The Shokz OpenFit 2 wireless headphones were designed specifically for me. I do not know how shokz engineers managed to comply with my lifestyle so perfectly; I suspect that they hired spies, where my fiancée is a dormant agent.
Sunday
In this weekly chronicle, the editor of the portable devices of Android Central talks about the world of portable devices, applications and fitness technology linked to race and health, in its quest to become faster and more in shape.
Since I reviewed first generation Openfits Shokz in 2023, I have worn them for hundreds of races, walks and hiking, no exaggeration. My ear channels had an unprecedented break with the training headphones that stuck them, making me save buds falling during the hard slopes (which makes sound worse), had an impact on wax ear and the artificial whistle of transparency modes.
But to use them for more than a year made me aware of the many flaws of the OpenFit, from an unpleasant load problem to capricious tactile controls and the average sound quality. So, I am delighted that the OpenFit 2 2 Shokz immediately fixed or improved almost all my complaints.
Shokz is best known for its bone conduction headphones, and I am not audiophile to judge the way the sound quality of Shokz Open 2 compares to the conduction of the air of OpenFit 2. all that I Know, it is that I prefer the “natural” sound of the latter while giving me (especially) an awareness of situation without hindrance during races and races. And now I am much more likely to use the multipoint pairing of OpenFit 2 and to wear them in non-fitness contexts.
Category | Shokz OpenFit 2 |
---|---|
Materials | PC, silicone |
Weight | 9.4g (headphones); 51g (case) |
Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.4; Up to 2 devices |
Audio profiles | A2DP, AVRCP, HFP |
Battery life | 11 am (56mAh); Up to 270 days in standby |
Loading | 60 minutes in case; Up to 48 hours of load capacity (600mAh) |
Frequency | 50Hz – 16Hz |
Sensitivity | Woofer: 965.db ± 2.5 dB; Tweet: 94.5 dB ± 3DB |
Protection | IP55 (headphones, no case) |
More comfortable than ever
My appreciation for the original OpenFit was the way in which his ear catchy placed the speaker directly on my ears without hindering them; I could safely hear the approaching cyclists or the “left” runners and even the sounds of nature if listening to quieter content as audio books. They never fell once. I forget that they are there apart from a slight pressure on the back and the side of my ear, and the audio quality was quite good.
The Shokz OpenFit 2 retains the same concept and the same target audience (athletes) but with minor adjustments that started with the Shokz OpenFit Air – which were more comfortable but too budget to be “better” than the originals.
OpenFit 2 has a thinner outdoor hook that runs in a softer and wider silicone edge than the original model. It is difficult to describe the difference between the two, but the OpenFit 2 is somehow more naturally in its ear position, while the original OpenFit has the impression of pressing up more against my skin to stay in place. In addition, the thinnest hook makes him take less space at the top of the ear, slipping graciously under my temples of glasses without the same pressure as before.
Basically, you got used to the adjustment of Shokz OpenFit for abbreviated training, but you will appreciate the wearing of OpenFit 2 for longer stretches.
The Shokz OpenFit design has no minimum ancient and passive blockage, but that’s the point. I wear them by reading or doing tasks in the house because my partner or my cat never lacks attention.
There is a certain noise pollution for heavy bass songs if you put the volume strong enough – so it may not be best suited to an office environment – but to the normal volume of 25% that I use Inside, people only hear something if they do not take into account my personal space and lean.
Peak sound
It is just as important to comfort, and OpenFit 2 needed an upgrade. I noted that you “should not necessarily expect a symphony for your ears” with the original openfits, defective at the Bass Boost option to offer a reasonable low -end punch and tolerate to have to swell the Volume at higher levels just to hear the phone calls or podcasts clearly. At least for “normal” music, sound sounded better than you expect, thanks to “DirectPitch” technology.
Shokz directly discussed these problems with OpenFit 2, adding a larger low -frequency driver and a high frequency unit for “Dualboost technology”.
Abandoning marketing speak, I feel much more comfortable using the EQ Stock parameter because it reaches ups and stockings in a balanced and rich way; “Luther” by Kendrick Lamar & Sza seems rich and harmonious for the deep and high parts, while “Million Dollar Baby” by Tommy Richman hits these notes of falsation and the low rhythm with equal quality.
