Shokz Open Fit Pro Review: Open-Ear Earbuds That Actually Work [2025]

Introduction: A Different Approach to Earbuds

Open-fit earbuds have always occupied a weird middle ground in the audio world. They promise freedom and awareness, but usually sacrifice the one thing people actually care about: sound quality. You get that hollow, tinny experience where half the audio leaks into the room, and your neighbor's annoyed stare tells you everything you need to know.

But then something shifts. Every few years, a company decides to crack the code. Shokz has been working with this form factor longer than most, and with the Open Fit Pro ($249.95), they've made the clearest argument yet that open earbuds don't have to be a compromise.

Here's the thing: I tested these for weeks. I wore them running, in coffee shops, during work calls, in hotel rooms with aggressive HVAC systems, and everywhere in between. And they actually impressed me in ways that are hard to overstate. The sound isn't just good for open earbuds. It's genuinely good. The noise reduction isn't as aggressive as active noise cancellation on traditional in-ears, but it works where it counts. The fit stays put even during intense movement.

This isn't a perfect product. Open-ear designs still have inherent limitations, and the over-ear hooks aren't for everyone. But if you've ever wondered whether there's a middle ground between total isolation and complete exposure to every sound around you, the Open Fit Pro is the closest answer on the market right now.

Open-fit earbuds excel in ambient awareness and comfort, while traditional in-ear earbuds offer superior sound quality and noise cancellation. Estimated data based on typical user experiences.

TL; DR

• Effective noise reduction: Shokz's Open-Ear Noise Reduction actually works, especially for continuous background noise like HVAC and fans
• Surprisingly good sound quality: Dual 11x 20mm drivers deliver bass and detail that most open-ear earbuds can't match
• Titanium ear hooks: Flexible, secure, and comfortable enough for all-day wear and workouts
• Feature-rich software: Head tracking, Dolby Atmos, EQ presets, multipoint pairing, and a clean app experience
• Premium price tag: At $249.95, they're expensive compared to traditional alternatives but deliver clear value

The OpenFit Pro, priced at $249.95, is the most expensive model, reflecting its premium audio performance and active noise reduction features.

What Makes Open-Fit Different (And Why That Matters)

Before diving into the Open Fit Pro specifically, it's worth understanding the entire category. Open-fit earbuds sit outside your ear canal, held in place by an over-the-ear hook or arm. Your ears remain completely exposed to ambient sound. You can hear conversations, traffic, birds, the works.

Compare this to traditional in-ear earbuds, which seal your ear canal with silicone tips. Sealing creates a controlled acoustic environment. The drivers can push sound directly into your ears without external noise interfering. This is why traditional in-ears almost always sound better and allow for more effective active noise cancellation.

But there's a tradeoff. That seal comes with a cost. You lose situational awareness. You miss the person tapping your shoulder. You walk into traffic without hearing it coming. You're isolated, which is fantastic for focused listening but potentially dangerous during runs or when you need to stay alert.

Open-fit designs flip the equation. You trade acoustic control for awareness. Shokz has been refining this form factor for years, and the company's library includes the Open Fit 2 (

The Open Fit Pro is Shokz's first attempt at marrying open-fit design with premium audio performance and active noise reduction. It's a bigger bet than the previous models, reflected in the $249.95 price tag.

Design and Build Quality: Comfort Meets Engineering

The Open Fit Pro looks like a refined version of its predecessors. The housings are slightly smaller than earlier models, with accent pieces in silver that give it a more premium appearance than the all-black designs of the past. But looks are secondary here. What matters is the physical experience.

Shokz wrapped titanium wire ear hooks in ultra-soft silicone. The titanium provides structural flexibility without constant creeping or adjustment. The silicone feels pleasant against skin and doesn't irritate even during sweaty workouts. Both matter because discomfort compounds over hours of wear.

I tested the fit during running, walking, desk work, and movement in general. The hooks never dug into my ears. They never shifted significantly during running. They stayed put during pull-ups, though obviously, intense overhead movements will challenge any over-ear design. For normal activity—which accounts for probably 95% of real-world use—the fit is simply solid.

