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Customer Ratings & Reviews

$129.99

Customer reviews

Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars with 20 reviews

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90%
would recommend
to a friend

Customers are saying

Customers recognize the product for its impressive sound quality and comfort, which contribute to a pleasant user experience. Its appealing design, strong battery life, and stable fit are also frequently praised. However, some customers have expressed frustration with the touch controls.

This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.

The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 1 Showing 1-20 of 20 reviews
  • Pros mentioned:
    Comfort, Sound quality
    Cons mentioned:
    Touch controls
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Pretty nice once you get used to the "fit"

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    If you're one of those people who really don't like how earbuds feel when they're pressed into your ear, these might be a great "fit" for you (pun intended). Setup is as simple as any bluetooth headphones. Opening the case starts a pairing mode so you can connect to your phone and then you're all done. I feel like I should include putting these "on" in the setup process, though. It's a weird process of moving them around until they "feel" right and then trying to repeat that position every time you put them back on. It takes some getting used to but it's not too difficult. These don't have the greatest sound in the world but I wouldn't expect them to. They don't really get inserted into your ear so you're relying on them just "throwing" the audio into your ears. For that, they actually sound a LOT better than I was expecting. The biggest gripe would probably just be that they're a little quieter than other earbuds that actually seal into your ear. The tone might also be a little washed out or muddled. I was surprised about the amount of bass I was hearing. Another surprise was how little I could hear these when my wife was wearing them. When I cranked up the volume, I could hear them a little bit but with the volume anywhere normal, you really can't hear them from outside. Comfort is great. Once you lock down where the back piece should sit, it's pretty easy to get them back to the same spot. It takes longer than standard earbuds to put them on but it's not that bad. Once they're in place, they stay put and you really don't feel them all that much. I didn't feel any discomfort in my earlobe after prolonged use. Gesture controls are weird on this. There are two modes (according to the instructions) for activating gestures. You should be able to touch the middle stalk that connects both sides. Or you can squeeze the top and bottom of the part that goes behind your ear. I couldn't for the life of be get the tap gesture to do anything. The squeeze seemed to work ok though. I'm pretty bad at gestures with earbuds, though, so gesture controls aren't really a big deal to me. But they might be for you! Overall, these are pretty decent headphones. I wouldn't even mind listening to some music with these. Audiobooks and podcasts are probably the best spot for these. If you're looking for something different and don't enjoy earbuds being inserted into your ear, these might be a good alternative instead of resorting to over-ear headphones.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Sound quality
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Excellent fit and allows awareness of surrounding

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The Shokz OpenDots Air open ear clip on true wireless earbuds are a fantastic pair of earbuds for active lifestyles. These earbuds work so well for my ear shape and the rigorous demands of my daily life. The sound quality is quite nice and always sounds clear. I enjoy running extensively and live an active lifestyle. I have been using this pair of earbuds with my 8 mile runs in the 90-degree heat and they fit on my ear so well and stay in place. I can put them onto my ear, and they are secure for my full workout. The earbuds don’t require any readjusting or moving around and can handle all the jostling my body experiences during a long run. The clip feature of this earbud is comfortable without pinching. There is a flexible nickel titanium plate that securely holds the shape of the arc to clip onto the back of the ear and into your ear. The material is a skin friendly silicone that feels comfortable and stable at the same time. I’ll wear this for long running sessions, indoor bike workouts, playing tennis, and playing basketball. The earbuds feel weightless at only 6.3grams per earbud. I love this headphone design as it keeps me alert and aware at all times of my surroundings on my outdoor runs in the city and wilderness. In this day and age, I want to hear all my nearby sounds for my own safety and wellness. I find the inner earbud design of many popular brands to be a poor fit for my ear shape. Those other earbuds fall out if I am chewing food, sneezing, or yawning, and just standing over a toilet. This Shokz OpenDots Air is always secure on my ear when I’m working in the office, working out aggressively, and commuting to work. The 11.8mm dual drivers offer a rich sound and the content plays clearly for music, movies, and streaming. I also enjoy the minimalistic feel and look of this earbud as I can wear it much of the day and few people will notice it. It’s a compact form factor that looks sleek. There are 4 preset EQ modes to choose from for easy listening, and there are 2 customizable EQ modes to dial in your preferences. These earbuds will last up to 36 hours on a full charge and a fully charged case. I have been able to get 9 hours of usage on a full earbud charge. Quick charging will give you 2 hours of listening time with a 10-minute charge. And these earbuds are easily swapped between either ear as there is versatility to use an earbud on either or left side, and then you can place them back into the case without a true left or right side. The touch controls and pinch controls on the earbuds is easy to learn and customizable to your preferences with the Shokz app. So far, all the phone calls I have taken with these OpenDots Air have been clear to hear and my caller can hear my speaking clearly. These earbuds use an AI power noise reduction with dual mics that keeps my voice clear even when I’m running and moving around. They’re IP55 water resistant, offer Bluetoogh 6.1 stability and multipoint pairing for switching between 2 simultaneous devices. As an avid fitness enthusiast, I find these Shokz OpenDots Air to be so convenient and user friendly. They have not let me down with their fit, comfort, and sound quality. I highly recommend this earbud over any traditional in ear earbud because I have never had any luck with traditional earbuds fitting the shape of my ear.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Comfort, Sound quality
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Lightweight, unique look, great sound.

