamforming technology — essentially pointing the microphone's sensitivity directly toward the user's voice while suppressing sound coming from other directions. Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC) takes this further by actively filtering out background noise such as wind, traffic, keyboard clicks, and café chatter before it ever reaches the caller on the other end.
Comfort and Fit
A call that runs thirty minutes is one thing. Back-to-back meetings that go all afternoon are another.
Comfort during prolonged wear separates truly great call earbuds from the rest. Open-ear designs, like those pioneered by Shokz, eliminate the pressure and fatigue associated with deep-insertion in-ear tips.
There is no ear canal seal to cause discomfort, and the fit remains secure without feeling invasive — a key advantage for people spending long stretches on calls throughout the day.
Battery Life
Long battery life keeps pace with long workdays. For anyone juggling calls across a full shift, earbuds with a minimum of six to eight hours of playback — and a case that extends that seriously— offer genuine peace of mind.
Wireless Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.0 and above provides a stable, low-latency connection that holds up across typical office, home, and commuting environments.
The latest Bluetooth standards also support multipoint pairing, allowing earbuds to stay connected to two devices simultaneously — ideal for switching between a laptop and smartphone without the fuss of manual reconnection.
The Shokz Difference
Shokz approaches all of these features through the lens of open-ear design. Their earbuds sit entirely outside the ear canal, allowing wearers to hear ambient sounds naturally while staying connected to their calls.
Best Earbuds for Phone Calls: Top Picks in the Australian Market
The following earbuds are renowned for their call quality, comfort, and value.
Shokz OpenDots ONE
The Shokz OpenDots ONE offers a new take on open-ear audio with air conduction technology, delivering sound without sealing the ear canal. Voices during calls sound natural and clear, and the wearer is aware of their surroundings.
The OpenDots ONE microphone setup captures voice clearly in typical settings, making it ideal for personal and work calls.
Shokz OpenFit 2+
Remote workers and daily commuters will appreciate the Shokz OpenFit 2+. Building on the original OpenFit design, the 2+ offers longer battery life and improved audio quality while keeping the ergonomic open-ear fit.
The open-fit construction means no ear fatigue during marathon call sessions — a real benefit for those who spend a large part of their workday on the phone.
Hands-free call management feels natural, and the microphone delivers clear audio even in noisy settings like cafés or open-plan offices.
For anyone looking for the best earbuds for office calls that prioritise comfort, the OpenFit 2+ is an excellent choice.
Shokz OpenFit Pro
The Shokz OpenFit Pro advances the open-ear design with pro-level noise cancellation and an improved microphone. It isolates voices in noisy settings—train carriages, busy streets, co-working areas—while keeping audio clear on calls.
The ergonomic design will give you a secure fit in your ear during any activity, providing consistent performance if you’re answering calls while walking or commuting.
Thanks to cutting-edge call-clarity technology and all-day comfort, the OpenFit Pro is among the best earbuds for phone calls in Australia.
How Other Leading Brands Compare
A fair comparison requires looking at the broader market. Several other brands are frequently mentioned in conversations about the best earbuds for phone calls:
- Jabra Elite Active 75t — Solid active noise cancellation and dependable call performance. The traditional in-ear design provides a good acoustic seal, which helps call quality in noisy environments. The deep-insert fit might feel a bit uncomfortable if you're wearing it for a long time, especially on warmer days.
- Apple AirPods Pro 2 — Excellent compatibility with Apple devices and strong ANC performance. Call quality is genuinely impressive within the Apple ecosystem. The in-ear design might cause some discomfort during extended listening, but that's understandable given their high-quality build. Also, their premium price may make them inaccessible to everyone.
- Sony WF-1000XM4 — Market-leading noise cancellation and outstanding music playback. For pure audio quality, few competitors match the Sony WF-1000XM4. However, the bulkier driver housing can feel heavy during extended call sessions, and the in-ear fit is not universally comfortable.
Comparison Table
|
Brand |
Design Type |
Call Quality |
Comfort for Long Wear |
Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Shokz OpenFit Pro |
Open-ear (air conduction) |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Work, commuting, daily calls |
|
Shokz OpenFit 2+ |
Open-ear |
Very Good |
Excellent |
Remote work, commuting |
|
Shokz OpenDots One |
Open-ear with ANC |
Very Good |
Excellent |
Office calls, noisy environments |
|
Jabra Elite Active 75t |
In-ear (closed) |
Very Good |
Good |
Active users, ANC fans, work calls |
|
Apple AirPods Pro 2 |
In-ear (ANC) |
Very Good |
Good |
Apple ecosystem users |
|
Sony WF-1000XM4 |
In-ear (ANC) |
Good |
Fair |
Music + first users |
How to Choose the Right Earbuds for Your Phone Calls
Picking the right earbuds comes down to knowing how and where they'll actually be used — not just reading specs on a product page.