The rectangular housings are noticeably larger than typical earbuds, but that size serves a purpose. Shokz fitted dual 11x 20mm diaphragms driving larger drivers inside. That's where the acoustic improvements come from. The housing size is non-negotiable if you want better sound from an open design.

Each earbud has physical buttons for media control, volume adjustment, calls, and noise settings. Everything's customizable through the app. During testing, the buttons responded consistently to clicks. Using them didn't cause the earbuds to shift out of position, which says something about the overall stability of the design.

The charging case is larger than most earbud cases, which makes sense given the over-ear design. But Shokz kept it flat and pocketable. It's not going in a tiny jeans pocket, but it fits fine in most bags and jacket pockets. The case supports both USB-C wired charging and wireless charging if you have a pad large enough.

The OpenFit Pro excels in comfort and button responsiveness, with sound quality and stability also rated highly. Portability is slightly lower due to the larger case size. Estimated data based on qualitative descriptions.

The Noise Reduction Story: Where It Shines and Where It Doesn't

The Open Fit Pro is Shokz's first earbuds with what the company calls "Open-Ear Noise Reduction." This is the company's interpretation of active noise cancellation, but it works within the physical constraints of an open design.

Here's the fundamental challenge: Active noise cancellation works by measuring incoming sound, generating an inverse sound wave, and playing it back to cancel the original noise. The effectiveness depends on a sealed acoustic environment. If sound enters from multiple directions and your ear canal isn't sealed, you're fighting physics.

Shokz knows this. The company isn't claiming that Open-Ear Noise Reduction matches the isolation of premium in-ears like the Sony WF-1000XM5 or Apple Air Pods Pro. It's not attempting that. Instead, Shokz targeted specific types of noise where open-design ANC can actually work: steady, consistent background noise.

I tested the noise reduction across weeks in various environments. The results were genuinely impressive in specific scenarios. A particularly aggressive HVAC fan in my hotel room during CES was completely suppressed. I could still hear the system running, but the distraction was gone. White noise machines, AC units, office background hum, refrigerator drone—all of these got noticeably reduced.

This matters because those are the noises that actually grind on you. They're not sudden. They're not important. They're just constantly there, wearing you down. The Open Fit Pro handles that category of distraction effectively.

But don't expect it to handle variable noise well. A loud conversation nearby still comes through clearly. Traffic sounds still reach your ears. People coughing, doors slamming, dogs barking—the open design limits how much Shokz can reduce these dynamic sound sources.

Shokz says the noise reduction works best in moderately loud environments like offices and cafes. I found this accurate. The tech shines in steady-noise environments. It's adequate in variable-noise environments. It's not going to replace the isolation of sealed in-ears, and honestly, it's not trying to.

The engineering is clever. Shokz built microphones into the Open Fit Pro and uses algorithms to detect incoming noise, then generates counter-signal to reduce it. The company tuned the settings specifically for the open nature of the design. Everything feels carefully considered rather than like a forced feature.

Sound Quality: The Real Surprise

This is where the Open Fit Pro genuinely impressed me. Many open-design earbuds struggle with bass response and treble detail because they lack the acoustic seal that traditional in-ears provide. Sound leaks everywhere, and you lose the punchy lows and sparkly highs.

Shokz addressed this through driver design. The dual 11x 20mm diaphragms push a larger rectangular driver. Shokz estimates this is acoustically equivalent to a 16.7mm round driver in traditional earbuds. That's significantly larger than most mainstream earbuds.

The result in real-world listening was immediately apparent. Bass actually exists. On "Echo of Nothing" by Incendiary, the low-end sits in your chest rather than washing around you. Drums have weight. Bass lines have definition. This is genuinely unusual for open-fit earbuds.

Treble detail is also stronger than expected. Vocals sit clearly in the mix. Cymbals have shimmer without becoming piercing. High strings resolve with clarity. The frequency range feels extended in both directions compared to what I remember from earlier Open Fit models.

The default EQ tends slightly warm, which is a smart choice for open-fit design. It counteracts some of the natural brightness that comes from the absence of ear canal sealing. Shokz included presets for different use cases. A Vocal preset boosts mids for audiobooks and calls. A Private mode reduces high frequencies to prevent leakage to nearby listeners. These are thoughtful touches.

