SHOKZ OpenFit Pro Review: Great Open-Ear Earbuds for Running, But Not Real ANC
I bought the SHOKZ OpenFit Pro from Amazon and have been using it for about half a month. I have used older AfterShokz and Shokz headphones before, so I was already familiar with the brand’s open-ear approach.
The short version? The SHOKZ OpenFit Pro is one of the most complete open-ear earbuds I have used. It is comfortable, stable for workouts, sounds better than I expected, and the call quality is good enough that people usually do not realize I am using Bluetooth earbuds.
But there is one thing you need to understand before buying it:
The SHOKZ OpenFit Pro does not replace AirPods Pro, Bose QuietComfort Ultra, or any serious in-ear ANC earbuds.
Its noise reduction is useful, but it is not magic. It works well in quieter rooms, offices, and cafés. It helps a little in public transport. But on airplanes, subways, busy roads, or noisy gyms, you will still hear the world around you.
And that is not always a bad thing. For open-ear earbuds, hearing the world is part of the point.
Table of Contents
We Like
Comfort is excellent: I can wear it for a long time without irritating my ears.
The fit is very stable: It works well for running and workouts, even when sweating.
The open-ear design suits my ears: Because of my ear condition, this matters a lot.
Sound quality is good for open-ear earbuds: Bass is enough, vocals are clear, and the highs are not harsh.
Call quality is better than expected: I do not need a detachable microphone anymore for normal calls.
Noise reduction is useful in some situations: It helps in quiet rooms, offices, and cafés.
Battery life is strong: Even with heavy use, I do not feel battery anxiety.
We Don't Like
- The price is high: At around $249, it is not an impulse buy.
Noise reduction is limited: It is not real ANC and should not be treated like it.
It is not great for airplanes or subways: You can use it, but you may need higher volume, and the outside noise is still there.
Gym noise reduction is not impressive: Treadmills and background music do not become much quieter.
Podcasts on busy streets require higher volume: For voice content, traffic noise can be a problem.
The case is bigger than regular earbuds: It is acceptable, but not tiny.
Why I Bought the SHOKZ OpenFit Pro
I did not buy the SHOKZ OpenFit Pro just because it was new.
I bought it because I have otitis media, and in-ear earbuds can easily make my ears uncomfortable or even inflamed. For me, open-ear earbuds are not just a lifestyle choice. They are often the better option if I want to listen for a long time without irritating my ears.
Before buying the OpenFit Pro, I had been using a pair of EMEET open-ear earbuds. I liked them because they had a detachable microphone. When I needed better call quality, I could attach the mic, and the other side would hear me clearly.
Unfortunately, I lost them.
Since I have followed Shokz for years and had used their older AfterShokz-style products before, I decided to buy the SHOKZ OpenFit Pro and see whether it could become my daily open-ear headset for music, podcasts, calls, and workouts.
After half a month, I think it mostly can.
What Is the SHOKZ OpenFit Pro?
The SHOKZ OpenFit Pro is an open-ear true wireless earbud with an ear-hook design. It does not go inside your ear canal. Instead, the speaker sits near your ear, allowing you to hear music while still staying aware of your surroundings.
That makes it very different from regular earbuds.
You do not get full isolation. You do not get the sealed bass of in-ear earbuds. You do not get traditional active noise cancellation in the AirPods Pro sense.
What you get is:
- Open-ear comfort
- Better awareness outdoors
- A secure ear-hook fit
- Strong battery life
- Improved open-ear sound
- Useful but limited noise reduction
- Good call quality
- A design that makes sense for running and long daily use
The SHOKZ OpenFit Pro is not trying to block the world out. It is trying to make the world a little quieter while keeping your ears open.
Once you understand that, the product makes much more sense.
Design and Comfort: This Is Why Open-Ear Earbuds Exist
Comfort is the biggest reason I like the SHOKZ OpenFit Pro.
Because nothing goes inside my ear canal, I can wear it for a long time without the stuffy, blocked feeling I get from in-ear earbuds. For someone with sensitive ears, this matters more than one more layer of bass or stronger ANC.
The ear-hook design also feels secure. It stays in place during walking, running, and workouts. I did not have issues with slipping, even when sweating.
I do not wear regular glasses every day, but I sometimes wear sunglasses outdoors. The OpenFit Pro did not conflict with them. The ear hook and sunglasses arms can sit together without making my ears feel crowded.
The earbuds are not tiny, and the charging case is larger than something like an AirPods case. But I would not call it a dealbreaker. The case is still pocketable, and I can accept the size considering the battery life and ear-hook design.
If your top priority is the smallest possible everyday carry case, this is not the most compact option. But if comfort and stability matter more, the size makes sense.
Running and Workout Test: Very Stable
This is one of the strongest parts of the SHOKZ OpenFit Pro.
For running, it feels very secure. It does not bounce around, it does not feel like it is about to fall off, and it does not become slippery after sweating.
That is exactly what I want from open-ear sports earbuds.
With regular in-ear earbuds, I often have two problems. First, they can irritate my ears. Second, when they seal the ear canal, I lose too much awareness of my surroundings. That can be annoying indoors and unsafe outdoors.
