Compare Cleer ARC 5 vs Shokz OpenFit Pro

Codec support is unusually broad for the category, including premium Android-oriented options. Reviewers saw this as a major strength, though the open design may limit how much fidelity is realized in noisy places.

Codec support is limited to basic SBC and AAC, which feels underpowered for a premium audio product.

The Find My function grows progressively louder and can help locate misplaced earbuds around a home. Reviewers found it practical, with the sensible warning not to activate it while wearing them.

The in-app finder is handy for locating a misplaced bud nearby. Its Bluetooth-only range and very quiet alert limit usefulness outdoors.

Sound leakage and driver positioning were judged better than average for the open-ear category in the one detailed assessment. The design still cannot contain sound like sealed earbuds.

Leakage is modest at lower volumes but becomes obvious when volume rises to fight outside noise. Private EQ helps only a little and may sacrifice bass or vocal clarity.

Comfort is the strongest consensus: the thinner hooks, open fit, and balanced design remain comfortable for full workdays, workouts, travel, and long listening sessions. Many reviewers said the earbuds nearly disappear once worn.

Comfort is one of the strongest qualities, with many people forgetting the earbuds are on during long workdays and workouts. Fit pressure, cartilage contact, ANC pressure, and fatigue still affect a notable minority.

The AMOLED touchscreen case is one of the most praised features, offering useful phone-free access to battery, playback, EQ, spatial settings, and more. Its size and reversed left/right docking orientation are the main annoyances.

The case usually feels premium, sturdy, and slim for an earhook design, with metal reinforcement and wireless charging. Its larger footprint, occasional scuffs, and isolated condition complaints keep it from being universally praised.

Vocals and mids usually come through clean, natural, and forward enough for podcasts, calls, and music. Reviewers especially liked the clarity of male and female voices.

Vocals and spoken content generally come through clean and intelligible, with the Vocal preset helping weaker default mids. Some measurements and listening notes found the lower midrange slightly recessed.

At about 11.5 grams per earbud, the ARC 5 generally feels light and low-pressure. A few reviewers still noticed the size or weight, especially when the fit was imperfect.

The weight is well distributed and often feels light in use, but the Pro is heavier than earlier OpenFit models. Some long-session users found that extra mass tiring.

Reviewers who discussed imaging found it easy to locate instruments and effects, with precise stereo placement and clear directional cues.

Layered tracks are easy to pick apart, making individual parts and textures more distinct than expected from open earbuds.

Value is the most divisive issue. Supporters believe the comfort, battery, codecs, spatial audio, and smart case justify the premium, while critics say better music quality is available for much less.

The premium sound, comfort, battery, and noise reduction can justify the price for committed open-ear users. Many still see the cheaper OpenFit 2/2+ or sealed ANC earbuds as better value.

The ARC 5 looks cleaner, slimmer, and more premium than earlier open-ear designs. Reviewers liked the polished styling and refined hook profile.

The metal-and-silicone design looks polished, premium, and sporty. It is more visible than discreet clip-style earbuds, and the larger form can feel bulky on smaller ears.

Battery life is a standout strength, commonly lasting a full workday and reaching about 60 hours with the case. Reviewers repeatedly described the endurance as impressive or category-leading.

Battery life is excellent in open mode, commonly lasting a full day and up to 50 hours with the case. Noise reduction roughly halves endurance, and several customers found the six-hour range disappointing.

The redesigned case is easier to carry than earlier ARC generations, but opinions depend on the comparison point. Some called it compact and pocketable, while another considered it unusually large and heavy for earbuds.

The hook-shaped case is wider than typical earbud cases but remains slim and reasonably pocketable. It is easier to carry than over-ear headphones, though not truly compact.

Multipoint switching between phones, tablets, and computers is consistently viewed as convenient and seamless, reducing the need to re-pair devices.

Two-device pairing works well for most people and switching is usually smooth. One customer found that playback would not automatically hand off until the first device was stopped.

Pairing is quick and straightforward, and basic use requires little setup. The deeper feature set can become more complex once app, case, gesture, and spatial options are explored.

Pairing and everyday setup are generally fast and intuitive, with most controls easy to find in the app. A few users needed time to learn the button combinations.

Call quality is widely praised, with voices coming through clear and natural during walks, workouts, and public use. Outdoor performance is generally above average for open-ear earbuds.

