Customer Ratings & Reviews

I'm always a little skeptical of companies that release updates to products that are a year or less old. Software products make sense for regular update cycles, but hardware like headphones don't make as much sense. Usually the update is cosmetic or adds a single new feature (like Apple releasing "new" headphones where the only change was the connector). I inevitably end up skipping the update. Shokz may prove me wrong though with their terrific update to the one year old OpenDots One earbuds. I bought the OpenDots One when released in May 2025. It was a great set of open ear earbuds that I've enjoyed a lot since the purchase. When the OpenDots 2 were released, I wasn't really interested in upgrading, but thought I'd give it a try since my wife was eyeing my One's for a while. She gets the One's and I get a new set. The OpenDots 2 follow the same design as the previous generation. They consist an ear clip design with speakers connected to the battery/control unit by a flexible arm. When in place, the speakers sit inside your ear without blocking the ear canal, the flex arm curves around your ear, and the larger battery pod sits behind your ear. The design allows you to hear the sound form the earbud perfectly without blocking out your surroundings. I use mine in the office all day long. I can listen to music while still being aware if someone is trying to get my attention. It works wonders oover my previous noise cancelling buds that worked so well that I often looked up to see someone was in my office door trying to talk to me and I didn't necessarily see them. The Open Dots 2 sound terrific. the first gen were good, but these seem louder with a lot more bass. Music is crisp and phone calls are clear. Callers say the microphones sound great and they had no problem hearing me. The Shoksz app (I have the iOS version) works well and connects fast. You can use it for changing the gesture controls, loading new firmware, pairing, some basic audio equalization and a really nice "Find my" option for locating lost buds that plays a loud sound which helps you locate the bud.. You can also turn on/off Dolby Audio and wear detection. The buds also have multipoint pairing so I can have my phone and Mac connected at the same time for smooth switching between sources. There really aren't many downsides to the OpenDots 2. If I had to pick on anything, the gesture control is a bit confusing and difficult to use. For genesture control, you can tap the flexible stem or pinch the battery/control pods to initiate a function. You can set the functions in the app. I have to say, the One's worked better with the gesture control. Both are set up the same, but the OpenDot 2's focus more on actions that involve pinching the control pod and limits (to a degree) the flex arm tapping. Maybe they did that beause tapping the arm on either unit is hit or miss. Pinching the pods works every ntime, but it's not as easy to do as my ear gets in the way. It's a small nit, but it is a difference and an issue. I love the OpenDot 2's. If you have the previous generation, the sound quality makes it worth the upgrade alone. I highly recommend these earbuds.

