If you want better High-volume vibration discomfort
Choose Shokz OpenRun Pro 2. It scores 5.0 vs 2.3 for High-volume vibration discomfort, with a 4.4 overall score.
Shokz OpenRun Air 2 Review
Bottom Line
Choose the OpenRun Air 2 for comfortable, secure running with traffic awareness, sweat protection and quick USB-C charging. Skip it for immersive bass, noise cancellation or swimming.
Runners, cyclists and outdoor exercisers who value a stable, long-wearing fit, sweat resistance and hearing nearby traffic. Also useful for walks and spoken audio.
Music-first listeners wanting rich bass or isolation, commuters and frequent fliers facing loud surroundings, swimmers, or cyclists who need reliable calls in strong wind.
Verdict
The Shokz OpenRun Air 2 is built around a clear priority: being comfortable enough to forget on a long run while keeping traffic and other people audible. Its stable neckband, accessible physical controls and IP67 protection make a convincing case for runners and cyclists. USB-C, faster top-ups, a longer rated battery and more capable app bring useful upgrades over the original OpenRun. The compromises are audible and sometimes tangible. Bass still trails the OpenRun Pro 2, overall playback can sound muffled, and turning up bass-heavy tracks may create an irritating buzz against the skin. An open fit also means noisy transport can drown out the music, while calls in strong cycling wind are unreliable. For comfort-first outdoor exercise it succeeds; music-first shoppers should compare Pro 2 discounts before committing.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
35 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.016 (46%)
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Positive 3.5-4.49 (26%)
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Neutral 2.5-3.44 (11%)
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Negative 1.5-2.45 (14%)
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Very negative below 1.51 (3%)
Pros highlights
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Five minutes of charging can provide roughly two hours of playback, and a full recharge takes about an hour. Quick top-ups are a welcome safeguard before a workout.
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The connected neckband, revised hooks and redistributed balance resist bouncing or slipping during runs. Extended training sessions required little to no adjustment.
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Keeping the ear canals free makes cars, cyclists and other people easier to hear. This awareness is the defining benefit of the design, provided playback volume remains reasonable.
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IP67 dust and water protection handles sweat, rain and rinsing after workouts. The rating is a strong sports advantage, though the headset is not intended for swimming and the port must be dry before charging.
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Up to 10 hours is a useful step up for several runs or a long training session, and multi-hour workouts have been completed without alerts. Playback at higher volume drains the battery faster.
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A smaller, lower-profile shape and contoured hooks modernize the familiar wraparound design. The refinement is real, but the standard headset is not dramatically lighter than the previous OpenRun.
Cons highlights
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Bass has more warmth than on the original OpenRun, but remains relatively light beside the Pro 2. Louder bass-heavy tracks can also cause an unpleasant buzz against the skin.
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PremiumPitch 3.0 adds warmth over the older OpenRun, and playlists and spoken audio remain enjoyable during runs. Overall sound can still feel slightly muffled and less detailed than the OpenRun Pro 2.
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A noticeable cheekbone tickle or buzzing can occur on bass-heavy music when volume is pushed up, although one runner scarcely noticed vibration during workouts. Lowering volume or bass can help.
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Because the ear canals stay open, traffic and other environmental noise remain audible. That is intentional for awareness but a poor match for sound isolation.
Use Cases
Best for
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This is an excellent running companion: its hooks stay secure through speed work and long distances without painful ear pressure. Open ears also help runners hear approaching traffic and cyclists.
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Rain protection, a low-bounce fit and clear environmental awareness all suit outdoor training. The open design trades isolation for these advantages.
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The secure open-ear fit helps cyclists remain aware of road activity without sacrificing comfort. Calls can be harder to hear when riding into wind.
Not ideal for
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SwimmingDespite IP67 water resistance, the headset is not designed for swimming or underwater listening. It is meant for sweat, rain and rinsing after land-based exercise.
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Noisy public transportThe open design lets train and other crowd noise through and offers no noise cancellation. Commuters needing privacy or isolation should choose sealed headphones.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Open-Ear Headphones, this product is above average in Size options, Equalizer customization, Preset EQ profile quality, near average in Weight comfort, Value for money, below average in Included accessories, Sound leakage, Active noise cancellation.
