Without the wall reflections we know from concerts or loudspeakers and slightly angling the head with respect to the sound direction, the brain can hardly distinguish between 0 and 180 degrees. It follows that even the smart Shokz can’t avoid listening to an inner voice, so to speak, while listening to music. But what they succeed in doing excellently is to create on both sides the feeling of a wide, believably comprehensible space in front of the mind’s eye. Chapeau, that is a remarkable performance in the range at the price with the small dimensions. Total work of art for the ears

What those battery numbers don’t illustrate is performance at different volumes or when using more powerful EQ modes. I found an hour at close to maximum volume using the Bass Boost EQ mode saw battery drop by 30-40%. That would equate to significantly less than the claimed 7 hours battery. Prioritize safety with outdoor sports like cycling, jogging, or hiking. The open-ear design allows you to hear crucial environmental cues like approaching vehicles, strangers, or wildlife encounters. JBL took a different approach with the aforementioned Soundgear Sense open-ears. Their open-ears are significantly larger, also cover the ear more and you can’t forget them quite as easily when wearing them. Thus, the Americans sacrifice both the striking airiness in sound and feel, but voices and especially basses sound fuller and remain clean even at higher listening levels. Conclusion and alternatives to the Shokz OpenFit Despite being the most expensive pair of Shokz headphones, they don’t promise the biggest battery. Shokz says you should get up to 7 hours battery life, which is short of the 10 hours off a single charge from the OpenRun Pro. You can get a total of 28 hours when you factor in a fully charged charging case, plus a 5-minute charge gets you an hour of listening time.The Shokz OpenFit empowers you to enjoy your music and podcasts without compromising your safety, be it hearing a car approaching from behind or engaging in a conversation with a friend. Take a look at the breakdown of situations where the Shokz OpenFit comes in handy: That being said, the charging case offers a combined battery life of approximately 28 hours, and the OpenFit’s fast-charging capabilities mean that just 5 minutes of charging will give you one extra hour of listening time. This is quite good and on par with most of the competition. Controls Shokz is very well-known as being the pioneering company behind commercial bone-conduction headphones. It’s the industry in which Shokz made and earned its name, and bone conduction technology is nearly synonymous with the brand. But when Shokz launched the OpenFit, its first air conduction earphone, in April 2023—with a U.S. release following in June—people began to wonder: Is it really worth it? According to the results of simulation experiments conducted by Shokz Lab for the intersection scene, AI noise cancellation can provide a maximum of 50dB signal-to-noise ratio improvement, which is equivalent to a 99.7% reduction of ambient noise, when the sound pressure level at the artificial head is 65-72dB(A). With the volume cranked so high, you’re going to encounter sound leakage. People won’t hear your music from across the room, but whoever’s sitting next to you likely will. And then there’s the fact that higher volumes drain battery faster – and seven hours in-ear wasn’t amazing to begin with – as well as the concerns of damaging your hearing through prolonged exposure to high-volume sound.

By leveraging the open-ear design, bone conduction, and DirectPitch™ technology, Shokz has created a listening experience that blends effortlessly with your surroundings. Each earbud weighs 8.3g, so heavier than a pair of Apple AirPods Pro 2 and uses what Shokz calls a Dolphin Arc earhook design, wrapping a flexible hook over the top of the ear to keep it securely in place. Those are attached to what are speakers that fire sound towards the ears. The earphones can be used independently as well. Each earphone weighs just 8.3g, and the hooks, made from a skin-friendly material known as zero-degree silicone, are so comfortable that I barely notice I’m wearing headphones. They are comfortable enough to use all day with no problems or difficulties, and best of all, they don’t add the discomfort and pressure of having something lodged in your ears.

Frequently asked questions

Comfort is paramount when it comes to headphones, especially for extended use. The Shokz OpenFit prioritizes comfort in three ways: The introduction of an app and an equaliser is a great addition. I made my own profile immediately, which suited my taste and music preferences. I found it very easy to navigate and use. The result is that you are able to hear sound clearly. This, combined with the 18 X 11mm dynamic drivers means these earbuds deliver quality, crisp sound, even when they’re near your ear and not inside it.