I usually kept the Open Fit Pro at about 70 percent volume. That's loud enough that someone nearby in a quiet room would hear muffled audio coming from the earbuds, which is exactly what you'd expect from an open design. The volume capability is solid. You can push to 100 percent if the environment demands it, but that's usually unnecessary.

One feature that genuinely impressed me is Dolby Atmos support paired with head tracking. Shokz calls the earbuds "optimized for Dolby Atmos." In practice, this means if you're listening to Atmos content on your phone, the sound field moves with your head. It creates a more immersive, three-dimensional presentation.

I tested this extensively with Apple Music's Atmos library and found it noticeable. Even with Atmos turned off, the earbuds deliver excellent stereo imaging. Vocals stay centered. Instruments spread across the soundstage naturally. It all feels well-engineered rather than like a novelty feature.

The OpenFit Pro offers superior sound quality and design security compared to its open-fit competitors, while maintaining a competitive price point among in-ear options. Estimated data based on product features.

Call Quality and Voice Features

Open-fit earbuds have an inherent advantage for calls: you can hear both the caller and your surroundings. This is incredibly useful for work calls when you need to reference something in the room or stay aware of what's happening around you.

The Open Fit Pro handles call quality well. Shokz built multiple microphones into each earbud to pick up your voice while reducing background noise. During testing, people on the other end reported clear audio. I tested in a coffee shop, an office, and at home, and the voice isolation worked consistently.

The trade-off with open-fit design is that you're audible to people near you. On work calls, your colleague in the next desk over might hear bits of the conversation. That's the nature of the form factor. In some contexts, it's an advantage. In others, it's a limitation.

Voice assistant integration is available through the physical buttons or long-press actions. Everything is customizable through the app. I didn't extensively test voice assistant features, but the setup options are robust.

Battery Life and Charging

Shokz claims up to 8 hours of continuous playback on a single charge. During testing, I achieved roughly 7.5 to 8 hours of mixed usage, including streaming music, podcasts, and voice calls. That's excellent for a pair of earbuds at this price point.

The charging case adds up to 28 additional hours of playtime. The math suggests you could theoretically go over a week without touching a charger if you're using the earbuds for 6-8 hours daily and always charging them back in the case.

Both USB-C wired charging and wireless charging are supported. The wired charging is fast. Wireless charging works if your charging pad is large enough to accommodate the flat case, which most modern pads are.

The app displays battery percentages for each earbud and the case prominently on the main screen. You'll always know exactly how much charge you're working with.

The OpenFit Pro excels in sound quality and comfort, making it a top choice for open-fit earbuds. Estimated data based on qualitative review.

The Software Experience: Clean and Functional

The Shokz app is genuinely one of the better earbud companion apps I've tested. It doesn't bury crucial controls behind layers of menus. Battery levels are visible immediately. EQ presets, head tracking, find my earbuds, wear detection, and multipoint pairing are all accessible from the home screen.

This design philosophy matters because it respects your time. You're not hunting through settings to adjust something obvious. Everything just works.

EQ customization is robust. You can adjust the sound profile across five frequency bands, or use presets designed specifically for the open-fit experience. The Private mode, which reduces leakage to nearby listeners, is genuinely useful if you're working in shared spaces.

Head tracking for Dolby Atmos is excellent. You can disable it independently from the Atmos audio itself if you want immersive sound without the head-movement aspect. The implementation feels polished rather than gimmicky.

Multipoint pairing lets you connect to two devices simultaneously. Calls automatically route to the device that receives the call. This is genuinely convenient if you juggle a phone and a laptop.

Wear detection automatically pauses audio when you remove the earbuds and resumes when you put them back in. It works consistently during my testing.

Find my earbuds is a simple feature but incredibly useful. If you misplace one earbud, the other plays a sound so you can locate it. Given how small earbuds are, this feature has saved me from absolute panic more than once.

Comfort During Extended Use

I wore the Open Fit Pro for extended sessions, from 2-3 hour stretches during work to full days of testing. The titanium ear hooks with soft silicone covering remained comfortable throughout.

The hooks don't dig into the delicate cartilage areas where ear-wearing devices can become genuinely uncomfortable over time. The weight distribution is balanced. Neither earbud pulls more than the other, even during head tilts or movement.

