If you’re looking for a headphone upgrade but want a wireless pair that will block out the world on your commute and won’t fall out of your ears or leave them aching, you need to know about Shokz’s latest launch. Loved for its bone-conducting designs and open-ear headphones, it’s just dropped a brand-new model: OpenDots 2, a wireless, open-ear pair that it’s calling ‘the comfiest earbuds you’ll ever wear’.
Shokz OpenDots 2
Buy Now for £179. They have been specifically designed to fit into modern life, whether that’s on your commute, for back-to-back calls, or during your workouts, and come in a stylish black, grey or white. As someone who can’t leave the house with her Apple AirPods, I was very curious to see how they would compare, especially as they boast a 48-hour battery life, a featherweight design, and promise powerful sound. But for £179, are they worth it?
Design and fit
The OpenDots 2 seem like a hybrid of an ear cuff jewellery piece and a high-tech pair of headphones. I tested the grey pair, and before I’ve even hit play on my music, I loved the design. They can be used interchangeably between your left and right ear, so there’s no fiddling when you first wear them. They’re so lightweight, you can’t feel you’re even wearing them, and most importantly, they don’t slide down or slip off, and trust me, I tried. I was pretty sceptical about how secure they’d feel, and they stayed mostly in place whether I was running for the bus, trying to sleep on a plane or lifting weights at the gym. The only downside to their fit is that they can become dislodged if you brush your hair while wearing them, and occasionally when you tuck your hair behind your ears, so just take extra care.
Sound quality
The sound quality is excellent, with clear audio on calls, music and podcasts, with the perfect amount of bass. Unless you’re listening to something on full volume, they’re surprisingly quiet too, and can’t be heard by other people. You can also use the Shokz app to tweak the vocals, bass and equaliser to your liking. I think they’re also a very safe option, too, if you like to exercise outdoors or simply feel more aware of your surroundings. As they’re not in-ear headphones and aren’t noise-cancelling, they have excellent audio quality but don’t make you feel completely cut off from the world, especially if you’re crossing the road or listening to a train announcement. Just keep in mind that because they’re not noise-cancelling, you can still hear the white noise on an aeroplane, or the shrill of a loud tube train while using them.
Battery life
According to Shokz, the OpenDots 2 offer up to 40 hours of playback and fast charging. I took them on a 10-day trip to Switzerland and South Korea, and only charged them once, so I can definitely attest to that. Even better, just five minutes of charging gives them two hours of juice, so if you’ve forgotten to put them on charge overnight and only remember when you’re heading out the door, it’s a lifesaver. Charging them to full capacity is speedy, too: with wireless charging, it takes three and a half hours, and with a USB-C cable, it takes just two hours.
My verdict
Overall, I’m very impressed. The design is sleek, the headphones are lightweight, the battery life is long, charging is quick and there’s very little dislodging. They’re comfortable, can be worn for hours without leaving your ears sore, and still let you be aware of your surroundings. Despite costing a spenny £179, I think they’re well worth it.
