Shokz is not a brand like the others. Formerly known as Aftershokz, it has made a name for itself thanks to its bone conduction technology, aimed at freeing the ears while allowing to listen to music or make calls. In recent years, Shokz has multiplied models dedicated to sport or urban use, with a simple philosophy: to offer sound without ever completely isolate from the outside world.
In 2023, she launched the OpenFit, her first “Open-Ear” headphones for conduction by air transducers and no longer bone. OpenFit 2 use this specific format, while promising a more successful design, better comfort and improved audio quality. At 189 euros, these headphones are clearly positioned on the high -end. Are they up to their ambition? Here is our verdict after several days of use.
Buy OpenFit 2
Design and finish: an approach always as singular
At first glance, the OpenFit 2 is very similar to their predecessors. Shokz retains its design in turn, which comes just in front of the ear canal without ever obstructing it. An approach that has its followers, especially among athletes – the brand’s first target – or those who want to remain connected to their environment. The finish has grown significantly. The liquid silicone chassis is covered with a softer and slightly satin coating, pleasant to the touch. Everything remains very light, with only 8.7 g per listener, and resists splashing with an IP55 certification. This is enough to collect a sports session or a good downpour.
Visually, we stay on an aesthetic halfway between the professional and the sportsman. The design is discreet, but does not try to be forgotten. The branches that surround the pavilion of the ear are flexible, but fairly firm to guarantee good hold, even during sudden movements. Compared to the first version, Shokz slightly revised the curvature of the branches and the distribution of the weight, which clearly improves stability. The load case is also more compact than before, with a successful matt finish and a solid hinge.
Ergonomics and commands: always more intuitive
On the comfort side, difficult to take these headphones in default. Even after several hours, the pressure on the ears remains minimal, even non -existent. The absence of intra-ear tips avoids any feeling of confinement or hearing fatigue. This is all the interest of the Open-Ear concept: you can listen to your content without cutting yourself off from the world, without ever feeling discomfort or excessive heat.
OpenFit 2 also rely on smarter ergonomics. Each earphone is equipped with a customizable touch zone dedicated to the start of the vocal assistant of the smartphone. The great novelty comes from the physical buttons located on the top of each atrium, really welcome for sporting use. By default, a simple tapping triggers the reading or pauses, a double goes to the next track, a triple to the previous one, while a prolonged support on the right increases the volume and decreases on the left. Too bad there, however, there is no door detection system to automatically break the music when you remove a listener, and restart it once awarded.
Special mention to stability: thanks to the new design of the branch, the OpenFit 2 remain perfectly in place even in the race or by bicycle. This is a fundamental point for headphones designed above all for mobility.
Application and connectivity: the strict necessary, well executed
The Shokz OpenFit 2 are accompanied by the Home mobile application, available on Android and iOS. The interface remains minimalist, but goes to the essentials. We find there the battery level of each earpiece, control settings, as well as a four -profile equalizer (standard, vocal, bass, treble). For those who do not find their account, a 5 -band manual equalizer is proposed spread.
On the connectivity side, the OpenFit 2 integrate Bluetooth 5.4, with multi -point care. Ultra practical or even essential for athletes who leave for example to run only with their watch connected on the wrist. You can juggle between your smartphone and your watch without having to worry about the reconnection.
No high definition audio codec (Aptx or LDAC type) is also offered by SBC and AAC classics. But Shokz here seems to have chosen stability and understood that despite the improvement of their audio faculties, the OpenFit 2 are not concrete to draw from these Lossless codecs.
Handsmith kit performance: solid progress
One of the weak points of the first generation openfit was the quality of their hands -free kit. Good news: this version 2 largely corrects the shot. Integrated microphones are now two per listener, with an artificial intelligence algorithm intended to isolate the user’s voice. In practice, it works very well, even in moderately noisy environments.
During outdoor calls, traffic or wind noises are well filtered, and the voice remains effortless. In an open space or at home, the rendering is even better. The interlocutors hear us distinctly, with a natural stamp and little compression. We are not yet in terms of the best intra models with stem, but for open-ear headphones, the result is very honest.
Another advantage: the lack of obstruction of the hearing channel allows you to continue a conversation while remaining attentive to its environment. A real plus for professionals or nomadic users.
Audio quality: a surprising compromise
We are not going to lie: the OpenFit 2 do not compete with high -end intras in terms of precision or immersion. But for open-ear headphones, sound quality is surprisingly good. The new rectangular transducer of 21x 11 mm developed by Shokz clearly improves spatialization and clarity, with a richer restitution than expected.
The mediums are present and the same the best represented, the voices stand out with beautiful sharpness, while the treble rises high without aggressiveness. The bass, they lack depth (open architecture obliges), but are much more present than on the previous generation, especially with the activated “bass” profile. You really have to salute the brand’s progress on this specific point, as the exercise is that of a balancingist.
The main defect remains linked to the environment: as soon as there is too much ambient noise, the finest details can be lost. In this situation, we also tend to greatly increase the volume, a behavior not very advised for the health of its eardrums. Conversely, indoors or at moderate volume, the experience is very satisfactory. There are also very few sound leaks, even if it remains audible at high volume in a silent place.
Autonomy: above average
With a promise of 11 hours of listening on a single load, the OpenFit 2 hold their commitments. During our tests, they reached this duration with a volume at around 50 %. The load case allows to hold up to 48 hours in all. We are here on an extremely solid autonomy which can accompany the user for long outdoor outings.
The fast load is also there: 10 minutes are enough to recover about 2 hours of autonomy, which is perfect for uses at the last minute. The USB-C load port allows total recharge in approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. Too bad, however, that the wireless load is reserved for the OpenFit 2+ version sold… 10 euros more expensive.
Buy OpenFit 2
🟣 To not miss any news on the Geek newspaper, subscribe to Google News and on our WhatsApp. And if you love us, .
