Listen and Translate with Viaim OpenNote Open-Ear Bluetooth Earbuds

Did you ever find yourself in a position in which automatic transcription of what is being said or even a translation would have helped you for work or travel? As someone not born in the country where I live, I am familiar with that feeling. The Viaim OpenNote Open-Ear Bluetooth Earbuds promise exactly that, while also targeting the comfort limitations that persist with classic in-ear headphone designs.

For this review, we received a test unit from Viaim and would like to thank the company for providing us with access to evaluate the product thoroughly. After testing these AI-powered earbuds across various scenarios, from conference calls to outdoor workouts, we found a device that challenges conventional earbud design while introducing genuinely useful smart features.

Open-Ear design that works

One of the most striking features of the Viaim OpenNote earbuds is their open-ear design. Unlike traditional in-ear buds that create a seal within your ear canal, these rest just outside, using hooks that wrap around your ears for added security. This design addresses a real problem many users face. During sports activities, sweat accumulation and prolonged wear of in-ear headphones can cause discomfort and potential health issues. The OpenNote earbuds use air-conducted directional sound transmission technology to create an entirely new listening experience. The open design prevents ear swelling and pain that commonly occurs with extended use of traditional earbuds.

Based on data from over 10,000 human ear molds, Viaim engineered these earbuds with balanced weight distribution that spreads pressure across multiple contact points. The 0.8mm elastic memory frame is particularly noteworthy for glasses wearers, as it reduces lateral space requirements typically needed for temple arms. This thoughtful design consideration makes the OpenNote earbuds exceptionally comfortable for users who wear prescription glasses. The integrated flexible memory titanium wire ensures the earbuds quickly return to their original shape after bending, preventing deformation that could affect fit and comfort over time.

Smart recording features that transform meetings

The standout functionality of the OpenNote earbuds lies in their recording and transcription capabilities. With a simple press of the earbud sensors, users can start recording conversations, meetings, interviews, or podcasts. The recorded audio can then be played back through the companion app and automatically converted to text. The app ecosystem significantly extends these capabilities. After recording sessions, users can generate summaries, to-do lists for tasks assigned during meetings, and even mind maps to visualize key discussion points.

Why is this useful: Reasons for Getting Transcripts for Your Business

These features prove particularly valuable for project managers and team leaders who need to track action items and meeting outcomes. The omnidirectional microphones, combined with advanced sound pickup algorithms, accurately locate the speaker’s direction while filtering out background noise. With a theoretical maximum recording distance of approximately 7 meters (23 feet), the earbuds can capture clear audio even in larger conference rooms or during outdoor interviews.

Translation opens communication barriers

One of the most impressive features we tested was the system’s ability to generate subtitles with integrated translation while watching foreign language videos or listening to podcasts. The OpenNote earbuds can deliver live subtitles with translations in the companion app, supporting more than 20 languages. This can be an asset for international business professionals and language learners. It is important to note, however, that this product does not provide direct audio-to-audio translation.

Instead, the earbuds record and transcribe the spoken content into text, and the app then provides translation of that text. Anyone considering the OpenNote should pay attention to this distinction: translations are text-based in the app, not spoken translations delivered directly to your ears. This process works by capturing audio, transcribing it in real-time, and then providing translated text through the app’s interface. While the concept is valuable, our testing revealed some limitations in translation accuracy and contextual understanding, which are discussed later in this review.

Battery life that supports all-day use

The Viaim OpenNote earbuds offer impressive battery performance, providing up to 19 hours of playback per charge. When combined with the charging case, users can enjoy a total of 53 hours of usage, making these reliable companions for extended workdays or long travel periods. The earbuds feature an IP55 protection rating, meaning they’re both dust-protected and splash-resistant.

They can easily handle sweat during sports activities and light rain exposure, making them ideal for outdoor activities and active lifestyles. Supporting Bluetooth 5.3, the OpenNote earbuds enable simultaneous connection to two devices. This dual-device capability allows seamless switching between laptops and smartphones without requiring reconnection each time. This flexibility proves invaluable in modern work environments where professionals frequently move between devices for calls, music, and meetings.

Real-world testing: Strengths and limitations

During our testing period, we used the OpenNote earbuds across various scenarios, including audiobook listening, conference calls, language learning sessions, and outdoor activities. The transcription accuracy proved reliable for clear, well-articulated speech in controlled environments. However, we noticed some challenges when testing with continuous speech patterns or unclear pronunciation. The system occasionally struggled with rapid dialogue or speakers with heavy accents.

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More significantly, the quality of audio-based transcription and translation functionality feels somewhat dated compared to current AI technology standards. The experience reminded us of earlier machine translation tools from a decade ago, before advanced AI solutions could understand context and improve transcription accuracy accordingly. However, since this is software-dependent functionality, future updates could potentially improve performance without requiring new hardware.

App experience and audio playback quality assessment

The companion app deserves recognition for its intuitive design and comprehensive feature set. Navigation feels natural, and the setup process connects quickly via Bluetooth pairing. The app provides detailed control over recording settings, audio preferences, and transcription options. Users can organize recordings into categories, share transcriptions with team members, and export content in various formats. The app’s ability to generate meeting summaries and action items using AI processing adds genuine value for business users.

While not positioned as audiophile-grade headphones, the OpenNote earbuds deliver clear, balanced sound reproduction. The open-ear design naturally affects sound isolation compared to traditional in-ear monitors, but this trade-off enables situational awareness that many users prefer in office or outdoor environments. The 18×11mm high-molecular racetrack speakers provide adequate frequency response for spoken content, music, and multimedia. Users can adjust equalizer settings through the app, although the options remain relatively basic compared to those offered by premium audio brands.

Who should consider these earbuds?

The Viaim OpenNote earbuds excel in specific use cases rather than serving as universal audio solutions. They’re particularly well-suited for:

• Business professionals who need reliable meeting transcription and translation capabilities
• Students and academics who want to record and transcribe lectures or research interviews
• Multilingual workers who benefit from real-time translation features
• Glasses wearers who struggle with comfort issues from traditional earbuds
• Active users who need a secure fit during sports or outdoor activities

Areas for improvement

Despite their innovative features, the OpenNote earbuds have room for enhancement:

• Translation accuracy needs improvement to match current AI translation standards
• Transcription performance could be more reliable with unclear speech or background noise
• Audio customization options remain limited compared to dedicated audio brands
• Price positioning may seem high for users who don’t need smart features

Final verdict: Innovation with practical value

The Viaim OpenNote Open-Ear Bluetooth Earbuds represent a thoughtful approach to modern audio needs. Their open-ear design solves real comfort issues while introducing genuinely useful AI-powered features that extend beyond simple music playback. For professionals who regularly attend meetings, conduct interviews, or work with international colleagues, the transcription and translation capabilities provide measurable productivity benefits. The exceptional comfort during extended wear makes them practical for all-day use in office environments.

However, potential buyers should have realistic expectations about the current state of the AI features. While functional and helpful, the transcription and translation accuracy don’t match the latest AI language models available from major tech companies. At their current price point of $197.10 on Amazon (down from the MSRP of $219), the OpenNote earbuds offer reasonable value for users who will actively utilize their smart features. They are available in black and grey options. For those seeking purely audio performance, traditional earbuds might provide better sound quality for the money.

YouTube: App footage for recording and translation (similar earphones used in this demonstration, promotional clip)

Photo credit: All images shown have been taken by Pupu Liang for TechAcute.
Editorial notice: We received a test unit of the Viaim OpenNote Open-Ear Bluetooth Earbuds, but we were not paid to publish this review. The manufacturer had no control over the content of the review.