Shokz OpenFit Pro review: the best-sounding open-ear buds I've tried yet

Open-ear headphones weren't invented because people suddenly got bored with in-ears. Instead, they became a thing because runners and cyclists wanted a music background while out on the streets, without worrying as much about traffic.

To begin with, the idea was more about letting the soundtrack sit alongside the real world rather than blocking it out. And while that’s still fundamentally what it boils down to, the tech has had time to catch up. Open-ear technology has started to feel less like a niche option among workout headphones and more of a practical one, especially if you like hearing what’s going on around you while still getting decent audio.

Shokz is one of the names that’s helped make that shift happen, building up a reputation on the back of its bone-conduction headphones back when it was called AfterShokz.

More recently, though, the brand’s OpenFit series has been its way of making open-ear designs feel a bit more like everyday earbuds, and it seems to be working. We rated the OpenFit 2 highly in our full review thanks to its improved audio, physical buttons and stamina, even if the fit won’t be everyone's cuppa tea.

So, what’s the deal with the all-new OpenFit Pro? For the most part, these updated earphones take what the OpenFit 2 did well and add a few useful upgrades, though at a wallet-busting price. On paper, that means Shokz’s first noise-reduction mode, upgraded “SuperBoost” sound, and Dolby Atmos.

I’ve been wearing the earphones for the past month across runs, gym sessions, and daily life to see what those updates mean in real-world terms and whether they’re really worth the extra dosh. Here’s how I got on.

Shokz OpenFit Pro review

Price and availability

The Shokz OpenFit Pro launched in early January 2026 and now sits right at the top of Shokz’s OpenFit range. The brand lists them at £219 in the UK (Black or White), $249.95 in the US and AU$399 down under. That makes them an undeniably high-end option in an already premium sub-category – especially when Shokz’ own OpenFit 2 series starts from £169 on the brand’s comparison panel. Gulp.

What you’re paying for, in theory, is Shokz throwing the kitchen sink at open-ear tech, sporting all the latest innovation, including noise reduction, Dolby Atmos optimisation, Bluetooth 6.1, wear detection, wireless charging, and - hopefully - a big jump in sound quality over earlier OpenFit models.

Design and comfort

Shokz hasn’t reinvented the wheel when it comes to the design of the OpenFit Pro. It uses the same general "earhook" design that makes this style so appealing for exercise on previous iterations, which works by wrapping around the ear while the speaker unit hovers near your ear canal rather than plugging into it. The result is that you never get that blocked, pressurised feeling that in-ear buds can cause over longer sessions.

Build-wise, these cans feel top-notch, probably because Shokz has leaned into a slightly more premium look and feel than its mid-range counterparts. It mixes metal accents with silicone in the parts that actually touch your skin, and they’re also rated IP55, which basically means they're resistant (mostly) to sweat, rain and general gym grime.

Comfort is the top thing here, though. Thanks to the titanium ear hooks and Ultra-Soft Silicone 2.0 material, and the balance of the bud is spot on – it feels secure without being too, err, clampy? I wore them for long stretches at my desk and during workouts, and never felt the need to rip them out in the same way I do with in-ears after a couple of hours.

Downsides? There are a couple, but they’re nothing major. Firstly, they’re a little heavier than Shokz’ OpenFit 2 buds, coming in at 12.3g per earbud as opposed to 9.4g. That may or may not sound like a lot on paper, depending on your level of earphone knowledge, but because the weight is distributed along the hook, the extra grams don't feel heavy in use.

Secondly, the case is bigger than a typical true wireless case, which isn’t shocking given the hook design, but it’s still pocketable. Plus, you get the option of wireless charging, which helps balance out the slight annoyance of the bulky case.

Another design feature I like is that the controls are physical buttons, not some wannabe-fancy haptic version. Since the buttons are raised and waterproof, they're more reliable than touch controls when you’re sweaty, cold, or wearing gloves. They’re not massive, so you do need to find them by feel at first, but once muscle memory kicks in, they’re way less fiddly than tapping at a glossy touch surface.