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    There’s a lot to like about these little earbuds. First and foremost - they have very good sound. I like the preset EQ options (in the Shokz app) and the ability to create your own personalized EQ setting. My preference is the Bass mode, but standard sounds good as well and the Vocal is great for phone calls or Podcasts as it loudens the voices and centers them in your head while listening. Cool feature of the way they sit in your ears and wrap around your mid ear cuff is there is no “left” or “right” ear bud. They are interchangeable and it automatically knows which one you are wearing in each ear so that the gestures for pause, volume, track change, call answer, etc. all still work correctly no matter which ear you put them in. They are comfortable to wear for long periods. They wrest nicely in your ear and don’t require you to push them into ear for better sound. I found that they stayed put and worked great for workouts, running, walking, yard work etc. or just sitting at your desk. They have multipoint pairing (only via the app, so be sure to load the app) to swap between tablet / phone, etc. without having to repair. The app has a nice quick walkthrough tutorial on how to use the gestures for each feature (volume, tracks, pause, calls, etc.) and they are intuitive to use gestures once you learn them. Battery life is excellent at 8-9 hours and up to 36 hours total by recharging in the case. Couple notes to be aware of: These are not noise cancelling, so I won’t be using these for flights or noisy environments. They have a “find my earbuds” feature in the app, but note that this only works if the ear buds are NOT in the case. If you put them in the case and then misplace the case, the app won’t find them. The other odd thing was when I needed to re-pair them it was difficult to figure out how to pair them with another device. They mentioned a function button on the case, but for the life of me I couldn’t find any buttons. After looking up the full user manual it shows the 3 lines that look like a vent in the middle of the case as a “Button”. But it’s the oddest button that doesn’t press I’ve seen. Just FYI if you’re looking for the “button” it’s “the vent” thing on front. 😊 Very happy with these overall.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Shokz OpenDots Air - Hearing it all

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I've had the Shokz OpenDots Air for about a week now, and they've become a part of my daily routine: Conference calls at work, check in throughout the day with family while listening to music or podcasts, then working out at home while listening to more music. These are open ear clip on earbuds so nothing goes into the ear canal. Instead they clip onto the edge of your ear and sit there so that you can hear what's going on around you. If you have been curious whether the clip on style is for you, here is my take after real world use. - Unboxing/Design & Build - The packaging is pretty basic. It's a small box, nothing oversized or designed to look fancier than it is. There are the Earbuds, the case, and the documentation. The Misty Purple is kind of like a pearl white with very subtle purple. It's more of an accessory than a tech gadget hanging off your ear. They're built to disappear on your ear. They feel sturdy and durable, and the size makes them easy to toss into the case. They're held into the case by magnets. - Specs & Features - These are very light at approximately 6 grams each. The charging case is about 40 grams so approximately 50 grams total. The Drivers are 11.8mm dual drivers in a spherical module tuned with Shokz Bassphere. There is leakage control to prevent audio from spilling out to people nearby. There is no ANC, but that's the whole idea with the open ear design. It has Bluetooth 6.1 that has a range up to 10 meters. You can Multipoint pair two devices at one. It's IP55 rated, the earbuds are sweat and splash resistant, but not waterproof. There's also a 2 year warranty. - Battery & Charging - There's up to 9 hours of playback on a charge, but the case will give you about 4 charges. There's 25 hours of talk time, and they can sit on standby up to 180 days. If you need a quick charge, 10 minutes gives you about 2 hours of listening. It takes approximately 1 hour to charge the earbuds, and 2 hours to fully charge the case. The case must be charged by a USB-C cable. There's also Dual AI noise canceling microphones for calls and fixed mic placement. - Software - The software is fairly basic. You can setup a custom equalizer, or select four different modes: Standard, Vocal, bass, and Private. You can also use a Find my Earbuds feature to ping each bud separately. There's also a section to view your battery charge on each earbud and the case. Controls are all gesture based and you set them up in the app. Out of the box, a pinch on the right bud turns the volume - Performance - Sound is good. There isn't a ton of bass, but that's the nature of an open-ear design that isn't sealing off your ear. For what they are, the bass is adequate and doesn't leave the music feeling empty. They deliver clarity and volume. Audio comes through clean and gets loud, and because there's nothing plugging into your ears, you can hear everything going on around you. During conference calls and phone calls, voices were clear and the mic did a good job of isolating my voice in the middle of typical noise among several cubicles. - Pros/Cons - *Pros* * Secure fit and comfortable * Clear, loud sound * Design keeps you aware of your environment * Gestures are intuitive and work well *Suggestions/Needs Improvement* * Bass is a little light as open air earbuds tend to be * App is basic, could use a few more options/features * Takes a few days to adjust to the feel of the clip-on The OpenDots Air won me over after a short adjustment period. If you go in expecting the deep, sealed in bass of regular earbuds, this was never the point of these. They're built for staying comfortable, and getting clear, loud sound without anything in your ears. Once I adjusted to the clip-on style, they became an easy option for everyday wear. I would recommend them to anyone that needs to be aware of their environment, or just more in-tune with their surroundings. They're great for work professionals, working out, or for any environment you need to be aware of. I recommend them.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Super comfortable with glasses

