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Shokz has crept up the wireless audio ranks to become a trendsetter in the sporty earbuds category. Releases like the OpenFit 2 and OpenFit Air were complementary pieces to the brand’s excellent bone-conduction headphones. Now, it’s taking a page out of Anker’s and Bose’s playbooks by transitioning into the clip-on earbuds game with the recently launched OpenDots One.
These awesome-looking earpieces are built for outdoor runners who want to enjoy music with the full openness of their environment. The OpenDots One clearly find inspiration from the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, adopting the same earring cuff-like appearance. However, Shokz’ version is more durable, lasts longer, and gives Bose’s buds a run for their money in the audio department.
With the good also comes the bad. As expected, the open-ear design lets in a lot of ambient noise, so you won’t hear music completely. The feature set is small, and the touch controls are spotty too.
The drawbacks might be dealbreakers for casual consumers, but for exercisers, who the OpenDots One are marketed toward, these are runner-friendly buds that finish the marathon in convincing fashion.
Scroll down to see why Shokz is a worthy contender for the best workout earbuds.
These aren’t your typical earbuds.
Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable
Shokz OpenDots One open earbuds specs and setup
The OpenDots One’s spec sheet isn’t decked out like some of the market’s top-tier sports buds (e.g., Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, Jabra Elite 8 Active), but it’s noteworthy. See below:
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Dual Speaker Driver Unit: 11.8mm
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Frequency Response: 100 to 20,000 kHz
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Dolby Audio support
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Customizable EQ via Shokz app
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IP54 water resistance (buds only)
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Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint technology
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10 hours of battery life / 40 hours with wireless charging case
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10-minute quick charge equals 2 hours of listening
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Colors: black and gray
Connecting the buds is standard procedure. Hold down the pairing button on the back of the case with the lid open, and you’ll enable pairing mode. Once the LED flickers, select the product from the Available Devices list in your Bluetooth settings. My unit paired instantly with my MacBook Pro. Multipoint pairing lets me connect to my iPhone 15 and OnePlus 11 smartphones at the same time.
Downloading the Shokz app from Apple’s App Store or Google Play grants access to all special features. It’s a small amount compared to other challengers. However, what’s given is serviceable.
A flashy, familiar, and functionally transparent design
Even though the OpenDots One look exactly like the Ultra Open Buds, they have a more innovative design. There are touch panels on the battery barrels, as well as the soft silicone grip that keeps the buds secure for intense training. I’ve worn them when performing lateral exercises (e.g., jumping jacks, side lunges), and there was no slippage. I don’t recommend them for leisure because they pinch your ears. This can hurt after about three hours of wear, depending on your pain threshold.
The open-ear design is what’s most important. It is clutch for increasing ambient awareness, no matter where you are. Runners can keep tabs on traffic when jogging. I was well aware of cars and emergency vehicles when crossing streets. Bicyclists, chatty pedestrians, and construction sites were also transparent at high levels.
The open-ear design allows you to hear your surroundings.
Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable
Some of the best sound I’ve heard on open earbuds
Shokz isn’t known for its sound quality, but the OpenDots One leave quite the impression. The 11.8mm drivers deliver crisp and lively sound to keep runners fueled on long runs. It’s great having audio personalization via EQ with preprogrammed presets. Each of these represents its audio categories fairly well. There’s also the ability to create your own sound profile by manually adjusting frequencies in the EQ setting, something audiophiles will appreciate.
The electric guitar strums on Hozier’s “Too Sweet” had fantastic reverberation that stimulated a second wind during my 5K run. Enabling the Dolby Audio mode enhanced definition and unveiled the track’s fine production layering; the steady snares and tinny tambourines were pronounced. Upbeat bangers like Mya’s “Best of Me, Part 2” gave me the head-bopping bass I desired, highlighted by punchy drums that blended well with the delicate piano keys. The balanced midrange boosted the singer’s soft, low-note vocals.