I tested them during workouts. Running, resistance training, and various movement types didn't dislodge them. The fit remained secure without feeling like the hooks were clamping down aggressively.

People with smaller ears or particularly sensitive ear cartilage might find over-ear hooks uncomfortable, and there's honestly no way around that without trying them first. But for standard ear shapes, the comfort is excellent.

Comparing to Competitors: Where the Open Fit Pro Stands

The open-fit category isn't huge, but there are alternatives worth mentioning. The Sony Link Buds Clip ($128), which I mentioned in the introduction, represents the lower-cost option. They're open-fit earbuds with decent sound quality and a clip design instead of ear hooks.

The Link Buds Clip sound fine for casual listening, but they don't match the Open Fit Pro's bass response or treble clarity. The clip design is less secure than ear hooks during movement. At half the price, you're getting a meaningful step down in overall capability.

Among traditional in-ear earbuds with ANC, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro ($229) are in the same price range. They offer more effective noise cancellation because of their sealed design, but you lose environmental awareness entirely. The choice between these and the Open Fit Pro comes down to priorities.

The Apple Air Pods Pro 2 ($249) are almost exactly the same price. They have excellent noise cancellation and the Apple ecosystem advantage if you're invested in Apple devices. Again, it's about whether you prioritize isolation or awareness.

Within the open-fit category, Shokz's own Open Fit Air (

Should You Buy the Open Fit Pro?

The Open Fit Pro makes sense if you prioritize staying aware of your surroundings while still wanting legitimately good audio. Runners benefit from the safety aspect. People who take frequent calls love the ambient awareness. Anyone who works in shared spaces appreciates hearing approachable without turning into an isolated music listener.

They don't make sense if isolation is your top priority. Go with Air Pods Pro or Sony WF-1000XM5 instead. Sealed earbuds will always outperform open-fit designs in noise cancellation.

At $249.95, the Open Fit Pro are expensive. But they're not overpriced for what you're getting. The build quality is solid. The sound is genuinely good. The noise reduction works in appropriate scenarios. The software is well-designed. You're not paying for branding alone.

If the over-ear design appeals to you and you value awareness alongside audio quality, the Open Fit Pro are worth the investment. If you've been skeptical about open-fit earbuds because previous models disappointed you, these are different enough to warrant a second look.

The Verdict: A Genuinely Compelling Open-Fit Option

I approached the Open Fit Pro skeptical. Open-fit earbuds have disappointed me repeatedly because they try to have it both ways and usually fail at both. The Open Fit Pro actually succeeds at both, which is more impressive than it sounds.

The noise reduction is effective within realistic parameters. The sound quality is the best I've heard from this form factor. The fit is secure and comfortable. The software respects your intelligence instead of forcing unnecessary complexity. At $249.95, you're paying premium pricing for a premium product that actually delivers premium results.

These aren't the perfect earbuds. The over-ear design won't appeal to everyone. The noise reduction won't match sealed in-ears with true ANC. The larger housing might be a dealbreaker for some.

But for the specific use case of wanting genuinely good audio while remaining aware of your surroundings, the Open Fit Pro are the best option on the market right now. Shokz has created something that actually works, and that's rarer than it should be.

FAQ

What exactly is the difference between open-fit earbuds and traditional in-ear earbuds?

Open-fit earbuds sit outside your ear canal and are held in place by an over-ear hook or arm. Your ears remain exposed to ambient sound, which means you can hear conversations, traffic, and other environmental noise. Traditional in-ear earbuds use silicone tips to seal your ear canal, creating an isolated acoustic environment that blocks external sound but provides better sound quality and more effective noise cancellation. The trade-off is awareness versus isolation and audio performance.

How does the Open Fit Pro's noise reduction compare to traditional active noise cancellation?

The Open Fit Pro uses Shokz's proprietary Open-Ear Noise Reduction technology, which is designed specifically for open-fit designs and isn't as effective as traditional ANC found in sealed in-ears. It works best on steady, continuous background noise like HVAC systems, fans, and white noise. The open design prevents the level of isolation that ANC requires, so you'll still hear variable sounds like conversations and traffic. The technology is effective within its intended scope but shouldn't be expected to match the isolation of Air Pods Pro or Sony WF-1000XM5.

