Shokz expands its lineup with two new affordable models: the OpenRun Air 2 (bone conduction) at $130 and the OpenFit Air 2 (open-ear) at €139. These headphones combine lightweight design, battery life, and durability for athletes, without compromising environmental awareness.
Two technologies, one goal: comfort on the move
The OpenRun Air 2, a bone conduction headset, weighs 26.4 g and features a redesigned memory alloy headband to reduce bounce during running. Its forward-shifted center of gravity and reworked hooks improve stability. Despite being 9% smaller than the previous model, they retain 10 hours of battery life (+25% over the previous generation), with 2 hours of playback after 5 minutes of charging. Their IP68 certification makes them resistant to dust, sweat, and temporary immersion.
On the audio front, Shokz uses a PremiumPitch 3.0 dual-coil metal transducer for richer bass and clearer vocals. Bluetooth 6.0 multipoint allows seamless switching between two devices, and physical buttons prevent accidental inputs. Two headband sizes (Standard and Mini) and two colors (Black, Ice Blue) are available.
The OpenFit Air 2: open-ear headphones optimized for bass
The OpenFit Air 2, open-air conduction earbuds, weigh 7.2 g per earpiece (down from 8.7 g) and feature a 30° angled design to direct transducers toward the ear canal. This orientation, combined with Bassphere technology (two opposing transducers) and the OpenBass 2.0 algorithm, aims to enhance bass response while limiting sound leakage via DirectPitch.
The case, 17.6% lighter and 10.5% more compact, houses a battery offering 8 hours of autonomy per earbud (36 hours with the case), with 3 hours of playback after 10 minutes of charging. Pinch controls reduce accidental triggers, and Bluetooth 6.1 supports multipoint as well as quick pairing (Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair). Four microphones with ambient noise reduction complete the package.
The IP55 certification (up from IP54) protects against water splashes but remains insufficient for heavy rain use. The OpenFit Air 2 are available in Black, White, and Ice Blue at €139.
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Budget-friendly positioning for proven technologies
With these two models, Shokz targets budget-conscious athletes without sacrificing quality. The OpenRun Air 2 ($130) and OpenFit Air 2 (€139) adopt technologies from the brand’s premium ranges, such as bone conduction or the Bassphere system, while reducing weight and cost. Their price remains higher than competitors like the Soundcore Aerofit 2 Pro or models from Huawei and Xiaomi, but their acoustic design and lightness may justify the difference.
These launches confirm Shokz’s strategy: to democratize open and bone conduction sports audio, focusing on ergonomics and durability. It remains to be seen whether compromises on water protection (IP55 for the OpenFit Air 2) or the lack of advanced codecs (Bluetooth 6.1 without LE Audio) will be acceptable to the most demanding users.
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