I ’m a large buff of not reinventing the wheel . If a ware is in truth good , it ’ll see iterative update , better on what ’s there or else of admitting that something was n’t good . ( Or , bad , changing thing just because it can . )
That describes the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 almost utterly . These do n’t re - forge anything , really . They ’re still niche phone , built with an intended utilisation in mind — specifically , practice session and other active type . And they offer an option for those who just do n’t wish earbuds or over - the - ear headphones .
That ’s not to say there ’s nothing unlike about the OpenRun Pro 2 . They ameliorate on what come before in some very good — and interesting — ways .
About this review
I ’ve been using the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 — a critical review unit sent from Shokz — for about two weeks ahead of their public launch . I used them mostly with an iPhone 15 Pro but also with a Samsung Galaxy S21 . ( The phone used does n’t really weigh much with a production like this . )
The OpenRun Pro 2 were on firmware R_05_20240517 , and we did n’t have an update while using them .
What are these things?
First , some context of use . If you ’ve ever been to the gymnasium or otherwise see someone with a weird - looking set of headphones that wait more like a sunglasses strap than what you ’d reckon to be headphones , this is what we ’re talking about . The Shokz line started life as a bone - conduction enterprise , and under the AfterShokz brand . They ’re direct descendant of theAeropex , which essentially became the first iteration of OpenRun . They ’re also cousins of theOpenFitandOpenFit Airline , which dump the wire link the two earpieces and fight air via tiny speaker instead of using bone conduction .
In that sense , the term “ headphones ” does n’t quite employment . They ’re not phone in the signified that they sit atop your auricle or into your capitulum like earbuds . They baby-sit just outside your ear , and or else of using vibrations to move air to make sound , the vibrations go through your skull . ( It maybe sounds a lilliputian more metal than it is . )
Why , you require ? To leave your earhole open for other sounds , because there are tons of instances in which you require to be able to hear what ’s going on around you , and exercise is one of those time . So you could mind to medicine or a podcast or whatever but still hear traffic around you . It ’s a safety matter . So there ’s no stochasticity cancellation here . Just the amusement of whatever it is you ’re mind to , and the information of what ’s going on in your surroundings .
The specs
Fit and finish
The OpenRun Pro 2 feel more like endure a dog collar than any kind of headphones or earbuds you ’ve ever used . The speaker / buds / ear matter — the parts that make the audio — sit just in front of your ear , with loop keep things in billet . The two sides are connected with a sturdy and fairly stiff wire .
All in all , it ’s still a pretty comfortable fit , even though it ’s definitely a little different than traditional earphone and earbuds . There are two sizes usable — “ Standard ” and a smaller “ Mini ” option that takes about 0.83 column inch off the total length of the ring . If you know you have a big head , perplex with banner . If you do n’t know , I ’d wait and find a demo model in a computer storage somewhere and try ‘ em on .
Shokz said it did some study on the firmness of the wire eyelet , too . I ca n’t talk to the conflict since I do n’t wear the older models every daytime , but it ’s been comfortable enough in my manipulation , whether I was just get into them throughout the twenty-four hour period , or actually reverberate around and being active . Shokz say the OpenRun Pro 2 use 16 % less “ clamping force ” than their precursor .
The whole kit is adorn in the form of delicate - touch gumshoe you ’d await from a pair of sport headphones . ( That ’s just what I ’m going to call them from here on out . ) Our reexamination unit came in a in high spirits - vis orange . There ’s also a black-market pick uncommitted .
What’s new
For those conversant with Shokz and OpenRun ( my experience with these engagement back to the aforementioned Aeropex ) , everything ’s start to count very conversant . But there are two major differences in the OpenRun Pro 2 .
Charging changes
First is that Shokz has ditch the proprietary magnetized charger . That ’s both good and bad — but I ’d say it ’s more of the former . The magnetic charger was exceedingly round-eyed to use — you ’d just let the magnets line thing up and startle charging . But proprietary chargers are big because they bill one affair and one thing only . Now you may utilize any USB - C courser . ( A USB - C to USB - A cable television is included . )
The insolent side is that is that you now have to riff up a little fuss to get to the USB - degree Celsius port on the OpenRun Pro 2 . It ’s not a immense deal , though you do have to verify to sit down it in good order when you ’re closing things back up . It also means that the OpenRun Pro 2 are IP55 certified instead of IP67 . In layperson ’s term , that means they should survive being sprayed with urine , but not necessarily if immerse in piss . That ’s probably not a heavy passel for most folks in most font , but it is something to be aware of .
But you should be just fine sweating into these thing while exercising or live in Florida .
