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Tom's Guide
04-07-2025
- Tom's Guide
Shokz OpenDots One vs. Shokz OpenFit 2+: which open-ear buds are right for you?
Shokz's first attempt at clip-on earphones is impressive, offering a snug and secure fit that will suit most ears, along with support for Dolby Audio. Its wireless charging case is far more pocketable than the OpenFit 2+, however, it offers slightly less battery life and its sound quality isn't as good. Even though they're priced identically to the OpenDots One, the OpenFit 2+ are more advanced in a few key areas. They offer longer battery life, improved materials and slightly better water resistance, along with physical buttons. That said, they're quite small and won't suit all ears. Shokz, a Chinese company that's been a big player in open-ear headphones, is shaking things up with its two newest products, the OpenDots One and the OpenFit 2+ — each looking to deliver high-quality open-ear audio in their own unique way. The OpenDots One is arguably the most novel of the two, as it's the company's first attempt at a clip-on design, similar to the Bose Ultra Open. That means they wrap around the lower part of your ear with a flexible band, while the speaker itself sits in front of your ear canal. Meanwhile, the OpenFit 2+ follows on from the earhook design of the popular OpenFit, and offers a few quality of life upgrades over the standard OpenFit 2, making them a top candidate for the best running headphones of 2025. As a relative newbie to open-ear headphones, comparing the OpenDots One and OpenFit 2+ has given me some great insight into what Shokz's 'DirectPitch' tech can do across different earbud designs. Now I've tested both sets of open-ear headphones over the last two weeks, I know which design suits me more, even if the other option offers better sound quality overall. Read on to find out how each option fares in this Shokz OpenDots One vs. Shokz OpenFit 2+ comparison. Despite their differences in size and design, the Shokz OpenDots One and Shokz OpenFit 2+ are priced identically in the US and Australia, though the former has yet to be confirmed for release in the UK. The Shokz OpenDots One is priced at $199.95 / AU$339 and was released on April 29 in the US and June 3 in Australia. Meanwhile, the Shokz OpenFit 2+ is priced at $199.95 / £179 / $339 and was released in the UK and Europe on June 5, and in Australia on July 3. A US release date for the Shokz OpenFit 2+ has not yet been confirmed. Both the Shokz OpenDots One and the OpenFit 2+ come are offered in grey and black color options. Shokz OpenDots One Shokz OpenFit 2+ Price $199.95 / AU$339 $199.95 / £179 / $339 Colors Black, grey Black, grey Weight 6.5g (per bud); 39g (charging case) 9.4g (per bud); 56g (charging case) Water Resistance IP54 IP55 Battery life 10 hours (buds), 40 hours (case) 11 hours (buds), 48 hours (case) Connectivity Bluetooth 5.4 Bluetooth 5.4 Dolby Audio Yes Yes Wireless charging Yes Yes Going into this Shokz OpenDots One and OpenFit 2+ comparison, I had limited experience with open-ear headphones. Now that I've spent some time testing these devices, I believe I have a good idea of what this technology is capable of in terms of sound quality. Both the OpenDots One and OpenFit 2+ use Shokz's patented DirectPitch technology, which essentially beams sound right into your ear canal from just outside it using smartly positioned vents. Additionally, phase cancellation is used to help keep your tunes private. The OpenFit 2+ offers the same dual driver configuration as the standard OpenFit 2, with one driver dedicated to bass, and the other handling mids and highs. Where the OpenFit 2+ differs, however, is in the inclusion of Dolby Audio support, resulting in more impactful and perceptibly deeper sound. In saying that, I personally couldn't achieve a satisfying listening experience with the OpenFit 2+ when worn as intended. The earhooks proved too small for my (apparently large) ears, preventing them from properly reaching the opening of my ear canals. This resulted in them sounding quiet, tinny and distant. However, when held up against my ears in approximately the correct area, there was a dramatic improvement in sound quality — the OpenFit 2+ gained a significant boost in bass and brightness, along with an expanded soundstage. On the flip side, the OpenDots One clipped onto my ears perfectly, with their speakers pointed directly into my ear canal for the optimal listening experience. Despite their small size, the OpenDots One are able to pack two circular drivers into a single spherical module in order to enhance bass response. The result is clean, punchy audio that performs well in low frequencies. That said, I found the OpenFit 2+ to offer louder, more impactful audio overall. Another key difference between the two headphones is that the OpenDots One use touch controls, which I found a little difficult to get used to, while the OpenFit 2+ now offers physical buttons — a welcome upgrade over the standard OpenFit 2. Both the OpenFit 2+ and OpenDots One offer a range of EQ modes accessible in the Shokz app, starting with the 'Standard' listening experience and then providing options for 'Vocal' and 'Bass' boosting modes. There's also a 'Private' listening mode, which optimizes frequencies to reduce sound leakage. Even so, it was still pretty hard to avoid at high volumes, as my co-workers will attest. For open-ear buds, the OpenOne Dots and OpenFit 2+ deliver surprisingly punchy audio, which is largely due to their Dolby Audio support. Of course, it's important to keep your expectations in check. When it comes to sound quality, in-ear headphones will always come out on top compared to open-ear buds. That's because in-ear headphones seal off your ear canal, which blocks out outside noise — especially if the buds offer active noise cancellation. Open-ear buds, on the other hand, are designed to let you hear what's going on around you, which means your listening experience will ultimately be affected. It should come as no surprise that the OpenFit 2+, with their larger size and case, offer a longer battery life compared to the OpenDots One, though both provide impressive battery longevity given their compact designs. The OpenDots One offers 10 hours of battery life on the buds, while the charging case extends that to around 40 hours in total. Meanwhile, the OpenFit 2+ buds will last around 11 hours, with their case bringing their total listening time to roughly 48 hours. If, however, you've forgotten to fully charge your buds, a ten minute charge of either the OpenDots One or OpenFit 2+ will get you around 2 hours of listening time in a pinch. Both charging cases can be charged via USB-C cable or by wireless charging. When it comes to pure sound, the OpenFit 2+ definitely blasts out louder audio and has a wider soundstage, which makes the OpenDots One feel slightly less impressive. However, the OpenFit 2+ just didn't sit right in my ears, and that really messed with my listening experience. The OpenDots One, on the other hand, fit me well and sounded great, even if they aren't quite as bombastic on the audio front. Personally, I would opt for the OpenDots One, however, I predict the OpenFit 2+ will be the better option for most people — especially if they lead an active lifestyle.
