TechAudioHeadphonesShokz OpenFit review: ‘shockingly’ good headphones for runningA departure from what we’ve seen from the brand so far, the Shokz OpenFit open-ear headphones aren’t half badWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)T3 VerdictThanks to their open-back design, Shokz’s OpenFit headphones let environmental sounds enter your ears without compromising too much on sound quality. However, the lack of noise isolation and sound leakage may be drawbacks for those seeking a personal listening environment. Recommended for active people, mainly runners and cyclists.Reasons to buy+Comfortable fit+Decent sound quality for open-ear headphones+IP54 water resistance+Better suited for everyday use than bone-conduction headphonesReasons to avoid-No wear detection-Very little noise cancellation prowess to speak of-Ear hooks aren’t ideal for people who wear glasses/sunniesWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
TechAudioHeadphonesShokz OpenFit review: ‘shockingly’ good headphones for runningA departure from what we’ve seen from the brand so far, the Shokz OpenFit open-ear headphones aren’t half badWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)T3 VerdictThanks to their open-back design, Shokz’s OpenFit headphones let environmental sounds enter your ears without compromising too much on sound quality. However, the lack of noise isolation and sound leakage may be drawbacks for those seeking a personal listening environment. Recommended for active people, mainly runners and cyclists.Reasons to buy+Comfortable fit+Decent sound quality for open-ear headphones+IP54 water resistance+Better suited for everyday use than bone-conduction headphonesReasons to avoid-No wear detection-Very little noise cancellation prowess to speak of-Ear hooks aren’t ideal for people who wear glasses/sunniesWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
A departure from what we’ve seen from the brand so far, the Shokz OpenFit open-ear headphones aren’t half bad
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)T3 VerdictThanks to their open-back design, Shokz’s OpenFit headphones let environmental sounds enter your ears without compromising too much on sound quality. However, the lack of noise isolation and sound leakage may be drawbacks for those seeking a personal listening environment. Recommended for active people, mainly runners and cyclists.Reasons to buy+Comfortable fit+Decent sound quality for open-ear headphones+IP54 water resistance+Better suited for everyday use than bone-conduction headphonesReasons to avoid-No wear detection-Very little noise cancellation prowess to speak of-Ear hooks aren’t ideal for people who wear glasses/sunnies
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
T3 VerdictThanks to their open-back design, Shokz’s OpenFit headphones let environmental sounds enter your ears without compromising too much on sound quality. However, the lack of noise isolation and sound leakage may be drawbacks for those seeking a personal listening environment. Recommended for active people, mainly runners and cyclists.Reasons to buy+Comfortable fit+Decent sound quality for open-ear headphones+IP54 water resistance+Better suited for everyday use than bone-conduction headphonesReasons to avoid-No wear detection-Very little noise cancellation prowess to speak of-Ear hooks aren’t ideal for people who wear glasses/sunnies
T3 VerdictThanks to their open-back design, Shokz’s OpenFit headphones let environmental sounds enter your ears without compromising too much on sound quality. However, the lack of noise isolation and sound leakage may be drawbacks for those seeking a personal listening environment. Recommended for active people, mainly runners and cyclists.
T3 Verdict
Thanks to their open-back design, Shokz’s OpenFit headphones let environmental sounds enter your ears without compromising too much on sound quality. However, the lack of noise isolation and sound leakage may be drawbacks for those seeking a personal listening environment. Recommended for active people, mainly runners and cyclists.
Reasons to buy+Comfortable fit+Decent sound quality for open-ear headphones+IP54 water resistance+Better suited for everyday use than bone-conduction headphonesReasons to avoid-No wear detection-Very little noise cancellation prowess to speak of-Ear hooks aren’t ideal for people who wear glasses/sunnies
Reasons to buy+Comfortable fit+Decent sound quality for open-ear headphones+IP54 water resistance+Better suited for everyday use than bone-conduction headphones
Comfortable fit
Decent sound quality for open-ear headphones
IP54 water resistance
Better suited for everyday use than bone-conduction headphones
Reasons to avoid-No wear detection-Very little noise cancellation prowess to speak of-Ear hooks aren’t ideal for people who wear glasses/sunnies
No wear detection
Very little noise cancellation prowess to speak of
Ear hooks aren’t ideal for people who wear glasses/sunnies
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Shokz OpenFit deals
112 Amazon customer reviews☆☆☆☆☆
112 Amazon customer reviews☆☆☆☆☆
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$179.95$159.95View$179.95$159.95View$199View
$179.95$159.95View
$179.95$159.95View
$179.95$159.95View
$179.95$159.95
$159.95
$179.95$159.95View
$179.95$159.95View
$179.95$159.95View
$179.95$159.95
$159.95
$199View
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$199
$199
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Shokz OpenFit review in a nutshell: the latest offering from the brand mainly known for their bone-conduction headphones, Shokz’s OpenFit are affordable open-ear headphones with decent sound offering oodles of spatial awareness.
Open-ear headphones are having a moment, with a lot of companies rolling out their own take on the concept. I was very impressed with theCleer ARC II Sportrecently and had been playing around with theHuaweiFreeBuds 5 for a couple of weeks now, so when I was offered to test the first non-bone-conduction headphones from Shokz, I wasn’t too surprised.
