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Shokz OpenFit 2+ review: Worth the $20 upgrade?
Dec 16, 2025 — 12:12 PM ET
SHOKZ OpenFit 2+
The Shokz OpenFit 2+ doesn’t reinvent the open-ear formula, but it offers some incremental improvements over their last iteration. If you’ve been eyeing the OpenFit lineup but hesitated on the last model, the additions of wireless charging and improved call quality might be just enough to push you over the edge. But if you already own the OpenFit 2, these incremental upgrades won’t justify buying a whole new pair. Find out whether the refinements matter in our Shokz OpenFit 2+ review.
This article was published on December 16, 2025, and this is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.
What I like about the Shokz OpenFit 2+
The OpenFit 2+ refines what already worked well in the OpenFit 2 while addressing a few pain points. The silicone coating feels noticeably softer against the skin, and the redesigned nickel-titanium ear hooks distribute pressure more evenly during extended wear. I found them comfortable enough to wear for over two hours without experiencing fatigue.
Wireless charging
One big addition is wireless charging. After years of Shokz products requiring cables, the OpenFit 2+ case is compatible with any Qi-certified charging pad. This seemingly minor upgrade makes a real difference. I could drop the case on my nightstand charger alongside my phone rather than hunting for yet another USB-C cable. The case still supports wired charging for faster top-ups, but the wireless option adds genuine daily convenience.
Battery life remains unchanged at 11 hours per charge and 48 hours total with the case—still excellent for open-ear earbuds. A 10-minute quick charge now provides 2 hours of playback, a slight tweak from the OpenFit 2’s 5-minute charge for the same runtime.
Sound quality edges forward
The OpenFit 2+ maintains the DualBoost dual-driver system—a 17.3mm bass driver paired with a separate tweeter—but adds OpenBass 2.0 processing and optional Dolby Audio. Even with Dolby disabled, I noticed a slight improvement in sound quality compared to the OpenFit 2, particularly in terms of reduced distortion, improved midrange definition, and reduced muddiness in busy tracks.
The custom 5-band equalizer returns unchanged, targeting 64Hz, 100Hz, 1kHz, 4kHz, and 8kHz. Just like before, the Bass Boost and Treble Boost presets remain your best bet for compensating for the open-ear design’s inherent bass limitations.
Less sound leakage
One improvement is the addition of DirectPitch 2.0, which Shokz claims reduces sound leakage by 2-5dB compared to the OpenFit 2. I tested this by having someone stand a few feet away while playing music at various volumes, and the leakage is noticeably better than the OpenFit 2—they struggled to make out what I was listening to at normal listening levels. This makes the OpenFit 2+ more office-friendly, though open-ear designs will always leak more than sealed earbuds at higher volumes.
Call clarity
The OpenFit 2+ incorporates four AI-enhanced microphones designed to filter background noise during calls, and the results are fairly impressive. In ideal conditions, your voice comes through clearly and naturally without the processed, robotic quality that plagues many earbud microphones. For indoor calls or calm outdoor conditions, the OpenFit 2+ delivers some of the best microphone performance I’ve tested in open-ear earbuds.
Shokz OpenFit 2+ microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
Shokz OpenFit 2+ microphone demo (Office conditions):
Shokz OpenFit 2+ microphone demo (Street conditions):
Shokz OpenFit 2+ microphone demo (Windy conditions):
Shokz OpenFit 2+ microphone demo (Reverberant space):
The real-world performance is pretty good. Office chatter, street traffic, and general urban noise are filtered out almost completely without obscuring your voice. I tested these during calls while walking through busy downtown streets and working in a noisy coffee shop, and callers consistently reported excellent clarity.
The only scenario where the AI processing struggles is in windy conditions. When gusts hit the microphones, the algorithm fights to distinguish wind noise from speech, occasionally cutting out parts of words or syllables as it tries to compensate. This is a common limitation across most earbuds with aggressive noise rejection, but it’s worth noting if you frequently take calls outdoors on blustery days.
Controls and connectivity
The control scheme carries over from the OpenFit 2, combining physical buttons with touch panels. Single-click play/pause, double-click skip, triple-click previous, and hold for volume work intuitively during workouts. The physical buttons remain far more reliable than touch-only controls when your hands are sweaty or you’re wearing gloves. The OpenFit 2+ also adds wear detection, automatically pausing playback when you remove an earbud and resuming when you put it back on.
Multipoint pairing returns via Bluetooth 5.4, allowing seamless switching between two devices—useful for managing work calls on your laptop while keeping your phone connected. The IP55 rating provides solid protection against sweat and rain, though the case itself remains non-waterproof.