Performance and features

In terms of performance, let’s talk sound first, because that’s the OpenFit Pro’s biggest talking point by far. And that’s all thanks to Shokz’ SuperBoost dual-diaphragm driver setup, which gives the earphones a fuller, more confident sound than most open-ear buds I’ve tried.

Bass is still never going to hit like sealed in-ears, but it’s punchy and controlled enough to make workout playlists feel properly energising, rather than thin and tinny. Mid-range detail is strong too, so vocals stay clear even when you’re moving around, and I found they stayed listenable at surprisingly low volumes in quieter environments – always a good sign in an open design.

They also go up to a nice loud volume when you need them to, which is rare in wireless earphones generally, if you ask me. On runs near traffic or during busy gym sessions, I can push the volume high enough to keep the music front and centre – something I can’t say for every open-ear model.

Of course, there’s a limit, and if your surroundings are a bit chaotic, open-ear will always struggle compared to sealed buds, but the OpenFit Pro copes better than most, which means there’s less chance of you having to carry an additional pair of in-ears around with you for those louder moments.

Dolby Atmos is another nice feature, but probably more of a flashy extra than an audio essential. I wouldn’t say it's needed for training, but it’s a fun bonus for videos, and head tracking works smoothly if you’re into that sort of thing. Most of the time, though, I left it off and just enjoyed the core tuning.

Shokz’s “Noise Reduction” is the headline new feature in these phones, but I would say it should probably be used with realistic expectations. Of course, it does help, especially in the gym, where it takes the edge off loud exercise machines and the like whirring in the background, so I didn’t have to crank the volume as aggressively to stay locked in. But because these don’t seal your ear canal, they can’t deliver that proper “world goes quiet” kind of ANC effect you get from earbuds.

Nevertheless, this won’t be a feature you’re expecting to have if you’re buying an open-ear design anyway, right? If it’s true ANC music experiences you want, these aren’t the earphones for you. Still, for outdoor training, you do get excellent awareness of traffic and people around you, just with a slightly calmer backdrop.

For fitness use, the practical stuff is strong here, too. The earhook fit feels secure for hard runs and HIIT, and the IP55 rating means sweat and rain aren’t a worry. As I mentioned earlier, I’m also very glad Shokz has stuck with physical buttons rather than touch controls – they’re just more reliable mid-workout.

As for battery life, it’s generally pretty good, just as long as you’re not hammering Noise Reduction mode. Shokz quotes up to 12 hours (and 50 with the case) with it off, dropping to 6/24 with it on – so I popped on Noise Reduction when I felt the need, rather than as a permanent setting. Shokz' battery life quote seemed about right from my own usage, and between the case and the wireless charging, I didn't feel like it took much effort to keep these juiced up during the week.

I should probably mention the app, too, which works well and boasts some nice, proper EQ options (including custom tuning), multipoint pairing, and a handy Find My Earbuds feature.

Verdict

The Shokz OpenFit Pro feels like a turning point for open-ear. The sound quality is impressive for this style – delivering richer, clearer and more confident than most rivals – and the fit is exactly what you’d want from workout-friendly buds, feeling both stable and comfortable during hours of use.

While the Noise Reduction feature is a welcome upgrade, it doesn’t transform open-ear into ANC in-ears (and nor should anyone expect it to), but it does make more places feel listenable without blasting the volume. Add in Dolby Atmos optimisation, excellent battery life (when Noise Reduction is off), and handy extras like wireless charging, and you’ve got one of the most fully featured open-ear packages on the market right now.

My only real hesitation is the price. The OpenFit Pro’s RRP is pretty steep, and if you’re buying these as a second set of earbuds for workouts and walks, etc., while using a pair of in-ears for commuting and travel, it becomes harder to justify.

Nevertheless, if you’re committed to open-ear and want the best-sounding, most capable version Shokz currently makes, the OpenFit Pro smashes it out of the park.