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I was intrigued by the Shokz OpenDots Air wireless earbuds. I've been using them for about a week and a half now and overall I really like them. My over the ear Shokz are probably my number 1 favorite to use but they become uncomfortable to wear with my glasses and the body of the earbud over the top of my ear. The OpenDots Air "clip" over the bottom of the inside of your ear, so there is no pressure where your glasses are. They are lightweight at 0.011 lbs so I don't really notice them on my ears. They are not noise canceling but they fit more fully into my ear than the over the ear model so they blocked out more outside noise while still allowing you to hear the world around you. The 2 earbuds are interchangeable, there is no left or right. The functions are controlled by a pinch to the band between the two sections of either earbud. The sound quality was good. I could not get them connected to the app. There were a lot of choices that were similar to these earbuds but these particular ones were not listed. I don't know if that was because I was an early user of them. I'll have to check again later. They are water resistant and bluetooth with a range up to 33 feet. Each earbud has a microphone. There is a maximum talk time of 25 hours. The battery life is 9 hours with 36 hours of recharge time from the case. I had 2 issues. The first was that there is no wireless charging. This surprised me because my other Shokz products are all wireless charging. Second is that I was listening to a book and when the battery on one of the buds got low, it gave me a warning beep. Unfortunately, the beep was so uncomfortable loud that I cringed from the shock of it. I hadn't ever heard a warning tone like that. Overall, I like these earbuds and I have been wearing them throughout mynday to day activities.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 2 out of 5 stars

    interesting Awesome but Too Fragile Maybe

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Shockz OpenDots Air earbuds are something unusual which literally made me question what was happening when I opened the box. Inside the standard wireless charging case you find an earbud attached to a small, curved, rubber band with a small rectangular device in a half circle shape. How do you put them in your ears? Once I had the app downloaded the earbuds connected to my bluetooth automatically then I had a walkthrough on how to wear and not wear these. They basically wrap around the ear just above your earlobe, sitting in the outer ear, which I immediately thought would be annoying to keep in place and not nearly loud enough to be practical in anything but a silent office or at home. While I don’t think these will hold onto your ear while you exercise or work in a warehouse, anything with up and down or vigorous motion, the sound wasn’t an issue. Inside the app for the OpenDots you can set the profile of the ear buds (loud, soft, vocal, etc.) and the volume of the sound which at its loudest setting was more than I needed. They’re actually comfortable once you get used to the idea of the ear squeeze (hug? Its noticeable but not painful or pinching) and the sound is really good which would typically be enough for a solid recommendation…but I can’t. I got these on a Thursday and tried them out for a short time that evening before plugging them into charge overnight and taking them to work the following day…they were not dropped or abused or pulled (the instructions are clear that you can’t pull them too wide to get onto your ear). However on my second use after a half hour I found a loud annoying and impossible crackle in the one earbud which made them unusable. I tried again at home and they work intermittently without the crackling distortion then it picks up for seconds to constant. From what I’ve experienced they have the potential to be amazing headphones because of their light weight, their advertised long battery (I can already see their better than my other earbuds, two hours of use on the old ones was just under half the battery where as the OpenDots Air used approximately 10% of their battery. Not sure if these have a manufacturing defect or if I damaged them while learning how to put them on (instructions say don’t pull them open but they don’t just slide onto your ear so they HAVE to be pulled open a little!) but it might be worth checking if there are many other reviews that mention crackling distortion before buying into a potentially new interesting style of earbuds.