The OpenFit Pro gives me a better balance. I can listen to music or podcasts while still hearing traffic, people, and the environment.
For outdoor running, that awareness is not a weakness. It is the reason to buy this kind of product.
If you are buying earbuds mainly for running, walking, cycling, or gym workouts, the SHOKZ OpenFit Pro makes a lot of sense. Just do not expect it to turn a noisy gym into a quiet room. More on that later.
Open-Ear Noise Reduction: Useful, But Not Real ANC
This is the most important part of this SHOKZ OpenFit Pro review.
SHOKZ promotes the OpenFit Pro with open-ear noise reduction. The idea sounds exciting: open-ear earbuds that can reduce outside noise without sealing your ears.
Does it work?
Yes — but only in the right places.
It does not work like AirPods Pro. It does not work like Bose QuietComfort earbuds. It does not create a sealed, quiet bubble around you.
Instead, it slightly reduces certain background noises while keeping the open-ear experience.
Here is my real-world experience:
| Scenario | My Experience |
|---|---|
| Quiet room | Clear difference when noise reduction is on |
| Office / fan noise | Background noise is noticeably reduced |
| Street traffic | Car noise can still cover the music at lower volume |
| Gym | Treadmill noise and background music do not become much quieter |
| Café | Helps with surrounding voices and general noise |
| Subway / bus | Usable, but I need to turn the volume up |
| Outdoor running | Keeps environmental awareness, which is good for safety |
The best way to describe it is this:
Noise reduction on the SHOKZ OpenFit Pro does not erase noise. It turns some of it down.
In a quiet room or office, the difference is obvious. Fan noise and steady background hum become less distracting. In a café, it can help make the environment feel slightly more controlled.
But on a busy road, the traffic is still there. If I keep the same volume I use indoors, the car noise can easily cover the music. On the subway or bus, the earbuds are usable, but I usually need to raise the volume.
At the gym, I did not find the noise reduction especially impressive. Treadmills and background music were still very present.
So, if your main reason for buying earbuds is noise cancellation, this is not the right product. Buy proper in-ear ANC earbuds instead.
But if you already want open-ear earbuds and would like the outside world to become a little quieter in certain situations, the OpenFit Pro does offer something useful.
Did I Feel Ear Pressure With Noise Reduction?
Some people may feel pressure or discomfort when using noise reduction on open-ear earbuds. I did not.
For me, turning on noise reduction did not create ear pressure, and I could keep it on for a long time without feeling uncomfortable.
That may vary from person to person. If you are very sensitive to ANC pressure, this is something to test if possible. But in my experience, the OpenFit Pro remained comfortable even with noise reduction enabled.
Sound Quality: Better Than I Expected for Open-Ear Earbuds
Open-ear earbuds always have a physical limitation: they do not seal your ear canal.
That means they usually cannot deliver the same deep bass or isolation as traditional in-ear earbuds. The SHOKZ OpenFit Pro does not completely escape that limitation, but it performs better than I expected.
The bass is enough for my daily listening. It is not the kind of heavy, chest-hitting bass you get from sealed earbuds, but for open-ear earbuds, it feels full enough.
Vocals are clear. Highs are not sharp or painful. I did not feel the sound was thin or cheap.
Indoors, the volume is more than enough. For music, I enjoy using Dolby Atmos because it makes the sound feel more spacious and open. It gives the earbuds a more immersive feeling without making the sound harsh.
For podcasts and YouTube, the experience is also good indoors. Voices sound natural to me, not muffled.
Outdoors, it depends on the environment. On a busy road, podcasts can become harder to hear. I usually need to turn the volume up to around 70% to 80% if there is traffic noise.
That is not really a flaw unique to Shokz. It is the trade-off of open-ear design.
If you mostly listen indoors, in an office, at home, or while walking in quieter places, the sound quality is very good for this category. If you listen mainly on subways, airplanes, or very noisy streets, you will hit the limits of open-ear earbuds quickly.
Podcasts and YouTube: Great Indoors, Average on Busy Streets
I listen to a lot of podcasts, so this part matters to me.
In a quiet room or office, podcasts sound very good. Voices are clear and easy to follow. YouTube videos are also comfortable to watch, and I did not feel like the sound was distant or covered.
But open-ear earbuds are not perfect for speech content in noisy outdoor spaces.
On the street, especially near traffic, podcasts are not as easy to hear unless I increase the volume. Around 70% to 80% volume is often needed if the road is noisy.
For music, this is less of a problem because rhythm and instruments can still come through. For podcasts, every word matters, so outside noise becomes more noticeable.
If you mainly listen to podcasts while walking in quiet neighborhoods, it is fine. If you want to listen to business podcasts on a loud subway, this is not the best tool.
Call Quality: Surprisingly Strong
Call quality is one of the most pleasant surprises.
As I mentioned earlier, I used to like my EMEET earbuds because they had a detachable microphone. That gave me very good call quality when I needed it.
With the SHOKZ OpenFit Pro, I no longer need to attach a microphone.
