With the OpenFit Air 2, Shokz refines its most affordable open-ear headphones rather than starting from scratch. Lighter, more durable, and equipped with revised controls, they chiefly aim to make the open-ear formula even more enjoyable for everyday use.
Priced at 139 euros, the OpenFit Air 2 inherit the OpenFit Air line with a formula now well established by Shokz. Here, no ear tip closes the ear canal: the speakers sit in front of the ear and emit sound via air conduction. This is in stark contrast to the bone conduction used by the brand’s OpenRun.
This second generation primarily focuses on optimization. The weight drops from 8.7 g to 7.2 g per earbud, official battery life rises to eight hours, and tactile surfaces give way to press controls. Shokz also revises the acoustic portion around its Bassphere and OpenBass 2.0.
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- Excellent comfort
- Very light
- Reassuring grip
- Press-and-hold controls succeed
- Good battery life
- Natural ambient listening
- IP55 certification
- Bass depth inevitably shallower than with in-ears
- Ambient noise quickly penalizing
- SBC and AAC only
- Case not particularly compact
Light headphones that are especially pleasant to wear
The main strength of the OpenFit Air 2 becomes evident the moment they sit on the ears. With only 7.2 g per earbud, Shokz manages to further lighten a formula that was already very comfortable. The ear hook wraps around the ear while the acoustic block simply sits in front of the ear canal.
The resulting pressure remains very low (almost non-existent) since nothing sits inside the ear. In use, it is almost the exact opposite of the Sony WF-1000XM5 I use daily: those deliver far better isolation, but their insertion into the ear canal is also considerably more invasive. For anyone who dislikes silicone tips, the difference compared with a traditional in-ear pair is substantial.
The retention is also one of the strengths of this architecture. Once placed correctly, the earbuds stay securely in position, even during a lot of movement, which makes them well suited to sports use. The hook also leaves enough room to wear glasses without particular discomfort. This open design is also more accommodating than some in-ear designs for people with piercings, especially at the tragus, since no nozzle sits inside the ear canal or presses directly on that area.
Finally, their IP55 certification protects them against sweat and splashes of water. Shokz even designed the case with IP54. However, it remains noticeably larger than the cases that accompany compact true wireless earbuds. Not a showstopper in a jacket pocket or a bag, but overall the set isn’t particularly compact.
Controls better suited to use
Another welcome change: Shokz drops the touch controls from the OpenFit Air in favor of pressure-sensitive buttons.
So you must pinch the earbud slightly to start or pause playback, skip tracks, or manage calls. The approach suits sport headphones particularly well: you can easily tell if the command was triggered, and accidental touches are less frequent.
The Shokz app lets you customize these controls, but also provides several EQ settings. It also manages multipoint connectivity, allowing the OpenFit Air 2 to stay linked to two devices at once.
Connectivity otherwise holds no great surprises. Bluetooth is at version 6.1, and Shokz supports Google Fast Pair as well as Microsoft Swift Pair. Codecs remain limited to SBC and AAC. At this price point, the absence of a more advanced codec isn’t necessarily a problem, but it reminds that the OpenFit Air 2 prioritizes simplicity and everyday use.
A pleasant listening experience, but still very environment-dependent
Each earbud houses two 11.8 mm drivers linked to what Shokz calls Bassphere, along with OpenBass 2.0 processing. DirectPitch on the other hand aims to focus more sound toward the ear to reduce losses and leaks.
For completely open headphones, the result is convincing. The midrange is clean and voices retain good intelligibility, two qualities especially appreciated for podcasts or spoken content. The soundstage also feels expansive, quite natural with an architecture that never truly seals off the ear.
Bass remains the main compromise. Shokz gives it enough presence so the sound doesn’t feel anemic, and the OpenFit Air 2 can accompany rhythmic tracks. However, don’t expect the depth or impact you’d get from good in-ears. The lowest frequencies lose energy since nothing seals around the ear canal.
