Bone and air conduction in perfect harmony: Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 review

Shokz iterates on its headphones – most of its catalogue looks like an evolutionary history of bone-conduction headphone advancements. Though the fundamental DNA of each product is consistent, the changes and tweaks come with each new addition are significant. The Shokz OpenRun branch of the tree is a notable example – building on the entry-level OpenMove, it offers improved conduction technology, better battery life, enhanced water resistance, and a lighter frame. The OpenRun Pro further advances this with extended battery life, quick charging, and superior audio performance. The latest evolution in the OpenRun series has arrived: the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2.

Reviewer William Austin-Lobley is very familiar with the Shokz family, having first tested the OpenMove years ago (back when the brand went by AfterShokz). He has hands-on experience with many other Shokz headphones, including the evolutionary offshoot of air-conduction earphones known as the OpenFit. Now, he turns his gaze on the all-new Shokz OpenRun Pro 2. Read on to find out his thoughts.

Sound and battery: The headline upgrades

The OpenRun Pro 2 carries all-new DualPitch technology, which combines bone-conduction and air-conduction technologies to create the fullest audio experience available in the Shokz range and open-ear headphones more widely. The audio profile provided by DualPitch fixes the shortcomings you usually find on bone-conduction headphones – i.e. a decent sound, just with reduced bass. Everything is much richer, present, and powerful across all frequencies. It's so good that the profile of the OpenRun Pro 2 is nearly identical to a set of in-ear earphones, a remarkable achievement and a genuine step forward for the Shokz range.

According to Shokz's literature, this improved audio is due to the split frequencies between the bone-conduction and air-conduction speakers. Bone conduction takes care of the mids and highs, and the air-conduction parts take care of the bass; this is not only a boon to the sound, but it liberates the bone-conduction tech from having to handle bass and removes the sense of vibration at higher volumes, which is a big plus for comfort.

Listening to the acclaimed electronic album When Will We Land? from Barry Can't Swim, I found that the new bass powers of the OpenRun Pro 2 give a warm and bouncy tone. It's balanced well with the mids and highs, which give you all the information and detail you need from instrumentation without overwhelming the mix. Such clarity was demonstrated well when playing more chaotic listens, like Mastodon's heavy metal classic 'Crusher Destroyer' or Fontaines D.C.'s 'Hurricane Laughter'.

The DualPitch removes bass vibrations, making listening to tracks like Wu-Tang Clan's 'Bring Da Ruckus' at high volume a joy, free from the overstimulating and itchy sensation that previously plagued bone-conduction technology.

DualPitch also responds well to voices, whether podcasts, audiobooks or phone calls. It all cuts through and ensures you aren’t missing details.

In addition to sound quality, DualPitch dramatically affects the perception of the audio in louder environments. Previously, with the OpenMove say, loud roads with thundering trucks would kill off your audio. However, with the OpenRun Pro 2, DualPitch does a much better job of keeping you listening to the audio while still having the surroundings come through. The audio is at the forefront and present in these situations, but you still have a total read on vehicles around you. Uninterrupted listening and total situational awareness? Yes, please.

Not content with addressing the audio shortcomings of open-ear listening, Shokz has fixed the battery issue, too. Shokz products typically have a short battery life compared to other wireless tech, which range from six to 10 hours. With the OpenRun Pro 2, we are looking at 12 hours, which is music to the ears of endurance athletes (who previously may have carried two sets of headphones to see them through) and those with a poor memory who forget to put their Shokz on charge the night before a 6 AM run (I'm the latter). Not only that but this added juice has been included without an increase in the weight of the headphones.

The battery charges via USB-C, which is a welcome change from Shokz's usual quick-charge connection. USB-C cables are far more accessible. It takes an hour to charge the OpenRun Pro 2 fully, but you can get 2.5 hours out of a five-minute blast (again, a plus if you are forgetful the night before a run).

Features: If it ain't broke...

While the sound and battery have received a positive overhaul, Shokz has kept the rest of the OpenRun Pro 2 simple. Everything else is in line with the features in the tried-and-tested Shokz catalogue.

The build is excellent, with a robust but light construction coated in a pleasant-to-the-touch silicon. At 30g, it's comfortable to wear all day. I've been using them for my runs and found that they maintain their position well. They hold onto the head enough to keep them from moving during exercise while not pressing so firmly that they are uncomfortable.

This is even the case for glasses wearers like myself. I have a strap to keep my specs in place as I run, too, so a lot is happening around my ears. The OpenRun Pro 2 slotted on without trouble and went unnoticed after only a few minutes of wear. I also found them completely comfortable when wearing them at the same time as my bike helmet, either over the top of the straps or underneath.

