Zygo Z2: One minute review

The Zygo Z2 are part of a very small world of headphones, namely bone conduction models made for being used in the water. Yet even in this small space, they are unique. They’re not the only swimming headphones that you should consider, but they are the only ones that use a radio transmitter for listening to music in the water. There's no onboard MP3 player, so they're the only pair that you don’t need to sit down with in front of your computer, to manually load the headphones with music before heading to the pool.

And while that’s the big selling point you’ll see when you come across them on their website or on Amazon, the Z2s also offer a deep ecosystem within the downloadable app including a whole assortment of classes, along with features like a walkie talkie and lap counting, hidden behind an additional but low subscription fee. This makes the Zygo Z2 function like a Peloton for the pool. I’m not sure I’ve seen anything like that before.

Of course, they do come at a hefty price (and that’s before the aforementioned subscription fee), and the sound quality is not going to compete with the best wireless earbuds. But that’s to be expected with headphones that first, use bone conduction, and second, use radio transmission.

If you have a smartphone (and I’m going to assume you do), you might be aware that phones connect to devices via WiFi, data, and Bluetooth, not radio waves (even if you’re streaming a radio station through your phone, it’s coming to you digitally). Because of that little omission, the Zygo Z2 needs more than just a pair of headphones to function.

Enter the biggest headphones charging case I’ve ever seen in my life. This big black square measures a little under seven inches across and under three inches deep. There’s a flip lid hiding the headphones and earplugs, as well as the USB-C charging port, LED indicator, and the power / connectivity button. Most unique here though is the shark fin on the back that needs to be flipped up during use, like an antenna. Without it, there are no radio waves.

The headphones inside have an IPX8 rating, use bone conduction for sound, and come in the same imposing matte black as the charging case. On the back of the headphones, the volume up (also power) and down sit on either side of the Zygo logo.

Be aware when ordering the Zygo Z2 that they come in two sizes: Standard and Large. If you go by the size guide and choose wisely, you’ll end up with a snug fit. They never fell off, adjusted, or really moved at all. And despite their tight fit, I found them comfortable to wear.

I can get up to three hours’ of battery life during use, which is a bit lower than the competition (but likely to be more than enough for a single session), though using a completely different technology (the radio transmission) might have something to do with that. The charging case does at least have seven charges in it, so its overall battery life (when including the charging case) is about the same as other bone conduction headphones that have a charging case, and far more than those that don’t. For reference, many of the better bone conduction headphones last around nine to ten hours.

I feel obligated to share our "how do bone conduction headphones work?" article as this type of sound reproduction is such a niche within headphones. They’re really only popular when searching specifically for the best waterproof headphones or best running headphones, with a possible exception for office work. In essence, they sit on the bones in front of your ear, circumventing the outer ear, which make them great for use in the water.

It’s also why the Zygo Z2 (and most other swim-focused headphones) come with a pair of earplugs. They, like the charging case and headphones, come in a fetching Darth Vader black. They’re necessary for hearing the headphones, allowing you to focus on the audio vibrating through your cheek bones (It’s less weird than it sounds).

If you’re wondering how “Eye of the Tiger” gets from your phone to your ears, it starts with a smartphone using the Zygo app, which is then paired to the charging case (a simple Bluetooth pairing process) in turn automatically connected to the headphones via radio waves. The Zygo app showcases the full breadth of the Z2’s features. I can use the app to communicate with someone else wearing the headphones. It is one-way though, so the wearer can’t talk back (only really useful if you have a swimming coach).

To use this feature, you need to get the five-dollar-a-month subscription, which also includes lap counting and a large assortment of on-demand classes consisting of audio workout guidance. Having listened to a few, I found them easy to follow and understand as well as well-paced. I think this ecosystem of classes are also what separates the Zygo Z2 from other swimming headphones.

Unfortunately, the audio quality leaves a bit to be desired. Now it’s not bad and having the audio coming through radio waves does provide a completely uninterrupted signal – something Bluetooth just can’t do in water.

When wearing the earplugs and submerged in water, the high end sounded clear with a good amount of detail and the mids were present, if a bit recessed. However, whether I’m listening to rock or hip hop (or anything really), the bass is just too quiet. It’s there, but quiet enough to really impact the listening experience. If you turn up the volume on a song with a lot of low end, the headphones also have a tendency to distort. However,the highs and mids sound pretty decent, especially underwater, so if you care less about the music and more about using it with a coach or with classes, then you’ll hear everything clearly.

Using the headphones to access the classes in the water is such a novel and helpful experience, even if it seems like someone would have done it by now, that the price and my issues with the audio quality feel unimportant, not to mention that the fact that you can stream whatever you want in real time (well, there’s a three second delay intentionally built in) instead of loading MP3’s in advance as needed with any other decent pair of swimming headphones.