What I don’t like about the Shokz OpenFit 2+
Despite the refined ear hooks and softer silicone coating, I noticed stability issues during high-impact activities. While the hooks sit securely behind my ears, the actual speaker housings jiggle and shift when I shake my head or jump during plyometric exercises. For steady-pace runners, this won’t matter much. But if you do burpees, box jumps, or anything involving rapid head movement, the sensation of earbuds bouncing slightly becomes distracting. It doesn’t affect sound quality dramatically, but it’s annoying enough to mention, especially since Shokz markets these for active use.
Dolby Audio feels like a gimmick
The Dolby Audio toggle promises enhanced immersion, but the reality isn’t quite that. Enabling it adds noticeable reverb and boominess, which might sound “fuller” at first but becomes fatiguing during longer sessions. It doesn’t deliver genuine spatial positioning—just processing artifacts that make everything sound like it’s playing in a small room. I left Dolby off for most listening and did my own EQ tweaks.
Aside from that, the OpenFit 2+ still lacks Find My functionality to locate the case if you misplace it. The case also remains non-waterproof, despite the earbuds’ IP55 rating, so avoid leaving it in a sweaty gym bag or running belt.
How do the Shokz OpenFit 2+ sound?
Editor’s note: this review uses a hover-enabled glossary to describe sound quality based on a consensus vocabulary. You can read about it here.
The Shokz OpenFit 2+ won’t replace your main earbuds for critical listening, but they serve their purpose well. The open design means bass lacks punch and depth—EDM and hip-hop lose their energy, though you’ll still hear the bass lines clearly enough. Vocals and guitars sound natural without harshness, making them suitable for rock, folk, and podcast listening during activities where you need to stay aware of your surroundings. The weak treble keeps things smooth but sacrifices brilliance and detail in busy mixes. In quiet environments, music sounds clear and enjoyable. In noisy settings like city streets or crowded gyms, you’ll struggle to hear lyrics and quieter instruments without cranking the volume uncomfortably high.
Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)
The chart below shows the Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS) earned by the Shokz OpenFit 2+. The algorithm uses a mountain of data from real people to predict how a group of 200 or so humans would rate the sound of a product on a scale from 1.0 (very bad) to 5.0 (very good), and return a mean opinion score.
Before judging the low scores, it’s important to remember that these earbuds aren’t designed for critical listening. Generally, we observe lower scores in this category because the driver is placed outside the ear canal. Still, an overall score of 2.2 is below average for the open earbuds we have tested thus far.
Objective Measurements
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The Shokz OpenFit 2+ offers a similar frequency response to the OpenFit 2. Both models show significantly weak sub-bass below 100Hz. Through the upper mids and treble, the OpenFit 2+ consistently underemphasizes frequencies compared to our preference curve, staying 3-5dB below what we would like to see in this region. This results in vocals and instruments sounding weaker and less detailed than I prefer, although you won’t encounter any harsh sibilance. The companion app’s Bass Boost and Treble Boost EQ presets both help to increase the perceived bass and treble strength.
Should you buy the Shokz OpenFit 2+?
At $199.95, the OpenFit 2+ costs $20 more than the OpenFit 2’s launch price. If you’re buying your first pair of open-ear earbuds, that premium buys you wireless charging, reduced sound leakage, and AI call enhancement—worthwhile conveniences. However, if you already own the OpenFit 2, nothing here justifies replacing a perfectly functional product. The improvements are nice-to-haves, not game-changers.
On the other hand, if you are looking for open-earbuds with better sound quality, the Nothing Ear (Open) received higher overall MDAQS results and cost $50 less at $149 at Amazon, although you do sacrifice wireless charging. Likewise, the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 ($179.95 at Amazon) provides a more stable fit for athletes who listen on the go and are open to trying bone conduction headphones.
Shokz OpenFit 2+ review: FAQs
No, the Shokz OpenFit 2+ are not bone-conduction headphones. They use speakers positioned outside your ear canal, without blocking it, unlike Shokz's bone conduction models, such as the OpenRun Pro 2.
The Shokz OpenFit 2+ ($199.95) adds wireless charging, AI-enhanced call quality with four microphones, Dolby Audio processing, and DirectPitch 2.0 for reduced sound leakage. The OpenFit 2 ($179.95) offers similar sound quality and battery life without these conveniences. Both models feature physical controls, 11-hour battery life, and IP55 water resistance.
Yes, the Shokz OpenFit 2+ case supports Qi wireless charging, a first for Shokz's open-ear lineup. The case also supports USB-C charging for faster top-ups.
Yes, the Shokz OpenFit 2+ supports multipoint connectivity, allowing you to connect to two devices simultaneously.
The OpenFit 2+ features DirectPitch 2.0 technology that reduces sound leakage by 2-5dB compared to previous models. At normal volumes, leakage is minimal, though at higher volumes, people nearby may still hear some audio, less than the OpenFit 2 but more than sealed earbuds.
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