Shokz OpenFit Pro Review: Open Ear ANC?!

THE SCORECARD

Shokz OpenFit Pro

• Comfort

  9/10

  They are incredibly comfortable for all-day use, though I feel the protruding silicone slightly more than on the OpenFit 2 and 2 Plus.

• Security of the fit

  9.5/10

  The improved ergonomics lock the buds in place better, and the included silicone grips can help people with smaller ears.

• The IP rating

  10/10

  The IP55 dust and water resistant rating should handle rain, sweaty workouts and dust better.

• Case and battery life

  9.5/10

  Battery life is 12 hours on the buds and 50 hours total with the case, plus wireless charging and a 10-minute charge for 4 hours of playback.

• Controls

  9.5/10

  The physical buttons are tactile and responsive, but customization remains limited and there is no call mute option.

• Connectivity

  9/10

  Bluetooth 6.1, SBC, AAC and multipoint are included, but single-earbud use does not combine the left and right audio channels.

• Call quality

  8/10

  Call quality is improved, particularly against windy city noise, although I heard a little echo in the quiet-room test.

• App customization and extra features

  9/10

  Noise reduction is the standout feature, alongside a 10-band EQ, Dolby Atmos with head tracking, low-latency mode and wear detection.

• Sound below 60% volume

  10/10

  At lower volumes, the tuning is balanced and smooth with clear vocals, punchy bass and non-harsh treble.

• Sound quality above 60% volume

  9.5/10

  At higher volumes, the fuller and punchier bass gives the sound more weight while retaining its well-rounded tuning.

The Pros and Cons

How comfortable and secure are the Shokz OpenFit Pro?

I scored comfort at 9 out of 10. The ultra-soft silicone remains incredibly comfortable, and the thin wing should be less noticeable with glasses, depending on the thickness of the arms. The revised shape puts the wing more in line with the driver, so the driver sits closer to my ear canal.

That closer position means slightly more contact than the OpenFit 2 and 2 Plus, which is why those models are half a point more comfortable for me. It also helps the Pro stay put and improves the sound, so I see it as a worthwhile trade-off.

Fit security gets 9.5 out of 10. The improved ergonomics lock the buds in place better than the OpenFit 2 and 2 Plus, and I’d be happy using them for running, weight training or casual use. Shokz includes silicone grips for the wing, which should be most useful for smaller ears, although they did not do much for me.

What does the OpenFit Pro noise reduction actually do?

Noise reduction is what separates the OpenFit Pro from the rest of the hook-style open earbuds. It is seriously impressive for an open design, and it means you do not need to push music, movies or podcasts as loud in moderate noise such as a gym, office or shops.

Keep expectations sensible if you are coming from regular in-ear earbuds. There is no seal here, so the reduction is subtle rather than full ANC. It will not deal particularly well with plane noise or a loud bus or train, though it can still take the edge off.

There are a couple of issues. Cabin pressure is pretty noticeable, like the suction feeling that can come with noise cancelling, although you can reduce the strength in the app. I also noticed the adaptive noise reduction could drop after sudden loud noise or after adjusting an earbud, then take around 15 to 20 seconds to return to optimal strength. Shokz told me it is working on a firmware update for this.

Battery, controls and connectivity are properly upgraded

I scored case and battery life at 9.5 out of 10. The buds deliver 12 hours of battery life and 50 hours total with the case. With noise reduction enabled, that drops to 6 hours on the buds and 24 hours total. A 10-minute charge gives 4 hours of playback, and the case supports wireless charging.

The case is slightly larger but thinner than the OpenFit 2 Plus case, which matters more to me for pocketability. It also has a smoother matte finish and silver trim that give it a nicer, more durable feel.

Controls score 9.5 out of 10. The tactile physical button supports single, double and triple presses, long hold and tap-and-hold volume control. Wear detection is a rare extra for hook-style open earbuds, and it worked smoothly for me, even if the pause takes around 2 seconds. Bluetooth 6.1, SBC, AAC and multipoint are all here, but you do not get high-res codecs or true mono playback with one earbud.

Are Shokz OpenFit Pro calls good in wind and crowd noise?

I scored call quality at 8 out of 10. It is a nice upgrade, especially in my windy city test, where the OpenFit Pro performed better than every other earbud on my ranking.

There was a little more echo in the quiet-room test than with the OpenFit 2 Plus. Still, the microphones block more background noise overall, which is the more useful improvement for phone calls.

How the Shokz OpenFit Pro sound at low and high volume

Below 60% volume, the OpenFit Pro scores a solid 10 out of 10. The upgraded diaphragm improves the low end and highs, but the bass upgrade over the OpenFit 2 and 2 Plus is the major change to my ears. My preferred EQ adds a little bass and treble, giving the sound a well-rounded response with some deep sub-bass, satisfying punch, clear natural vocals and smooth treble.

At higher volumes, I gave them 9.5 out of 10. The tuning stays similarly balanced, but the fuller bass is even more obvious. Against the Soundcore AeroFit 2, the OpenFit Pro has punchier, slightly deeper bass and slightly better instrument separation. The AeroFit 2 has crisper treble, more mid-bass and a stronger lower-vocal presentation.

Dolby Atmos with head tracking is included. I found the spatial effect fairly restrained, with minimal echo and reverb, and it can add a little mid-bass and treble. The head tracking is incredibly precise, though I do not personally find it that useful.

The Shokz OpenDots One still sounds better relative to its price, and I find clip-on earbuds can get closer to the sound of a regular in-ear earbud. Its bass is fuller and more in-ear-like, but hook-style open earbuds are catching up quickly.

Shokz OpenFit Pro vs Soundcore AeroFit 2

The Soundcore AeroFit 2 remains amazing value in second place, and it is almost half the price. It also has AI language translation, LDAC high-res support and an adjustable fit.

For me, the OpenFit Pro is the better all-round earbud. The Shokz has better button controls than the AeroFit 2 touch controls, better sound at lower volumes, Dolby Atmos as a smaller extra, a stronger build-quality track record and the noise reduction that the Soundcore simply does not have. I have also seen quite a few comments about the AeroFit 2 adjustable joint breaking.

Questions I keep getting