Zygo Z2: Specifications

Zygo Z2: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? $329 (about £250 / AU$480)
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US

While those abroad will have to find a way to smuggle the Zygo Z2 out of the US to get it, those in the US can get it directly from the company for $329 (about £250 / AU$480). If you’re in Alaska, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico, you’ll have to also cover the cost of shipping (listed at $40 at the time of writing). They’re not available outside the US right now.

That’s a pretty hefty price tag considering that both the Shokz OpenSwim Pro and the H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport cost much less, with the Shokz going for $179.95 / £169 / AU$299 and the H2O Audio going for $199.99 / £155.68 (about AU$310). Since those two headphones use built-in MP3 players for audio while in the water, they do sound a little better.

But that’s a little unfair to the Zygo Z2 as it offers a lot more than just a pair of headphones to use in the water. As I’ve mentioned, these are basically the Peloton of the pool. Yes, most of the features are locked behind a subscription, but that subscription is $4.99 a month for access to all the pool-focused exercises (including some weight training for the pool ones) as well as the walkie-talkie and lap counting features. No other swimming headphones do that, so the expense is worth it if you’re serious about swimming but want a little help.

Price: 4 / 5

Zygo Z2: Scorecard

Zygo Z2: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested the Zygo Z2

• Tested over a couple weeks
• Listened to different genres of music
• Tested all the different features

I spent a couple weeks testing the Zygo Z2 including a couple laps in an Olympic size pool as well as just hanging out underwater to listen to them. While using them, I listened to all sorts of genres from electronic and hip-hop to rock and acoustic music to get an idea of how they sound. I also tested the various features, including the exercises and walkie-talkie.

After testing, it’s clear that these are ideal for serious swimmers, especially those who need a workout program to get the most out of their time in the pool. If you’re curious about how bone conduction headphones work, check out the linked article for more details on how headphones like these work.

I’ve spent the last few years reviewing audio equipment and have spent even longer using my critical ear as a listener and musician to understand what does and doesn’t sound good.

• First reviewed December 2025

Zygo Z2: One minute review

The Zygo Z2 are part of a very small world of headphones, namely bone conduction models made for being used in the water. Yet even in this small space, they are unique. They’re not the only swimming headphones that you should consider, but they are the only ones that use a radio transmitter for listening to music in the water. There's no onboard MP3 player, so they're the only pair that you don’t need to sit down with in front of your computer, to manually load the headphones with music before heading to the pool.

And while that’s the big selling point you’ll see when you come across them on their website or on Amazon, the Z2s also offer a deep ecosystem within the downloadable app including a whole assortment of classes, along with features like a walkie talkie and lap counting, hidden behind an additional but low subscription fee. This makes the Zygo Z2 function like a Peloton for the pool. I’m not sure I’ve seen anything like that before.

Of course, they do come at a hefty price (and that’s before the aforementioned subscription fee), and the sound quality is not going to compete with the best wireless earbuds. But that’s to be expected with headphones that first, use bone conduction, and second, use radio transmission.

If you have a smartphone (and I’m going to assume you do), you might be aware that phones connect to devices via WiFi, data, and Bluetooth, not radio waves (even if you’re streaming a radio station through your phone, it’s coming to you digitally). Because of that little omission, the Zygo Z2 needs more than just a pair of headphones to function.

Enter the biggest headphones charging case I’ve ever seen in my life. This big black square measures a little under seven inches across and under three inches deep. There’s a flip lid hiding the headphones and earplugs, as well as the USB-C charging port, LED indicator, and the power / connectivity button. Most unique here though is the shark fin on the back that needs to be flipped up during use, like an antenna. Without it, there are no radio waves.

The headphones inside have an IPX8 rating, use bone conduction for sound, and come in the same imposing matte black as the charging case. On the back of the headphones, the volume up (also power) and down sit on either side of the Zygo logo.

Be aware when ordering the Zygo Z2 that they come in two sizes: Standard and Large. If you go by the size guide and choose wisely, you’ll end up with a snug fit. They never fell off, adjusted, or really moved at all. And despite their tight fit, I found them comfortable to wear.

I can get up to three hours’ of battery life during use, which is a bit lower than the competition (but likely to be more than enough for a single session), though using a completely different technology (the radio transmission) might have something to do with that. The charging case does at least have seven charges in it, so its overall battery life (when including the charging case) is about the same as other bone conduction headphones that have a charging case, and far more than those that don’t. For reference, many of the better bone conduction headphones last around nine to ten hours.

I feel obligated to share our "how do bone conduction headphones work?" article as this type of sound reproduction is such a niche within headphones. They’re really only popular when searching specifically for the best waterproof headphones or best running headphones, with a possible exception for office work. In essence, they sit on the bones in front of your ear, circumventing the outer ear, which make them great for use in the water.

It’s also why the Zygo Z2 (and most other swim-focused headphones) come with a pair of earplugs. They, like the charging case and headphones, come in a fetching Darth Vader black. They’re necessary for hearing the headphones, allowing you to focus on the audio vibrating through your cheek bones (It’s less weird than it sounds).

