Shokz OpenFit Pro are open-ear earbuds with noise reduction that works

When it comes to open-ear buds Shokz is a favourite among fans, especially active individuals like runners. The company’s products have a reputation for staying in place and offering fabulous sound quality, despite the fact that they sit on your ears instead of in them.

Shokz introduced the OpenFit earbuds in 2023 and the OpenFit 2 in early 2025, along with others in its growing line. At CES 2026 earlier this year, Shokz showcased the OpenFit Pro that boasts a major upgrade in audio quality, adds noise reduction (yes, in open ear buds!), a refreshed design, and more.

If you’re wondering what all the hype is about and whether you should get these earbuds, I’m here to help.

Watch my review of the Shokz OpenFit Pro

What’s new with the Shokz OpenFit Pro?

The most notable upgrade with the Shokz OpenFit Pro when compared to the previous generation models is its Open-Ear Noise Reduction, which reduces ambient noises to help you better focus on the audio. Active noise cancellation is common with in-ear buds, but it’s a rarity with open-ears. Why? Logically, without plugging your ears, sound is bound to leak in. But Shokz claims to have found a way to combat that.

How does it work? The Open-Ear Noise Reduction system consists of three microphones and a refined speaker design combined with Shokz’s own Ear Adaptive algorithm. These elements work together to help cancel out noise while still allowing you to have the same situational awareness you usually do with open-ear buds.

Alongside this are upgrades like deeper, richer bass, Dolby Atmos support with Dolby Head Tracking, a more secure, rubberized grip, and longer battery life.

Shokz OpenFit Pro vs OpenFit 2 vs OpenFit

To make the differences clearer, here’s a handy comparison chart between the Shokz OpenFit Pro and earlier models.

My time with the Shokz OpenFit Pro

I spent a week wearing the Shokz OpenFit Pro earbuds in a variety of scenarios. I wore them while doing intense exercises like boxing and strength training, going for neighbourhood walks on quiet streets and louder roads, working in a local coffee shop, and while on the computer and making calls at home. I also compared them to the 2023 model Shokz OpenFit earbuds.

Sound quality

These earbuds sound superb as open-ear buds, which are usually never as good as in-ears, yet these can rival even some mid-level in-ears.

With a few tracks that I know well, like Radiohead’s “Creep,” audio is crisp, clear, and detailed. You don’t get the same level of sonic detail with music that you do with premium models. At times, instruments overpower vocals and balance is slightly off. The overall clarity and distinctness of sound you get with higher-end buds is missing. That said, playing around with EQ modes (choosing from five presets and create two custom ones) means you can tailor sound to your liking. Vocal mode, for example, is great for podcasts. Overall, you get impressive sound quality that makes you forget these buds aren’t actually plugging your ears.

Call quality is fantastic, too, with voices heard crisp and clear. I was never asked if I was wearing headphones or to adjust my sound. It felt no different than using in-ear buds.

Comparison to Shokz OpenFit

I compared these to the Shokz OpenFit (2023), playing the same tracks in the same settings. These older models sound just as good, though you don’t get as immersive an experience, especially with Dolby Atmos turned on (with compatible tracks) with the OpenFit Pros. With some tunes, I actually preferred the sound from the older model. However, the noise reduction is the big benefit with these new buds. It makes a world of difference in settings where you want to quiet ambient noise.

Bass performance

Shokz OpenBass 2.0 enhances low frequencies to provide fuller bass. I played a few bass-heavy tunes, like Hans Zimmer’s “Why So Serious” and Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy,” with Bass Boost on and it was strong and pronounced, the vibration flowing through my ears (and jawline!) Vocals were wonderfully presented alongside the vibrations. The original Shokz OpenFit earbuds perform pretty well in this respect, too. If you listen to music with a lot of bass, or want to watch action movies on the go, this is a feature you’ll appreciate, though it takes some getting used to the vibrations you can feel.

Dolby Atmos and head tracking

I tried Dolby Atmos with Dolby Head Tracking while watching content from the Netflix app on my iPhone 17 Pro, like John Wick: Chapter 4. Head tracking works well, the sounds following me as I moved my head so the dialogue and action was always front and centre. It’s immersive and enveloping, an experience you wouldn’t expect from a mobile device and a pair of headphones, much less open-ear ones.

