Shokz OpenFit Review: Hooked On Exercise

Worth When Reviewed

$179

Greatest Costs Right now: Shokz OpenFit

$179.95

Shokz (previously often called AfterShokz) is thought for its bone-conductor type headphones that can be utilized for train while staying safe, even if you happen to’re sweating it out massive time.  

For its newest, Shokz has ditched the headscarf and as a substitute opted for a pair of true wi-fi earphones that hook over your ears for a extra refined design. Enter the OpenFit.  

Clocking in simply shy of $180/£180, these are probably the most premium earphones from the health wearable model. Should you’re questioning whether or not they’re for you, then learn on. 

Design and construct 

• Black and beige color choices 
• Hook over the ear design  
• IP54 ranking 

Certainly, the OpenFit are the best-looking set of headphones from Shokz up to now. They arrive in two colors: normal black, or the beige possibility I examined (which appears a lot nicer than it sounds).  

The hook suits across the high of your ear, while the speaker sits simply in entrance of your ear canal. They’re not like in-earbuds, as you’ll nonetheless have your ears free to maintain conscious of your environment. Nevertheless, that implies that the audio high quality just isn’t as spectacular as one thing with a seal. 

When you’ve obtained the cling of the hook, these are fairly simple to put on, even with glasses or a biking helmet on. I solely bumped into points once I had my hair in an updo, with the hooks generally getting caught on my bonce. Every earphone weighs 8.3g, in order that they’re fairly light-weight.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

They’re constituted of silicone, and the matt end doesn’t choose up too many marks. They’re additionally sturdy, with one earphone surviving an unintentional drop with none points. The earphones have an IP54 ranking, so they’re protected in opposition to a small quantity of mud and a few water spray – they’re most likely fantastic to make use of in mild rain and can stand up to some sweat.  

Regardless of not being a pair of bone conductor headphones, I obtained the identical soreness within the outer edges of my cheeks when utilizing these for over an hour.

Throughout train, they stayed comparatively safe – even with me placing them via their paces with burpees, downward canines and star jumps. There have been a number of events the place the audio system barely moved throughout vigorous velocity walks, however total I used to be impressed.

The OpenFit earphones sit neatly crossed over each other within the accompanying sq. case. While that is bigger than what you’ll discover on a pill-style pair of buds, it’s nonetheless sufficiently small to slide right into a jean pocket. In contrast to the earphones, the case has no waterproofing or dustproofing.  

The case includes a single mild which indicators the battery standing on the entrance, and a USB-C slot for charging within the rear. An accompanying cable (however no brick) is included within the field.  

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Good options 

• Contact controls 
• Shokz app customises audio and controls 
• 10m wi-fi vary 

Pairing the earphones along with your telephone or laptop is as simple as a fiddle. You simply have to open the case lid, press on the earphone and watch for the sunshine to start out flashing – which means the OpenFit has entered pairing mode. From there, your sensible machine will do the remainder. 

You possibly can join the OpenFit as an ordinary pair of Bluetooth earphones, however if you would like additional customisation over the audio and contact controls you then’ll need to obtain the Shokz app for iOS and Android.

The app will mechanically register paired units, and you should use it to view the battery lifetime of the each the case and every earphone in 10% increments. There are 5 audio presets: Customary, Bass Enhance, Treble Enhance, Vocal and Customise.  

The latter mode permits you full management over the EQ ranges to go well with the audio to your particular tastes. Should you’re not sure of which preset mode to make use of, the app consists of audio suggestions, which may be very good to see.  

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

In right here you can even tweak the contact controls. There are solely two actions you should use on every earphone, double faucet and lengthy press. By default, these are set to regulate playback and quantity, however you can even use these gestures to skip tracks and activate the voice assistant.  

The faucets require a barely agency hand, however not sufficient to harm – plus, I’d fairly my earphones be like that fairly than too delicate and having my hair by chance setting off Google Assistant each couple of minutes.  

The app has a wonderful format, with concise info and guides all prepared at hand. There isn’t numerous undesirable house, and the textual content is obvious to learn – a giant tick for Shokz on the software program entrance.  

The OpenFit comes with Bluetooth 5.2, and a wi-fi vary of 10m. In actual use, I’m capable of go upstairs with the earphones on (leaving my telephone downstairs) and encounter no points with the audio dropping as I’ve completed with different units. 

Sound high quality 

• Respectable for on a regular basis tracks like pop 
• Frequency vary limits extra advanced music 
• Calls are clear however tinny

The audio on the Shokz OpenFit is healthier than I anticipated from an open-ear machine, however it’s under no circumstances excellent.  