Call quality ranges from crystal clear in busy places to muffled or unreliable in wind and heavy noise. Indoor and moderate-noise calls are usually the safest bet.

Most reviewers found the fit exceptionally secure during running, jumping rope, gym sessions, and normal movement. One tester experienced an unstable, front-heavy fit on one ear, suggesting ear shape matters.

The earhooks stay planted through running, HIIT, cycling, and head movement for most users. Ear shape matters, and a minority experienced looseness, falls, or poor fit even with stabilizers.

Treble is commonly described as clean, detailed, and non-fatiguing rather than sharp or sibilant. One reviewer heard reduced energy and buried higher details in denser songs.

Treble carries plenty of detail and crispness, but tuning opinions vary. Brighter recordings can sound harsh or uneven, while Treble Boost may become fatiguing.

Materials and construction feel premium, with soft-touch surfaces, sturdy components, and a design that avoids looking cheap. Reviewers generally considered the build suitable for regular active use.

Materials and construction feel premium and robust, with aluminum accents and a secure titanium core. A small number of customers reported static, overheating, or a failed earbud.

IPX7 protection makes the earbuds well suited to sweat, rain, and demanding workouts. Reviewers treated them as durable for active use, while still advising against swimming.

IP55 protection and secure silicone-covered hooks make the earbuds dependable for sweat, rain, running, and gym sessions, though they are not swim-ready.

The default flat tuning earned praise, and the rock preset helped bring guitars and vocals forward. Another reviewer found the presets made little noticeable difference, so their usefulness appears listener-dependent.

Bass Boost is the most consistently praised preset, adding fuller low-end without burying vocals. Private mode can reduce leakage at quiet levels, but its benefit is limited and may dull clarity.

Android users receive the fullest codec experience, including LDAC and Snapdragon-related options. iOS remains usable and solid but is limited to SBC and AAC.

Android and Pixel use is broadly smooth, with easy connection and full app compatibility reported.

The box includes the expected charging cable, guide, case, and earbuds. The printed multilingual instructions were considered useful but somewhat difficult to follow.

Optional stability bands are a useful backup for smaller ears or anyone wanting an extra contact point during exercise.

Physical buttons complement the touch controls and give users flexible ways to manage playback and calls. Most found them useful, though one reviewer needed time to learn the case and control layout.

Physical buttons are more dependable than touch controls with sweat, gloves, or movement and are easy to find once learned. The small size and multi-click combinations can feel fiddly.

Spatial audio is a major differentiator, producing convincing depth and positional effects for movies and games. Music reactions are more mixed, with some reviewers preferring standard stereo or questioning the value in noisy environments.

Dolby Atmos adds convincing width, height, and immersion, especially for movies and supported music. Head tracking works smoothly for many but feels distracting or gimmicky to others.

Fast charging is highly practical, restoring roughly two hours from a five-minute top-up. The main complaint is the lack of wireless charging.

A ten-minute top-up can provide about four hours, and wireless charging adds convenience. One customer warned that the case became very hot when left on a wireless pad.

The open-ear fit keeps traffic, coworkers, family, and other surroundings audible without requiring a transparency mode. Reviewers repeatedly called this especially useful for running, cycling, office work, and all-day listening.

The open design excels at keeping traffic, voices, announcements, and workout surroundings audible while music plays. Noise reduction softens distractions without fully disconnecting the listener.

Overall sentiment is strongly positive for comfort-first, awareness-focused use, with repeated praise for features, battery, and usability. Satisfaction drops among listeners who prioritize audiophile music quality, deep bass, compactness, or low price.

Overall enthusiasm is high, especially among runners and people who dislike in-ear tips. Price, long-wear comfort, microphone inconsistency, and limited true isolation are the recurring reasons some buyers returned them.

The Cleer+ app offers extensive control over EQ, gestures, case settings, battery information, and health features. Most found it useful, though one reviewer criticized its confusing layout.

The Shokz app is clean, feature-rich, and easy to navigate, putting noise reduction, EQ, controls, battery, multipoint, and finding tools in one place. A pre-release build showed minor stability issues.

Most reviewers found the ARC 5 unusually capable for open-ear earbuds, with several calling the sound excellent or class-leading. One detailed test strongly disagreed, criticizing weak definition, limited vibrancy, and performance below the premium price.

