The Shokz OpenFit Pro give some real competition to Boses open earbuds reign

Open earbuds, while great for exercise, staying aware, and generally having an alternative to in-ear earbuds, aren't exactly known for their stellar sound quality.

It makes sense — open earbuds work by using air conduction to transmit sound to your ear canals, without actually having any part of the earbud inside of your ear. Naturally, a traditional earbud (even a relatively cheap one) is going to have the advantage in providing depth and clarity of sound.

Still, every now and then, I test open earbuds that impress me with their audio quality (namely, the Bose Ultra Open earbuds). The Shokz OpenFit Pro earbuds are the latest pair of open earbuds to do exactly that, impressing with a combination of balanced sound and noise reduction (the latter being a first for any Shokz headphones). And they're $50 cheaper than the Bose buds, clocking in at $249.95.

Shokz made a name for itself in the open ear and bone conduction headphone space, but after spending a couple of weeks with these earbuds, I could see them becoming a favorite for open earbud users who prioritize the listening experience both in and out of the gym.

Shokz OpenFit Pro specs

While basically every pair of Shokz buds is geared toward use during exercise, Shokz wanted the OpenFit Pro to feature an excellent listening experience, making them just as good for a gym run as a study session in a cafe. With that in mind, here are the basic features you'll find on the buds:

• Drivers: Ultra large 11 × 20-millimeter synchronized dual-diaphragm driver

• Battery life: 12 hours of listening per charge (50 hours with the case) or six hours with noise reduction (and 24 hours with the case)

• Wireless charging: Qi wireless charging compatible

• Quick charge: 10-minute quick charge for four-hour listening time

• Equalizer: 10-band custom equalizer with five preset equalizer modes and two custom equalizer slots

• Microphones: Triple microphone system with AI voice recognition and custom wind-control technology

• Water and dust proof rating: IP55

• Connection: Bluetooth 6.1, multipoint connection

• Colors: Black and white

How does noise reduction work on the Shokz OpenFit Pro?

When you use the OpenFit Pro, you have the option between listening in open mode and noise reduction mode. Noise reduction is definitely not the same as noise cancellation, but that's by design.

In my briefing with Shokz, a representative from the brand told me that after conducting research from more than 400 participants globally, they found the top three improvements users wanted from their open earbuds were better sound quality, noise reduction that kept environmental awareness, and noise reduction that allowed for more versatility in wear.

It makes sense: The person who's drawn to open earbuds likely isn't looking for ANC, as the whole premise behind this category is maintaining a degree of awareness. Noise reduction, then, theoretically allows for the balance between awareness and focus.

I took these earbuds everywhere, from crowded, tiny cafes with baristas who liked to blast music, to walks in the park, and to the library. Each time I wore them, I was impressed by the noticeable degree of noise reduction they provided, even without the assistance of any audio. The hum of other customers lowered, the music playing from a stereo system became less front and center, and the sound of a conversation next to me felt easier to tune out. I was still always aware of my surroundings, but it felt like the sounds of my environment went from the foreground to the background. Plus, I could hear the audio I was playing clearer.

Shokz could have stopped there, but they also made their noise reduction feature adjustable. The three-microphone system helps achieve effective noise reduction by monitoring the environment, the level of audio playing from the earbuds, and a microphone that helps boost the noise reduction performance.

You do have to use the companion app to adjust it (though you can switch between the open and noise reduction mode through the buds' on-ear controls). The default setting sits at 50 percent reduction, with a sliding scale to maximum or minimum noise reduction. The only real flaw here was that I noticed little performance difference between the levels in particularly noisy environments, like that aforementioned cafe with the loud music.

Still, it's not a hugely distracting detraction, especially when you consider that most open earbuds offer no noise reduction whatsoever. The only other major competition that comes to mind is the new Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro earbuds, which offer open-ear wear and wear with ANC, but for the latter use case, users have to wear the buds in their ears.

Why the sound quality is so great

The noise reduction tech was a real asset to the sound quality of these buds, allowing me to hear my music and podcasts clearly with ease. However, it's certainly not the only feature that makes OpenFit Pro sound great.

