Are on-ear headphones better than over-ears?

What makes an on-ear pair of headphones different from any other pair? How the cups sit on your head. On-ear headphones have soft, circular ear cups that fit over the top of your ear, thereby isolating the ear hole to deliver clear, crisp sound. Over-ear headphones, which sit around your ears, are only marginally different. If you are not a fan of the way in-ear buds feel in your ear canal, on-ear buds make a good alternative. In-ear buds are more rigid and heavier than on-ear buds.

Audio equipment is so refined these days that there isn’t that much auditorily different between on-, over-, or in-ears, so it’s pretty much down to your own personal preference. You might find slightly better active noise-cancellation (ANC) features or a longer battery elsewhere, but we do still love the compact headband design of on-ears.
They are the most comfortable option overall and are best suited for longer listening sessions, commutes, or long-distance travel, particularly if you are looking for lightweight audio playback.