    No, I would not recommend this to a friend
    • Brand response from Shokz
      Posted .

      Hello-Shokz here! We're sorry to hear your Shokz are not working properly. All Shokz come with a 2-year warranty. Please visit our website to submit your claim or to contact our Customer Happiness Team. *Friendly Reminder- Shokz take 1.5-2 hours to fully charge. To ensure the longest battery life, it’s important to remove Shokz from the charger once the light turns green.* Thank you! AfterShokzCHT

  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Comfort, Design
    Cons mentioned:
    Touch controls
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Open Air Done Right

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The Shokz OpenDots Air are one of the more innovative takes on wireless earbuds I've used in quite some time, ditching the traditional in-ear form factor for a lightweight clip-on design that sits on the outside of your ear. With all-day comfort, surprisingly good sound quality, and a reasonable price, this is a strong option for anyone looking for an unobtrusive set of earbuds that affords you awareness of your surroundings. The best feature of these is the comfort. The clip-on attachment mechanism is more sturdy than I expected and holds the earbuds in place without slipping or falling off your ear. This is crucial for me, as I was looking for a set of earbuds for working out, and the OpenDots Air have been phenomenal for that. With normal in-ear buds, my ears tend to get uncomfortably hot during longer workout sessions. With the OpenDots, this has not been a problem; they've been a joy to work out with and have the added benefit of letting you maintain full awareness of your surroundings while out for a run, which is important for a number of obvious reasons. They're also IP55 rated, so sweat isn't an issue. Overall, these have been my favorite workout earbuds and will be in my gym bag for the foreseeable future. While comfort is important, it wouldn't mean much without at least decent sound quality. Thankfully, the OpenDots really surprised me; they offer a well-balanced sound profile with an unexpectedly solid bass response. This can be tweaked further using the Shokz app, with four preset EQs and two additional customizable slots, and the bass boost mode in particular helps round out (and boost) the low end when you need a bit more punch. Call quality has been excellent too. The OpenDots Air feature two AI-powered noise-canceling microphones on each bud that do a solid job of isolating your voice from background noise, which has made them a reliable pick for taking meetings at home or on the go. Bluetooth 6.1 with multipoint pairing also makes these a great set for meetings, letting you stay connected to your phone and work laptop simultaneously and switch effortlessly between leisure listening and calls. Battery life of the OpenDots Air has been strong as well. They're rated for about 36 total hours of listening time (factoring in the battery life of the buds along with the recharges from the case). In my two weeks of ownership, I've had to recharge them only once, which is an excellent charge cadence for my usage. With all the positives, my one real gripe has been the touch controls. The OpenDots use a mix of taps and pinches, and the pinch mechanic in particular feels different from the tap-and-swipe scheme on other earbuds I've used. It's not bad, just unintuitive at first, and it took some muscle memory to fully internalize. The controls are customizable in the Shokz app, which helps, but there's still a learning curve out of the box. It's also worth noting that the open-ear design means you won't get any meaningful noise isolation, so in louder environments like a busy coffee shop or a crowded gym, external sound can easily overwhelm whatever you're listening to. That's fundamental to the form factor rather than a flaw, but worth knowing going in. Overall, these are a great set of earbuds. They have a unique feature set that makes them a strong option for those who don't like tuning out the outside world or who want a more open set for working out. If you're looking for a pair of earbuds you can effortlessly wear all day without thinking about it, these are well worth your consideration.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Comfort, Design
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Most comfortable earbuds for everyday use