Are the Open Fit Pro comfortable for all-day wear and workouts?

Most users find the Open Fit Pro comfortable for extended use, including workouts and all-day wear. The titanium ear hooks with ultra-soft silicone covering don't dig into ear cartilage and maintain a secure fit during running, resistance training, and general movement. However, people with smaller ears or particularly sensitive ear cartilage might find over-ear hook designs uncomfortable, so trying them first is recommended if you have previous concerns with this form factor.

What's the battery life, and how long does charging take?

Shokz claims up to 8 hours of continuous playback per charge, and testing confirmed approximately 7.5 to 8 hours with mixed usage. The charging case provides an additional 28 hours of playtime, allowing over a week of use with daily 6-8 hour sessions if you consistently charge the earbuds in the case. Both USB-C wired charging and wireless charging are supported, with wired charging being notably fast.

Do the Open Fit Pro work well for phone calls?

Yes, the Open Fit Pro handle call quality well with multiple microphones in each earbud that isolate your voice while reducing background noise. People on the other end reported clear audio during testing in various environments. The advantage of open-fit design is that you can hear both the caller and your surroundings, which is useful for work calls when you need to reference something nearby. The trade-off is that nearby listeners might hear bits of your conversation since the design is open.

How does the Shokz app work, and what customization options are available?

The Shokz app displays battery percentages for all devices prominently on the main screen and provides easy access to controls without requiring deep menu navigation. You can customize the five physical buttons on each earbud for different actions, adjust EQ across five frequency bands or use presets, enable or disable head tracking independently from Dolby Atmos audio, set up multipoint pairing to two devices, activate wear detection, and use find my earbuds features. The overall design respects user time by avoiding unnecessary complexity.

Are there specific activities where the Open Fit Pro excel compared to other earbuds?

The Open Fit Pro excel for running and outdoor activities where hearing your surroundings is a safety advantage, professional settings where you need to take calls while remaining aware of your office environment, fitness workouts where secure fit without isolation is preferred, and any situation where you want quality audio without disconnecting from what's happening around you. They're less ideal for situations requiring maximum noise isolation like airplane travel or focusing in extremely loud environments.

How do the Open Fit Pro compare in price to alternatives?

At

Final Thoughts: The Evolution of Audio Preferences

There's a broader story in the Open Fit Pro that goes beyond just one product. For decades, earbuds were always pushing toward two extremes: isolation with sealed designs or simplicity with basic open options. The idea that someone might want good sound, environmental awareness, and effective noise reduction—all at the same time—seemed impossible.

Shokz approached this differently. Instead of accepting the false choice, the company engineered a product that actually addresses all three. It's not perfect in every dimension. The noise reduction isn't as aggressive as sealed-in earbuds with true ANC. The sound isn't quite as pristine as earbuds optimized purely for acoustic performance. The over-ear design won't appeal to everyone.

But the sum is greater than the parts. You get earbuds that work in real life, where people actually use audio gear. You're not choosing between safety and sound quality. You're not sacrificing awareness for isolation. You're getting a balanced tool that serves the actual complexity of how people listen.

For years, I've tested headphones and earbuds that promised the world but delivered compromise. The Open Fit Pro deliver on the promise of being different without demanding that you accept significant trade-offs. That's rarer than it should be, which is probably why testing them was refreshing. They work, and they work well.

If you've wondered whether open-fit earbuds have finally matured to the point where they deserve your attention, the Open Fit Pro answer that question with a clear yes. They're not a gimmick. They're a genuinely thoughtful audio product for a specific but large group of people who value both sound quality and environmental awareness.

Key Takeaways

• OpenFit Pro deliver genuinely good sound quality for open-fit earbuds, thanks to dual 11x20mm drivers equivalent to 16.7mm traditional drivers
• Open-Ear Noise Reduction effectively eliminates steady background noise like HVAC and fans, but struggles with variable sounds like conversation
• Titanium ear hooks with soft silicone provide secure, comfortable fit for all-day wear and workouts without dislodging during movement
• At $249.95, OpenFit Pro are priced competitively with sealed in-ears like AirPods Pro 2, but offer environmental awareness as a key advantage
• The Shokz app is well-designed with battery levels and essential controls visible on the home screen rather than buried in menus

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