Open-ear and bone conduction headphones both keep your ears uncovered, but they work differently. Bone conduction models use bone conduction to send vibrations through your cheekbones directly to the inner ear, bypassing the eardrum.
Open-ear headphones, on the other hand, use small external speakers that direct sound toward your ears without sealing them. Open ear vs Bone conduction headphones is better for swimming and people with certain hearing issues, while open-ear offers richer sound quality and more natural audio for everyday use.