AU Financial Review
30-06-2025
- AU Financial Review
Shokz OpenDots One earphones review
The list of our most-used, most-beloved earbuds and earphones here in the Digital Life Labs, sorted by sound quality, would go something like this: Bose QuietComfort Ultra earphones, Shokz OpenDots One earbuds and Ozlo Sleepbuds. Sort that list by almost any other positive attribute, such as battery life, comfort, how devastated we would be to lose them, how unlikely we are to lose them, versatility or downright niftiness, and the subject of this week's review bubbles right to the top, however:
AU Financial Review
29-06-2025
- AU Financial Review
These Shokz earbuds will be one of the best gadgets of 2025
The list of our most-used, most-beloved earbuds and earphones here in the Digital Life Labs, sorted by sound quality, would go something like this: Bose QuietComfort Ultra earphones, Shokz OpenDots One earbuds and Ozlo Sleepbuds. Sort that list by almost any other positive attribute, such as battery life, comfort, how devastated we would be to lose them, how unlikely we are to lose them, versatility or downright niftiness, and the subject of this week's review bubbles right to the top, however:
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
Shokz's Newest Open Earbuds Prove the Brand Is Serious About Sound Quality
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission. Shokz may have popularized the bone-conduction category, but lately, the audio brand has been branching out, with unique offerings in the open-ear earbud space. The latest are the OpenDots One, which launched today and join an increasingly crowded clip-on earbud market, competing with styles from rivals like Bose, Anker, and JLab. More from Rolling Stone How to Buy Beyoncé 'Cowboy Carter' Tour Tickets Online Before They Sell Out Earbuds Not Staying Put? Try These 7 Buds Designed for Small Ears, Tested And Reviewed Why Wired Earbuds and Headphones Aren't Going Anywhere We put the Shokz OpenDots One to the test ahead of their launch. While they're not perfect, they make a compelling case for being one of the best clip-on earbuds you can buy, offering the right combination of comfort, sound quality, and performance. $199.95 Buy Now at target Buy Now On Amazon Pros: Great sound, comfortable all-day fit, impressive battery lifeCons: Iffy touch controls, priceyStated Battery Life: 10 hours (earbuds) 40 hours (earbuds and case)Water resistance: IP54 Similar to Bose's Ultra Open Earbuds, Shokz OpenDots One feature a flexible band with a driver that sits in the outer ear. The unit that houses the battery clips behind the ear, giving these earbuds something of a resemblance to earrings. The case is compact and features a stylish two-tone design. The earbuds themselves are impressively lightweight, yet secure on the ear. The case is also wireless-charging compatible, which is a nice touch. I wore them on a long bike ride, and, aside from minor adjustments, I was able to forget they were there. The most unusual design decision is that the earbuds are interchangeable. There's no left or right markings. I thought this was an oversight at first, until I realized they're designed to be swappable without affecting stereo sound. Shokz explained that they 'utilize Dynamic Ear Detection Technology to automatically recognize which bud is in each ear.' Shokz's user-friendly app allows for easy control over the earbuds, including customizing the touch controls and EQ modes. You can choose between presets, including 'Vocal' and 'Bass,' or create a custom sound profile using the five-band EQ. The earbuds also feature a Dolby Audio mode, although I didn't find it added much to the listening experience on most songs. There are features I do find handy, including multipoint pairing for connecting to two devices at once. One surprising feature that I've rarely seen on open-ear earbuds is wear detection; the earbuds automatically pause and play when you take an earbud out. There's a slight delay, but it works pretty reliably. The earbuds' touch controls were one of its weakest points; they were simultaneously slow to respond and somewhat overly sensitive. Either pinching the barrel twice or double-tapping on the band portion controls playback and phone calls. It works, but the slow response time could be improved. But if you find yourself accidentally pressing the controls, you can turn off the pinch or tap controls. Impressively, Shokz has managed to produce some of the best-sounding open earbuds I've tested, with a level of clarity that's rare for earbuds of this type. The bass response is surprisingly robust, befitting a pair of workout earbuds. There are inevitable tradeoffs, including reduced detail in the highs, but overall, there's a lot to love about how these earbuds sound. The lightweight design and compact case make these great for workouts, and the water resistance comes in handy for sweat and rain. That said, I wouldn't limit these to workouts. The sound quality is crisp and detailed enough to suit use at the office or everyday wear for any setting where you want to remain aware of your surroundings. The earbuds also have up to 10 hours of playtime on a charge, with a total of 40 with the case. Shokz OpenDots One earbuds are among the best sounding from a pair of open-ear earbuds, and the clip-on design is comfortable for all-day wear, whether you're running and biking or sitting at the office. At $200, these are a fairly pricey pair of earbuds, especially considering the niche category they're competing in, and the fussy controls could be improved. Still, they undercut Bose's Ultra Open Earbuds in price by $100, and while I would give Bose the edge in audio quality, the OpenDots outlast the Ultra Opens in battery life while still delivering great sound. $199.95 Buy Now at target Buy Now On Amazon Best of Rolling Stone The Best Audiophile Turntables for Your Home Audio System