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I recently got a pair of open ear buds for myself to watch TV without bothering kids with their homework, but also so I'm not completely unreachable. I decided to get my wife a pair too since she wears over-the-ear noise-cancelling headphones while looking at YouTube videos in the kitchen. These Opendot Air earbuds from Shokz were the perfect choice, the iridescent violet color and jewelry-like shape were something i knew she would like. They're quite small and lightweight that you can barely feel them when in use. They feel more comfortable than the full-size ones after extended use because they don't make you sweat. Pairing was quick and easy with an iPad, using Bluetooth 6.1, multiple connections can be made and seamlessly interchange them. I couldn't figure out which was left or right as it doesn't indicate anywhere; apparently, they're interchangeable and have Dynamic ear detection to figure out which is where. There are actually 2 separate control areas on the buds, one physical button on the battery node for volume, and one touch area on the band for calls, both of which are programmable in the app. The little speakers do a great job making sounds big and immersive while, at the same time directing the sound inside the ear so nobody else can hear; the Shokz app has private mode for enhanced sound isolation. Battery life is 9 hours for the buds and 36hrs with the case, and 10 minutes in the case gets you 2hrs of playtime; great for those long train rides. I like that I can get my wife's attention more easily, without waving my arms around. She hears timers when baking, and the kids' questions, all without taking off or removing one earcup like she did before. These earbuds are a great solution to private listening and everyday activities. The other headphones are best in noisy environments like on a plane, where these open ear models won't work well. Both of us love them for different reasons and I'm happy we got them.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Comfort, Design
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Great lightweight open-ear earbuds!

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The Shokz OpenDots Air are open-ear, clip-on style wireless earbuds. They are amazingly lightweight with a design that allows you to listen while still being aware of your surroundings. They make great earbuds for working out and the unique design and lightweight materials make these extremely comfortable for long-term wear. The unique design means there is no "left" or "right" earbud as there is built in ear detection that allows you to have full functionality on either earbud regardless of which ear you are inserting the earbud into. This is not something that you will find on any other earbuds on the market and means regardless of using a single earbud or both simultaneously, you will always have full functionality. Battery life is very good with a reported 9 hours of use that my real life experiences closely matched. I was able to easily use these throughout an entire work day with a mixture of calls and music listening with a quick charge during my lunch break and these things were still going strong by the end of my work day. The lightweight design makes long work or workout sessions comfortable with no major discomfort even after multiple hours of use. Sound quality is good, though with an open-ear design there is always going to be some compromises. However, the OpenDots Air do a great job of giving you good, clear sound quality regardless of what you are listening to. After asking several people I was told that the microphone quality is good with the ability to cut out small background noises making communication clear and easy. Overall these are a unique take on open-ear wireless earbuds and I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for some new earbuds.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Comfort, Design, Sound quality
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Very happy with these ear buds!

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I have the hardest time finding ear buds that feel "right"! My ear canal is too small for even most small sets, so I have done over-the-ear headphones most of my life. When I got a pair of Shokz OpenComm headphones a few years ago, I finally had something I could wear and still hear what was going on around me! Because they don't actually go in the ear, they have been my go-to since I got them. When I saw these, I had to try them! They have such a great design and come from a company I have come to trust for my audio needs. When I first put them on, I could tell these were going to do the trick. They don't fall out and I don't have to twist and jam them in. I just put them over my ear and they hold on great and the sound works well. I am able to connect them to my Bluetooth radio, so I can use them on security duty as well as with my phone at the same time, allowing me to be comfortable without having a large set of headphones or even my OpenComm headset. I haven't had a chance to wear them for extended periods yet, but the little bit I've used them has been very good so far. I would have no hesitation recommending these to anyone who can't find the right fit with regular rear buds. Their unique design is a great option for me!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Comfort, Design, Sound quality
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Comfortable listening without tuning out the world

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I’ve been using the Shokz OpenDots Air for a few days, and I’ve been impressed by how easy and comfortable they are to wear. They have a gentle clip design that stays on my ears securely, but don’t pinch. They’re so lightweight that I’ve gone all day and forgotten I was wearing them. They stay put well enough to wear while working out, even during runs. I’ve also enjoyed wearing them around the office since I can listen to music while still being completely available to hear my coworkers when they stop by. The controls are easy enough to get used to – tapping or gently squeezing the earpieces to activate various features. The most convenient aspect is that each earpiece can go on either ear – they automatically detect what side they're on and adjust the left/right channels accordingly. The sound quality itself is pretty good, though not amazing. I’d say a bit better than I was expecting for an open-ear design. Since these don't block out external noise, I’ll definitely be keeping a pair of noise-canceling headphones for air travel and other loud environments, but these really are perfect for listening while staying connected to the world around me.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Comfort, Sound quality
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Interesting Look, Good Sound!

