Live Science Verdict
The Shokz OpenFit will suit those who need to try their environs or ca n’t put affair in their ears , but the try - and - try out in - ear earbud expression is hard to amaze .
telling audio
Comfortable
The Shokz OpenFit headphones have a good battery life — up to 28 hours with the charging case.
Do n’t go inside your ears
No noise isolation
Pricey
The ear hooks are flexible with a weighted end to keep them securely in place.
Sound leakage at high volumes
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When calculate for thebest running headphones , it ’d be fair to say that Shokz does n’t trifle by traditional rule .
The Shokz OpenFit Pro headphones sit on the ear rather than in it, so you can still hear ambient noise while wearing them.
The Shokz OpenFit are — as the name implies — open - ear . They do n’t sit inside your ears but rather sit on top of them . While this sounds strange , if you ca n’t get on with the conniption of the more typically shaped pinna buds ( Jabra Elite 4 ActiveorJBL Reflect Flow Pro , for deterrent example ) and are looking to try a dissimilar , potentially more comfy innovation , these might be just what you ’re looking for .
Smart enable / compatibility : Bluetooth
Waterproof : IP54 water - tolerant
There are no physical controls on the Shokz OpenFit headphones, just touch gestures e.g double-tap to pause.
Battery life:7 hours , 28 hour with charging fount
Charging time:80 Min ( including suit )
Noise - canceling : No
admit : Earbuds , excite causa , USB - A to USB - C cable
One environs that we can see them being particularly popular in is post where you need to still be capable to hear the ambient racket in the room clearly , but also desire to mind to music , a podcast or audiobook . In this regard , the Shokz OpenFit almost feels like you ’re adding a backing racecourse to your Clarence Day - to - Clarence Day . We ’d also palpate happy walking / running at night with them in — you’re able to still get a line your surroundings , so you generally experience less vulnerable .
This style has drawbacks , though — there are no built - in control on either bud and if you ’re see to drop off yourself in a podcast or album , you ’ll still be able to get a line pretty much everything find around you . In fact , as you turn the book up , others will likely be capable to hear your audio of choice too .
Price and release date
The Shokz OpenFit were unblock in June 2023 , be $ 179.95 in the US and £ 179 in the UK .
Shokz OpenFit: Set-up and design
In terms of setup , the Shokz OpenFit are about as basic as it pay off — and we ’re not complaining . soda pop start the case for the first metre and they ’ll be in pairing mood , and you ’ll just want to connect using your equipment ’s Bluetooth setting .
The Shokz app allows for customization of audio , but right out of the box the OpenFits offer a balanced sound — more on that afterwards .
Design - wise , since there ’s no need for ear tips , the OpenFit search quite unique . The capitulum hook are nice and flexible , with a weightier end to them to keep them behind your auricle , while the bud themselves have a pair of speaker unit grills on each , push sound toward each other and up for a well - rounded strait .
Our review building block is in the Beige colorway , but a Black rendering is also available .
Shokz OpenFit: Controls
As we mentioned earlier , there are no forcible control on the Shokz OpenFit — you ’ll need to navigate touch gestures instead .
Double - tap the bud pauses your medicine , but we discover this to be a little inconsistent ( in damage of responsiveness ) in our testing — although this may be down to sweaty manus . Still , the Shokz OpenFit wo n’t break your running when you take one of them out of your ear .
These controls can be customized within the Shokz app , so you could have it bring up Siri or Google Assistant , for exercise , if you favor .
Shokz OpenFit: Fit
While some earbuds offer additional confidential information so you could choose which is the most comfortable tantrum for your ears , there ’s no real way to set the OpenFits because they do n’t go into your ears . We ’ve tested them on a couple of users , though , and while you ’re always expecting part of it to get closer to your ear , they ’re comfortable irrespective .
If your worry with in - ear buds has been ease , then rest tell that the Shokz OpenFit are comfortable to wear for long periods .
Sound quality
While the Shokz app set aside for tweaking various aspects of the sound experience , the OpenFit get in with well - equilibrise sound — most users will find a lot to like without pluck anything , but audiophiles who require a more granular approach will require to make adjustments . For example , we discover bass really unanimous for rock tracks but lack a little for belt — so we adjust it to suit our preference .
The biggest issue with the Shokz OpenFit , is a lack of stochasticity isolation . Because OpenFits are n’t in your spike , they ’re on them ; they let in pretty much all ambient noise . In a coffee shop , we could discover cups on plates , while at the gymnasium we heard the changeless clanging of weights being picked up and put down .
As discussed earlier , though , if you ’re looking for exactly this experience , which some users favour , you ’ll chance it here and then some — but you will require to be mindful of audio bleed as you increase the volume .
Shokz OpenFit: Performance
Having spend a comely amount of time with the Shokz OpenFit , we ’ve been impressed with the battery life . For one , each earpiece holds a seven - hour charge , but we ’ve actually reached seven and a half on a couple of occasion .
Then there ’s the case , which stays charge for a commendable 28 hours . The lack of interference cancellation is in spades a factor in protract the battery life sentence .
When it comes to charging , users can gestate the case and bud to be fully charged within around 80 minute . A USB - A to USB - C line is included , but you ’ll demand to find a agitate brick since one is n’t included in the box , something that is now fairly standard when buying new electronics . We ’re also proud of to say that appoint the case for 5 minutes will offer an hour of playback time — sodding for a quick gym seance .
Shokz OpenFit: User reviews
Amazon.com propose an average rating of 4.3 stars for the Shokz OpenFit , with many noting the comfort afforded by not suffer to jam them into your ears .
One commentator also noted that they finger well-heeled to wear alongside glasses , with excellent audio quality . There are many critical review stating that the Shokz OpenFit are great for people who ca n’t put things in their ears , whether that be due to an ear problem , piercings or hearing aids .
Should you buy the Shokz OpenFit?
If the idea of in - ear bud is one that you ca n’t or wo n’t entertain , then the Shokz OpenFit are an easy leverage . Audio is great , the battery life history is better than a good deal of the contention , and they ’re comfortable .
If the Shokz OpenFit aren’t for you:
If the idea of open - pinna headphones does n’t have you convert , consider theJaybird Vista 2which also offer noise delete , solid audio performance and are a great fit . Apple user can also hold in out the AirPods Pro , although those are dear .
If you want something more affordable , theTreblab X3 Proare ideal for running . Though they are low-cost , they do n’t ' feel ' chintzy . They offer a concrete battery life and they ’re a comfortable fit . The sound is adept , though it does lack dynamism . Still , for the terms , they are perfectly adequate as physical exercise earbuds .