Looking at the Shokz OpenDots One and OpenDots 2 side by side, you wouldn't see much of a difference. They are virtually identical in appearance, size, charging method, and how they function with their cases. However, once you pair them and start listening, the difference becomes quite evident. I was a huge fan of the OpenDots One. Not only were they my favorite open-ear headphones, but they also became my go-to headphones at home for listening while doing other things that required me to stay aware of my surroundings. In many situations, I found myself reaching for them more often than my traditional Bluetooth headphones. When I heard that an updated model was coming out, I wasn't sure how Shokz could improve something that already worked so well. On the surface, it may not seem like much has changed, but the differences are surprisingly significant. The biggest upgrade has to be the sound quality. It wasn't until I listened to the OpenDots 2 that I realized the OpenDots One sounded slightly muffled. I never noticed it before, and I probably never would have if I hadn't compared them directly. The OpenDots 2 sound fuller, clearer, and significantly louder. At maximum volume, you may actually have trouble hearing your surroundings, which can somewhat defeat the purpose of an open-ear design. However, that's also a positive because it means you no longer need a second pair of headphones when you want richer, more immersive audio. On both versions, I enable Dolby Audio through the Shokz app. On the OpenDots One, you can use both Dolby Audio and an EQ simultaneously, but I never felt they complemented each other particularly well. The result was a subtle effect layered on top of another subtle effect, which sometimes degraded the overall sound. Shokz fixed this on the OpenDots 2 by allowing you to choose either Dolby Audio or an EQ. For me, Dolby Audio is exceptional. There's something about the processing that makes it feel as though you're actually in the room with the performers. It's difficult to describe, but the acoustics create a sense that the sound is coming from the space around you rather than directly from the headphones. That's quite an accomplishment for an open-ear design. Whether I'm listening to music, watching YouTube videos, or enjoying podcasts, the upgraded sound quality is immediately noticeable. I'll still hold on to my OpenDots One, but the OpenDots 2 are definitely a cut above. Speaking of similarities, I appreciate that Shokz didn't change the case or charging system. Neither model requires a proprietary charger unique to that version. In a pinch, I can use either charging case with whichever earbuds I'm currently using. That's a welcome convenience and adds flexibility on top of what is already excellent battery life. One feature Shokz highlighted—and one that genuinely makes a difference—is the addition of a bone-conduction microphone. Do I think it helps? Absolutely. I've noticed the biggest improvement when using voice dictation. I use a Google Pixel 10 Pro, and it occasionally struggles to accurately pick up what I'm saying through voice-to-text applications. I've experienced this issue both with other Bluetooth headphones and with the phone's built-in microphone. With the OpenDots 2, however, I've noticed a dramatic improvement in voice recognition accuracy. My dictated text is transcribed much more accurately, and voice calls and Google Meet calls sound excellent on my end. So far, no one I've spoken with has mentioned difficulty hearing me. In fact, several people have commented on how clear my voice sounded. Based on my testing, the addition of the bone-conduction microphone is a meaningful upgrade. Another welcome improvement is the durability rating. The OpenDots 2 carry an IP57 rating, compared to the IP54 rating of the OpenDots One. I never had issues using the original model during workouts, but the added protection against dust and water is certainly appreciated. Lastly, the touch controls are noticeably more responsive. This is especially true when using the pinch and tap gestures to pause music, adjust volume, or control playback. With the OpenDots One, I occasionally experienced frustrating moments when the controls didn't register correctly, particularly while boxing or exercising. The OpenDots 2 are much more reliable, making everyday use considerably smoother and less frustrating. If you already own the OpenDots One, the OpenDots 2 may not seem dramatically different at first glance. However, once you start using them, the improvements become obvious. The upgraded sound quality, more responsive touch controls, improved voice pickup, enhanced durability, and better microphone performance all add up to a noticeably better overall experience. The OpenDots One remain excellent headphones, but the OpenDots 2 are unquestionably the superior product and, in my opinion, well worth the upgrade.

I wear earbuds of some sort pretty much all day every day at work. Always looking for the unicorn of buds. I thought I had the unicorn in my last budget pair, but the batteries went south after a couple months and only gave me about an hour of run time. So it was time to try a premium pair. I’ve grown fond of the open ear style so the Shokz OpenDots 2 seemed like a good option. Unboxing was simple and uneventful. The box contains the 2 earbuds, charging case, USB C charge cable and some paperwork/manuals. I did install the app, I don't believe it is required, but it is needed to set custom EQ, turn Dolby on/off, firmware updates etc. The app did require creating an account, which isn’t my preference, but pretty common these days. The first thing I noticed with the app was the microscopic text font. I know I’m getting old, but I had a hard time reading even with my cheaters on. I walked through the steps in the app for pairing, the tutorial and the firmware update. You have the option in the app to choose some preset equalizers or you can go through the custom eq setup, it’ll play a little tune twice and ask you if you prefer the A or B version. After about 6 samples it sets your custom eq based on choices. When all was said and done I prefer listening to music with the Dolby turned on (which also turns off the EQ) During my daily use with these Shokz OpenDots 2, I’ve been finding them very comfortable. At first I had some minor soreness/pressure points but they went away. They might have been just a tad tight, but are now breaking in. Previous ear buds I’d usually only wear 1 at a time and swap left and right all day due to discomfort. With the Shokz I can wear both all day long. Sound quality is very good for open ear design. Sometimes open ear types need to be ‘rotated’ to the sweet spot for good quality sound. Shokz documentation even shows you the proper way to wear them. In use I’ve found that sweet spot to be quite large, they don't have to rotate a certain perfect way for optimal sound. They strike a nice balance of good quality sound while still being able to hear your surroundings. While using for phone calls, I’ve also been told they sound good. Battery life seems to be on par with the claims. I can get almost a full work day with them on. They do state using Dolby will shorten battery life. I usually just drop them in the case for a little bit during lunch and then they last the entire day. Speaking of the case, it’s nice and small and easy to get the Opendots 2 in and out of. I’ve only found one issue as of now. Shokz claims Opendots 2 are interchangeable between left and right side. In use this seems to be the case in regards to the left and right side ‘gesture’ controls (play/pause/volume/etc). I was however able to grab the Opendots 2 from the case, put them in the opposite side of where they had been worn last time, go and play a stereo test video with left and right audio, and the Opendots 2 would be outputting sound on the wrong side compared to the test video. This wouldn't be a big issue just listening to music, but if you are watching videos/movies you want the sound stage to match what your eyes are seeing. I did test this a few times on different videos and after inserting/removing the Opendots 2 from the charging case etc, and I was able to duplicate it. Hopefully this is something they can fix in firmware. The fix for now for me is to take them out of the case and put them in the same side ear. All in all, I’m happy with the function, sound and comfort of the Shokz OpenDots 2. They are reaching up there in price range, approaching over the ear noise canceling type, but for the open ear style I think they are worthy of the premium price provided they last me at least through the 2 year warranty period.

