Shokz OpenRun S810

The Shokz OpenRun S810 is a bone conduction headset with elite build quality and comfort, but average sound and weak battery life. It's perfect for runners and cyclists who need situational awareness. If you want immersive audio, look elsewhere.

The 9th generation bone conduction tech does its job well. Audio is clear enough for podcasts, calls, and upbeat playlists, but don't expect deep bass or sparkling highs. The 30Ω drivers push sound through your cheekbones, and while that's impressive tech, it ranks around the 47th percentile for sound quality. Connectivity is solid with Bluetooth 5.0 and USB-C charging, and the dual-mic setup with noise cancellation handles calls better than most bone conduction units. Battery life is the weak spot here. 10 hours is fine for a few workouts, but it lands in the bottom fifth of our database. The 5-minute quick charge giving you 1.5 hours is a nice save, but it's a band-aid on a mediocre battery.

Stacked against the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4, the OpenRun S810 gets absolutely destroyed on sound quality and battery life. Those are over-ear cans with ANC and 30+ hours of playback. But they're also bulky, hot, and block out the world. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra is similarly in a different league for audio. Where the Shokz wins is exactly where those lose: you can hear traffic, your running buddy, or your kid calling for you. The Nothing Headphone (1) and Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 are also traditional headphones that don't compete on the open-ear front. This is a niche product, and in that niche, it's one of the best-built options out there.

Value is a mixed bag. The OpenRun S810 is not cheap. Affordability sits in the bottom quarter of our database, and the EUR pricing is all over the place, ranging from EUR 236 to EUR 307 across French and Italian listings. That's a EUR 71 spread, so if you're in Europe, shop around before you buy. The best deal we found is on the lower end of that range. For the money, you're paying for the form factor and build quality, not raw audio performance. If bone conduction is what you need, it's worth it. If you just want good sound, there are far better options at this price.

The Shokz OpenRun S810 is a bone conduction headset built for people who want to hear the world around them while listening to audio. It sits on your cheekbones instead of in your ears, which is a completely different experience from traditional headphones. Build quality is outstanding, comfort is near the top of the charts, and the 29g weight means you barely notice them after a few minutes.

But this is not a headphone for audiophiles. Sound quality lands right in the middle of the pack, battery life is underwhelming at 10 hours, and the price is on the higher side for what you get. If you're a runner or cyclist who needs situational awareness, this thing nails it. If you want rich, immersive sound, keep scrolling.

Skip this if you care about sound quality or battery life. Audiophiles will be disappointed by the thin, bass-light audio, and anyone who travels or commutes regularly will find the 10-hour battery and complete lack of noise isolation frustrating. If you need ANC for flights or a noisy office, get the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra instead. And if you're on a tight budget, there are plenty of traditional earbuds that sound better for less money.

Buy the Shokz OpenRun S810 if you're a runner, cyclist, or gym-goer who needs to stay aware of your surroundings. It's also a solid pick for anyone who finds in-ear buds uncomfortable or gets ear fatigue from long listening sessions. The build quality is genuinely impressive, and the comfort is hard to beat. Just know what you're signing up for: average sound, mediocre battery, and a premium price tag for the privilege of hearing the world while you listen.