For people who are looking for this alternative (or emo), the “wild” of Billie Eilish or “the Holocene” of Bon Iver no longer seems as tiny as on first generation headphones; In fact, OpenFit 2 strikes strong enough for even the 50% volume to be too strong for me for these silent songs (unless I’m outside and to face an ambient noise).
Now that I have started using these headphones for my daily work work, I use the Treble Boost or voice parameters for my instrumental soundtracks and Lo-Fi or my YouTube, but they generally sound pretty beautiful.
Honestly, the only negative at this audio boost is that when the music is strong enough, it will hinder your environment a little. But as long as you do not explode your eardrums, you have fun at the rate, And You will remain alert.
What else the Shokz OpenFit 2 Fixed
The other key modifications of OpenFit 1 to 2 include a more energy -efficient Bluetooth chip, new physical buttons for touch controls and an increase in the IP level to water resistance.
The jump of Bluetooth 5.2 to 5.4 allows the OpenFit 2 to sit in a low power mode for much longer in case you forget to put them in the case of load, as well as to remain strongly connected in the zones animated signaling. The original OpenFit publisher had the same capacity, yet OpenFit 2 is evaluated at 11 a.m., a jump of four hours. According to my experience, they easily lasted a whole day of work streaming, and ultramarathoners can depend on OpenFit 2 more.
By improving the IP54 to IP55 protection, Shokz has made OpenFit 2 capable of resisting water jets; They are testing showers and easier to clean in complete safety under a strong sink, in other words. Your openfits will slide with sweat over time, and the best resistance could make them last a little longer before the quality of the speaker and the microphone is affected.
My favorite upgrade is the new physical button, however. The first generation OpenFit used only tactile pavement controls, and I cannot tell you how often they have not recognized the double-pastures or made me hang up with people when I just wanted to adjust their adjustment.
On the other hand, the new raised buttons are easy to find and activate – but the more something you press by mistake. They mix in the money finish of the earpiece, so that they do not look sticky or the old -fashioned. And above all, the touchpad has only one optional function for Gemini or Siri, eliminating all confusion and frustration.
Touch button / shortcut | Action |
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Button Press once | Play / Song break; Appeal response; final call |
Long pressure button | Left bud: Volume down; Bud Right: Volume |
Double tape button | Next track; reject the appeal |
Triple tap button | Previous track |
Long pressure touchpad area | Activate the phone vocal assistant |
THE The most important Shokz OpenFit 2 is not something that Shokz has put in its specification sheet. After my first period of revision, I noticed that the OpenFit would remain connected to my phone inside the charge case, which means that they did not invoice. I can’t tell you how often I will find A Earbud dead and the other entirely loaded the next day. I should wipe the magnetic pins and move the buds, then close the case and check the application to see if the two had successfully disconnected.
I questioned Shokz about this problem because many owners of OpenFit had similar complaints. They assured me that the OpenFit 2 had fewer contact points (2 against 3) And A much stronger magnet than the latest generation buds. You are always supposed to “keep the dry and clean pins during use to avoid any residue affecting the right contact”, and it will take months to see if a similar problem appears; For the moment, however, I am very optimistic, because I can feel how OpenFit 2 OpenFit 2 is set up when inserted.
Should you buy the OpenFit 2 Shokz?
I always have requests for the OpenFit 3 Shokz, especially detection – they therefore go out and do not take calls when seated outside the case – and a way to scath the case. If you buy the Black OpenFit 2, choose a coherent place to put the case after the training sessions, or you will Lose them constantly. In addition, the Shokz application should ideally inform you when the case reaches 0%.
But these complaints feel more nitpicky compared to fundamental problems with the first generation OpenFit. Overall, the Shokz OpenFit 2 seems fantastic, you feel natural when worn with glasses, and you can keep your ear canals open instead of growing hard plastic for hours at a time.
The Shokz OpenFit 2 will not correspond to your wireless headphones or even normal wireless headphones for the soundtrack quality or the ANC, so they may not be the right choice if you are looking for a choice all day For each scenario that synchronizes closely with your smartphone. It is always a rather expensive niche and product.
That said, I fall into the target niche shokz OpenFit 2, and I am extremely satisfied with them!
Built for runners
The fans of bone conduction headphones know and love Shokz, but the Shokz OpenFit 2 goes to the conduction of air while keeping the same driving principle: take advantage of music without counting on transparency or Be silent with large headphones for hours. These are my new favorite wireless headphones, both for the race and for daily life.