If you’re listening to audio while exercising, it’s probably a good idea to use headphones that allow you to hear your surroundings as well. That’s where bone conduction technology comes in, and the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 takes it to the next level with their DualPitch technology. This uses both bone and air conduction drivers to deliver clear, crisp audio with deeper bass, all while letting you hear the outside world.
Whether you’re running, cycling, or just hitting the gym, these headphones are designed to keep you safe and comfortable. The lightweight frame, wraparound design, IP55 resistance rating and Ni-Ti alloy band, ensure a secure and non-intrusive fit that stays stable during intense workouts, rain or shine.
The battery life could be a bit better, and they are expensive, but if you’re looking for headphones that enhance your workout experience without compromising comfort, the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 is among the best options on the market.
So, what’s new?
With the second version of their OpenRun Pro headphones, Shokz have introduced a few new improvements and features.
The audio quality has been enhanced and now utilises both air and bone conduction technology, the battery life has been increased by two hours, the headphones now charge faster, and they are compatible with multipoint pairing meaning you can connect to two devices simultaneously.
Design
The Pro 2 has a familiar but brilliant design. They boast the same wraparound Ni-Ti alloy band as their predecessors, sitting comfortably on top of the ear. They’re lightweight and are very comfortable, they’re so comfortable you forget you’re wearing them.
The clamp force, which is how much the earbuds squash your head, is excellent. It’s soft enough so that they’re not a nuisance, and stable enough so that they don’t move around at all when exercising, running or cycling. I tested this with a bit of head banging to Metallica and they didn’t budge, no matter how hard I tried. Similarly, they sit close enough to your ears so that you don’t get wind noise imposing itself when running or cycling fast.
The driver housing, the chunky part behind the ear, has controls for volume and power on the right side. On the left side, you can use the bone conduction pad, the part in front of the ear, to pause music, skip or rewind tracks and take calls. The controls are responsive and easy to locate while exercising. You also don’t have to press them so hard that you dig the device into the side of your head. They’re implemented well.
The Pro 2 comes in two colours, Orange and Black. For our review we were given the Orange version and it’s a bit flashy for my tastes but it’s fine. They have an IP55 resistance rating meaning they’ll survive getting covered in sweat or rain, and there’s also a waterproof covering for the USB-C charging port.
They also come with a nice faux leather carrying case.
Sound
The Pro 2 utilises what Shokz calls DualPitch Technology. They use both bone conduction, a method of transmitting sound vibrations through the bones of the skull to the inner ear (bypassing the eardrum), and air conduction, where sound waves travel through the ear canal, vibrating the eardrum. This is a bit different to the original OpenRun Pro headphones which only use bone conduction.
The result is better audio, much better audio. The OpenRun Pro 2 has a more rounded sound and better bass capabilities. This is because the components are more specialised. The bone conduction handles the mids and highs, while the air conduction handles the bass, producing a better overall sound. It also means there’s less tactile feedback as the amount of vibration needed from the headphones is reduced.
While the audio is good, and much better than their predecessors, it doesn’t match the capabilities of more audio-centric earbuds or headphones. But for sport headphones where you need to hear your surroundings while listening to music, they’re more than capable. Even with the new DualPitch features, you’re still able to easily hear the outside world, which for safety reasons is a good thing.
You can EQ the audio to your liking in the Shokz app and there’s hardly any noise leakage here. This means that even if you’re standing next to someone, they won’t be able to hear what you’re listening to, everybody wins.
Mics/Features
The Pro 2 boasts a dual microphone array enhanced by an AI noise reduction algorithm that Shokz claims filters out 96% of background noise. While I can’t scientifically confirm this to be true, the mics worked very well during our tests. I stood outside in a storm and my partner couldn’t hear any of the rain or wind, they could only hear my voice and I came through clearly. For me, their voice came through a bit tinny, but that could’ve been due to the device they were using and not the Pro 2.
In regards to special features, these are pretty barebones, however I think that’s a good thing. You don’t have to use the app to get the most out of them, you can just connect them to your device via Bluetooth 5.3 and away you go. For me that’s ideal when exercising. It takes an effort to get up and out there and when I finally do, I don’t want to have to deal with apps and features before a run or bike ride.
The only notable mention here is the multi-point compatibility, meaning you can connect to two devices at the same time. They will also turn themselves off after a period of not being used however there is no auto pause function. This means the audio won’t pause automatically when you take them off, which can be a bit problematic because if you leave your music playing they’ll just keep playing until they run out of battery.
Battery
Shokz claims the OpenRun Pro 2 has a twelve-hour battery life. I didn’t get anywhere near this, maxing out at around eight and a half hours, at loud volumes. Your mileage will vary based on how loud you have the audio, and to be fair, I don’t want to hear myself dying while exercising so more often than not I had the volume up high.
You charge them via the USB-C port on the right side and you can get 2.5 hours of juice from a five-minute charge which is brilliant.
Verdict
The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 offers an excellent balance of comfort, sound quality, and usability, but they come at a premium price.
The new DualPitch™ technology significantly improves audio performance, combining bone and air conduction for clearer highs and deeper bass. And with quick charging and multipoint pairing, they’re arguably the best sports headphones on the market.
These are ideal for serious athletes who need top-notch performance. And even if, like me, you’re not a serious athlete, the OpenRun Pro 2 is great for casual workouts and staying active. But they are expensive, especially when you take into account the lack of advanced features like auto-pause.