The call quality is good enough that the other person usually does not realize I am using Bluetooth earbuds. That is important because many Bluetooth earbuds have a common problem: the voice suddenly drops, sounds compressed, or feels like the person is speaking from far away.
I did not get that feeling with the OpenFit Pro in normal daily use.
For phone calls, online meetings, and voice chats, this is a strong option. And because the earbuds are open-ear, I also do not get the blocked-ear feeling when speaking. My own voice feels more natural than it does with sealed in-ear earbuds.
If you take a lot of calls and dislike putting earbuds deep into your ears, the SHOKZ OpenFit Pro is very easy to live with.
Battery Life: No Real Battery Anxiety
Battery life has not been a problem for me.
I use the SHOKZ OpenFit Pro quite heavily, but I do not feel battery anxiety. The charging case gives enough backup power for daily use, and I do not feel like I have to constantly think about charging.
The case is somewhat large, but acceptable. It is still easy enough to put in a pocket.
I did not really use wireless charging, so that feature is not a major selling point for me. But it is nice to have, especially if you already use a wireless charging pad on your desk.
One thing to remember: using noise reduction will reduce battery life. If you keep noise reduction on all the time, the battery will drain faster. For my use, the overall battery experience is still strong.
Controls and App Experience
I like physical controls on sports earbuds.
Touch controls can be annoying when your fingers are sweaty or when you are adjusting the earbuds during a run. Physical buttons usually feel more reliable.
The SHOKZ OpenFit Pro gives you practical control over music, calls, volume, and noise reduction. The app also gives you access to EQ and sound settings.
Dolby Atmos is worth trying. I preferred the sound with it turned on because it made music feel more open and enjoyable.
The app is not something I need to open every day, but it is useful for setup and sound customization.
SHOKZ OpenFit Pro vs AirPods Pro
This is a comparison many people will make, but I think it is the wrong way to judge the OpenFit Pro.
AirPods Pro are better if you want:
- Real ANC
- Stronger isolation
- Better performance on airplanes and subways
- Deeper sealed-ear bass
- Apple ecosystem features
SHOKZ OpenFit Pro is better if you want:
- Open-ear comfort
- Better awareness outdoors
- Less ear canal irritation
- A more secure fit for running
- Long wear without feeling blocked
- A safer design for outdoor workouts
For me, because in-ear earbuds can make my ears uncomfortable, the OpenFit Pro solves a problem that AirPods Pro cannot solve.
But if your ears are fine with in-ear earbuds and your main goal is serious noise cancellation, AirPods Pro or Bose will make more sense.
SHOKZ OpenFit Pro vs Older Shokz / AfterShokz Headphones
Older AfterShokz and Shokz headphones were always strong in awareness and comfort, but they often had obvious limits in sound quality.
The OpenFit Pro feels more like a modern daily earbud. It still keeps the open-ear idea, but the sound is fuller, the call quality is better, and the overall experience feels more polished.
It is not just a running accessory. It can actually be used as a daily headset for music, podcasts, YouTube, calls, and workouts.
That is the biggest upgrade for me.
Who Should Buy the SHOKZ OpenFit Pro?
You should consider the SHOKZ OpenFit Pro if:
- You want comfortable open-ear earbuds
- You run, walk, or work out often
- You dislike in-ear earbuds
- Your ears are sensitive to sealed earbuds
- You want to stay aware of your surroundings
- You take a lot of calls
- You want better sound than basic open-ear earbuds
- You want light noise reduction without blocking your ears
For these users, the OpenFit Pro is easy to recommend.
It is especially good for people like me who cannot comfortably wear in-ear earbuds for long periods.
Who Should Skip It?
You should probably skip the SHOKZ OpenFit Pro if:
- You want serious ANC
- You fly often
- You ride the subway every day and want silence
- You care most about deep bass
- You want the smallest charging case
- You are on a tight budget
- You already own good open-ear earbuds and do not need noise reduction
If your main goal is to block noise, this is not the right product.
The OpenFit Pro is not a quiet-room machine. It is an open-ear daily headset with some noise reduction.
That distinction matters.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy the SHOKZ OpenFit Pro?
The SHOKZ OpenFit Pro is expensive, and its noise reduction has limits. If you expect it to perform like AirPods Pro or Bose ANC earbuds, you may be disappointed.
But if you understand what it is, it becomes a much more interesting product.
For me, the SHOKZ OpenFit Pro works because it solves the right problem. I need earbuds that are comfortable, stable, open-ear, good for calls, and good enough for music and podcasts. I do not want something sitting deep inside my ear canal for hours.
The OpenFit Pro gives me that.
It sounds good for open-ear earbuds. It stays secure when running. It works well for calls. It does not irritate my ears. The battery life is strong. And the noise reduction, while limited, is useful in the right places.
So here is my final take:
Buy the SHOKZ OpenFit Pro if you want one of the best open-ear earbuds for comfort, running, calls, and everyday listening. Skip it if your main goal is real noise cancellation.
The SHOKZ OpenFit Pro is not trying to shut the world out.
It is trying to make the world easier to live with while keeping your ears open.
And for the right user, that is exactly the point.
