The Shokz OpenFit 2 wi-fi earbuds have been designed particularly for me. I do not know the way Shokz’s engineers managed to pander to my life-style 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 operating and well being, in his quest to get quicker and fitter.
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 substitute hissing of transparency modes.
However utilizing them for over a 12 months made me effectively conscious of the OpenFit’s many flaws, from an obnoxious charging difficulty 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 choose 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 snug than ever
My appreciation for the unique OpenFit was how its ear hook positioned the speaker instantly 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 neglect they’re there apart from gentle strain 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 have been extra snug 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 more durable towards my pores and skin to remain in place. Plus, the thinner hook makes it take much less ear-top house, sliding gracefully beneath my glasses temples with out the identical strain as earlier than.
Principally, 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 companion or cat calling for consideration.
There’s some noise air pollution for bass-heavy songs in the event you put the amount loud sufficient — so it might not be one of the best match for an workplace setting — however on the regular 25% quantity I take advantage of indoors, folks solely hear one thing in the event that they totally disregard my private house and lean in.
Shokzingly wealthy sound
Equally essential to consolation is sound, and the OpenFit 2 wanted an improve. I famous that you just “should not essentially anticipate a symphony on your ears” with the unique OpenFits, defaulting to the Bass Enhance possibility to supply cheap low-end oomph and tolerating having to pump up the amount to the higher ranges simply to listen to cellphone calls or podcasts clearly. Not less than for “regular” music, the sound sounded higher than you’d anticipate, because of the “DirectPitch” tech.
Shokz instantly addressed these points with the OpenFit 2, including a bigger low-frequency driver and an impartial high-frequency unit for “DualBoost Expertise.”
Ditching the advertising converse, I really feel far more snug 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 looking for that different (or emo) really feel, Billie Eilish’s “WILDFLOWER” or Bon Iver’s “Holocene” not sound fairly as tinny as they did on the first-gen earbuds; in actual fact, the OpenFit 2 hits laborious sufficient that even 50% quantity is just too loud for me for these quiet songs (except I am outdoors and coping with ambient noise).
Now that I’ve began utilizing these earbuds for my every day work grind, I do use the Treble Enhance or Voice EQ settings for my instrumental & lo-fi soundtracks or my YouTube Let’s Performs, however they typically sound fairly beautiful.
Actually, the one destructive to this audio enhance is that when the music is loud sufficient, it’s going to get in the best way 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 modifications embrace a extra energy-efficient Bluetooth chip, new bodily buttons for contact controls, and one IP-level enhance to water resistance.
The bounce from Bluetooth 5.2 to five.4 lets the OpenFit 2 sit in a low-power mode for for much longer in case you neglect 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 bounce. In my expertise, they did final simply throughout a complete workday of streaming, and ultramarathoners can depend upon the OpenFit 2 extra.
By enhancing from IP54 to IP55 safety, Shokz made the OpenFit 2 able to withstanding water jets; they’re shower-proof and simpler to securely clear beneath a robust sink, in different phrases. Your OpenFits are going to get gunked up with sweat over time, and the higher resistance would possibly 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 inform you how usually they failed to acknowledge double-taps or made me by chance hold up on folks once I merely needed to regulate their match.
Against this, the brand new elevated buttons are simple to search out and activate — however 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 school. 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 observe; reject name |
| Triple-tap button | Earlier observe |
| Lengthy-press touchpad space | Activate cellphone voice assistant |
The most essential Shokz OpenFit 2 change is not one thing Shokz put in its specs sheet. After my preliminary assessment interval, I seen that the OpenFit would keep linked to my cellphone contained in the charging case, which means they weren’t charging. I am unable to inform you how usually I would discover one earbud useless and the opposite totally charged the subsequent day. I would need to wipe down the magnetic pins and shift the buds round, then shut the case and test the app to see if each had efficiently disconnected.
I requested Shokz about this difficulty 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 speculated to “hold the pins dry and clear throughout use to keep away from any residue affecting correct contact,” and it will take months to see if an analogous 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 option to ping the charging case. Should you purchase the black OpenFit 2, select a constant place to place the case after exercises, otherwise you will lose them continuously. 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 huge, the Shokz OpenFit 2 sound improbable, really feel pure when worn with glasses, and allow you to hold 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 might not be the fitting selection in the event you’re on the lookout for an all-day selection 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 inside 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 preserving the identical driving precept: get pleasure from music with out counting on transparency modes or having your ears filled with cumbersome earbuds for hours on finish. They’re my new favourite wi-fi earbuds, each for operating and for on a regular basis life.
