JBL Wants to Unseal Your Ears: Three New Open-Ear Models Debut at CES 2026

JBL is betting that you’re tired of being "plugged in" and oblivious to the world. At CES 2026 this week, the audio giant signaled a massive pivot toward air-conduction tech, unveiling the Sense Pro, Sense Lite, and the jewelry-inspired Soundgear Clips.

These aren't your typical noise-canceling buds. Instead of sealing your ear canal, they hover just outside it. The goal is simple: high-fidelity audio that doesn't leave you vulnerable to traffic or unable to hear a colleague’s "quick question." According to Carsten Olesen, President of Consumer Audio at HARMAN, the challenge was engineering "bass-rich sound" into a design that naturally leaks low-end frequencies. JBL claims they’ve finally cracked the code.

The Sense Series: Pro Performance vs. Lite Utility

The heavy hitter here is the JBL Sense Pro. At $199.95, it’s a direct shot at the premium market. It packs massive 16.2mm drivers and supports Hi-Res Audio Wireless and spatial audio. JBL is also leaning into future-proofed connectivity, claiming the Pro is ready for the upcoming Bluetooth 6 standard to ensure rock-solid stability. To fix the "thin" sound often found in open-back designs, they’ve added an adaptive bass boost algorithm that adjusts in real-time.

The JBL Sense Lite is the $150 alternative. You lose the spatial audio and the next-gen Bluetooth specs (it sticks with Bluetooth 5.4), but you keep the IP54 durability and Google Fast Pair.

Both models use a familiar over-the-ear hook. The battery sits behind your ear to balance the weight of the driver housing hovering over the concha. It’s a proven design for stability, though it can still get crowded if you’re already wearing glasses or a mask.

Quick Specs: Sense Pro vs. Sense Lite

Soundgear Clips: Fashion Over Friction?

The $149.95 Soundgear Clips are the most divisive entry in the lineup. JBL ditched the ear hooks for a "cuff" design that snaps onto the side of your ear using a flexible TPU arc. They look more like tech-jewelry than headphones, especially in the translucent metallic finishes like copper and purple.

However, the "clip-style" fit is a love-it-or-hate-it proposition. While it clears up space for glasses, the pressure required to keep them secure can often lead to "ear fatigue" or pinching on certain ear shapes. If they aren't perfectly aligned, audio clarity usually takes a hit. Still, with 32 hours of battery and AI-boosted mics for calls, they are clearly aimed at a younger crowd that values aesthetics as much as acoustics.

The Market Reality

JBL’s triple-threat release is a clear attempt to corner the open-fit market. For years, this space was dominated by bone-conduction brands like Shokz or niche offerings from Bose. By flooding the zone with different form factors—hooks for the gym and clips for the street—JBL is moving open-ear audio out of the "fitness-only" corner and into the mainstream.

Adding high-end specs like spatial audio to the Sense Pro proves that "open" no longer means "low-quality." JBL is no longer just competing on price; they are chasing the audiophiles who value situational awareness.

Why This Matters

The "sealed" earbud era might be peaking. Between "Transparency Modes" and "Adaptive Audio," manufacturers have tried to use software to fix the fact that we've plugged our ears with silicone. JBL is arguing that the hardware was the problem all along.

If you've been waiting for a pair of earbuds that don't make you feel like you're underwater, these are the ones to watch. All three models—the Sense Pro, Sense Lite, and Soundgear Clips—are slated for a U.S. release in March 2026.