- Great bass
- Very comfortable
- Good durability
- Newest version is only $20 more expensive
- Bad soundstage
- No USB-C
Summarizing this Shokz OpenRun Pro review — amazing comfort, great sound, and strong durability. Worth buying only if discounted.
The Shokz OpenRun Pro stands out among bone-conduction headphones, offering notable comfort at $159.99. While marketed primarily for sports, these headphones prove versatile in many situations. This Shokz OpenRun Pro review considers whether the comfort, versatility, and design justify its $159.99 price.
Design/comfort
The Shokz OpenRun Pro features a sleek, one-piece design that wraps around each ear and remains secure during movement. It has a comfortable, secure fit. This excels where AirPods may fall out. Traditional headphones like the Soundcore Space One can feel cumbersome. However, the wraparound design takes up more space than earbuds.
The Shokz OpenRun Pro stayed on while running or doing other physical activities.
At 29 grams, the Shokz OpenRun Pro is lighter and more comfortable than other top bone conduction headphones.
Like other bone-conduction headphones, the Shokz OpenRun Pro puts weight on the ear, which may require a day or two to adjust.
The lightweight design lets you wear these headphones for hours with minimal discomfort.
Additionally, its modern, minimalist look draws less attention than bulkier headphones.
One of the main drawbacks of the design is storage, which is more challenging than that of, for example, AirPods. Although this design choice provides a good fit during high-intensity activity, it reduces convenience when carrying it around.
On the upside, the Shokz OpenRun Pro’s durability is strong due to its flexibility. You can bend it, though not recommended. Its IP55 rating means it handles sweat, rain, and dust.
If you’re traveling and short on space, the headphones’ flexibility lets you bend them to fit into your bag for a short time. However, repeated storage in this way can damage the headphones.
Additionally, one thing about bone conduction headphones is that at 75-100% volume, they can sit very slightly on your head, which can be ticklish/uncomfortable for some.
Sound quality
The OpenRun Pro is one generation behind the newest model, but it still performs well.
Bass
The bass is present but not overpowering, and it is not muffled or messy, making the overall bass performance great.
Mids
The mids are crystal clear, better than budget earbuds like Soundcore P20i or mid-range headphones like Soundcore Space One. However, the mids can sound slightly distant.
Treble
Treble is clear and not overly sharp, except on very high notes where some slight harshness can occur. Like the mids, the treble can sound slightly recessed at times.
Soundstage
The soundstage is ok as you can distinguish right from left well, though differentiating between front and back is less clear. Overall, the soundstage rates at 4 out of 10 at best.
Mic Quality
The mic on the Shokz OpenRun Pro is good. In normal quiet talking conditions, the mic performs exceptionally well, with voices sounding pretty natural. Then, with slight noise, it’s still great. Once it reaches mid-to-very-high noise levels, for example, people talking noise, the voice is still very understandable, but the quality drops to, like, a max of 6/10. It’s great for almost any call scenario, except if you’re calling in public right next to a bunch of people.
There is sound leakage at medium to high volume, which can disturb those nearby. At high volume, people beside you can hear what you’re listening to.
Battery /Charging
The battery lasts 10 hours at normal volume and 4 hours at high volume. Charging for 5 minutes provides 1.5 hours of use, and a full charge takes an hour. Battery life is better than top-tier bone-conduction models like the Shokz OpenSwim Pro and Mojawa Run Plus.
One annoying thing, though, is that they use a magnetic charger instead of a simple and standard USB-c charger.
Value
The Shokz OpenRun Pro is a strong performer, but for only $20 more, the latest version (OpenRun Pro 2) offers better sound, USB-C charging, and longer battery life. Both are priced at the flagship level, but the OpenRun Pro lacks the very latest features. If you find the OpenRun Pro discounted, it remains a solid choice for comfort and performance, but at full price, the newer version is the better buy.
Conclusion
You should buy the OpenRun Pro if you first need a lightweight headphone with great sound quality and durability, and if you can’t buy the latest version. The reason is that, as I said before, the latest version is only $20 more expensive. So, unless there’s a sale, stick with the latest version.
Disclaimer
This headphone is discontinued, but some stock remains at outlets like Amazon. Availability is not guaranteed.
This was the most useful thing I every saw in my life