Comparison summary
35 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher15 (43%)
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Same as average within 0.3 pts11 (31%)
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Below average 0.4+ pts lower9 (26%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Included accessories | 2.3 | 3.9 | -1.6 |
| Sound leakage | 2.0 | 3.5 | -1.5 |
| Size options | 4.4 | 3.1 | +1.3 |
| Equalizer customization | 4.8 | 3.8 | +1.0 |
| Active noise cancellation | 1.0 | 2.1 | -1.1 |
| Headband adjustability | 2.0 | 3.1 | -1.1 |
| Preset EQ profile quality | 4.5 | 3.5 | +1.0 |
| Sound quality | 3.2 | 4.1 | -0.9 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better Microphone quality for calls
Choose Shokz OpenFit Air 2. It scores 4.8 vs 3.0 for Microphone quality for calls, with a 4.1 overall score.
If you want better Sound quality
Choose Shokz OpenRun. It scores 4.0 vs 3.2 for Sound quality, with a 4.1 overall score.
If you want better Included accessories
Choose Shokz OpenSwim Pro. It scores 4.6 vs 2.3 for Included accessories, with a 3.9 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
OpenRun
- Older model: physical size The Air 2 is more compact than the original OpenRun.
- Older model: sound quality Compared with the original OpenRun, the Air 2 offers warmer, fuller playback.
- Older model: size, features and charging It is smaller and significantly upgraded over the original OpenRun.
OpenRun Pro 2
- Better: sound quality and bass vibration The Pro 2 sounds clearer with fewer distracting bass vibrations.
- Better: bass and musicality The OpenRun Pro 2 retains an advantage for bass-rich music.
- Compared: water resistance and sound design The Air 2 favors IP67 water protection while the Pro 2 targets higher-end sound.
Open Run Pro 2
- Better: hybrid acoustic performance The pricier Pro 2 adds air conduction for stronger bass and sound.
FAQ
Are the OpenRun Air 2 comfortable for long runs?
Yes. Long-run testing reports a secure, light fit with no soreness or frequent adjustments, including sessions lasting three hours.
Can you hear traffic while wearing them?
Yes. Their bone-conduction design leaves the ear canals open to nearby sounds, though high playback volume can still reduce awareness.
How long does the battery last?
It is rated for up to 10 hours, with approximately two hours of playback from a five-minute charge. Louder listening can shorten runtime.
Are they waterproof enough for swimming?
No. IP67 helps protect against sweat, rain and rinsing, but swimming and underwater use are not supported. Dry the USB-C port before charging.
How is the sound compared with the OpenRun Pro 2?
The Air 2 improves on the older OpenRun, but the Pro 2 has stronger bass and clearer overall playback, with less vibration at high volume.
Do calls work well in the wind?
Microphone noise reduction can handle ordinary running backgrounds, but cycling wind causes interference and can make the caller difficult to hear.
Is the companion app useful?
Yes. It provides customizable EQ, useful speech and volume presets, configurable buttons, multipoint pairing and an audible headphone finder.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Alex Kidman
- Review score
- 3.8
YouTube - The Run Testers
- Review score
- 3.9
Article Reviews
techdriveplay.com
Shokz OpenRun Air 2 review: sound, running comfort, USB-C charging and battery life. Is the A$229 model worth buying over the OpenRun Pro 2?
- Review score
- 4.1
shuichi-running.com
A longtime OpenRun user reviews the Shokz OpenRun Air 2 bone-conduction headphones, testing the lighter fit, upgraded charging, sound, and...
- Review score
- 4.7
hifi.blog
The Shokz OpenRun Air 2 combines a smaller, comfort-led design with PremiumPitch 3.0, Bluetooth 6.0, IP67 protection, app control and up to...
- Review score
- 4.3
the-gadgeteer.com
Shokz OpenRun Air 2 and OpenFit Air 2 both launch August 27 for $129.95, but one is built for runners while the other is better for daily...
- Review score
- 3.7
whathifi.com
Harry McKerrell is a senior staff writer at What Hi-Fi?. During his time at the publication, he has written countless news stories alongside...
- Review score
- 4.0
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