Panasonic Joins Open-Ear Trend with RB-F10 Buds

Panasonic has entered the booming open-ear audio market with the launch of its new RB-F10 wireless earbuds. The buds are a sporty, affordable alternative that aims to blend comfort, connectivity, and situational awareness. The RB-F10s come hot on the heels of similar offerings from Bose, Sony, and Shokz.

But where those brands tend to skew premium, Panasonic has cut the competition with a surprisingly wallet-friendly price point at A$165, while still promising “rich and powerful sound” from their oversized 17x12mm drivers. The RB-F10’s design features a secure over-ear hook, which holds the earbuds in place without the need to plug into the ear canal, allowing for users to remain aware of their surroundings. The RB-F10 lands somewhere between the Powerbeats Pro 2 and the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, offering a hybrid of sport-oriented form and casual day-to-day usability.



Despite their low cost, the RB-F10s pack in a surprisingly modern spec sheet, including Bluetooth 5.4 with Multipoint pairing; built-in dual mics with beamforming and Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC); voice assistant support for Google Assistant and Siri; and touch controls on the buds for managing music and calls. Battery life is respectable too, with seven hours from the earbuds themselves and an additional 18 hours provided by the compact charging case.

A 15-minute quick charge gives an hour of playback. Finally, with an IPX4 splash-resistance rating, the earbuds are ready for sweat-heavy workouts or the occasional downpour. The RB-F10s are now available in black or beige finishes.

At just $165, they offer one of the most affordable entry points into the open-ear category..