The new Shokz OpenFit Air 2 earbuds are nearly 20 percent lighter than the previous generation
Shokz has launched the OpenFit Air 2, an updated version of its open-ear earbuds that is around 17 percent lighter than its predecessor, weighing 7.2g per earbud. The open-ear design avoids sealing the ear canal, reducing pressure and heat while letting wearers stay aware of their surroundings, making the earbuds well suited to outdoor exercise, though the ear-hook fit may clash with glasses or certain hats.
The earbuds use Shokz's Bassphere driver and OpenBass 2.0 algorithm alongside an angled speaker for more natural-sounding audio, with an app offering four preset and two custom EQ profiles. Battery life is eight hours per charge, extending to 36 hours with the charging case, plus a 10-minute quick charge for three hours of playback; they support Bluetooth 6.1 and multipoint connections. Alongside them, Shokz unveiled the bone-conduction OpenRun Air 2, a lighter, more stable running-focused model offering ten hours of battery and a five-minute quick charge for two hours of use. Both models go on sale on 27 August priced at $130.
- Shokz launches OpenFit Air 2, 17% lighter open-ear earbuds
- Improved bass, EQ app, up to 36 hours battery with case
- Shokz also launches OpenRun Air 2; both cost $130, out 27 August
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Shokz is a company best known for bone-conduction headphones, which send sound through the skull rather than the ear canal, originally aimed at runners and cyclists who need to hear traffic and surroundings while training. The OpenFit range extended this "open-ear" idea using tiny speakers that hook over the ear without blocking it, rather than bone conduction, aiming to combine decent sound quality with awareness of your surroundings and comfort during exercise.
The OpenFit Air 2 is the latest version of that open-ear earbud line, competing with sealed, noise-cancelling earbuds from brands like Apple, Sony and Bose, as well as other open-ear and sports-focused audio makers. Weight, comfort and battery life are key selling points in this category, since these earbuds are marketed mainly for workouts and outdoor activity rather than home or office listening.
Shokz has also released the OpenRun Air 2 alongside it, a separate bone-conduction model aimed more specifically at runners, showing how the company splits its audio technology across different designs depending on whether the priority is sound quality or maximum stability during movement.