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I do a lot of outdoor activities where open-ear headphones are a must to hear my surroundings. I’ve tried quite a few different kinds before but these are the first clip-on style I’ve tried and I’m super happy with them! Sound is crystal clear - very crisp with all types of music and voices are clear with calls. It’s an overall balanced sound profile but since these are an open-ear design, there isn’t a lot on the low end with bass but it doesn't sound tinny - these still sound quite good. I also have a pair of their OpenRun Pro headphones which have more bass but I find those can get uncomfortable after a few hours of use since they sit on top of my ears and are heavier. For someone who doesn’t like over-the-ear hooks, I quite like how these feel where I don’t have to deal with the pressure of something on top of my ears. I also feel like they work better with glasses. I was a bit surprised at how well these stayed put during running and biking. I was worried since these don’t have over-the-ear hooks that these wouldn’t be as secure but I didn’t have any issues with these. I think there’s really only two things to get used to with this style of open-ear design: the feel being clipped on and the look. These didn’t pinch my ears at all - I don’t feel any actual pressure but they still stay in place quite well. When it comes to the look - they certainly look different but it could just be one of those things where over time more people will get used to seeing this sort of clip-on style. These are great open-ear buds for a great price!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Sound quality
    Cons mentioned:
    Touch controls
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 2 out of 5 stars

    Good sound, but uncomfortable for long periods.

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The Shokz OpenDots Air are an interesting take on open end earbuds, but they fall short in comfort. When I first tried the buds on, I had a hard time getting them adjusted to the right position. I was constantly having to move them around to get them positioned correctly, it was so bad that I had to disable the touch controls because I kept hitting them. Once I finally figured out how to properly position them, so they didn’t fall out, I was able to test how they sounded. The shokz actually sound good, they provide good levels of bass, combined with decent highs and mids. Unfortunately, I am only able to wear them for about 20 minutes at a time, that’s about the time they start to hurt my ears. The best part about open earbuds is being able to hear the environment clearly while listening to music. It’s a totally different experience than using in-earbuds. The best way I can describe it is, it’s like having a portable Bluetooth speaker in each ear that no one else can hear, but at the same time it doesn’t block your hearing from the outside world. I decided to try these out in a crowded restaurant, unfortunately, the OpenDots are not suitable for loud environments. The only way I could hear anything was having the volume at full blast, but at that level it was hurting my ears. Making calls is a different story. I made a call in the same place and to my surprise, I was able to hear the other person crystal clear. I asked if they could hear me, while they did say yes, they also heard a lot of background noise. Overall, I applaud Shokz for making innovating products and trying something new. Unfortunately, the OpenDots are not it. While they do sound good once you figure out how to wear them properly, they hurt my ear after wearing them for more than 20 minutes. For this reason, I would not recommend getting these.

    No, I would not recommend this to a friend
    • Brand response from Shokz
      Posted .

      Hello- Shokz here! We're sorry to hear this has been your experience. We highly recommend ensuring that the latest firmware version has been updated via the Shokz app for the best experience with your OpenDots AIR. You can customize the touch controls on your Shokz using the official Shokz App (available on iOS and Android). While you cannot physically adjust the built-in sensors, you can remap what specific gestures do. If the sensors are not responding or registering touches, make sure the earbuds are charged, try cleaning the touch area with a soft dry cloth to remove debris, and ensure you are tapping firmly on the designated logo area. If you decide these are not a good fit for you, we kindly ask that you reach out to BestBuy's Customer Service to learn of their return policy. All Shokz also come with a two-year warranty. Please visit our Shokz site or reach out to our Customer Happiness Team if you have any questions. Thank you! AfterShokzCHT

  • Pros mentioned:
    Sound quality
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Highly Recommended

