TechRadar Verdict
During my testing time with the Shokz OpenFit 2+, I found they were excellent, comfortable headphones and a great fit for daily wear, commutes and activity, performing great on trail runs and road, with long battery life. The addition of Dolby cinematic sound is great, and I could tweak the modes in the app for optimal podcast or bass-heavy music listening. In fact, they’re so good, and at such a similar price point to the OpenFit 2, they seem to make their slightly cheaper sibling completely redundant, and are much cheaper than Bose, their closest competitor. They're also incredibly high-quality sound, considering they're open-ear. They're not ideal for glasses wearers, but they blow almost all competition out the water
Pros
- +
Excellent sound quality
- +
Very stable on runs
- +
Multipoint connectivity
- +
Long battery life
Cons
- -
Almost no reason to get the regular OpenFit 2
- -
Not ideal for glasses wearers
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Shokz OpenFit 2+: One minute review
After weeks with the Shokz OpenFit 2+ I can tell they’re great headphones that are worthy of inclusion in our best open-ear headphones buying guide, our best running headphones guide, and will be ideal for any runner willing to splash out on a pair.
They're comfortable to wear: the over-ear design isn't ideal for glasses wearers like myself, but I made do on my commute, with Shokz’ flexible nickel-titanium alloy ear hooks looping over your ears and weighted down by a bulbous end, while the driver sits snugly against your temples. It didn't affect the sound quality, but did affect the fit slightly: more on that later. However, as I don't run with glasses, it didn't cause any real lifestyle issues.
The silicon covering, which Shokz labels its “ultra soft silicone 2.0” is comfortable to wear in sweaty conditions. The whole earbud weighs 9.4g, making it light, but a gram heavier than the original OpenFit. Physical buttons and touch controls allow you to adjust volume, pause and skip tracks. The headphones are rated IP55: splashproof and sweat-resistant, ideal for rain but not water immersion.
The drivers aren’t bone-conduction headphones like the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 or Shokz Openswim Pro. Instead, they’re more like traditional drivers or speakers, directing sound towards your ears without covering the lughole entirely. Four beamforming mics with ANC and AI-powered algorithms allow you to make clear calls: Shokz' claims about clarity on calls were a bit of an exaggeration on windy days and runs, but clear enough.
The sound is really very good: I'd say it's close to the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (our gold standard in open-ear sound) in terms of quality, and far and away better from a fit perspective. The addition of Dolby is noticeable from the moment you flip the setting on in the Shokz app: everything becomes richer and more pronounced.
Likewise, I had fun tinkering with the EQ settings in the app, switching from Vocal mode to listen to my podcast during the first part of the run, and Bass Boost once I got up the giant hill I'd foolishly decided to tackle. I needed something heavier to get myself through the second part of my run, and Bass Boost paired nicely with the pounding roars of Linkin Park’s new (at the time of writing) Heavy is the Crown. The app even has a "find my headphones" style feature, which is clever stuff.
While the sound is comparable to the Bose Ultra Open, the OpenFit 2+ are certainly more reassuring to wear during strenuous exercise. I was continually worried that the Ultra Open would fall off my ears during jogs due to their pendulous wobbly clip design, and while I got through a 20km run without it happening, I personally know one person who had this happen during a marathon – a disaster, as the earbuds are very expensive.
Taking the Shokz OpenFit 2+ on runs, I felt very secure on linear road runs, and even during trails that demanded a little lateral agility to navigate: I felt them shift slightly a few times, but never feared they would drop off. The only time I did feel them wobble precariously was during explosive jumping motions in a demanding circuits session, and they did indeed threaten to leave my ears during dynamic vertical movement.
Nonetheless, this is a quibble: I loved them. They lie so flat against my skull that I even wear them to bed when I can't sleep and don't want to disturb my wife with an audiobook. They're extremely comfortable, and great for all aspects of active life. They're not quite as rich in sound as the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, but they're almost there, they feel more secure, and crucially work out around $100 / £80 cheaper.