Comfort and fit

The Shokz OpenFit Pro earbuds are easy to put on and sit nicely atop your ears once in place. They secure via lightweight, titanium-enhanced ear hooks and come with Ultra-Soft Silicone 2.0. There’s an optional support accessory for increased stability and to reduce vibrations, but I didn’t feel as though I needed them.

The buds were secure through every activity. They stayed put during even intense workouts like boxing, other cardio, and weightlifting. But I did notice that for strength training and core exercises on the ground or a bench, they would slightly fall away from my ear. They also did shift around under a winter toque while out for a walk. I could still hear the audio, and they never completely fell off. But this is something to consider.

They’re comfortable to wear for long periods of time, from a 45-minute walk or workout to an entire morning of calls and virtual seminars at my desk.

Noise reduction

The big story with the Shokz OpenFit Pro is noise reduction, so I was eager to see how these performed in that respect. I turned it on at difference occasions and I was really impressed with the performance, on-par with some in-ears that offer active noise reduction. While in the living room where the furnace is fairly loud when it comes on, I could not hear it running at all. In a coffee shop, the difference between Open Mode and Noise Reduction Mode was night and day. I was able to tune out so much of the distracting noise around me, including music and chatter. I can’t overstate how impressive that is for open-ear buds. They somehow just work.

You can adjust the noise reduction level, lower while running a quiet trail in the morning or at night, for example, and higher while commuting.

On-bud controls

You can tap a tiny, clickable physical button on either bud to activate customizable functions like play/pause, answer/end call, next/previous track, noise control, and volume control. Each can be activated by a single click, double click, triple tap, press-and-hold, or single click + long press. I appreciate physical buttons versus touch controls since it’s easier to feel for them by sliding your finger. They were responsive though I sometimes found triple tapping returned to the beginning of the currently playing song instead of going back to the previous track, requiring a few tries to get the rapid sequence of presses right.

Battery life

These buds are rated to provide up to 12 hours of listening per charge, up to 50 hours with the included charging case. But if you use noise reduction, they’ll only last half as long at just six hours, 24 hours with the case. Plus, a quick 10-minute recharge provides up to four more hours of playback and the case supports wireless charging.

App control and customization

Use the app to check battery status of each bud and the charging case. Select modes, like open versus noise reduction (with the slider for noise reduction level), Dolby Atmos, head tracking, and EQ.

Other setting options include multipoint pairing, customization for on-bud controls, and find my earbuds (useful if you misplace one or both, pinging them so they play a sound). With Smart Wear Detection, a tone indicates they’re on as soon as you place them on your ears and audio automatically begins playing, then pauses when you remove them. I’d recommend turning this feature on.

You can also set audio connection preference with standard mode, low latency priority (ideal for video and karaoke), or high stability priority (ideal if you plan to wear them around the house while going from room to room and need increased connection range and stability above all else.)

Should you upgrade?

While you’ll still get wonderful audio quality with the Shokz OpenFit, and presumably the OpenFit 2, there are several advantages with the OpenFit Pro that make them worth the upgrade. Most notable is the inclusion of noise reduction, which works surprisingly well. Second is enhanced bass though, as mentioned, even the OpenFits offer pretty good bass reproduction. Other practical benefits include longer battery life (with noise reduction off), more time after a fast charge, and head tracking. If any of these are important to you, you might want to upgrade. If you’re buying new, definitely get this model.

Who should get these headphones?

If you commute to/from work or school, you’ll love these buds. Runners will especially appreciate these as will gym goers and those who work out at home. I did several intense workouts with these on, including boxing, cordless jump roping, and on-the-floor core training, and never once did they fall off. I only ever needed to readjust after lying down. Finally, anyone who doesn’t like plugging their ears will love these. The Shokz OpenFit Pros are among the best open-ear buds you can get, especially if you don’t want to sacrifice on sound quality and have been seeking out noise reduction with an open design.

Best Buy Canada is an Exclusive Retail Partner of Shokz OpenFit Pro.