I’ve been really impressed with these earbuds. They’re extremely comfortable and light—I can wear them for hours without my ears getting sore. The open-ear design lets me listen to music while still being aware of my surroundings, which is great when I’m working outdoors or walking around. The sound quality is much better than I expected for open-ear earbuds, with clear audio and solid bass. Battery life has been excellent, and the charging case is compact and easy to carry. Bluetooth pairing was quick, and the connection has been reliable. If you’re looking for comfortable earbuds that don’t completely block out the world around you, these are definitely worth it. Highly recommended!

I’ve now tried many different types and brands of open ear headphones, and these Shokz open dots 2 are comfortable, have all day battery life, and sound good considering how compact and lightweight they are. The charging case is very small and features wireless charging, USB-C, and has an additional 40 hours of battery life to transfer to the buds themselves. These are not my first from the Shokz brand, and while I still miss the old namesake of the bone conduction tech, these are probably the best overall open ear buds I’ve tried. They lightly clip onto your ear and the speaker hovers just outside the ear canal. The backside contains the battery and charging contacts and controls. One of the more unique features is that both buds are identical and can be used in either ear with auto detection for sides. Overall sound quality is good, but they are lacking in bass and are very difficult to hear in loud environments. But they are comfortable to wear for extended periods and last a solid 8-9 hours before needing to be recharged. The Shokz app allows you to customize the sound field, toggle dolby on and off, check battery life, update firmware, and register the warranty. If you use them in an environment where you need to be more aware of your surroundings but said surroundings are not too loud, these would be perfect. For me as a delivery driver in a loud truck all day they don’t quite work. The certainly last long enough to get through the day but I can’t hear well enough over my loud truck to be able to use them well. So ultimately whether they work for you will depend on your use case. They are high quality and have a great feature set but are not perfect for every scenario.

I’ve been really impressed with these Shokz OpenDots 2 earbuds. They’re lightweight, comfortable, and stay securely in place, even when I’m walking or working. The open-ear design lets me enjoy my music while still being aware of my surroundings, which is perfect for everyday use. The sound quality is surprisingly clear with good bass for an open-ear design, and calls come through crisp and easy to hear. Battery life has also been excellent, lasting through my day without needing to recharge. If you’re looking for comfortable earbuds that don’t completely block out the world around you, I highly recommend these. They’re a great combination of comfort, sound quality, and convenience.