Consider Your Usage
The best earbuds for phone calls in one context might not suit another. Office workers on back-to-back video calls have different needs than a delivery driver fielding calls between stops, or a parent managing household admin while keeping an ear on the kids. Think about the environment — indoors or outdoors, quiet or noisy — and how many hours per day the earbuds will actually be worn.
Prioritise Comfort and Fit
Open-ear earbuds are generally the most comfortable option for extended daily wear. In-ear designs with silicone tips can work well for shorter sessions, but often become uncomfortable after an hour or more. For anyone who spends a significant portion of the workday on calls, open-ear options like the Shokz range offer a clear ergonomic advantage.
Call Clarity vs. Music Quality
Some earbuds are intended for audiophile music listening — but that doesn't mean they're ideal for clear voice calls. Focus on reviews that mention microphone quality rather than just driver specs. While the best earbuds for calls should balance both features, if clarity is paramount, prioritise the microphone setup decision.
Environmental Noise
Working from home often means background noise from household activity, pets, or construction outside.
Commuters face wind, traffic, and the general din of public transport.
Outdoor workers deal with all of the above. Features like wind reduction, beamforming microphones, and environmental noise cancellation make a measurable difference in real-world conditions — not just in controlled lab tests.
Battery Life
Look beyond the headline battery figure. A ten-hour battery life sounds impressive, but if fast charging isn't available and the case only adds another five hours, a full day of heavy call use could still leave things running low.
Look at the total system battery — earbud plus case — and check fast charge specs.
Shokz products consistently deliver across all of these areas, with open-ear comfort, reliable microphones, and practical battery life suited to Australian workdays and lifestyles.
Comparing Open-Ear Technology with Traditional Earbuds
There is a clear and growing divide between open-ear earbuds and the traditional in-ear designs that dominated the market for the past decade.
What Is Open-Ear Technology?
Open-ear headphones sit outside the ear canal rather than inside it. Some, like earlier Shokz models, use bone conduction — transmitting vibrations through the cheekbones directly to the inner ear.
Shokz models, such as the OpenFit range, use air conduction through speakers placed just outside the ear opening. These techniques keep the ear canal open and let ambient sounds reach the eardrum naturally.
Traditional In-Ear vs. Open-Ear
In-ear earbuds physically seal the ear canal, which improves passive noise isolation. This helps call quality in noisy settings by blocking outside noise from reaching the ear.
The drawback is that this seal can lead to pressure and fatigue during long-term use, create a feeling of occlusion (hearing your own voice loudly inside your head), and isolate the wearer from their surroundings.
The best earbuds for telephone calls don't just sound good — they feel good to wear all day. That is where open-ear technology has a genuine edge.
Why Open-Ear Works for More People
Cyclists, runners, and walkers depend on open-ear awareness to remain safe. Office workers in open-plan settings want to hear conversations and ambient noise without removing their earbuds during calls. Parents at home must stay alert to household situations.
In these cases, an open-ear design is a definite advantage, not a compromise.
To find the best earbuds for phone calls, you need to balance microphone quality, comfort, battery life, and connectivity to your use, like office work, commutes, or workouts. Excellent sound that causes ear fatigue or earbuds with top ANC that block awareness aren't ideal.
Shokz's products, including OpenDots ONE, OpenFit 2+, and OpenFit Pro, focus on open-ear calling technology, delivering comfort and clarity for different Australian lifestyles.
Check out the full Shokz range today — and never miss another call.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What are the best earbuds for phone calls in Australia in 2026?
A. The top options include the Shokz OpenFit Pro, Shokz OpenFit 2+, Shokz OpenDots ONE, Apple AirPods Pro 2, and Jabra Elite Active 75t. For all-day comfort and clear call performance, Shokz open-ear earbuds always stand out.
Q. Are open-ear earbuds good for phone calls?
A. Yes, they're great for extended use because they don't seal the ear canal, reducing pressure and fatigue. Models like Shokz OpenFit Pro include noise-reducing microphones, ensuring clear voice transmission even in noisy settings.
Q. What should I look for in the best earbuds for office calls?
A. For office calls, prioritise microphone quality (beamforming or multi-mic), comfort for long wear, stable Bluetooth with multipoint pairing, and all-day battery life. Open-ear designs are ideal where situational awareness and call clarity matter.
Q. Can I use earbuds for phone calls outdoors in noisy environments?
A. Yes, earbuds with wind noise reduction and directional microphones work better. The Shokz OpenFit Pro is built for noisy conditions, making it great for outdoor calls, public transport, and busy areas.
