The Shokz OpenFit 2 wi-fi earbuds had been designed particularly for me. I do not know the way Shokz’s engineers managed to pander to my way of life so completely; I think they employed spies, or my fiancee is a sleeper agent.
Sunday Runday
On this weekly column, Android Central Wearables Editor Michael Hicks talks in regards to the world of wearables, apps, and health tech associated to working and well being, in his quest to get quicker and healthier.
Ever since I reviewed the first-gen Shokz OpenFits in 2023, I’ve worn them for a whole lot of runs, walks, and hikes, no exaggeration. My ear canals have had an unprecedented break from exercise earbuds jammed into them, saving me from buds falling out throughout laborious runs (which causes the sound to worsen), impacted ear wax, and the unreal hissing of transparency modes.
However utilizing them for over a yr made me properly conscious of the OpenFit’s many flaws, from an obnoxious charging concern to finicky contact controls and common sound high quality. So, I am thrilled that the Shokz OpenFit 2 instantly fastened or improved on nearly all of my complaints.
Shokz is finest recognized for its bone conduction headphones, and I am no audiophile to guage how the Shokz OpenRun Professional 2 sound high quality compares to the OpenFit 2’s air conduction. All I do know is that I desire the latter’s “pure” sound whereas nonetheless giving me (largely) unimpeded situational consciousness throughout runs and races. And now, I am more likely to make use of the OpenFit 2’s multipoint pairing and put on them in non-fitness contexts.
| Class | Shokz OpenFit 2 |
|---|---|
| Supplies | PC, silicone |
| Weight | 9.4g (earbuds); 51g (case) |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.4; As much as 2 gadgets |
| Audio profiles | A2DP, AVRCP, HFP |
| Battery life | 11 hours (56mAh); as much as 270 days standby |
| Charging | 60 minutes in case; As much as 48 hours of charging capability (600mAh) |
| Frequency | 50Hz–16Hz |
| Sensitivity | Woofer: 965.dB ± 2.5dB; Tweeter: 94.5dB ± 3dB |
| Safety | IP55 (earbuds, not case) |
Extra comfy than ever
My appreciation for the unique OpenFit was how its ear hook positioned the speaker immediately over my ears with out impeding them; I might safely hear approaching cyclists or “in your left” runners and even the sounds of nature if listening to quieter content material like audiobooks. They’ve by no means as soon as fallen off. I overlook they’re there except for gentle stress on the again and facet of my ear, and the audio high quality was ok.
The Shokz OpenFit 2 retains the identical idea and target market (athletes) however with minor tweaks that started with the Shokz OpenFit Air — which had been extra comfy however too budget-focused to be “higher” than the originals.
The OpenFit 2 has a thinner outer hook that rounds right into a softer, wider silicone edge than the unique mannequin. It is laborious to explain the distinction between the 2, however the OpenFit 2 in some way sits extra naturally in its over-ear place, whereas the unique OpenFit feels as if it is urgent tougher in opposition to my pores and skin to remain in place. Plus, the thinner hook makes it take much less ear-top area, sliding gracefully below my glasses temples with out the identical stress as earlier than.
Mainly, you bought used to the Shokz OpenFit’s match for abbreviated exercises, however you may get pleasure from carrying the OpenFit 2 for longer stretches.
The Shokz OpenFit design has no ANC and minimal passive blocking, however that is the entire level. I put on these whereas studying or doing chores round the home as a result of I by no means miss my accomplice or cat calling for consideration.
There’s some noise air pollution for bass-heavy songs when you put the quantity loud sufficient — so it will not be the perfect match for an workplace setting — however on the regular 25% quantity I exploit indoors, individuals solely hear one thing in the event that they absolutely disregard my private area and lean in.
Shokzingly wealthy sound
Equally necessary to consolation is sound, and the OpenFit 2 wanted an improve. I famous that you just “should not essentially count on a symphony in your ears” with the unique OpenFits, defaulting to the Bass Increase choice to supply cheap low-end oomph and tolerating having to pump up the quantity to the higher ranges simply to listen to telephone calls or podcasts clearly. At the least for “regular” music, the sound sounded higher than you’d count on, because of the “DirectPitch” tech.
Shokz immediately addressed these points with the OpenFit 2, including a bigger low-frequency driver and an unbiased high-frequency unit for “DualBoost Know-how.”
Ditching the advertising converse, I really feel way more comfy utilizing the inventory EQ setting as a result of it hits highs and lows in a balanced, wealthy means; “luther” by Kendrick Lamar & SZA sounds wealthy and harmonious for each the deep and excessive parts, whereas Tommy Richman’s “MILLION DOLLAR BABY” hits these falsetto notes and low beat with equal high quality.