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Open-ear clip-on earbuds are a great innovation and alternative to the standard in-ear buds which dominate the category. Shokz is a major player in offering these kinds of bluetooth earbuds and the Shokz - OpenDots Air Open-Ear Clip-On True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds represent their decision to offer a slightly more affordable pair. As a result, there are a few areas where the build material or technical specs are less than their premium open-air clip-ons. But, for the price, those reductions are surprisingly minimal and insignificant. These are excellent earbuds that offer high-quality sound. A key thing to recognize with open-ear clip-on earbuds is that they do not go directly in your ear canal, contrary to normal earbuds. They clip over your ear lobe in such away that the sound is focused directly into your ear, with reinforcement from the portion under your lobe. This holds them securely on your ears while delivering excellent sound. However, because they are open-ear, they still allow for external sound to be recognized. This makes them ideal for listening to music, or podcasts, or taking calls, while still being aware of what’s going on around you. The balance between listening and external awareness varies greatly according to how high you set the volume. This feature is especially helpful in a number of use cases, such as with runners, who need to be aware of their surroundings for their own safety. Another advantage with the open-ear design is that it is the perfect solution for those who just can’t seem to get traditional in-ear earbuds to stay in. This was the case with my wife. I’d been encouraging her to upgrade to wireless earbuds for years, but whenever she tried them, they just didn’t work for her. When the opportunity came for me to get a pair of the Shokz - OpenDots Air Open-Ear Clip-On True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds, she had the answer. When I let her use them, it was immediately clear that they were now hers! I’m totally blessed to see her finally enjoying herself without constantly navigating the wires on her old wired earbuds. And she’s no longer tethered to her phone the way she used to be. The Shokz - OpenDots Air Open-Ear Clip-On True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds are a game changer for her. Because of this, I asked her to give me her observations for this review: “They stay put. I mean—what good are ear buds that drop out of your ears? They are comfortable as they rest on the outside the ear canal entrance rather than on it. They attach to the earlobe rather than behind the ear, enhancing comfort. The misty-purple color is attractive and unique. Recharging dock is straightforward with simple access and quick charge. It enables me to be a couple rooms away from my phone. I have been a late adopter of blue tooth earbuds as they never stay in my ears. But these do, freeing me from cord constraints.” What more can I say? The Shokz - OpenDots Air Open-Ear Clip-On True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds are excellent and offer great sound and comfort with a design that has it’s own advantages. Highly Recommended.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Great sound - just consider your needs first

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I am a big fan of Shokz and when I had the opportunity to pick up these new dots I was immediately excited to learn how they would perform. They use a lot of innovative technologies like bone conducting microphones, and I used their call headset until I wore it completely out. There are a number of pluses here to mention. The first being that even though you’re going to look at them and think “this is not really going to stay in my ear” - and you’d be wrong! I’ve wore them to the gym multiple times this week and never found myself feeling at risk of popping out. There’s also some easy to use shortcuts built in, like squeezing the battery part of the earbud to volume up or down, or pinching the bridge to change tracks. These became intuitive choices quickly! Unfortunately for me, learning the volume control became something I constantly used. To me, it’s really important to consider why you want open ear headphones. If you are the kind of person that distracts easily at the gym (I’m neurodiverse and sounds break my concentration fast) then these are not for you. You’ll spend a lot of time adjusting the volume up or down to compensate for what’s around you and different volume levels from track to track. If you’re the person who needs to hear what’s around you because it makes you feel safer or don’t want to miss anything, then maybe this won’t be an issue for you. I took one star off for audio quality - it was just middle of the road even after playing with the EQ settings in the app. You might want to compare both dots products from Shokz and see if the other model sounds better as it has some upgrades.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Unmatched Comfort & Power

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    As an avid runner who spends hours out on the asphalt, finding the right pair of headphones has always been a challenge. Traditional in-ear buds eventually cause ear fatigue or slip out when things get sweaty, and bone conduction bands can sometimes feel restrictive. The clip-on design of the Shokz OpenDots Air completely changes the game. Comfort & Stability The standout feature here is the comfort. The clip-on design uses a flexible nickel-titanium plate wrapped in a skin-friendly silicone that sits securely on the ear without pinching. I recently put these through the ultimate test on a 2+ hour long run, and they absolutely excelled. They feel completely weightless, didn't shift or bounce a single millimeter, and I had zero hot spots or soreness afterward. Halfway through the miles, I completely forgot I was even wearing them. Sound Quality & Road Safety I was initially skeptical about how an open-ear design would hold up against environmental traffic noise, but the audio performance is impressive. The sound is incredibly strong and well-balanced. Even when running on the open road with heavy background road noise and passing vehicles, my music and podcasts remained perfectly clear and punched right through the ambient din. Because they don't seal your ear canal, you get the absolute best of both worlds: premium sound quality without sacrificing the situational awareness you need to stay safe around traffic. Battery Life & Extra Features The battery life easily handles heavy training blocks. With up to 9 hours on a single charge (and 36 total with the case), I never have to worry about them dying mid-run. The IP55 sweat resistance holds up perfectly to intense workouts, and the smart dynamic ear detection means you don't have to fiddle around figuring out which bud is left or right when rushing out the door. Pros: Incredibly comfortable for 2+ hour endurance sessions; no pinching or friction. Powerful sound that easily cuts through loud background road noise. Secure fit that won't shake loose or require mid-run adjustments. Excellent situational awareness for open-road safety. Cons: The tap/pinch controls take a little getting used to at first, but they are easy to customize in the app. Bottom Line: If you are a runner looking for a comfortable, stable, and safe audio solution that doesn't skimp on powerful sound, these are worth every penny. Highly recommended!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Really effective at reducing earbud fatigue

