If you want better Portability/foldability
Choose Shokz OpenFit 2. It scores 4.5 vs 2.5 for Portability/foldability, with a 4.4 overall score.
Shokz OpenFit 2+ Review
Bottom Line
Choose the Shokz OpenFit 2+ for open-ear comfort, secure runs, long battery life, and convenient wireless charging. Skip it if you need ANC, deep bass, LDAC, or earbuds that never shift under helmets, buffs, or jumps.
Best for
Best for runners, cyclists, commuters, walkers, and active users who want music or calls while staying aware of traffic, people, and surroundings. Reviewers especially liked them for long wear, workouts, and daily movement.
Not for
Not for listeners who need ANC, deep sealed-earbud bass, high-end codecs like LDAC, or critical-listening accuracy. Ultra runners and helmet/beanie users should also weigh the case, layer-removal, and fit caveats.
Verdict
Across the reviews, the Shokz OpenFit 2+ lands as a highly convincing open-ear workout earbud because comfort, battery life, button controls, and situational awareness earned unusually consistent praise. Sound is also stronger than reviewers expected from the format, especially with EQ or Dolby, though the tradeoff is clear: bass depth, isolation, and true ANC cannot match sealed earbuds. The Plus upgrades, mainly Dolby audio and wireless charging, are treated as worthwhile for new buyers, but not always enough for current OpenFit 2 owners. Fit is secure for running and everyday movement, yet helmets, buffs, glasses, vertical jumps, and wet post-workout charging introduce real caveats.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
44 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.016 (36%)
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Positive 3.5-4.416 (36%)
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Neutral 2.5-3.47 (16%)
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Negative 1.5-2.44 (9%)
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Very negative below 1.51 (2%)
Pros
-
Battery life received strong agreement as excellent, long-lasting, or a non-issue for daily use, training, and long sessions.
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Comfort was one of the strongest points across nearly every review, with repeated praise for long-wear softness, low fatigue, and all-day active use.
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Reviewers broadly praised the open-ear sound as unusually strong, clear, balanced, or top-tier for the category, though SoundGuys treated it as below critical-listening earbuds and one runner focused mainly on clear voice playback.
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Physical buttons were widely praised as easier, more reliable, and more comfortable than touch-only controls, though one ultrarunner wanted an on/off button.
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Multipoint was repeatedly described as smooth, seamless, convenient, or reliable for switching between phones, laptops, watches, and other devices.
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Weight comfort was consistently praised; reviewers repeatedly said the earbuds felt very light or nearly disappeared on-ear.
Cons
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Reviewers consistently framed ANC as absent or unsuitable for noise-cancellation seekers, treating the product as intentionally awareness-first instead.
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Passive isolation is essentially not the point of the design; the cited reviewer emphasized that the earbuds do not isolate the listener from the world.
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Codec support drew criticism from one reviewer because the earbuds lack high-end Bluetooth codecs.
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Only SoundGuys offered an opinionated frequency-response critique, finding upper mids and treble below its preferred target.
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LDAC was specifically missed by one reviewer who expected it on a premium open-ear product.
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Portability had one notable criticism from an ultrarunner who found carrying the case extra weight and space during long races.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Open-Ear Headphones, this product is above average in Maximum volume clarity, USB-C, Spatial audio, near average in Comfort during long use, Stability, below average in Codec support, LDAC, Frequency response accuracy.
Comparison summary
44 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher22 (50%)
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Same as average within 0.3 pts12 (27%)
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Below average 0.4+ pts lower10 (23%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum volume clarity | 4.5 | 2.8 | +1.7 |
| Codec support | 2.0 | 3.5 | -1.5 |
| LDAC | 2.0 | 3.3 | -1.3 |
| Frequency response accuracy | 2.0 | 3.3 | -1.3 |
| USB-C | 5.0 | 3.8 | +1.2 |
| Spatial audio | 4.1 | 3.2 | +0.9 |
| Portability/foldability | 2.5 | 3.6 | -1.1 |
| Clamping force comfort | 5.0 | 3.9 | +1.1 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better Frequency response accuracy
Choose Soundcore AeroClip Earbuds. It scores 4.2 vs 2.0 for Frequency response accuracy, with a 4.1 overall score.
If you want better LDAC
Choose Anker Soundcore AeroFit 2 Open-Ear Headphones. It scores 4.1 vs 2.0 for LDAC, with a 3.9 overall score.
If you want better Codec support
Choose EarFun OpenJump Open Ear Earbuds. It scores 5.0 vs 2.0 for Codec support, with a 3.9 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
- More expensive: price and security tradeoff The OpenFit 2+ was described as nearly as rich, more secure, and roughly $100 cheaper than Bose's model.
- Similar: sound quality The reviewer said OpenFit 2+ sound quality was close to the Bose benchmark for open-ear sound.
JBL Soundgear Sense
- Worse: weight and comfort The OpenFit 2+ was presented as much lighter-feeling than this open-ear companion.
Nothing Ear (Open)
- Better: measured sound quality and price SoundGuys said Nothing Ear (Open) measured better and cost less, making it a stronger sound/value comparison.
FAQ
Are the Shokz OpenFit 2+ good for running?
Yes. Reviewers repeatedly found them comfortable and secure for running, road use, trails, and long sessions, though high-impact jumps, helmets, buffs, and removing layers can create fit or loss risks.
Do they have active noise cancellation?
No. Reviewers emphasized that these are open-ear earbuds designed for awareness, not isolation or ANC.
How good is the sound quality?
For open-ear earbuds, reviewers were mostly impressed by the clear, balanced, and often lively sound. The main caveat is that bass depth and critical-listening accuracy still trail sealed earbuds.
Is Dolby Audio worth it?
Most reviewers liked Dolby for a richer, wider, or more immersive presentation, especially for video, podcasts, or outdoor listening. A few preferred regular mode for music or found Dolby artificial.
How is the battery life?
Battery life was one of the strongest points, with reviewers calling it excellent, impressive, or a non-issue. One caveat was case behavior when low on power or when dirty pins prevent proper charging.
Are calls clear?
Usually yes. Reviewers praised clean call audio and strong noise reduction, but wind, crowded cafés, and heavy processing were recurring limits.
Should OpenFit 2 owners upgrade?
Reviews generally framed the Plus model as worthwhile for new buyers because of Dolby audio and wireless charging. Existing OpenFit 2 owners may find the upgrades too incremental for a full replacement.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - The Running Dutchman
- Review score
- 3.6
Article Reviews
androidcentral.com
- Review score
- 4.1
digitalreviews.net
- Review score
- 4.1
techradar.com
- Review score
- 4.3
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