Shokz OpenFit Pro review - Beyond Surprised and a new go to!
I’ve been test-driving the Shokz OpenFit Pro since early December, and I’ll be honest, I’ve been completely blown away. Build quality, sound quality, mic performance, and sound suppression (not full ANC) all exceeded my expectations, especially since I’ve never really been a fan of open-fit/on-ear earbuds.
I tested the Shokz OpenDots ONE last year and went into this review hesitant for the same reason, open earbuds just usually aren’t my thing. Those surprised me, but the OpenFit Pro surprised me even more. These are genuinely excellent, and I’ve found myself reaching for them around the house more often than my OnePlus Buds 4, which are still my daily drivers.
TLDR:
The Shokz OpenFit Pro are fantastic open-ear earbuds that check almost every box, unless you need total silence and deep, thumping bass.
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🔧 🦻Build Quality & Design
The build quality here is excellent. Everything feels premium and well-constructed. The earbuds are firm, durable, and don’t feel fragile at all. The case is solid too, although the shape does kind of resemble a makeup case.
The buds have a flexible wrap-around design that hugs your ear, but they’re not flimsy. Shokz clearly used quality materials across the board. Design-wise, they look a bit like Beats Powerbeats, except instead of going in your ear, they rest on it.
It took me a few minutes to figure out the correct way to position them, but once I did, the fit was great. My girlfriend, who has much smaller ears than I do, tried them as well and loved the fit. She could hear the music clearly while still being fully aware of her surroundings.
Controls are handled via physical buttons, which I really appreciate. Since you touch the main body of the buds a lot when putting them on, physical buttons prevent accidental inputs and just work better. They’re also IP55 dust and water resistant, which makes them gym-safe.
Build & Design Grade: A
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🔗Connection & Multipoint
Connection quality here is flagship-level. As soon as I open the case, the earbuds connect almost instantly to my phone and laptop. It honestly feels AirPods-level smooth, without ecosystem lock-in.
Multipoint works exactly as it should. I regularly switch between:
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- Dell work laptop
- HP desktop
- Home Chromebook
- Galaxy Tab S9+
Switching between devices has been flawless with zero hiccups. And again, this is true multipoint, not a multipoint that's locked into only a single product like Samsung and Apple does.
Bluetooth range is also excellent. I’ve walked over 30 feet away through multiple walls at the office and stayed connected. When they do disconnect because I’ve gone too far, they reconnect instantly once I’m back in range and pick up where I left off.
Connection & Multipoint Grade: A+
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🎧Sound Quality
This is the star of the show. Since these rest on your ear, I went in with low expectations, but these sound really good.
I used them for about a week before accessing the EQ, and once I did, it made a noticeable difference. Bass improved, mids and treble opened up, and overall volume increased. Deep bass from songs feels different on-ear (minor tickle vibrations) versus in-ear, but there’s still a satisfying kick considering the design.
You won’t get the deep, sealed-in bass of something like the OnePlus Buds or AirPods Pro, but for on-ear earbuds, the sound quality is impressive. When you buy open-ear buds, you know what you’re signing up for, and within that context, these deliver.
They also support Dolby Atmos, which adds a small improvement, but nothing game-changing.
But, for open earbuds, they are the first with wear detection that works great, just like flagship brands like Apple or Samsung.
Sound Quality Grades:
- On-ear earbuds: A+
- Earbuds overall: B
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🔇 Noise Reduction (Not Full ANC)
These don’t block your ear canal, so total silence isn’t the goal. That said, Shokz’s “Noise Reduction” mode is surprisingly effective for what it is.
It cut the sound of my space heater nearly in half which was right at my feet, which honestly shocked me. There is a slight background hiss, similar to transparency mode on other earbuds, but that’s expected here.
Noise reduction takes about three seconds to kick in (I’m using the beta app). On my airplane sound test using a surround sound system, it reduced wind and low-end rumble sound better than expected, again impressive for something not actually sealing your ears. But you will still hear the word around you, especially on the Airplane test.
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🎤 Microphones
This was another big surprise. I’m always hunting for earbuds with great mics, and these are excellent for calls and meetings.
I had used them for several days and multiple calls before telling people I had new earbuds. My girlfriend didn’t even realize I had earbuds in, she thought I was holding the phone. Others on calls said my voice was loud and clear.
Using my standard mic test (same seat, same volume, same 400W surround system with café background noise), the mics consistently performed very well. Background noise suppression is solid, and voice pickup is strong whether using one earbud or both.
Mic Grade: A
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Gym & Commuting
This is where they fall short for my use case.
When I’m at the gym or commuting, I want to block out the world completely. These aren’t built for that. Fit-wise, they stay in place during workouts with no movement issues, but too much outside noise comes through.
They reduce low-end gym rumble, but you’ll still hear conversations, treadmills, and background music. If the gym’s music clashes with what you’re listening to, it can get distracting unless you crank the volume, but you can still hear the background some.
For office use, home, or walking, they’re great. For the gym or noisy commutes, not ideal.
Gym & Commute Grade: C
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🧠Final Thoughts
These are excellent earbuds for home, private offices, calls, walks, and any situation where you don’t need to completely shut out the world. If you don’t need heavy ANC or deep bass, these are a fantastic option.
I never thought I’d recommend open earbuds, but here we are. I find myself reaching for these more than my OnePlus Buds 4 for everyday use (outside the gym or a flight), mainly because they’re easy to put on and I don’t have to remove them when nothing’s playing.
The OnePlus Buds 4 are still my go-to for the gym and commuting, but for calls, casual listening, and walking around, these have become my default.
Overall Grade: A
Posted Jan 7, 2026, 3:07 PM UTC