Our earbud with ear hooks range consists of three earbuds, namely the flagship OpenFit Pro, the all-rounder OpenFit 2+, and the lightweight OpenFit Air. They are all open-ear with a soft hook around the ear and nothing in your ear canal, but they're designed for different people, priorities, and budgets.
If you're weighing up OpenFit Pro vs OpenFit Air vs OpenFit 2+, stay with us as we compare the three on fit, sound, calls, battery, and everyday features, then match each model to the listeners it suits best.
The OpenFit Range at a Glance
The quickest way to understand the range is by positioning. The OpenFit Air (£94) is the entry point, our lightest ear hook earbuds, built for everyday listening without the premium extras. The OpenFit 2+ (£179) is the sweet spot for most people, with a bigger sound system, longer battery life, and physical buttons. The OpenFit Pro (£219) is the flagship, using our most advanced driver, Dolby Atmos, and the first noise reduction feature we've put in open-ear earbuds.
Here's the side-by-side view:
Fit and Comfort
All three use the same design. A flexible hook curls behind your ear, the speaker rests just outside the ear canal, and your ears stay open to the world around you. It's the approach behind all of our open-ear technology, and the differences between the models come down to weight and materials.
The OpenFit Air is the lightest at 8.7g per earbud, and it feels close to nothing once it's on. The OpenFit 2+ weighs 9.4g and gets our redesigned golden-curve hooks with Ultra-Soft Silicone™ 2.0, which follow the ear's shape more closely for a snugger, more secure fit. The OpenFit Pro is the heaviest at 12.3g per earbud. This is because of its larger driver, but its nickel-titanium hooks balance that weight so evenly that most wearers stop noticing it within minutes.
All three fit perfectly alongside glasses, and none of them touch the inside of your ear, so you never have to worry about the pressure and heat that build up with in-ear buds.
Sound Quality
The OpenFit Air uses an 18 x 11mm composite driver with our OpenBass Air algorithm to bring low-end warmth into an open design, and DirectPitch™ to keep sound aimed at your ear rather than the room. It handles podcasts, playlists, and calls perfectly. What it lacks is the low-end weight of its bigger siblings.
The OpenFit 2+ steps up to DualBoost, which pairs a 17.3mm low-frequency unit with an independent high-frequency unit so bass and vocals use different drivers. Add Dolby Audio through the Shokz App and OpenBass™ 2.0, and you get a noticeably fuller, more spacious sound.
The OpenFit Pro has our most advanced system. It uses the SuperBoost, an 11 x 20mm driver with synchronised dual diaphragms, plus Dolby Atmos with dynamic head tracking. It also introduces Open-Ear Noise Reduction, the first noise reduction we've built into any of our headphones, which softens background hum without sealing your ears. It's one of the best-sounding open-ear products for listeners who play music mostly.
None of the three isolates you like sealed earbuds do, and that's deliberate because staying aware of your surroundings is the point of open-ear audio.
Call Quality
The OpenFit Air handles calls with four microphones using adaptive beamforming and Qualcomm cVc 8.0, filtering out up to 96.5% of environmental noise in lab testing. The OpenFit 2+ moves to four beamforming mics driven by AI noise-cancelling algorithms, and holds up well in wind and street noise. The OpenFit Pro is the strongest of the three, using a triple-mic array with a dedicated Noise Filter Ring that reduces up to 99.4% of background noise, which makes it the pick for people who take serious calls in unserious places.
Battery Life and Charging
The OpenFit Air gives you up to 6 hours per charge and 28 hours with its case, and a 10-minute charge buys about 2 hours of listening. That's enough for commutes and gym sessions.
The OpenFit 2+ gives up to 11 hours per charge, 48 hours with the case, and the same 10-minute quick charge for around 2 hours. Its case also supports wireless charging.
The OpenFit Pro leads with up to 12 hours per charge and 50 hours total with noise reduction off (around 6 and 24 hours with it on), and its quick charge is the best of the three. 10 minutes in the case gives about 4 hours of playtime. Like the 2+, it charges wirelessly.
Controls and Everyday Features
The OpenFit Air uses touch controls. Double-tap for music and calls, touch and hold for volume, with every gesture customisable in the Shokz App. It runs Bluetooth 5.2 with multipoint, so it can hold a connection to your laptop and phone at the same time.
The OpenFit 2+ uses physical press buttons, which respond mid-run or with rain on your fingers. It runs Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint, and over the standard OpenFit 2, it adds Dolby Audio and wireless charging.
The OpenFit Pro also uses physical buttons, adds intelligent wear detection that pauses your music when you take an earbud out, and uses Bluetooth 6.1 with multipoint. It's also the only model with the noise reduction toggle.
Which OpenFit Should You Choose?
Choose the OpenFit Air if...
You want your first pair of open-ear earbuds, you mostly listen to podcasts and playlists, or you're buying on a budget. At £94, it covers the fundamentals, such as the secure hook, the open ear, and multipoint connection, without charging you for features you may not miss. Students and casual commuters get the most from it.
Choose the OpenFit 2+ if...
You want one pair for everything, like commuting, the office, running, evenings. The battery covers a working week of sensible use, the physical buttons work in any weather, and DualBoost sound is a real step up from the Air. For most people asking which Shokz OpenFit is best, this is the answer.
Choose the OpenFit Pro if...
You want the best sound quality. SuperBoost with Dolby Atmos is the closest open-ear listening gets to full-size headphones, the noise reduction feature takes the edge off offices and trains, and the triple-mic system makes it the strongest of our ear hook earbuds for frequent callers. If you want the premium option and plan to keep it for years, this is the one.
Final Thoughts
There's no wrong choice here, only a wrong match. The OpenFit Air keeps things light and affordable, the OpenFit 2+ balances price, battery, and sound best, and the OpenFit Pro is for people who want the best open-ear audio available.
If you're still torn, start with how you'll listen. Go for:
- the OpenFit Air for casual, everyday use
- the OpenFit 2+ for one pair that can do everything
- the OpenFit Pro for music and calls above all
Whichever you choose, the open-ear experience is the same, keeping your ears open and aware of the world while your music is on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Shokz OpenFit is best?
The OpenFit Pro is our best-sounding and most fully featured model, but the best pick depends on your priorities. The OpenFit 2+ is the strongest all-rounder for the money, and the OpenFit Air is the best entry point. Most buyers who want one pair for everything choose the 2+.
What is the difference between OpenFit Pro and OpenFit 2+?
The difference between the OpenFit Pro vs OpenFit 2+ is audio and extras. The Pro adds the SuperBoost dual-diaphragm driver, Dolby Atmos with head tracking, Open-Ear Noise Reduction, wear detection, and a faster quick charge. The 2+ counters with a lighter build and a £40 lower price while keeping Dolby Audio, physical buttons, and 48 hours of total battery.
Is the OpenFit Air worth buying?
Yes, if your priorities are comfort, awareness, and price rather than premium sound. In the OpenFit Air vs OpenFit 2+ comparison, you give up battery life, Dolby Audio, and the bigger driver system, but you keep the secure fit, multipoint, and the open-ear design for £85 less.
Are Shokz OpenFit earbuds good for running?
Yes. The hook design stays secure through fast movement, all three models resist sweat (IP54 on the Air, IP55 on the 2+ and Pro), and the open fit lets you hear traffic and other runners. For regular runners, the OpenFit 2+ is the best option because its physical buttons are easier to use on the move.
