AirPods Open Concept Moves Apple’s Signature Stem Behind the Ear

Apple already has many of the pieces needed for open-ear headphones. Anurag Sarda’s AirPods Open concept makes that overlap visible: it combines an AirPods-style bud with an ear hook, then puts the familiar stem behind the ear. The result suggests how Apple might extend its earbud line into a growing category without abandoning its recognizable design.

Sarda, an industrial designer based in Helsinki, starts with the AirPods 4 bud. A glossy white hook loops over the ear, leaving the bud angled above the ear canal so listeners can hear audio while staying aware of their surroundings. Apple uses “open-ear” to describe its tipless AirPods, but this concept takes the idea further by placing the speaker outside the canal.

Designer: Anurag Sarda

A familiar stem, in a different position

The bud retains details from AirPods 4, including its black mesh grille and pill-shaped vent. The hook curves over the top of the ear and ends behind it in a section shaped like a conventional AirPods stem. A seam marks the boundary between the two parts, making the stem look like a distinct module. Together, the hook and bud form a compact question mark.

That placement also has a practical logic. Hook-style earbuds often put battery and other components behind the ear to balance the speaker at the front. Sarda’s concept uses the stem for that role, building on a part that already houses microphones and batteries in Apple’s existing earbuds. The charging case echoes the design: each hook curls around its bud, while the stems meet near the hinge.

Apple would enter an established category

Several audio brands already sell open earbuds, using either hooks or clips to keep them in place. Nothing Ear (open) is a close comparison: its $149 earbuds weigh 0.29 ounces (8.1 grams) each and use nickel-titanium wire in the hook so it can flex and return to shape. Sarda has also designed the Nothing Gamepad (1), a controller concept featuring Glyph LEDs.

Bose takes a clip-based approach with its Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen), priced at $299. Huawei sells both hook-style FreeArc earbuds and clip-style FreeClip 2, which costs £179 (about $240) in the UK and isn’t officially available in the US. The formats make different trade-offs: clips can look more like jewelry, while hooks may feel more secure. Sarda’s design clearly favors the latter.

Apple has a related product in Beats’ $249.99 Powerbeats Pro 2. Its nickel-titanium hooks were tested for more than 1,500 hours with nearly 1,000 athletes, but silicone tips seal the ear canal and position the earbuds as workout gear. AirPods 5, announced in September, offer a tipless fit and active noise cancellation. AirPods Open brings those approaches together in concept: a Powerbeats-style hook paired with an AirPods-style bud, minus the sealing tips.

A concept built from products Apple already makes

The concept’s appeal rests on its use of familiar hardware ideas, but Apple’s broader product direction may also make the design feel more plausible. John Ternus became CEO on September 1. During his first two months, Apple unveiled the foldable iPhone Duo, a touchscreen MacBook Pro and HomeView, a $299 smart home hub. The company also co-designed the Apple Home Collection with LG and Schneider Electric, including cameras, locks, thermostats and a video doorbell.

Those launches point to a company willing to explore more product categories and form factors. They don’t confirm that AirPods Open is in development; it remains Sarda’s concept. Still, Apple has experience with both the ear hook and the open-style bud, giving the design a plausible foundation.

Open-ear earbuds are also drawing more attention from manufacturers. Shokz more than doubled its shipments year over year, and Omdia forecasts that the category will reach 90.5 million units annually by 2030. If Apple decides to join the field, Sarda’s concept offers a clear design proposition: keep the audio accessible, leave the ear open and move the iconic stem behind it.

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