ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The new Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 are the follow-up to the widely popular bone conduction headphones used by dedicated athletes, like marathoners and triathletes. They’re now available for $180.
- The OpenRun Pro 2 are as comfortable as ever, with a longer battery life than their predecessor.
- The volume of the headphones could be louder, and the microphone produces a warbled sound.
I’m not running a marathon this fall, but if I were, I’d want the new Shokz OpenRun Pro 2<!–> around my head. Shokz just released the OpenRun Pro 2, its latest update to the OpenRun Pro lineup, and they purportedly offer significant upgrades from the first-gen OpenRun Pro, like reduced vibrations, longer battery life, and AI-powered noise-canceling and wind-resistance microphones.
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While running, the OpenRun Pro 2 are delightful. The headphones do what you need them to do, staying secure on your head as you move without sacrificing comfort. I could see why marathoners who are sweating and running for four to six hours rely on these lightweight headphones to get them across the finish line.
Shokz improves upon the discomforting vibrations near the ear and jaw that most bone-conduction headphones wearers experience. I felt no vibrations whatsoever, so that was a win.
Speaking of listening for long periods, Shokz upgraded this pair’s battery life from 10 hours to 12 hours, so you get two more hours of listening time before recharging. Not bad. The purported battery life was in line with my testing.
Ok, so now let’s talk sound. The sound is balanced and nearly clear. It’s still a little tinny, but that’s due to the build and philosophy of bone conduction headphones at large. My only wish for these headphones is for the sound to be a few notches louder. While running on a busy street, the sounds of whooshing cars overpowered that of my music.
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As someone motivated most by a booming, loud song as I run, this disappointed me a little. Then again, nobody buys bone conduction headphones for immersive sound. Still, I’d certainly like to see louder volumes on the next model of these headphones. You’ll hear the music loudly and clearly if you’re running or cycling in an environment like an empty forest path, but you might be disappointed in busier environments, like a noisy gym or a trafficked street.
These headphones are supposed to have improved microphones for clear calls, but while sending voice memos to myself, the audio felt warbly and muddy. I could still hear myself fine, but it wasn’t lucid. Another thing I’d like to see is better notifications indicating that the OpenRun Pro 2 have connected to your device and are powered on. Same with powering off: the headphones don’t seem to blink or flash to indicate they’ve turned off.
ZDNET’s buying advice
Hardcore marathoners and cyclists will love the longer battery life, the comfortable build, and durability of the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2<!–>. I enjoyed wearing these headphones while exercising because they are light and unobtrusive, perfect for workouts in the park and workdays in the office.
Plus, the OpenRun Pro 2 is the same price as the OpenRun Pro, but has more battery life. It’s a no-brainer to go for the updated pair if you want headphones that will last a few more hours while biking up a hilly trail or finishing your first marathon.