For folk in search of that various (or emo) really feel, Billie Eilish’s “WILDFLOWER” or Bon Iver’s “Holocene” now not sound fairly as tinny as they did on the first-gen earbuds; actually, the OpenFit 2 hits laborious sufficient that even 50% quantity is just too loud for me for these quiet songs (until I am outdoors and coping with ambient noise).
Now that I’ve began utilizing these earbuds for my day by day work grind, I do use the Treble Increase or Voice EQ settings for my instrumental & lo-fi soundtracks or my YouTube Let’s Performs, however they typically sound fairly pretty.
Truthfully, the one unfavourable to this audio increase is that when the music is loud sufficient, it’s going to get in the way in which of listening to your environment a bit. However so long as you are not blowing up your eardrums, you may be bopping to the beat, and you may stay alert.
What else the Shokz OpenFit 2 fastened
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Different key OpenFit 1-to-2 adjustments embody a extra energy-efficient Bluetooth chip, new bodily buttons for contact controls, and one IP-level increase to water resistance.
The soar from Bluetooth 5.2 to five.4 lets the OpenFit 2 sit in a low-power mode for for much longer in case you overlook to place them within the charging case, in addition to keep strongly linked in busy sign areas. The unique OpenFit earbud had the identical capability, and but the OpenFit 2 is rated to final 11 hours, a four-hour soar. In my expertise, they did final simply throughout a whole workday of streaming, and ultramarathoners can rely upon the OpenFit 2 extra.
By bettering from IP54 to IP55 safety, Shokz made the OpenFit 2 able to withstanding water jets; they’re shower-proof and simpler to soundly clear below a powerful sink, in different phrases. Your OpenFits are going to get gunked up with sweat over time, and the higher resistance may make them final a bit longer earlier than the speaker and mic high quality are affected.
My favourite improve is the brand new bodily button, nonetheless. The primary-gen OpenFit solely used touchpad controls, and I am unable to let you know how usually they failed to acknowledge double-taps or made me by accident dangle up on individuals once I merely wished to regulate their match.
Against this, the brand new elevated buttons are simple to search out and activate — however now not one thing you may press by mistake. They mix into the silver end of the earbud, so they do not look cheesy or old style. And most significantly, the touchpad solely has one optional-on function for Gemini or Siri, eliminating any confusion and frustration.
| Button / contact shortcut | Motion |
|---|---|
| Faucet button as soon as | Play/pause tune; reply name; finish name |
| Lengthy-press button | Left bud: quantity down; proper bud: quantity up |
| Double-tap button | Subsequent monitor; reject name |
| Triple-tap button | Earlier monitor |
| Lengthy-press touchpad space | Activate telephone voice assistant |
The most necessary Shokz OpenFit 2 change is not one thing Shokz put in its specs sheet. After my preliminary overview interval, I observed that the OpenFit would keep linked to my telephone contained in the charging case, that means they weren’t charging. I am unable to let you know how usually I would discover one earbud lifeless and the opposite absolutely charged the following day. I would should wipe down the magnetic pins and shift the buds round, then shut the case and verify the app to see if each had efficiently disconnected.
I requested Shokz about this concern since many OpenFit house owners had comparable complaints. They assured me that the OpenFit 2 had fewer contact factors (2 vs. 3) and a a lot stronger magnet than the last-gen buds. You are still purported to “preserve the pins dry and clear throughout use to keep away from any residue affecting correct contact,” and it will take months to see if the same downside pops up; for now, although, I am very optimistic, as I can really feel how securely the OpenFit 2 snaps into place when inserted.
Do you have to purchase the Shokz OpenFit 2?
I nonetheless have requests for the Shokz OpenFit 3, most notably put on detection — in order that they flip off and do not take calls when sitting outdoors the case — and a technique to ping the charging case. In case you purchase the black OpenFit 2, select a constant place to place the case after exercises, otherwise you will lose them consistently. Plus, the Shokz app ought to ideally notify you when the case hits 0%.
However these complaints really feel extra nitpicky in comparison with the elemental points with the first-gen OpenFit. By and enormous, the Shokz OpenFit 2 sound implausible, really feel pure when worn with glasses, and allow you to preserve your ear canals open as an alternative of getting laborious plastic shoved into them for hours at a time.
The Shokz OpenFit 2 will not match your wi-fi headphones and even regular wi-fi earbuds for surround-sound high quality or ANC, in order that they will not be the best alternative when you’re searching for an all-day alternative for each state of affairs that carefully syncs along with your smartphone. It is nonetheless a distinct segment and pretty costly product.
That mentioned, I fall throughout the goal Shokz OpenFit 2 area of interest, and I am supremely pleased with them!
Constructed for runners
Followers of bone conduction headphones know and love Shokz, however the Shokz OpenFit 2 switches to air conduction whereas protecting the identical driving precept: get pleasure from music with out counting on transparency modes or having your ears full of cumbersome earbuds for hours on finish. They’re my new favourite wi-fi earbuds, each for working and for on a regular basis life.