I've been extremely impressed with the Shokz OpenDots 2. The open-ear design is incredibly comfortable, making it easy to wear for hours without the ear fatigue that traditional earbuds can cause. They stay securely in place whether I'm working, walking, or exercising, and I love being able to hear my surroundings while still enjoying my music and calls. The sound quality is surprisingly rich and clear for an open-ear device, with well-balanced audio and crisp vocals. Call quality is also excellent, and the microphones do a great job of keeping conversations clear. The lightweight design makes you almost forget you're wearing them. Another standout feature is the battery life, which easily gets me through a full day of use. Charging is quick and convenient, and pairing with my devices was seamless. Overall, the Shokz OpenDots 2 deliver the perfect combination of comfort, awareness, sound quality, and convenience. If you're looking for earbuds that keep you connected to your environment without sacrificing audio performance, these are an excellent choice. Highly recommended!

I have been very happy with my OpenDots 2. Battery life is great. Sound is excellent- though I am not an audiophile. I do like classical music and they sound good to me. Not having to look for a tinny indicator of which ear they go in is a big plus. Only "problem" I have is they are so comfortable, I forget they are there.

Received my Shokz Open-Ear Dots 2 Bluetooth Earbuds in the pretty Pearl White color and they were nicely packaged. After unboxing and since I already had the Shokz app on my iPhone, I pressed the little button on back of the charging case and they paired flawlessly. I proceeded to fully charge them after that. Once charging was completed, I placed in my ears and had to be sure I was getting them on correctly. Once done they fit gently with no discomfort. There was an update available which I immediately put in via the app. The Shokz app is a must and is really great! It walks you through the gesture controls, making them easy to operate. Pinch x1 on the Left that's to Answer/End a call. On the Right it's Next Track. If you Pinch and Hold it adjusts the Volume with - on the left and + on the right. Tap x2 Left is Play/Pause and Right is Play/Pause. You can activate the Dolby Audio for clear vocals, richer details and better bass. There is an Equalizer that offers Standard, Vocal, Bass, Private, Smart EQ or Customize. One neat thing is they have 12 musical vocal sounds to listen to using the Smart EQ Test. You have the choice to pick either A or B. Seemed like the B music was more tinny than the A's so after listening I basically chose most all A's and WOW what a sound playing my music apps! Rich, full and lively! Really enjoyed listening to every thing I chose. if you pick the Dolby Audio setting it wipes out the EQ settings. There are some other settings in the app including Smart Wear Detection, Interchangeable Left/Right Earbuds, Reset to Factory Settings, User Guide, FAQ, Multi-Pairing, Find My Earbuds in which it pings an earbud if they are paired with a device. I found them to be very clean and clear when talking on the phone as well, which I do a lot of. No muddy sounds or drop outs from the Bluetooth. All in all I am quite pleased with these Shokz OpenDots 2 earbuds and can definitely recommend them! For me an open-ear design is the only way to go. From the color and comfort to the usability I love mine!

I’ve been using these now for the past few weeks and they have been amazing. I used to use the airpod pros 2 and they were great but after wearing them long term in the office, they would hurt my inner ear a lot. With the open dot 2s, i honestly forget that i’m wearing them. They’re super comfortable and the sound quality is amazing. I love being able to listen to my audiobooks while working but also still hearing my environment. As well the pain from my inner ear is gone. The battery life is amazing as well. I wear them for at least 8 hours a day and they only drop to like 70% granted i’m always pausing and unpausing for various different things. But all in all amazing.