Shokz OpenFit 2+: Specifications
Component | Value |
Water resistant | IP55 |
Battery life | 11 hours (playtime), 48 hours (with case), wireless charging |
Bluetooth type | Bluetooth 5.4 |
Weight | 9.4g / Charging case: 56g |
Audio details | Dolby Audio, Bass Boost, four pre-set EQ modes. |
Shokz OpenFit 2+: Price and availability
- $179.95 / £169
- $100 / £100 cheaper than Bose Ultra Open Earbuds at launch
- Only $20 / £10 more expensive than regular OpenFit 2
The Shokz OpenFit 2 cost $179.95 / £169 (about AU$350), while the Shokz OpenFit 2+ cost $199.95 / £179 (about AU$370). Official pricing for other regions is TBC. The Shokz are available to order now.
For the extra few dollars and pounds, you get the Dolby audio setting and wireless charging on the hard plastic case, whereas the OpenFit 2 need to be charged via USB, and they're still much cheaper than the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds were at launch.
It’s such a nice convenience, and Dolby makes a big difference for such a small price increase, that my initial thoughts are that the standard OpenFit 2 will rapidly become obsolete; I can’t imagine a situation in which I’d recommend them over the 2+.
- Value score: 4/5
Shokz OpenFit 2+: Scorecard
Category | Comment | Score |
Value | High-end for open-ears, but cheaper than Bose and marginally more expensive than OpenFit 2. | 4/5 |
Design | Comfortable and secure on the run, during commutes and during lateral movement. Some slight shifts on vertical movement and due to glasses. | 4.5/5 |
Features | Multipoint connectivity, advanced audio settings in-app, wireless charging. As good as open-ear gets. | 5/5 |
Performance | Outstanding on runs, wonderful sound quality, excellent battery life. | 5/5 |
Total | Misses out on a perfect score by a hair, but it's an obvious choice for your next open-ear buds. | 4.5/5 |
Shokz OpenFit 2+: Should I buy?
Buy it if...
You want true wireless running headphones
Most bone conduction headphones have a connective band between them. The OpenFit 2+ are entirely wireless.
You want great sound
Open-ear or bone conduction headphones can sacrifice sound quality. Not so here.
You want excellent battery life
The Shokz OpenFit 2+ are long-lasting, fast-charging and even offer a wireless charging option.
Don't buy it if...
You're on a budget
The OpenFit 2+ are towards the premium end of the price spectrum, although don't reach the heights of Bose.
You run or cycle wearing glasses or shades
Over-ear hooks can get in the way for glasses wearers: not normally an issue, but slight movement can cause issues during strenuous exercise.
Also consider
Component | Shokz OpenFit 2+ | Bose Ultra Open Earbuds | Shokz OpenSwim Pro 2 |
Water resistant | IP55 | IPX4 | IP68 |
Battery life | 11 hours (playtime), 48 hours (with case), wireless charging | 7.5 hours (playtime), 48 hours (standby) | Bluetooth mode: 9 Hours, MP3 mode: 6 Hours |
Bluetooth type | Bluetooth 5.4 | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.4 |
Weight | 9.4g / Charging case: 56g | 6g / Charging case: 43g | 27.5g |
Audio details | Dolby Audio, Bass Boost, four pre-set EQ modes. | 2 modes, Auto Volume, Adjustable EQ | PremiumPitch 2.0+, 32GB music storage |
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
Unparalleled sound, albeit at a very premium price.
Shokz Openswim Pro
Completely waterproof, with built-in music storage.
How I tested the Shokz OpenFit 2+
I wore the Shokz OpenFit 2+ in the gym, during road and trail runs, and during my commute. I wore them with and without glasses for one month, tested the controls in the Shokz app, and drained the battery down. I even wore them during sleep.
First reviewed: June 2025

Matt is TechRadar's expert on all things fitness, wellness and wearable tech.
A former staffer at Men's Health, he holds a Master's Degree in journalism from Cardiff and has written for brands like Runner's World, Women's Health, Men's Fitness, LiveScience and Fit&Well on everything fitness tech, exercise, nutrition and mental wellbeing.
Matt's a keen runner, ex-kickboxer, not averse to the odd yoga flow, and insists everyone should stretch every morning. When he’s not training or writing about health and fitness, he can be found reading doorstop-thick fantasy books with lots of fictional maps in them.
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