Shokz OpenFit Pro vs soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro
The soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro wins this close open-ear ANC battle on points, despite costing less. The Shokz OpenFit Pro still makes a strong case if comfort, low-volume sound and a more straightforward fit matter most.
By James · Picky Audio
· 6 min read
QUICK TAKE
In my Shokz OpenFit Pro vs soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro comparison, soundcore takes the win by seven points to six. It is the cheaper option, and it wins secure fit, connectivity, call quality and noise cancelling consistency.
I would still pick the Shokz OpenFit Pro if I wanted the lighter, more comfortable open-ear design, better low-volume listening and stronger ANC when it is working at its best. It is also the more seamless option: there is no adjustable hybrid position or sound tuning to get right.
| soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro | Shokz OpenFit Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort | Comfortable for all-day use, but I could feel more of its hybrid half-ear design. | Winner. Light feel, thin hook wire and a regular open-ear design. |
| Secure fit | Winner. The adjustable design let me lock the buds onto my ears more securely. | Stayed on fine for exercise, but felt slightly less secure to me. |
| Case and battery | 7 hours in the buds and 34 hours total with ANC off; 5 hours and 24 hours with ANC on. | Winner. 12 hours in the buds and 50 hours total with ANC off; 6 hours and 24 hours with ANC on. |
| Controls | Tie. Button controls, better customization and the ability to power the buds on or off from the controls. | Tie. Button controls and useful wearing detection for automatic play and pause. |
| Connectivity | Winner. Bluetooth 6.1, LDAC, multipoint and audio takeover between devices. | Bluetooth 6.1 and multipoint, but no takeover advantage. |
| Call quality | Winner. Noticeably better in my quiet-room test and possibly slightly better in the windy-city test. | Close in wind, but behind soundcore in the quiet-room test. |
| Noise cancelling | Winner. More consistent ANC, with less wind picked up by the microphones. | Slightly stronger ANC at its best, but wind or sudden loud sounds could reduce it for around 15 seconds. |
| App customization | Tie. Eight-band EQ, stronger control customization, audio balance, gaming mode and spatial audio with head tracking. | Tie. 10-band EQ, gaming mode and spatial audio with head tracking. |
| Sound below 60% volume | Good low-level listening, with slightly more forward vocals. | Winner. Similar clarity, but deeper bass that was more noticeable at lower volume. |
| Sound above 60% volume | Tie. More direct tuning, punchy bass, forward vocals and slightly better instrument separation. | Tie. More laid-back tuning with richer, deeper bass. |
The Pros and Cons
PROS
- More secure fit for me, thanks to its adjustable hybrid design.
- Better call quality in my quiet-room test.
- More consistent noise cancelling outdoors, especially in wind.
- LDAC, multipoint with takeover and more flexible control customization.
- Louder at maximum volume and leaks less sound at the same volume.
CONS
- Its hybrid half-ear design may feel more noticeable on the ear.
- Sound changes with ear size and adjustment position, so I needed to tailor the fit and EQ.
- ANC is not as strong as the Shokz at its absolute best.
Why the AeroFit 2 Pro wins this comparison
The AeroFit 2 Pro wins the tally seven points to six. Its strongest advantages are fit security, connectivity, calls and ANC consistency. I found its driver contact and adjustable design locked in a little better on my ears, although both pairs stayed put for exercise.
soundcore also has the better connectivity package. Both use Bluetooth 6.1 and support multipoint, but the AeroFit 2 Pro adds LDAC and takeover, so audio switches over without me having to stop playback on one device and start it on the other.
It is also the louder pair by about two clicks at maximum volume. The hybrid design leaks less sound too: at 70% volume, the AeroFit 2 Pro did not leak much, while the OpenFit Pro leaked a decent amount.
Which open-ear ANC is better outdoors?
I gave the noise-cancelling round to soundcore, even though the Shokz OpenFit Pro has slightly stronger ANC strength. That surprised me because the Shokz sit further from my ear canal, and the ANC tech itself is superior.
The problem is consistency. A sudden loud sound or even a little wind picked up by the microphones can make the OpenFit Pro's ANC reduce, then take around 15 seconds to return. Wind was easy to hear through its microphones, which made the Shokz difficult to use outdoors on even a slightly windy day. I did not have that issue with the AeroFit 2 Pro.
Neither pair delivers the sort of isolation I get from regular in-ear ANC earbuds. Both can reduce fan noise and distant traffic, and bring down louder sounds on a train, bus or in the gym, but they will not block those sounds completely.
Why the OpenFit Pro is still the better pick for some people
The OpenFit Pro takes comfort, case and battery life, and sound below 60% volume. I preferred its light feel and thin hook wire, and it is slightly better for side sleepers. If you have smaller ears, though, it may block your ear canal more and make surroundings harder to hear.
Battery life is a clear Shokz advantage. Its advertised figures are 12 hours in the buds and 50 hours total with ANC off, falling to 6 hours and 24 hours with ANC on. The AeroFit 2 Pro is rated for 7 hours and 34 hours with ANC off, or 5 hours and 24 hours with ANC on. Both cases support wireless charging, but the Shokz case is thinner.
At lower volumes, the OpenFit Pro's deeper bass gave it the edge. Above 60% volume, I called sound quality a tie. Shokz sounds richer and more laid-back, while soundcore is more direct, with punchier bass, clearer forward vocals and slightly better separation.
Do you need to adjust the AeroFit 2 Pro sound?
The AeroFit 2 Pro's sound can differ depending on your ear size and where you set its adjustable design. I would take time to tailor both the physical position and EQ to your own ears. The OpenFit Pro is simpler here because it can only sit in one position.
That adjustability does have a benefit: moving the AeroFit 2 Pro's driver farther from the ear canal makes it more comfortable and lets you hear surroundings slightly better. Bringing it closer activates noise cancelling automatically.
Questions I keep getting
Which has the better open-ear fit, the Shokz OpenFit Pro or soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro?
I found the soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro slightly more secure because its adjustable design let me lock it in for my ear size. The Shokz OpenFit Pro was more comfortable, with a lighter regular open-ear design and thin hook wire.
Do both earbuds have water resistance and wireless charging?
Yes. Both have an IP55 dust- and water-resistant rating, and both charging cases support wireless charging.
THE VERDICT
The soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro is my overall winner. If you do not mind the hybrid design and are willing to tailor its position and EQ, it gives you the more secure fit, better calls, better connectivity and ANC that behaves more reliably outdoors.
Go for the Shokz OpenFit Pro if you want the more seamless earbud. It is more comfortable, has better battery life and sounds better at low volumes, with stronger ANC potential too. Stay picky.
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