I think the OpenDots 2 are the best-sounding Shokz I’ve owned so far. My wife agrees and will probably wind up with them. She loves them! My wife and I have owned several different models of Shokz products since she got us both a pair of Trekz Air for Christmas in 2019. We upgraded to the OpenRun Pros in 2023 and were even more pleased with them, as they have longer battery life and better sound for listening to music. In 2024, I reviewed the OpenRun Pro 2 for Tech Insider Network; Shokz had improved the sound quality even more and switched from a proprietary clip-on magnet charging cable to a standard USB-C connector. Also in 2024, my wife got the OpenFit Air. They are okay, but they don’t sound as good as all the others I’ve mentioned. The OpenDots 2 comes in a convenient charging case and includes a USB-C cable. Sound Quality & Performance: Compared to all the other Shokz headsets I just mentioned, the OpenDots 2 sound the best for music. You get a better, deeper bass response, and the high end goes a little higher and sounds noticeably clearer. Call quality is equal to the others, which is to say, very good. Unlike traditional earbuds, the OpenDots 2 doesn’t go into your ear canal at all. Because everyone's ear anatomy is shaped a little differently, air-conduction audio can sound completely different from person to person depending on how the buds sit in your ear in front of your ear canal. You will probably have to adjust how they sit while playing music to find the sweet spot and get the absolute best sound out of them. Due to the open-ear nature of letting ambient sound in “naturally,” they do not feature active noise canceling (ANC) for the wearer. I tried running with them and doing other activities that might cause them to fall off, and I wasn't able to knock them loose—even when pulling off a shirt, unless I purposely tried to. Design & Real-World Comfort: One thing I love as opposed to the OpenRun and Trekz series is the lack of the behind-the-head band. The traditional Shokz titanium band is incredible for running, but the second you lean back against a pillow, a recliner, or a headrest. The band hits the cushion, pushes forward, and knocks the speakers right out of alignment. By going to independent clip-on units, the OpenDots 2 completely solves the "couch problem." You can lie flat on your back or side, and your audio stays perfectly positioned. Additionally, I’ve frequently had the traditional bands get tangled up with my glasses when taking either the OpenRuns or my glasses off. The independent design of the OpenDots 2 completely eliminates that hassle. However, there is a minor trade-off with the new form factor. Because the OpenDots 2 use a clip-on/cuff design, they rely on a gentle but continuous clamping force on the outside edge of your ear cartilage to stay secure. It’s brilliant for stability when walking or moving around, but after three or four hours of continuous wear, that cartilage can definitely start to ache. App Features & Dolby Audio: Using the Shokz app to tweak the EQ allows you to manually pick from presets or create your own custom profile, which is a big help whether you need to pump up the bass to fight ambient noise or roll back the treble if it feels too sharp. I don't care for how the Dolby Audio sounds with music. It’s pretty common for "spatial" or advanced audio processing algorithms to completely mess with the soundstage of a well-mixed music track, often making it sound hollow, artificially wide, or weirdly phased. It's usually best left off for music, as standard stereo tracks are mixed with specific panning and balance in mind. Where I think Dolby Audio genuinely shines is with podcasts, talk shows, and video content. Turning it on acts like a "voice boost" or a virtual soundstage expander. It helps separate the speakers from any background noise in the production, lifting the dialogue out of a flat center channel and making a long talking-head podcast feel much more immersive and less fatiguing to listen to over long periods. The app is also used to view the battery charge in the OpenDots 2 and the charging case, customize gesture control settings, install firmware updates, and view the owner's manual. It works seamlessly with many recent Shokz headsets as well. Microphone & Call Testing: The OpenDots 2 do not use bone conduction to put the sound in your head like the OpenRun Pro series; instead, they implement a bone-conduction microphone alongside regular air-conduction mics to handle noise cancellation on your voice. It filters out ambient environmental noise very well so the person on the other end of the call won’t hear it or barely will. I tested this in a stiff breeze outside and then on my big, noisy zero-turn mower. It quieted things down to the point that the people I was talking to said they didn’t hear the breeze at all and barely heard the mower. However, there is a practical trade-off: they also barely heard me while the mower was running unless I talked considerably louder to break through the aggressive noise gate. Battery life and charging times easily match Shokz’s claims, though your mileage may vary depending on your listening volume. Wife’s Take; Mrs Low Notes I love these Dots 2! I have tiny ears and have never been able to find earbuds that are small enough to fit my ears. The ball that sits in your ear is 13mm (half an inch) and fits perfectly for me. I’ve been a Shokz fan ever since we got the Trekz Airs. The Dots 2 are my fifth Shokz. I even tried the Open Fit Air Shokz but they are too big and won’t stay on my ears, but my mother-in-law loves them. The Dots 2 are going to be great when I’m outside and want to wear my glasses, over sunglasses and Shokz as well. The Open Run 2 Shokz that I usually wear all day, and the I love ends up being part of a trio of things over the top of my small ears. If I wear them all three too long, the bulk ends up hurting my ears. I’ve worn the Dots 2 all day and they barely made my ears a little tender. Compared to the bulky trio, no comparison. I finally have a set of non bone conduction earphones I can wear! I love being able to pair them with my phone and tablet and go between them without having to repair them each time I switch. I just go to the Bluetooth devices list and turn them off, and the other picks them up when I turn on the other device. Note that you can connect them to two phones at once. Build Quality & Customer Service: The build quality feels incredibly solid, and they come backed by a 2-year warranty. Brand reliability is worth noting here: on an older pair of Trekz and my OpenRun Pro 2, one of the physical buttons failed under warranty. Shokz customer service sent me a new replacement pair ASAP, and I didn’t even have to hassle with sending back the bad pair. Final Thoughts: The OpenDots 2 are the best-sounding Shokz I’ve used so far. If you want classic Shokz situational awareness and comfort without the behind-the-head band, and you listen to a lot of music, these are absolutely the ones to get.