Sound is unusually full, clear, and detailed for an open-ear design, with many calling it the best Shokz has produced. It still cannot match sealed flagship earbuds for depth in every environment.

Bluetooth is mostly stable, quick to pair, and free of noticeable lag. One outdoor range test reported dropouts at roughly 32 feet, so long-range performance may vary.

Pairing is usually quick and connections are generally stable across phones, computers, and watches. A minority of users reported short range, stutters, static, or repeated disconnects.

Volume is strong enough for quiet and moderately active settings, but open-ear physics limits it around traffic, transit, and other loud environments. One reviewer found the maximum level unable to compete outdoors.

Volume is strong enough for most workouts and busy streets, though very loud settings can still overpower the open design. A few buyers wanted more output or had to push volume uncomfortably high.

Several reviewers heard a wide, spacious presentation with convincing directional placement, especially in movies and games. One critical review found the soundstage unexpectedly narrow and lacking expansion.

The open fit creates a naturally wide, speaker-like soundstage with convincing stereo placement. Spatial processing can stretch it further without collapsing dynamics.

Bass is generally punchier and fuller than expected from an open design, and several reviewers liked its warmth and workout-friendly impact. The main caveat is limited deep-bass rumble, with one reviewer finding the low end poorly defined and too dominant.

Bass is the standout upgrade: punchier and fuller than most open-ear rivals, especially with Bass Boost. Deep sub-bass remains limited, and a few listeners noticed fuzziness or vibration on bass-heavy tracks.

The app and case provide substantial EQ flexibility, including custom tuning and multiple bands. Reviewers liked the control, although the available band count is not class-leading.

The 10-band EQ offers meaningful control and can noticeably improve the sound for different music and spoken content.

The microphone system usually suppresses wind, traffic, construction, and other background noise effectively while keeping speech understandable. Very loud surroundings can still intrude because the ears remain open.

Background suppression often keeps chatter, appliances, and street noise away from the caller’s voice. Wind handling is inconsistent, with some excellent results and some complete breakdowns.

The ARC 5 works across iPhone, Android, computers, and other Bluetooth sources. Reviewers valued the flexibility for switching between work, entertainment, and mobile devices.

The earbuds work well across iPhone, Android, Windows PCs, and other Bluetooth devices, making them practical for mixed-device routines.

Voice commands worked smoothly for playback and volume changes, making hands-free control especially useful during outdoor work and daily routines.

Alexa worked cleanly for one buyer, with strong clarity and reliable activation.

Open-ear noise reduction works surprisingly well on steady office, café, gym, fan, and HVAC noise. It is far weaker than sealed ANC on planes, trains, traffic rumble, and sharp sounds, and some people feel uncomfortable pressure.

The lack of aptX was specifically called disappointing at this price, especially for buyers seeking higher-quality wireless playback.

Video playback showed no obvious lip-sync delay, and a low-latency mode helps with games and multimedia.

Auracast is missing, which feels like a missed opportunity for earbuds built around shared spaces and environmental awareness.

One long-term owner praised Shokz’s support team for consistently taking good care of past issues.

Long hair or hats can brush against the earbud and create a noticeable scratching sound during movement.

Most connections behave normally, but scattered reports mention static, glitches, stutters, false pauses, and repeated Apple Music disconnects.

The overall balance was described as lively and fairly even, though the open fit still limits deep bass extension.

Most people can wear the hooks with glasses, caps, helmets, or beanies without trouble. Some glasses wearers feel pressure where the hook and frame overlap.

Head-gesture controls work reliably for actions such as changing tracks or answering calls with a nod. They are convenient hands-free, though one reviewer felt repeated head movements could look awkward in public.

One customer found that clarity deteriorated as volume increased, with the sound thinning out rather than staying composed.

Passive isolation is intentionally minimal because the earbuds leave the ear canal open. That supports awareness but makes them a poor choice for buyers wanting outside sound blocked.

Two customers received packaging with strong fragrance or visible residue, creating a poor first impression despite the earbuds themselves appearing intact.

Wear detection and auto-pause are useful additions and generally respond accurately. One customer experienced false removal detection when changing head position.

The matte case hides marks reasonably well, though it can still pick up scuffs and surface wear.

Touch controls are responsive and easy to trigger without many accidental taps. The control scheme may take a day or two to become natural, but customization helps.