Shokz OpenFit Pro Open-Ear Earbuds

The OpenFit Pro arrive as Shokz's statement piece for 2026: the company's first open-ear earbuds with any kind of noise reduction, built around a new dual-diaphragm driver and a redesigned earhook that's meant to fix the stability complaints levelled at the OpenFit 2+. At 2.4g per bud with IP55 protection, they're clearly aimed at runners, cyclists and gym-goers who want to stay aware of their surroundings — but the pitch here is broader than that. Shokz is trying to convince people that an open-ear bud can be a primary pair of headphones rather than a workout-only second set.

On the evidence, that pitch mostly lands. The consensus across reviewers is that this is the best-sounding open-ear product they've encountered, which is a meaningful claim in a category that has historically traded fidelity for awareness. The catch is the $249.95 asking price (£219 in the UK), making these the priciest thing Shokz has ever sold and roughly $50 more than the models they sit above. That premium is the central question for anyone considering them.

Sound quality is the headline strength, and it's the reason to take these seriously. The dual-diaphragm driver and the 50%-more-bass claim are the sort of marketing numbers we'd normally discount, but the near-unanimous reviewer verdict that this is both Shokz's best audio yet and the best open-ear sound available gives the claim credibility. Pair that with a 10-band EQ in the app — unusually generous, and a real asset given how much open-ear designs benefit from tuning — plus Bluetooth multipoint, and the fundamentals are strong.

The new Noise Reduction mode is more complicated. It is a genuine first for Shokz and it does take the edge off everyday background noise, but every reviewer is careful to say it isn't ANC and isn't transformative. Worse, SoundGuys reports an uncomfortable pressure sensation when it's engaged, and battery life — otherwise rated excellent — takes a hit if you leave it on. A marquee feature you may not want to use constantly is a marquee feature with an asterisk.

Elsewhere, the fit redesign appears to have worked, with reviewers finding the earhooks secure and comfortable through workouts. Less happily, the open design brings the usual penalties: audible leakage at higher volumes, and microphone performance that reviewers split on — SoundGuys liked call quality while others found it disappointing, and all agree the mics struggle in wind. The omission of Auracast on the brand's flagship is a genuine misstep at this price.

The scoring reflects that split: SoundGuys' 6.3 is lukewarm, Expert Reviews' "recommended" is warmer, and our own read sits between them. These are excellent-sounding, well-fitting open-ear buds whose flagship feature is only partially convincing and whose price demands near-perfection it doesn't deliver. If sound quality is your priority in this category, they're the ones to buy. If you can live with less bass and no noise reduction, Shokz's cheaper models remain the smarter value.