The Shokz OpenDots 2 open earbuds are an upgraded version of the $200/£179 open ear buds boasting improved Dolby Audio and upgraded bass. Shokz is unashamedly sticking to its open-ear ethos, providing an alternative to rivals who are often doubling down on noise cancellation.
Having tested them, I can confirm the sound is much improved and I look forward to bringing you a full review soon. They certainly appeal mostly to the traditional Shokz buyer for running or fitness where being aware of the world around is important. And we’re seeing more and more running races that previously banned headphones outright now changing to allow open ear headphones.
The slight downside is that the OpenDots 2 have a bit of an acquired taste about the look – they’re more like earrings than earphones – but they are comfortable and do stay in place. Available in silver, white and black, they are eartip-free and sit around the back of the ear as you can see.
The improvements include Bassphere 2.0 which means less distortion and fuller bass. Shokz says it has worked to better angle the sound into the ear, focusing the sound better. And there’s a dedicated bone-conduction microphone which works alongside dual air-conduction mics for clear calls.
In terms of battery life, you get 10 hours from a single charge and up to 40 hours with the charging case – impressive.
Another option
If they’re a little on the expensive side for you, there’s also the $130/£129 OpenDots Air which don’t have the same structure and offer more basic sound. Battery life is also a bit shorter at 9 hours or 36 hours with the case.
At an event in Shenzhen to brief Stuff about the near earphones, Shokz co-founder Ken Chen told us that it doesn’t want to be the ‘dragon’ of the headphone industry but the “dragon slayer”, keeping a challenger mindset to some of the bigger names in the market. But Chen was realistic that the competition in earphones is fierce currently:
“As a company, we start by serving early adopters and to runners. As we grow, inevitably, we have to cater to a broader consumer base. But we still emphasize technology development. When we built OpenDots, for example, we put two speakers in each earbud and applied ultra-soft silicone rubber. We also have a lot of know-how around titanium.
“Fundamentally, our mission has not changed: we still want to build the most wearable headphones ever. That. means staying focused on the fundamentals, being true to ourselves and keep creating value. Of course, the future is going to be challenging and we are not kidding ourselves.”
Shokz OpenDots 2 specs
- Clip-on open-ear design with secure, adaptive fit
- JointArc structure with flexible nickel titanium plate
- Lightweight design at 6.4g per earbud
- Bassphere 2.0 technology for deeper bass and reduced distortion
- Upgraded Dolby Audio for immersive sound
- Dual air conduction microphones plus bone conduction microphone for clear calls
- Dynamic ear detection with interchangeable left and right earbuds
- Multipoint pairing with two devices
- Up to 10 hours listening time, up to 40 hours with charging case
- 5 minute quick charge provides up to 2 hours playback
- Qi-certified wireless charging
- IP57 dust and water resistance on the earbuds and IP54 protection on the charging case
- Bluetooth 6.1
- Available in Pearl White, Grey and Black
Shokz OpenDots Air specs
- Clip-on open-ear design for everyday comfort
- Bassphere acoustic technology
- Lightweight design at 6.3g per earbud
- Dual air conduction microphones for calls
- Dynamic ear detection with interchangeable left and right earbuds
- DirectPitch technology for private listening
- Multipoint pairing with two devices
- Up to 9 hours listening time, up to 36 hours with charging case
- 10 minute quick charge provides up to 2 hours playback
- IP55 water resistance on the earbuds
- Bluetooth 6.1
- Available in Daybreak Purple and Black
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