The perceived quality also heavily depends on the environment. At home, in the office, or during a relatively quiet stroll, the OpenFit Air 2 deliver a highly pleasant listening experience. In a noisy street or during transit, external noise inevitably masks part of the audio message.
That’s both their main limitation and precisely why this format exists. There’s no need for an artificial Transparency mode: voices, cars, or bikes remain naturally audible around you. For outdoor running, this sense of openness can quickly become hard to give up.
Sound leakage stays contained at moderate volume, but it does not disappear. If you push the level high enough, a nearby person may hear part of what is being played.
Calls and battery life: solid
Shokz uses four microphones, two per earbud, with processing designed to reduce surrounding noise during calls. In a quiet environment, the voice remains clear and easily intelligible. When noise increases, the processing becomes more noticeable and can slightly distort timbre, but it doesn’t prevent a conversation.
Battery life is another welcome improvement. The manufacturer claims up to eight hours of listening on a single charge, compared to six hours for the first OpenFit Air. The case raises total endurance to 36 hours.
Ten minutes of charging also yields up to three hours of listening. That’s more than enough to cover several days of use without constantly watching the battery level.
Who are the Shokz OpenFit Air 2 really for?
- For those who want to stay attentive to their environment. The open-ear design keeps the ears free and allows you to naturally hear what’s happening around you, making them particularly suited for walking, cycling or running.
- For those who prioritize comfort over long sessions. Their light weight, lack of an ear tip in the canal and secure fit provided by the hooks make them an appealing option for long sessions, but also for wearers of glasses or certain piercings such as the tragus.
- For those willing to accept the trade-offs inherent to open-ear designs. The OpenFit Air 2 do not aim to isolate from external noise nor to deliver the same bass impact as a good pair of in-ears. They are thus aimed at those who value openness, comfort and practicality over maximum isolation.
What are the best wireless headphones in 2026?
Shokz OpenFit Air 2: Clubic’s verdict
The OpenFit Air 2 aren’t trying to match high-end in-ear headphones on their own turf. Their purpose lies elsewhere: to keep one ear entirely aware of the surroundings while providing a well-balanced restitution for both music and spoken content.
On this second generation, Shokz mainly improves what needed improving. The headphones are even lighter, the press controls are better suited to real use, and the battery life increases notably. Comfort and retention remain the formula’s strongest assets.
Of course, you must accept the trade-offs: shallower bass, no isolation, and a listening quality that degrades as the environment grows louder. But for sports, movement, or simply for users who can’t stand having earphones in their ears, the OpenFit Air 2 presents a particularly coherent proposition at 139 euros.
Pros
- Shokz OpenFit 2+
Plus haut de gamme dans la famille Shokz, les OpenFit 2+ conservent le format open-ear à crochet, mais adoptent une architecture DualBoost à deux transducteurs et ajoutent Dolby Audio ainsi que la recharge sans fil du boîtier. Ils sont aussi plus endurants, avec jusqu’à 11 heures d’écoute par charge et 48 heures avec le boîtier, contre 8 et 36 heures pour les OpenFit Air 2. En contrepartie, ils sont plus lourds, avec 9,4 g par écouteur.
- Huawei FreeClip 2
The FreeClip 2 take a different approach with their clip-style form, more compact and without a hook behind the ear. They still embrace the open-ear listening philosophy and are suitable for everyday and sport use too. They sit at a more premium price point, with an introductory price of 199 euros.
- Sound powerful and open
- Very light
- Glasses-friendly fit
- True wireless kit usable in all situations
- Bass depth inevitably shallower than with in-ears
- Ambient noise quickly penalizing
- SBC and AAC only
- Case not particularly compact
Light headphones that are particularly comfortable to wear
The OpenFit Air 2’s main asset becomes apparent as soon as they sit on the ears. With just 7.2 g per earbud, Shokz manages to further lighten a design that already leaned heavily on comfort. The hook wraps around the ear while the audio block simply sits in front of the ear canal.
