Shokz OpenFit review

Shokz (previously often known as AfterShokz) is thought for its bone-conductor fashion headphones that can be utilized for train while staying safe, even in the event you’re sweating it out large time.  

For its newest, Shokz has ditched the headscarf and as an alternative opted for a pair of true wi-fi earphones that hook over your ears for a extra refined design. Enter the OpenFit.  

Clocking in simply shy of $180/£180, these are essentially the most premium earphones from the health wearable model. For those who’re questioning whether or not they’re for you, then learn on. 

Design and construct 

• Black and beige color choices 
• Hook over the ear design  
• IP54 score 

Definitely, the OpenFit are the best-looking set of headphones from Shokz thus far. They arrive in two colors: normal black, or the beige choice I examined (which appears to be like a lot nicer than it sounds).  

The hook matches across the high of your ear, while the speaker sits simply in entrance of your ear canal. They’re not like in-earbuds, as you’ll nonetheless have your ears free to maintain conscious of your environment. Nonetheless, that implies that the audio high quality is just not as spectacular as one thing with a seal. 

When you’ve acquired the dangle of the hook, these are somewhat simple to put on, even with glasses or a biking helmet on. I solely bumped into points after I had my hair in an updo, with the hooks typically getting caught on my bonce. Every earphone weighs 8.3g, in order that they’re fairly light-weight.

They’re comprised of silicone, and the matt end doesn’t choose up too many marks. They’re additionally sturdy, with one earphone surviving an unintended drop with none points. The earphones have an IP54 score, so they’re protected in opposition to a small quantity of mud and a few water spray – they’re most likely wonderful to make use of in mild rain and can stand up to some sweat.  

Regardless of not being a pair of bone conductor headphones, I acquired the identical soreness within the outer edges of my cheeks when utilizing these for over an hour.

Throughout train, they stayed comparatively safe – even with me placing them by their paces with burpees, downward canines and star jumps. There have been a couple of events the place the audio system barely moved throughout vigorous velocity walks, however total I used to be impressed.

The OpenFit earphones sit neatly crossed over each other within the accompanying sq. case. While that is bigger than what you’ll discover on a pill-style pair of buds, it’s nonetheless sufficiently small to slide right into a jean pocket. In contrast to the earphones, the case has no waterproofing or dustproofing.  

The case encompasses a single mild which indicators the battery standing on the entrance, and a USB-C slot for charging within the rear. An accompanying cable (however no brick) is included within the field.  

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Good options 

• Contact controls 
• Shokz app customises audio and controls 
• 10m wi-fi vary 

Pairing the earphones along with your telephone or pc is as simple as a fiddle. You simply have to open the case lid, press on the earphone and look forward to the sunshine to begin flashing – because of this the OpenFit has entered pairing mode. From there, your sensible machine will do the remainder. 

You possibly can join the OpenFit as a regular pair of Bluetooth earphones, however if you’d like additional customisation over the audio and contact controls you then’ll wish to obtain the Shokz app for iOS and Android.

The app will robotically register paired gadgets, and you should utilize it to view the battery lifetime of the each the case and every earphone in 10% increments. There are 5 audio presets: Normal, Bass Increase, Treble Increase, Vocal and Customise.  

The latter mode permits you full management over the EQ ranges to go well with the audio to your particular tastes. For those who’re not sure of which preset mode to make use of, the app consists of audio suggestions, which may be very good to see.  

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

In right here you may as well tweak the contact controls. There are solely two actions you should utilize on every earphone, double faucet and lengthy press. By default, these are set to manage playback and quantity, however you may as well use these gestures to skip tracks and activate the voice assistant.  

The faucets require a barely agency hand, however not sufficient to harm – plus, I’d somewhat my earphones be like that somewhat than too delicate and having my hair unintentionally setting off Google Assistant each couple of minutes.  

The app has a wonderful structure, with concise data and guides all prepared handy. There isn’t plenty of undesirable area, and the textual content is obvious to learn – an enormous tick for Shokz on the software program entrance.  

The OpenFit comes with Bluetooth 5.2, and a wi-fi vary of 10m. In actual use, I’m capable of go upstairs with the earphones on (leaving my telephone downstairs) and encounter no points with the audio dropping as I’ve carried out with different gadgets. 

Sound high quality 

• First rate for on a regular basis tracks like pop 
• Frequency vary limits extra complicated music 
• Calls are clear however tinny

The audio on the Shokz OpenFit is best than I anticipated from an open-ear machine, nevertheless it’s in no way good.  

The buds characteristic a customized 18 x 11mm driver which is barely greater than what you’d discover on a pair of in-ear headphones. Nonetheless, it solely has a 50Hz-16kHz frequency vary, which isn’t the very best. Human listening to is 20Hz-20kHz, so the headphones have weaknesses, particularly when turned as much as full blast as this distorts the audio.  