The OpenRun Pro 2 are sweatproof and resistant to dust, as indicated by the IP55 rating. Getting caught in the rain won't kill the headphones, but they aren't waterproof, so heavy downpours are best avoided.

The controls are well-placed and easy to use. Volume is on one side, and a single multi-function button is on the other – one tap to play/pause, two to skip a song, and three to skip backwards to a song. The button also answers and ends phone calls. The Bluetooth is 5.3, giving around 10 metres of range, and the Shokz companion app can tweak the sound depending on your needs.

The OpenRun Pro 2 and the Shokz App

The OpenRun Pro 2 connect to the Shokz app to give you some additional control over the audio performance via EQ modes, both preset and customisable. Presets include Vocal, which boosts vocal frequencies to help podcasts and audiobooks punch through clearly, while Bass Boost gives an extra kick to the bottom end. I listen to pretty much everything and anything, often flitting between genres and media types – I found the Standard mode and the ability of DualPitch versatile enough to handle it all. However, it's certainly nice to have the choice.

The app also allows you to turn on/off multipoint, which allows your OpenRun Pro 2 to connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. This means that if you're listening to music from your fitness tracker watch and you receive a call on your smartphone, the headphones will automatically switch the audio output to the smartphone so you can take the call. Once the call ends, the audio can switch back to your laptop without manually disconnecting or reconnecting.

Any downsides?

The OpenRun Pro 2 has a notable sound leak, with the air-conduction side of the technology being the culprit. Such sound pollution is inevitable with this technology – I had similar problems with the Shokz OpenFit Air – and it is certainly something to be aware of if you hope to use the OpenRun Pro 2 in the office or a train's quiet coach. It's not an issue when you are out getting in the miles on city streets, country lanes or fell trails.

Price and competition

At £169, the OpenRun Pro 2 headphones aren't an impulse buy nor for anyone unsure they want to commit to the open-ear experience. Yet, for those converted to the cause, the quality of the product completely warrants the price, as these are the best examples you can get at the time of writing.

If you are looking for an alternative, much of the competition comes from Shokz. On the bone-conduction side, we are looking at the OpenMove for lower budgets or the OpenSwim Pro for full waterproofing and in-built MP3 storage. However, note that the sound will be less rich. Regarding open-ear listening, the OpenFit Air is the go-to choice.

If the benefits of open-ear headphones aren't something you need – maybe you work out in a gym or at home on a treadmill – then you could forgo the tech and get a good sound experience with something like the JLab Epic Air Sport, which I reviewed during my ear-hook headphones for working out group test.

Who is it for?

The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 is now the premier choice of headphones for runners and cyclists who love open-ear listening, want extended battery lives, and appreciate higher-quality sound. The comfort is also top-tier, even when wearing glasses or a bike helmet (or both at the same time).

Would we recommend it?

Without hesitation. With the OpenRun Pro 2, Shokz has perfected the formula for open-ear headphones. The improved DualPitch audio is the headline improvement, upping the quality of the audio performance and its performance in louder environments. The 12-hour battery life is equally a huge quality-of-life improvement for the OpenRun Pro 2 and should be a real draw for outdoor exercise enthusiasts. While I will concede that audio leaks are a problem in quiet areas, 99 per cent of the time, these updates are a huge net gain.

Importantly, the upgraded sound and battery life have kept Shokz from continuing to deliver on the fundamentals it has nailed for several years: comfort and build quality. The OpenRun Pro 2 are the whole package.

Other products to consider

Who tested it?

William Austin-Lobley, the digital editor for What's The Best and resident exercise-audio expert, has tried and tested the OpenRun Pro 2. William has been familiar with bone conduction tech for many years and, as an audio snob, is always searching for the best sound quality while working out at the gym or heading out for a run.

How the OpenRun Pro 2 was tested

William received the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 at the beginning of August. Since then, they have been in constant use. They have been tested when running, cycling, walking, sitting in the office, and preparing dinner. Occasionally, William switched back to his OpenSwim Pro and Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro to compare the sound. When testing, William noted the quality of the headphones' audio, feature set, and build.

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William Austin-Lobley is the Editor for What's The Best. Here, he oversees, curates and researches listicles and reviews as many products as his home office can handle.

He has spent nearly five years writing about tech, audio, outdoors and fitness and has reviewed everything from smartphones to ice baths. In addition, he's well-versed in sniffing out the best deals and savings the internet offers.

When not at his desk writing, reviewing or deal-hunting, he'll be relaxing with Japanese crime novels, bingeing some classic anime, strolling the countryside or at the gym listening to the heaviest metal Spotify has to offer.

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