Shokz OpenFit Pro: better fit and sound, but noise reduction falters in wind

I may be the first consumer in China to buy and use one myself. Shokz is based in a neighboring city, yet these earphones still had to travel across mountains and seas from overseas to reach me. Impressive, Shokz.

This product currently has a zero-negative-review record overseas, whether the reviews come from sponsored YouTube content or self-purchased Reddit units. I will share my experience alongside my earlier use of similar earphones.

1. Fit: At just over 11 g, these feel slightly more noticeable when worn than the 9-g-plus OpenFit 2. The extra ring on the outside resembles a shark fin and catches neatly inside the ear, making the fit a little more secure. They remain comfortable for long periods. The two included rubber rings (Figure 3) can reduce the contact area with the ear, but once I wear them for more than ten minutes, the weight feels just as noticeable as it does without the rubber rings. Comfort is the most important reason I prefer the OpenFit over the Arc; their driver configurations are at a similar level, so I use the Arc as a comparison.
2. Sound quality: Instead of the previous OpenFit 2's dual-driver arrangement, this model uses a dual-diaphragm structure, which makes the sound much fuller. With the default sound effect, the bass and treble are emphasized, creating a tendency toward a recessed middle. Bass quantity is clearly greater than on the previous generation, while sub-bass extension improves only slightly. I personally recommend switching to the Bass Boost EQ. With that EQ and Dolby sound enabled, the result comes very close to the AirPods 4, although the sub-bass does not extend as deeply. Among open-ear ear-hook headphones, it may be unmatched, especially because the low frequencies do not weaken even at 100% volume. That is an extraordinary result for other ear-hook designs.
3. Noise reduction: The app lets me adjust the noise-reduction level (Figure 4). Overseas media have said that the highest level can introduce background noise, but perhaps my surroundings were already loud enough that I did not notice it. The OpenFit Pro noticeably reduces the rumble of passing cars, and, surprisingly, it also reduces the sound of my own voice by a lot. However, it can occasionally become unstable because of the surroundings, especially in wind, when it can temporarily stop working altogether. In short, when the front and rear feedback microphones differ too much, noise reduction appears to shut itself off. Among semi-in-ear and in-ear earphones, this is in the weakest tier; among open-ear earphones, it is in the strongest tier.

Conclusion: Setting the price aside—which I have to do because I do not even know the Chinese retail price—the OpenFit Pro could become the flagship standard for ear-hook open-ear headphones. Apart from the Arc 5, which I find uncomfortable to wear, I cannot think of another product that can really compete with it. The old Oladance OWS Pro was actually quite similar, with a concentration mode that was practically equivalent to no noise reduction; perhaps the OpenFit Pro is what Oladance ultimately wanted to become.

If there is anything else you would like to know, feel free to ask in the comments.