Shokz has long been known for its bone conduction headphones, catering to runners and cyclists who value situational awareness. With the OpenFit series, the company moved away from bone conduction to embrace true open-ear audio, offering a more natural listening experience without the facial vibrations some users disliked. The OpenFit 2+ refines this approach further, combining improved sound, comfort, and smart features into one of the most advanced open-ear designs available today.
Design and Comfort
At first glance, the OpenFit 2+ continues Shokz’s minimalist and elegant design language. Each earbud weighs just 9.4 grams and is wrapped in ultra-soft silicone, making them comfortable enough for all-day wear. The flexible nickel-titanium ear hooks allow easy adjustment for a secure fit—ideal for running, cycling, or long commutes.
Despite their open design, the earbuds feel premium. Small details such as the metal speaker chassis, engraved text around the driver, and tactile top-mounted buttons give them a high-end look and feel. The IP55 water and dust resistance ensures protection from sweat and light rain, making them suitable for workouts and outdoor use.
Controls and App Experience
Unlike many competitors relying solely on touch gestures, the OpenFit 2+ features physical buttons that offer precise, reliable control. The tactile feedback makes them easy to use even with gloves, while a side touchpad is reserved for activating voice assistants.
The Shokz app, available for both iOS and Android, complements the hardware with a clean interface. It allows users to view battery levels, toggle Dolby Audio, manage multipoint connections, and customize EQ settings. Four sound profiles—Standard, Vocal, Bass Boost, and Treble Boost—are available alongside a five-band custom EQ. While the app lacks deep control customization found on some premium earbuds, it provides everything most users need for sound personalization and firmware updates.
Connectivity and Battery Life
The OpenFit 2+ uses Bluetooth 5.4 with support for SBC and AAC codecs. Pairing is straightforward, with a dedicated button inside the charging case. The earbuds support multipoint connectivity, allowing seamless switching between two devices—such as taking a call on a phone while connected to a laptop.
In testing, the Bluetooth range remained stable up to roughly 10 meters, and video playback on platforms like YouTube, Netflix, and TikTok showed minimal latency. For gaming, slight lag is present as expected, but perfectly acceptable for casual play.
Battery performance is excellent: up to 11 hours of playback per charge and 48 hours total with the case. The case supports both USB-C and wireless charging, and a 10-minute quick charge provides around two hours of listening.
Sound Quality and Performance
Open-ear designs traditionally struggle with bass and isolation, but Shokz’s dual-driver “Dual Boost” technology changes that. Each earbud houses an independent high-frequency driver and a large low-frequency unit, resulting in cleaner separation and fuller sound than typical open designs.
The OpenFit 2+ delivers a balanced, lively sound profile. Vocals are crisp and forward, treble is well-controlled, and bass—while naturally lighter than sealed earbuds—remains present and punchy. The addition of Dolby Audio expands the soundstage noticeably, adding spatial depth to movies and immersive clarity to music.
Volume levels are adequate for everyday use, though users in noisy environments may wish for slightly higher output. Leakage is minimal up to moderate volumes, but as with all open designs, sound can escape at higher levels.
Microphone and Call Quality
The built-in microphones use an AI noise reduction algorithm to suppress background sounds effectively. During calls, voices remain clear and intelligible even in outdoor or moderately noisy settings. Combined with the open design, these make an excellent choice for users who need to stay aware of their surroundings during calls or meetings.
Verdict
The Shokz OpenFit 2+ represents one of the most refined open-ear earbuds available today. It successfully balances comfort, awareness, and audio quality—without the compromises often associated with this category. The dual-driver setup, Dolby Audio support, multipoint pairing, and reliable battery life make it a strong all-round performer for both active users and everyday listening.
While more control customization and higher maximum volume would be welcome, the overall package is impressive. For those seeking open-ear comfort without sacrificing sound quality or smart functionality, the Shokz OpenFit 2+ stands out as one of the best options in its class.
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