The buds are made to let in noise. Therefore, don’t expect to hear every detail when listening in rowdy environments. You can hear audiobooks, music, and videos clearly. It just requires being in a silent setting and playing music at high volume. These are not like typical wireless earbuds. Open-ear buds project audio to the ear, whereas wireless earbuds send audio directly into the ear canal.
Comparing the OpenDots One to other open earbuds
I put the OpenDots One up against the most popular sports buds and open buds: the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 and Bose Ultra Open Earbuds. Audio, fit, and transparency were the three hallmarks I prioritized when comparing models.
The Powerbeats Pro 2 produce superior sound output, thanks to their robust audio specs (e.g., dual-layer drivers, Personalized Spatial Audio) and an in-ear design that passively blocks out ambient noise. The Ultra Open Earbuds have 12mm drivers that provide crisp, full-bodied sound, plus hi-res streaming (aptX Adaptive) over Bluetooth. As for the OpenDots One, they sound better than most bone conduction headphones and open earbuds.
Beats’ signature ear hook design creates the most secure fit of any sports buds out there. Bose’s and Shokz’ clip-on designs are dependable for stability and take up less ear real estate.
Ambient listening is equally great on the OpenDots One and QuietComfort Ultra. The Powerbeats Pro 2 have a strong transparency mode that makes ambient sounds and conversations sound louder and more natural, but their active noise cancellation is disappointing.
Plenty of battery life
The OpenDots One generate up to 10 hours of playtime, with the wireless charging case holding an additional 30 hours. This is longer than the Ultra Open Earbuds (7.5 hours/27 hours) and on par with many of Anker’s current open-ear entries. A 10-minute charge can net you two hours of continuous playback. Those numbers held up during testing.
Over the course of a week, I ran with the OpenDots One for six hours and used them specifically for calls. This left me with 30 percent juice. I used the buds moderately (est. four hours) a week later and they had to be recharged every three days. The case didn’t need to be recharged until the third week of use.
Uniqueness presents compromises
As much as I love the ingenuity behind Shokz’ control scheme, it isn’t convenient or reliable. The silicone grip only accepts double taps (play/pause/call management), and the touch pads only register the two-finger pinch or long-hold gesture. There are no single- or triple-tap gestures available, which would have expanded operation. On top of that, whatever function is assigned to the touch pads (e.g., voice assistant, volume, previous/next track) will be assigned to both buds.
The on-ear controls are nothing to write home about.
Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable
The Shokz app is low on upscaled features. Dolby Audio, multipoint technology, and the Find My Buds mode are nice to have, but you get more from other competitors. The Ultra Open Earbuds boast a hi-res codec and universal spatial audio, while several of Anker’s open earbuds have proprietary 3D audio modes.
Digital assistance works well on iOS/macOS devices, but the feature struggles on Android devices. Google Assistant is effective. It’s Google Gemini that demonstrates poor speech recognition. Most voice commands are either misinterpreted or don’t execute properly.
Lastly, the open-ear design isn’t for everyone. These buds only suit you if you’re some who wants to hear your surroundings during workouts or recreation. The OpenDots One excel at this and dish out impactful sonics at high volume to reduce a decent amount of ambient noise. They don’t completely neutralize external sounds like the best noise-cancelling headphones.
Are the Shokz OpenDots One open earbuds worth it?
Yes, but only if you’re an avid outdoor runner or a fitness fanatic who isn’t bothered by the common fracas at your local gym. The OpenDots One dish out satisfying sound that increases stamina when running low on energy, and the addition of Dolby Audio gives music a bit more thump. Battery life is sufficient for about a week of use, depending how long you exercise. The stylish design also stabilizes fit when sprinting at fast speeds.
Those looking for a pair of everyday buds to enjoy their favorite playlists should look elsewhere because the OpenDots One’s open-ear design doesn’t allow for full audio consumption. The lack of special features isn’t appealing either; most standard sports buds come with an ambient listening mode and extra perks (e.g., ANC, shortcut widget, spatial audio).
The Shokz OpenDots One are priced at $199.99 and can be purchased on Shokz’s website, as well as popular online retailers like Amazon and Best Buy.