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    This is really different to me. It took me a few minutes of fidgeting and rereading the instructions to confirm that I was actually wearing it right, cause its unlike any other ear bugs I have ever used. The just sit near your ear canal, and just hang out there. The design is such that it wraps around your ear, and even though it feels like it might fall off, it doesn't. The main pro for me is that with any kind of earbud model, the bud shoved into my ear causes a certain fatigue after prolonged use. No matter how comfortable they are, just the fact that you constantly have a foreign object jammed into your ear will cause discomfort. By design there is no such problem with this, and the hanging sensation on your ear is minor and much preferable to the one I spoke about above. And these are pretty light. The Con - well due to the design and how they wrap around your ear, it is not discrete (at all). Looks like a looped ear ring or ear piercing. And then the 2nd is that there is significantly more sound leakage than the legacy design. Its not annoyingly loud for people near you, but they can hear a constant noise. But honestly, most of the times when I am on my own and have to use an earphone, this is what I use now, specifically because I can go long sessions now, without that fatigue I had earlier almost gotten used to, but now that I have another option, would rather not have to endure. Well other than that the usual - the packaging was good, the build is solid, the case is a bit on the larger side but not egregious. There is an app ofcourse, where you can change the touch controls and a few other settings (like a privacy EQ mode, that reduces the volume and some notes, to suppress the amount of noise/sound people around you can hear)

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Nice alternative to headband!

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    At first I was not sure if I'd like how these would fit and feel, yet so far they seem to be great at staying in place and no headband that you have to worry about wrapping around the back of your neck. In terms of comfort, I was able to wear them all day at work with on/off use with music and calls. They really performed quite well overall. Operation is pretty easy, it only took a second to power them up and pair them to my Galaxy 26 Ultra, and it recognized them right away. You can customize the controls and once you learn the controls they are pretty easy to control overall. Sound quality is really good for an open ear design, they are loud with decent bass, highs and mids though I would temper your expectations if you are accustomed to using in canal ear buds with ANC. That said, the trade off is that you can wear these much longer without sweating in your ear canal. There is one drawback, the mic worked well but I do work in loud environments and the callers I was on the phone with mentioned they had a hard time hearing me so I would definitely avoid these in extremely loud environments. Not only will callers have a hard time hearing you but because they are open you'll have a hard time hearing them. That said, on street or walking through a store, these are just great, and work very well. I'd absolutely recommend them if you want to ditch the neck band and want an upgrade. If you haven't tried the open fit, I'd say give it a shot, you'll find out what the interest in them is all about.. they really do enable you to listen to more while you do more.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Clip on earbuds

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I wasn’t sure what to expect when I ordered the shokz ear buds. The idea of ear buds that clip on my ears was interesting. The ear buds do easily clip onto my ears and are actually very comfortable. They somehow figured out how to create a clip on spring that is firm enough to hold on and not so firm to make them uncomfortable. The ear buds are quite lightweight and do not pinch my ears nor do they feel too loose. I can move about without feeling like they may fall off. The ear buds do not block the openings of my ears so I can still hear everything around me. It is nice to be able to have the ear buds in and still be able to hear everything going on around me. The sound quality is pretty good as well. If you are looking for a light weight pair of earbuds that don’t block out sound around you, I would recommend these. The sound quality is pretty good and the base is not too bad either. The only complaint I might have is that the instructions to add a second Bluetooth device is lacking. I searched the internet and had a hard time figuring out how to add a second Bluetooth device.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Nice, comfortable earbuds

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    These are different, but really nice earbuds. I like that it is not your normal, traditional style earbud design, but I actually like that about it. The sound quality is really good, and I like the comfort I feel wearing them. It is nice to have a different style to switch out when my ears get achy from wearing the traditional earbuds. The battery life when used for a good portion of the day is about a day and a half. My 8-year-old really likes these earbuds and finds them to be really comfortable, also. It does get a little used to wearing since it feels so different, but that is not a big deal either. I like how lightweight these earbuds feel while wearing them. They do not go directly in your ear the same way other earbuds do. It clips on the side of the ear. No need for different earbud replacements because it is not going directly into the opening. There is no assigned left/right earbud because it fits easily onto both ears. It only takes about 30-45 minutes to charge and can last for at least a day and a half. I would def recommend these earbuds.

    I would recommend this to a friend