The pressure stays very limited (if not non-existent) since nothing blocks the ear. In use, it’s almost the exact opposite of the Sony WF-1000XM5 I use daily: those offer far better isolation, but their insertion into the ear canal is also considerably more invasive. For those who struggle with silicone tips, the difference with a true-in-ear pair is substantial.
The retention is also one of the strengths of this architecture. Once correctly placed, the earbuds stay perfectly in position, even when you move a lot, making them well suited to sports use. The hook also leaves enough space to wear glasses without any particular discomfort. This open design proves more accommodating than some in-ear designs for people with piercings, notably at the tragus, since no nozzle sits inside the ear canal or presses directly on that area.
Finally, their IP55 rating protects them against sweat and splashes of water. Shokz even considered the case, IP54 certified. However, it remains noticeably larger than cases accompanying small true wireless earbuds. Not a deal-breaker in a jacket pocket or bag, but the set isn’t particularly compact.
Calls and battery life: solid
Shokz employs four microphones, two per earbud, with processing designed to reduce surrounding noise during conversations. In quiet environments, the voice remains clear and easily understandable. When noise rises, the processing becomes more noticeable and can slightly distort timbre, but it still allows for a conversation.
Autonomy is another welcome improvement. The manufacturer claims up to eight hours of listening on a single charge, versus six hours for the original OpenFit Air. The case brings the total endurance to 36 hours.
Ten minutes of charging also yields up to three hours of listening. That should be more than enough for several days of use without constantly monitoring the battery level.
Who exactly are Shokz OpenFit Air 2 for?
- For those who want to stay attentive to their environment. The open-ear design keeps ears unobstructed and naturally allows hearing what’s happening around, making them especially suitable for walking, cycling or running.
- For those who prioritize long-term comfort. Their light weight, the lack of an ear tip in the canal and the secure fit provided by the hooks make them an appealing option for long sessions, but also for wearers of glasses or certain piercings such as the tragus.
- For those who accept the inherent trade-offs of open-ear designs. The OpenFit Air 2 don’t seek to isolate from external noise nor to deliver the same bass impact as a good pair of in-ears. They are aimed above all at those who value openness, comfort and practicality over maximum isolation.
What are the best wireless headphones in 2026?
Shokz OpenFit Air 2: Clubic’s verdict
The OpenFit Air 2 don’t aim to rival premium in-ear headphones on their own ground. Their appeal lies elsewhere: keeping one ear fully open to the environment without sacrificing a sound reproduction that remains balanced enough for both music and spoken content.
On this second generation, Shokz mainly improves what was already necessary. The headphones are even lighter, presses are better suited to real use, and battery life rises notably. Comfort and retention remain the main strengths of this setup.
As always, you must accept the trade-offs: shallower bass, no isolation, and a listening quality that worsens as the surroundings get louder. But for sport, commuting, or simply for users who can’t stand having headphones in their ears, the OpenFit Air 2 offer a particularly coherent proposition at 139 euros.
The pros
- Shokz OpenFit 2+
Greater range within the OpenFit line, the OpenFit 2+ keep the open-ear hook format but adopt a DualBoost architecture with two transducers and add Dolby Audio as well as wireless charging for the case. They also offer up to 11 hours of listening per charge and 48 hours with the case, compared to 8 and 36 hours for the OpenFit Air 2. In return, they are heavier, at 9.4 g per earbud.
- Huawei FreeClip 2
The FreeClip 2 take a different approach with their clip form, more compact and without a behind-the-ear hook. They still follow the open-ear listening philosophy and prove suitable for daily and sport use. Pricing sits a bit higher, with an opening price of 199 euros.
- Open, ideal for comfort
- Comfort is ideal, auto-switch left/right
- In-ear-free kit usable in all situations
186,99 €
Daniel Brooks
I cover everyday products with a practical eye, from kitchen tools and home essentials to smart gadgets and consumer trends. My goal is to help readers understand what is genuinely useful, what is worth the price, and what deserves a second look before buying.