Shokz OpenFit Pro review: Comfortable for active use, but with some noisy trade-offs
OpenFit Pro is Shokz first headphone with Open-Ear Noise Reduction, combining Shokz signature open-ear design with advanced noise control. Picture: Noel Campion
I have spent the last month testing the OpenFit Pro by Shokz during morning walks, cycling, and long office shifts. One of the things I love about open-design earbuds is their simplicity, so I’m not sure why Shokz felt the need to change anything that wasn't broken.
The charging case is rather large, but at least it’s relatively flat and easy to slip into a pocket. Shokz has made a very practical choice here by opting for physical buttons instead of the finicky touch sensors found on many competitors. Capacitive touch can be unreliable when your hands are damp, or you are wearing gloves, but these buttons provide clear, tactile feedback that is easy to find without looking.
I found the physical buttons much more practical, especially while cycling, but I did need to get used to the tricky series of clicks: single, double, triple, and long presses. It is reasonable, and having only a single button on each bud makes for an uncomplicated setup. Once you have familiarised yourself with the control mechanics, they are reliable and repeatable.
The charging case has a premium feel with a slim, matte finish available in black or white. The lid has a satisfyingly heavy, soft-close mechanism. While it is not the smallest case I have used, the geometry required for the ear hooks means Shokz has likely made this as compact as possible. It supports both USB-C and Qi wireless charging, which is welcome.
Because these do not sit inside your ear canal, they are a breath of fresh air for long sessions at my desk or while cycling. I never experienced that stuffy or overheated sensation that usually comes with in-ear buds. The hook design is incredibly secure. Even during vigorous movement, the earbuds stay exactly where they were supposed to be.
I did find that wearing them with my glasses requires a bit of care, as the hooks sit relatively high on the ear and can occasionally catch your frames. They’re relatively lightweight, so you forget they are there after a few minutes.
Most open-ear buds are effectively open to the sounds around you, which is one of the main reasons people choose them. In my testing, the noise reduction mode was effective at dampening low-frequency sounds. However, when no audio is playing, there is an audible hiss, and the noise cancellation isn’t as good as that of even cheap ANC earbuds. If you need high-quality ANC, don’t buy these, unless you only want to reduce the hum of a computer fan or dull distant office chatter. After my initial testing, I stopped using the function because I found it distorted external sounds and created a strange pressure in my ears.
The app also offers customisation of the button functions and lets you choose from five different EQ presets. The multi-point pairing worked exactly as it should between my MacBook Pro and my phone. When a call came through on my mobile, the audio switched over without any dropped connections or manual intervention.
The OpenFit Pro offers 12 hours of playback in the earbuds and a total of 50 hours with the case. A ten-minute charge provides roughly four hours of use, which is handy for quick bursts. The inclusion of Bluetooth 6.1 promises greater efficiency, while extras like smart wear detection and low-latency mode add plenty of utility. The audio stayed in sync during video playback, and I didn't encounter any noticeable lag while gaming.
While I wasn't expecting studio-grade fidelity from an open design, the audio from the OpenFit Pro is the most impressive I’ve tested in this category so far. The dual-diaphragm architecture delivers punchy bass, and I also found the sound to be very forgiving. Even if I moved the buds slightly on my ear, the audio profile remained consistent. The vocals are clear and intelligible, making them great for podcasts. While some open designs can suffer from sibilance, these feel relatively smooth.
If you need situational awareness while running or cycling, the Shokz OpenFit Pro are excellent. However, if you crave total silence on a long-haul flight, look elsewhere for traditional noise-cancelling buds.
€249
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