Shokz OpenFit Pro

The Shokz OpenFit Pro deliver insane battery life and top-tier ANC in an open-ear design that keeps you aware. Music sounds decent but not amazing. Now priced between $250 and $330, they're ideal if you hate sticking things in your ears.

Battery life is the headline: 50 hours from the buds plus another 14 in the case, and it supports Qi wireless charging. That puts it in the top 1% of all wireless headphones we've tested. ANC performance is also standout, nabbing a 97th percentile rank and effectively reducing low-end rumble even with open ears. The adaptive transparency mode works well for quick chats. Sound quality is a mixed bag; voices and podcasts sound great, but music lacks low-end punch and sounds a bit distant. It's like listening to a very good portable speaker rather than headphones. The fit is tricky, some users will find the ear hooks perfectly secure, but our comfort percentile at 28 suggests a lot of people will get fatigue after a couple of hours. The 3-mic setup handles calls decently, though not best-in-class.

The Shokz OpenFit Pro competes with top true wireless earbuds, but it's the only one with an open-ear hook design. The Technics EAH-AZ100-N and Sony XM6 offer far superior music and noise isolation, but they plug up your ears. The Google Pixel Buds Pro and EarFun Air Pro 4+ also deliver great ANC and sound, but again, they're sealed. If you need awareness, none of those can match the Shokz battery or IP55 durability for workouts. So it's really a niche pick for active users who refuse in-ears.

At $250 to $330, the price is finally coming down to earth. You're still paying a premium for the open-ear ANC, monster battery, and workout-friendly durability. If you need that specific combo, the value is solid because nobody else does it as well. But if music is your main thing, there are better-sounding in-ears for less, like the Sony WF-1000XM6 or Technics EAH-AZ100-N, both often under $300 now. So value depends on your priorities.

If you hate shoving earbuds into your ear canals, Shokz has been the go-to brand for years with its bone conduction and open-ear designs. The OpenFit Pro are their latest, and they finally add proper active noise cancellation, something you rarely see in open-ear headphones. That's a big deal. They still sit outside your ear, held in place by soft ear hooks, so you stay aware of traffic or conversation. But now you can dial out background hum without sealing yourself off. The driver is a beefy 11mm dynamic unit, and the whole package is IP55 rated for sweat and rain. It's a compelling combo for runners and commuters who want awareness plus ANC.

But the open design comes with trade-offs. Music playback just doesn't hit like a sealed in-ear, and our lab tests gave the OpenFit Pro a music score of 56.4/100, which is pretty mediocre. That said, the sound profile is clear and crisp, and the ANC is shockingly good for something that doesn't physically block noise. Battery life is absurd, up there with the best we've ever seen. So if music fidelity isn't your top priority, there's a lot to like.

Audiophiles and bass heads should look elsewhere. The open design can't deliver deep low end, and the music score is underwhelming even at the lower price. If you want immersive music, grab the Sony WF-1000XM6 or Technics EAH-AZ100-N instead.

Buy these if you live an active lifestyle and insist on staying aware of your surroundings while enjoying ANC. Runners, cyclists, office workers who need to hear their name called will love them. If you just want great music, skip them. The recent price drop makes them easier to recommend.