When my ears are open to my environment, I’m nonetheless capable of hear particulars in tracks – but when I’m out in public I’ll need the audio sometimes above 80%. Music remains to be clear on transport just like the London Underground, however sadly some podcasts will not be loud sufficient to be heard over the screeching rails of the observe.

Relaxation assured, different individuals shouldn’t be bothered by the audio system on these headphones. I didn’t disturb any of my workmates, even with the sound turned up full blast.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

It supplies what I’d describe as easy, balanced audio, and largely doesn’t have to be switched from the Normal audio preset. It really works nicely for pop songs like Woman Gaga’s Dangerous Romance, which has clear vocals and an upbeat backing observe. Delicate ballads like Duncan Laurence’s Arcade additionally sounds good, with no muddiness on the vocals.  

Sebastian Bohm’s Blue Monday has readability and color, with strings singing alongside the synth. Nonetheless, one of many key weaknesses is within the bass – the headphones don’t have that ‘thump’ that I get from increased high quality gadgets.  

As well as, the Bass Increase mode is simply good for digital music that doesn’t have an excessive amount of substance like dubstep or home. In rock/extra complicated tracks plenty of the opposite devices lose their readability, and the sound has a little bit of an underwater really feel. 

I don’t sometimes gravitate towards the Treble Increase or Vocal modes, although the latter is just not unhealthy for listening to podcasts in the event you wrestle with voices and don’t thoughts a extra unnatural really feel.

No Sleep Until Brooklyn by the Beastie Boys highlights a weak point on the OpenFit. When the amount is turned as much as above 80%, the snare blows out on the audio system – the identical occurs on One other One Bites The Mud by Queen . It doesn’t occur on all rock tracks, nevertheless it’s sufficient to be a noticeable annoyance. Some voices on adverts even have a noticeable hiss.

You possibly can take calls on the OpenFit, because of the inclusion of twin mics with AI noise cancelling. I used these on a busy highway, and while my voice allegedly sounded on the tinny facet, the headphones picked up minimal visitors – solely being bested by some hooligan gunning his moped down the highway.  

The individual on the decision sounded just a little quiet to me – a pitfall of earphones that don’t have a seal. Nonetheless, these are designed primarily for train, so it’s not the top of the world.  

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Battery life & charging 

• Seven hours of battery life on a single cost 
• As much as 28 hours in case 
• One hour and 45 minutes to cost from flat to full 

You gained’t have to fret about working out of cost a lot with the OpenFit earphones. They simply hit their seven hours of listening time on a single cost declare, and this may be prolonged as much as 28 hours total with the 600mAh charging case.  

Charging additionally doesn’t take too lengthy, with the OpenFit juicing from flat to full in round an hour and a half. 

One criticism I’ve is that the earphones solely let you understand that they’re low on battery with a sound impact somewhat than a voice immediate, which is simple to overlook in the event you’re not keeping track of the battery ranges within the accompanying app.  

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Value & availability 

The Shokz OpenFit retail for $179/£179, and can be found from Shokz, Amazon and Walmart within the US, and Shokz, Amazon and John Lewis within the UK.

That is pricier than another headsets from the model such because the OpenMove, however none of those supply such an unobtrusive construct. The perfect direct competitor could be the PowerBeats Professional, that are at the moment discounted to across the identical worth because the OpenFit within the US and UK on Amazon.  

These supply a barely longer battery life on the buds themselves (however barely shorter within the case), and are arguably a greater choice for iPhone customers because of the additional options out there.  

You can too learn our chart of the very best true wi-fi earbuds for additional choices.  

Verdict 

The Shokz Openfit present a safe match and a sturdy batter life, making them a really perfect companion for exercise classes which are beneath an hour – something above this, and the match begins to really feel barely uncomfortable. 

The frequency vary is just not the very best, so some audio (significantly rock tracks) can distort when turned as much as full, which you’ll want in the event you plan on utilizing these earphones for every day use reminiscent of commuting on public transport. This probably gained’t be as a lot of a precedence in the event you’re out for a jog or cycle and wish to preserve your quantity decrease to concentrate on your environment.  

If you need extra spectacular audio, then there are different equally priced choices on the market, however not many that provide such a discreet but safe construct. 

Specs

• 18×11mm customised dynamic driver
• Twin microphones
• Wi-fi: Bluetooth 5.3, A2DP, AVRCP, HSP, HFP
• Contact controls: Sure
• Battery life: As much as 28 hours (together with case charging)
• IP54 water resistance (earphones solely)
• Weight: 8.3g per earphone, 57g case
• Works with Shokz app