A new driver

Inside these earbuds is an ultra-large 11 × 20-millimeter synchronized dual-diaphragm driver, which Shokz calls its SuperBoost tech. According to Shokz, this driver is specifically designed for use on open-ear earbuds, and it shows. The frequency range of these earbuds is greater, meaning highs come through clearer, while lows don't get lost or distorted.

It's easy to notice, upon listening, how good they sound. BTS's "On" maintained a strong thumping percussive quality without sacrificing the soaring vocals of the group. Paramore's "That's What You Get" could easily sound like a crunchy mess on a pair of lesser open earbuds — on the OpenFit Pro, it came through properly grungy, evoking the perfect early-2000s energy.

Spatial audio

Also assisting the depth and fullness of songs is the spatial audio on these earbuds, made possible by their Dolby Atmos optimization. I'm always somewhat wary of spatial audio — more often than not, I can find it makes music sound weirdly hollow in the attempt to make it sound as if it's filling the room. Thankfully, the OpenFit Pro's spatial audio was noticeable, but not distracting. It didn't change the game on my listening experience, but I appreciated the variation it added. What I did find it more lacking was the head tracking feature — no matter the genres I listened to, I didn't really notice a difference between it being toggled on or off.

Equalizer settings

Finally, I was pleasantly surprised by the 10-band equalizer on these earbuds, which allowed for plenty of adjustment in their sound profile. For comparison, the Bose open earbuds come with a three-band custom equalizer and four preset equalizers.

As for presets, the OpenFit Pro have five options — I defaulted to standard most of the time, and it worked great. However, you also have two slots for saving any custom EQ settings.

The other major benefits of these earbuds

These earbuds stand out most in their sound quality (hence all the words on it above), but it's far from their only virtue.

Design

Cases for open earbuds with an ear-hook design can get on the bulky side, but Shokz keeps things relatively sleek and low-profile. Compared to the new Soundcore dual-form open earbuds (that also come in an ear hook design), the Shokz case was noticeably smaller. I tested the black colorway of the buds, and the exterior of the case was prone to some smudging, but nothing terribly noticeable (or difficult to scrub away).

The earbud itself is lightweight, with soft silicone hooks that were comfortable to wear for several hours at a time. The physical on-ear buttons were also easy to locate by feel alone and were a nice touch — I find that overly sensitive touch controls can be one of the worst features in earbuds I wear while exercising.

The app itself also had a sleek design, packing plenty of customization in an easy-to-navigate interface. Whether it be adjusting the equalizer or reassigning on-ear controls, all the features of these buds were simple to find without effort.

Versatility

I can appreciate why Shokz pushed the versatility angle of these earbuds in their marketing. With an IP55 rating and the ear hook design, they're excellent for working out. The noise reduction and sound quality make them great for both casual listening and working in an office. The three-mic system works well on calls, also making them suitable for taking work calls.

Sure, I wouldn't mind if the battery life was a bit longer than the six hours they last with the noise reduction on, but ultimately, if a lack of ANC isn't a deal breaker, these are a really solid pair of all-round earbuds, which admittedly does help soften the price point. Speaking of...

The OpenFit Pro earbuds are undeniably an investment

Yes, the cost of headphones and earbuds has steadily been going up since last year. Several recent releases have come in $50 more expensive than their preceding generations.

All of that said, it is challenging to wrap my head around the average consumer shelling out $250 for a pair of earbuds that offer no noise cancelling. However, this is something many consumers have already done, considering the popularity of the Bose Ultra Open earbuds — and their $299 price tag. If the ear cuff design isn't a must-have feature, you're likely better off with the OpenFit Pro earbuds.

Are the Shokz OpenFit Pro worth it?

As great as the Shokz OpenFit Pro are, I imagine a premium pair of open earbuds is more difficult to justify. However, if you're someone who wants their workout earbuds to also serve as the earbuds they wear at work, and you really don't need ANC or passive noise reduction, it's hard to imagine a pair of open earbuds you'll be more satisfied with.