Hybrid audio
The other major change is that the OpenRun Pro have motivate from only using bone conductivity to a hybrid arrangement that uses bone conduction for the mids and highs , and a more traditional verbaliser that moves air to aid reproduce down frequencies . Shokz has mark this “ DualPitch . ”
Why the modification ? It sounds comfortably , Shokz says . And indeed , it does sound better — with some caution , of course . This sort of setup is never going to sound as good as earbuds or over - the - ear headphones . It ’s not supposed to .
That ’s not to say the audio quality could n’t have been secure on the old example . I ’d always avoided listening to music while I was on bike drive with my senior bone - lead Seth because it sounded pretty awful , with almost no bass . I would n’t call myself a fidelity snob , but I need a little low end . Podcasts were secure enough , though .
With the OpenRun Pro 2 , the sound perfectly has improved . There is now some downcast end . perhaps even a good bit , really . And it ’s emphatically being pushed by the air - conducting part of that DualPitch thing . Cover the two lattice with your thumbs and you’re able to listen precisely how much of the soundstage is handled by the melody - conduct part — it ’s like applying a pretty strong high-pitched - pass filter . Shokz ’s documentation say the OpenRun Pro 2 handle frequencies of 20Hz to 20kHz .
You still necessitate to decent dress your expectations , though . These are n’t the well - fathom things in the world . They ’re not supposed to be , and they ’re not going to be . And that ’s not a strike against them . I assess the OpenRun Pro 2 against what came before . And in that sense , they ’re in spades a marked improvement . They ’re maybe not quite as good as the OpenFit and OpenFit Air ( and I prefer the latter among those two because of the fit ) , but the OpenRun Pro 2 have definitely improved the speech sound for this kind of opened - spike headphone .
What they’re like to use
If you ’ve ever used any of Shokz ’s other open - ear products , you ’ll be very familiar with what you get with the OpenRun Pro 2 . The buttons are all in same position , and they ’re still limited to the multifunction button on the left-hand , and power / volume on the right . The multifunction release still does all the things you expect — play / suspension , next / previous , and answering call . And you ’ll still have to remember how many presses does what . ( That ’s easy enough if you only ever apply one pair of headphones . )
If you ca n’t remember , there ’s a handy substance abuser template inside the app . Speaking of which , the Shokz app also has n’t really changed . This is where you ’ll encounter the four preset EQ modes , or you may make your own . It ’s also where you ’ll cover multipoint — the ability to pair to more than one twist .
And that ’s about it , though it is worth at least correspond in with the app every few months , just in case there ’s a microcode update — the app is how you ’ll handle that .
Otherwise , pair up and go , just like any other Bluetooth twist .
I did n’t have any major number with my drinking glass — both of the sunnies variety , and my common readers . Your fuel consumption rate may vary , though . My glasses are n’t your glasses , and my head ’s not your head . Yes , the stalk of your frame will baby-sit atop the OpenRun Pro 2 — that ’s just the way it is .
barrage fire life story has n’t been any business concern . On paper you ’ll get up to 12 hours of role . If you ’re practise that long , please break off and seek medical attention . If you ’re just wearing them around the house or office for longer than that , get up , go outside for a few transactions , and plug away them in while you ’re taking a walk of life .
Call caliber was just hunky-dory when stationary . Less so if you ’re huffing and puffing , though that may be substance abuser erroneousness . Or exhaustion . ( That say , I still advocate hop off the bike rather of essay to in reality talk to someone .
The bottom line
A couple of lingering doubtfulness :
Who are these not - quite headphones for ? Anyone who wants to be able to mind to music or podcasts or whatever but still hear the world around them . You do n’t have to be exercising — and despite their name , even running — to get something out of the OpenRun Pro 2 . You just want to be okay with the slightly maverick ( but it no way bad ) way they fit . They ’re dissimilar . Because they ’re mean to be .
Will these be your only headphone ? Again , I ’m a big buff of get the right tool for the veracious job . This or the OpenFit Air is what I bear on cycle rides . ( Or , OK , theRay - Ban Meta sunglasses . ) These are not what I ’d wear on an airplane . Probably not even in the gymnasium , because I like close out all that grunting disturbance .
Should you get these instead of the OpenFit channel ? I opine that ’s going to come down to personal preference . There ’s not so immense a delta between the audio calibre between the OpenRun Pro 2 and the OpenFit that I ’d say definitely get one over the other . ( If $ 60 or so matters that much , get the OpenFit Air . ) But they do feel pretty different on your melon , since OpenFit does n’t have the connecting telegram .
Are you really recommending them if they do n’t sound as good as , say , the AirPods Pro ? Absolutely . Because — and I really ca n’t stress this enough — these are headphone meant for a passably specific intent . Because of the means they cultivate , they do n’t have the same fidelity as other headphones and earbuds . They do n’t have any sort of noise cancellation . They have in sound , not blockade it . The do exactly what they ’re suppose to do .
And now they sound a passel better doing it .