[First reviewed Aug 2023]
Shokz OpenFit review: price and availbility
The Shokz OpenFit open-ear headphones were announced in July 2023 and are available to buy now directly fromShokz US,Shokz UKandShokz AUfor the recommended retail price of $179.95/ £179/ AU$ 289. They come in two colours, Black and the interestingly-named Beige, which is more of a cream colour, based on the pictures. I tested the Black colourway.
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
Shokz OpenFit review: specification
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
Shokz OpenFit review: design and build quality
The Shokz OpenFit feels rather comfortable on the ears. It has a soft, double-layered silicone design that is said to mould gently to the contours of your ears. The section that loops around the top of the ears is narrower than the bit behind the ear, which helps keep the headphones in place and balanced. Shokz calls this the Dolphin Arc Ear Hook design. I’m not 100% sure why – it certainly doesn’t make you look like a dolphin – but it sounds catchy.
The speakers sit at the top of the ear canal, as opposed to, let’s say, the aforementioned Huawei FreeBuds 5, allowing ambient sound to enter the ear. The sound-making part of the headphones is actually pretty small, making the buds feel very lightweight on the ears (the Shokz OpenFit weigh only 8.3 grams per bud).
Of course, the ear hooks make the Shokz OpenFit less optimal for people who wear glasses than other in-ear performance earbuds, such as theJabra Elite 7 Activeand theBeats Fit Pro. That said, the soft and flexible arms of the Shokz OpenFit make it less of an issue than it might sound.
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
Shokz OpenFit review: sound quality and performance
Although the headphones' fit differs from what we’re used to from Shokz, the most significant update can be found in the sound department.
Using what Shokz calls the DirectPitch technology, the OpenFit headphones produce sound using an 18 x 11mm customised dynamic driver unit built with an ultra-light composite diaphragm crafted from carbon fibre and a polymer surround. The inner dome-shaped cap is made of a high-strength, ultra-lightweight carbon fibre that is said to be 20 times stronger than steel.
Shokz claims their proprietary low-frequency enhancement algorithm (called OpenBass) carries low-frequency vibrations directly toward your ear without covering it. And while this is true, the bass isn’t as impactful as some closed-back models.
The soundstage and imaging aren’t as precise as closed-back headphones, either. The open-ear design inherently reduces the accuracy of sound localisation, which can be a drawback for gamers and audiophiles who prioritise pinpoint audio positioning. Admittedly, the Shokz OpenFit headphones weren’t designed for these folks.
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
The open-ear design can also lead to sound leakage, which lets external noise interfere with the listening experience. This makes the headphones less suitable for use in noisy environments, in the sense that it can be challenging to immerse oneself fully in the audio content without distractions.
That said, the same open-ear concept ensures greater situational awareness while enjoying music or taking calls, which is precisely what you need when exercising outside. Better still, the overall sound signature is engaging and quite enjoyable, making the Shokz OpenFit an excellent choice for outdoor activities or people who prioritise safety and awareness over supreme audio fidelity.
It is possible to tweak the sound profile using the EQ profiles in the Shokz app (currently only available foriOS; theAndroidapp coming in ‘late 2023’). You can also customise touch controls via the app. Interestingly, only two interactions are available, double tap and press and hold, which means you have to choose between being able to turn the volume up using the headphones or skipping tracks forward and backwards. Strange.
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
Shokz OpenFit review: verdict
The Shokz OpenFit open-back headphones provide an intriguing listening experience. The open-back design allows for excellent ambient sound transparency, perfect for runners and cyclists who must be aware of their surroundings. However, the lack of noise isolation and sound leakage may be drawbacks for those seeking a personal listening environment. Overall, the Shokz OpenFit open-back headphones are recommended to active people who prefer to know what’s happening around them and don’t mind sacrificing some privacy or care much about noise isolation.
Shokz OpenFit review: also consider
Sennheiser came very close to creating the perfect running headphones in the form of the SPORT True Wireless. The open/closed ear tips system has its flaws but offers more versatility than standard true wireless or open-ear-only headphones. Buy these buds if you need secure-fitting, well-sounding buds for exercise and running. Read my fullSennheiser SPORT True Wireless review.
Any workout headphones with Transparency mode could also be considered an alternative to the Shokz OpenFit. These include LG’s TONE Free fit UTF8, featuring a Conversation mode, which allows external noise to be fed into the headphones on demand. And unlike the Shokz OpenFit, LG’s offering also features active noise cancellation. Read my fullLG TONE Free fit UTF8 review.
Shokz OpenFit: Price Comparison
112 Amazon customer reviews☆☆☆☆☆
112 Amazon customer reviews☆☆☆☆☆
☆☆☆☆☆
$179.95$159.95View$179.95$159.95View$159.99View$179.95View$199View
$179.95$159.95View
$179.95$159.95View
$179.95$159.95View
$179.95$159.95
$159.95
$179.95$159.95View
$179.95$159.95View
$179.95$159.95View
$179.95$159.95
$159.95
$159.99View
$159.99View
$159.99View
$159.99
$159.99
$179.95View
$179.95View
$179.95View
$179.95
$179.95
$199View
$199View
$199View
$199
$199
Show More Deals
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