The buds characteristic a customized 18 x 11mm driver which is barely larger than what you’d discover on a pair of in-ear headphones. Nevertheless, it solely has a 50Hz-16kHz frequency vary, which isn’t one of the best. Human listening to is 20Hz-20kHz, so the headphones have weaknesses, particularly when turned as much as full blast as this distorts the audio.  

When my ears are open to my environment, I’m nonetheless capable of hear particulars in tracks – but when I’m out in public I’ll need the audio sometimes above 80%. Music remains to be clear on transport just like the London Underground, however sadly some podcasts should not loud sufficient to be heard over the screeching rails of the monitor.

Relaxation assured, different folks shouldn’t be bothered by the audio system on these headphones. I didn’t disturb any of my workmates, even with the sound turned up full blast.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

It offers what I’d describe as easy, balanced audio, and largely doesn’t must be switched from the Customary audio preset. It really works nicely for pop songs like Girl Gaga’s Dangerous Romance, which has clear vocals and an upbeat backing monitor. Delicate ballads like Duncan Laurence’s Arcade additionally sounds good, with no muddiness on the vocals.  

Sebastian Bohm’s Blue Monday has readability and color, with strings singing alongside the synth. Nevertheless, one of many key weaknesses is within the bass – the headphones don’t have that ‘thump’ that I get from greater high quality units.  

As well as, the Bass Enhance mode is just good for digital music that doesn’t have an excessive amount of substance like dubstep or home. In rock/extra advanced tracks numerous the opposite devices lose their readability, and the sound has a little bit of an underwater really feel. 

I don’t sometimes gravitate towards the Treble Enhance or Vocal modes, although the latter just isn’t dangerous for listening to podcasts if you happen to battle with voices and don’t thoughts a extra unnatural really feel.

No Sleep Until Brooklyn by the Beastie Boys highlights a weak point on the OpenFit. When the quantity is turned as much as above 80%, the snare blows out on the audio system – the identical occurs on One other One Bites The Mud by Queen . It doesn’t occur on all rock tracks, however it’s sufficient to be a noticeable annoyance. Some voices on adverts even have a noticeable hiss.

You possibly can take calls on the OpenFit, because of the inclusion of twin mics with AI noise cancelling. I used these on a busy street, and while my voice allegedly sounded on the tinny aspect, the headphones picked up minimal site visitors – solely being bested by some hooligan gunning his moped down the street.  

The individual on the decision sounded a bit of quiet to me – a pitfall of earphones that don’t have a seal. Nevertheless, these are designed primarily for train, so it’s not the top of the world.  

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Battery life & charging 

• Seven hours of battery life on a single cost 
• As much as 28 hours in case 
• One hour and 45 minutes to cost from flat to full 

You received’t have to fret about operating out of cost a lot with the OpenFit earphones. They simply hit their seven hours of listening time on a single cost declare, and this may be prolonged as much as 28 hours total with the 600mAh charging case.  

Charging additionally doesn’t take too lengthy, with the OpenFit juicing from flat to full in round an hour and a half. 

One grievance I’ve is that the earphones solely let you realize that they’re low on battery with a sound impact fairly than a voice immediate, which is straightforward to overlook if you happen to’re not keeping track of the battery ranges within the accompanying app.  

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Worth & availability 

The Shokz OpenFit retail for $179/£179, and can be found from Shokz, Amazon and Walmart within the US, and Shokz, Amazon and John Lewis within the UK.

That is pricier than another headsets from the model such because the OpenMove, however none of those provide such an unobtrusive construct. The very best direct competitor could be the PowerBeats Professional, that are at the moment discounted to across the similar worth because the OpenFit within the US and UK on Amazon.  

These provide a barely longer battery life on the buds themselves (however barely shorter within the case), and are arguably a greater possibility for iPhone customers as a result of additional options obtainable.  

You may as well learn our chart of one of the best true wi-fi earbuds for additional choices.  

Verdict 

The Shokz Openfit present a safe match and a sturdy batter life, making them a great companion for exercise classes which are underneath an hour – something above this, and the match begins to really feel barely uncomfortable. 

The frequency vary just isn’t one of the best, so some audio (notably rock tracks) can distort when turned as much as full, which you’ll want if you happen to plan on utilizing these earphones for each day use reminiscent of commuting on public transport. This possible received’t be as a lot of a precedence if you happen to’re out for a jog or cycle and need to hold your quantity decrease to pay attention to your environment.  

If you’d like extra spectacular audio, then there are different equally priced choices on the market, however not many that provide such a discreet but safe construct. 

Specs

• 18×11mm customised dynamic driver
• Twin microphones
• Wi-fi: Bluetooth 5.3, A2DP, AVRCP, HSP, HFP
• Contact controls: Sure
• Battery life: As much as 28 hours (together with case charging)
• IP54 water resistance (earphones solely)
• Weight: 8.3g per earphone, 57g case
• Works with Shokz app