On a route shared with cyclists, hearing the bell behind you matters more than shutting out the road. The OpenFit 2 leaves the ear canal open and rests a small speaker just outside it. That same design works against you when a passing bus drowns out a quiet podcast. Pick the listening environment before picking the color.
In depth
Shokz OpenFit 2 review
Published · Updated
Best forRunners, walkers and desk listeners who want music alongside the sounds around them.
At a glance
- Noise cancellation
- Not supported
- Weight
- 9.4 g per earbud
- Battery life
- Up to 11 h (no ANC hardware)
- Connections
- Bluetooth
Pros
- Physical buttons are easy to locate during a workout.
- Open ear canals allow conversation and outside sounds to reach you directly.
Cons
- Ambient noise competes with speech and music.
- Bass has less weight than on a well-sealed pair. 1
Comfort & Design
- Open-ear air conduction
- Ear hooks
- Physical buttons
These are small air-conduction speakers. They don’t need a plug in the ear canal to play. SoundGuys found the slimmer hooks stayed in place during running, cycling and resistance training. That was one wearer’s experience. Someone who wears glasses should try the hooks with their usual frames, especially if the two rest on the same spot behind the ear. 1
Sound Quality
- Dual drivers
- App equalizer
- No listening ANC
SoundGuys heard clear vocals and lighter bass than on sealed earbuds. On a quiet path that can make spoken-word listening an appealing use. At a station, turning up the volume to outshout a train gives away one of the main benefits of the open design. A sealed pair that lets you switch between isolation and transparency is better suited to that trip. 1
Battery & Charging
- Up to 11 hours on the earbuds
- Up to 48 hours including the case
- USB-C
The first number describes one listening session. The second includes returning the buds to the case for recharging. A person listening across a full workday should base their decision on the first figure. The standard OpenFit 2 is the USB-C case version. Shoppers specifically looking for wireless case charging should check the separate OpenFit 2+.
Connectivity & Calls
- Bluetooth 5.4
- Two-device pairing
- Two microphones per earbud
Multipoint pairing in the Shokz app lets the hooks stay connected to a phone and a computer. That makes sense for someone who wears them through a walk and then a desk meeting. The microphones pick up your voice for the other end of a call. Your own ears remain open, so a caller’s voice can still compete with nearby traffic whatever the microphones do to the outgoing signal.
Controls & Durability
- Physical buttons
- IP55 earbuds
- 9.4 g per earbud
The buttons give a runner something to locate by touch. Check the button position with your usual glasses or headband on: those are the items most likely to share space with the hook. IP55 applies to the earpieces, useful when exercise turns sweaty or the weather changes. Keep the charging case dry and let the contacts dry before putting the buds away.
Alternatives
If ordinary earbuds hurt because of the seal, changing tip sizes might solve the problem with a pair you already own. The Shokz design makes the stronger case when hearing a coworker or another person on the trail is part of the point.
Verdict
I’d choose OpenFit 2 for outdoor exercise and an attentive desk listener. For a commute dominated by loud transit, I’d spend the money on better isolation instead.
About this review
This is a research-based review. The Fasit has not physically tested these earbuds.
Sources & Research
1 reference
Independent sources cited in this article.
- SoundGuysShokz OpenFit 2 review (opens in a new tab)https://www.soundguys.com/shokz-openfit-2-review-iteration-done-right-133776/
Workout fit and the balance of bass and vocals in its listening evaluation.