I was super hesitant about buying these because they were totally out of my comfort zone. I finally tried them and I absolutely love them. I can wear them all day and not realize they are even on my ear. I haven’t had any issues of people hearing me during calls and the music sounds awesome. My ears are small so I have a hard time with in ear because they start to hurt. These are a total game changer for me!

Best open ear design. Very secure fit, small case, long battery life and a definite improved sound!

The sound quality is great!. Fits comfortably around the ear that you forget their there. Great for workouts. They did not move during my intense workout.Long battery life. Easy to use and definitely an upgrade when using for phone calls. The calls are clear on both ends. Great buy!

High quality purpose built Lets start with what these are - clip on headphones. They are NOT in ear or over ear. So there needs to be this clarification as this is very purpose driven product. There is no noise cancelling in these. So you get environment noise coming in, great for walking the city, public spaces. Where you need to be aware of your surroundings. That stated. Lets take a review of the product. Build quality is great. I really like the case, no pointed or sharp edges. Fits nicely in your pocket. The phones themselves are high quality and are easy to wear. Nice materials that are smooth and dont feel like they are grippy. Sound quality - these have some nice high end drivers. I did find them a bit on the high treble side on initial testing. But they did mellow out a bit and the built in eq allows some adjustments. As i used them more, the higher treble does come through a bit clearer when you take in environmental noise. Fitting - these are really light weight. They sit nicely on your ear. Not to tight and not floppy either. You can barely feel them when worn actually. VERY Comfortable. controls - this could be a barrier for some. I don't mess with them to much. Simple pause/play, next is what i use mostly. So they worked for me. I did find using the touch to be a bit hard sometimes. I think once you figure it out, it prob works ok. This could be the only issue i have with them. Battery is really good. The barrel allows a good charge and the case provides that extra coverage. So you could probably get away with weekly chargings! Overall, REALLY nice quality set. Built well and fit is exceptional. Hours of use with not irritation. I see these for runners, walkers and work place environments where you can't 100% zone out from what is around you. Highly recommended

Great product where you can still hear your surroundings. The earbud fits well, clipped onto the ear. Stays in the ear while exercising. No need to buy replacement ear tips. Lasts 8 hours all day. 36 hours of battery life before charging the case.

for those who want the open ear style of earbuds, these OpenDots 2 by Shokz are great! they specialize in the “open ear” style of earbud, as it’s all they make! great sound quality, great battery life… as i’ve basically said before, all around great product!

I have used many wireless Bluetooth headsets, and these are probably the most comfortable. I have ever tried, and the sound is amazing. I use them exercising in the gym. And they stay where they are supposed to be.

I wear these 13-14 hrs and the battery lasts all day. They don’t make my ears sores , they have great sound quality. I would like the microphone to be a little better quality.

sounds great, you can accidently leave it in your ear for hours and feel no discomfort, lasted entire 10 hour work days battery life. sounds great, the mic is just normal, nothing special