If you’re wondering how “Eye of the Tiger” gets from your phone to your ears, it starts with a smartphone using the Zygo app, which is then paired to the charging case (a simple Bluetooth pairing process) in turn automatically connected to the headphones via radio waves. The Zygo app showcases the full breadth of the Z2’s features. I can use the app to communicate with someone else wearing the headphones. It is one-way though, so the wearer can’t talk back (only really useful if you have a swimming coach).

To use this feature, you need to get the five-dollar-a-month subscription, which also includes lap counting and a large assortment of on-demand classes consisting of audio workout guidance. Having listened to a few, I found them easy to follow and understand as well as well-paced. I think this ecosystem of classes are also what separates the Zygo Z2 from other swimming headphones.

Unfortunately, the audio quality leaves a bit to be desired. Now it’s not bad and having the audio coming through radio waves does provide a completely uninterrupted signal – something Bluetooth just can’t do in water.

When wearing the earplugs and submerged in water, the high end sounded clear with a good amount of detail and the mids were present, if a bit recessed. However, whether I’m listening to rock or hip hop (or anything really), the bass is just too quiet. It’s there, but quiet enough to really impact the listening experience. If you turn up the volume on a song with a lot of low end, the headphones also have a tendency to distort. However,the highs and mids sound pretty decent, especially underwater, so if you care less about the music and more about using it with a coach or with classes, then you’ll hear everything clearly.

Using the headphones to access the classes in the water is such a novel and helpful experience, even if it seems like someone would have done it by now, that the price and my issues with the audio quality feel unimportant, not to mention that the fact that you can stream whatever you want in real time (well, there’s a three second delay intentionally built in) instead of loading MP3’s in advance as needed with any other decent pair of swimming headphones.

Zygo Z2: Specifications

Zygo Z2: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? $329 (about £250 / AU$480)
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US

While those abroad will have to find a way to smuggle the Zygo Z2 out of the US to get it, those in the US can get it directly from the company for $329 (about £250 / AU$480). If you’re in Alaska, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico, you’ll have to also cover the cost of shipping (listed at $40 at the time of writing). They’re not available outside the US right now.

That’s a pretty hefty price tag considering that both the Shokz OpenSwim Pro and the H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport cost much less, with the Shokz going for $179.95 / £169 / AU$299 and the H2O Audio going for $199.99 / £155.68 (about AU$310). Since those two headphones use built-in MP3 players for audio while in the water, they do sound a little better.

But that’s a little unfair to the Zygo Z2 as it offers a lot more than just a pair of headphones to use in the water. As I’ve mentioned, these are basically the Peloton of the pool. Yes, most of the features are locked behind a subscription, but that subscription is $4.99 a month for access to all the pool-focused exercises (including some weight training for the pool ones) as well as the walkie-talkie and lap counting features. No other swimming headphones do that, so the expense is worth it if you’re serious about swimming but want a little help.

Price: 4 / 5

Zygo Z2: Scorecard

Zygo Z2: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested the Zygo Z2

• Tested over a couple weeks
• Listened to different genres of music
• Tested all the different features

I spent a couple weeks testing the Zygo Z2 including a couple laps in an Olympic size pool as well as just hanging out underwater to listen to them. While using them, I listened to all sorts of genres from electronic and hip-hop to rock and acoustic music to get an idea of how they sound. I also tested the various features, including the exercises and walkie-talkie.

After testing, it’s clear that these are ideal for serious swimmers, especially those who need a workout program to get the most out of their time in the pool. If you’re curious about how bone conduction headphones work, check out the linked article for more details on how headphones like these work.

I’ve spent the last few years reviewing audio equipment and have spent even longer using my critical ear as a listener and musician to understand what does and doesn’t sound good.

• First reviewed December 2025

Jabees 7Seven headphones: One minute review

The Jabees 7Seven swimming headphones pack some features you don’t even find on their contemporaries at Shokz for around half the price. For many, that’s plenty of reason to buy. The 7Sevens are light as a feather at 28g and packs an ample 32GB of MP3 storage, essential for underwater listening where Bluetooth connectivity is weaker. This storage space outdoes quite a few older bone conduction headphones sets that have retained their price over the years, and puts the 7sevens in the same league as the Nank Runner Diver2 Pro and H20 Audio Tri 2 Pro.

Multipoint connectivity and Bluetooth 6.0 are great quality-of-life upgrades we wouldn’t expect on cheap headphones, allowing you to link to multiple devices and switch between them seamlessly. This is nice to swap between the phone for running and commuting and laptop for work, and works well in practice. Phone calls with the built-in microphone are, unfortunately, a bit tinny: the recipient of my test calls could hear me fine outside on a rainy run, but even at max volume the other person’s voice wasn’t great.

Music fared much better. Regardless of whether it was streamed via Bluetooth or loaded onto the headphones via the MP3 storage feature, quality was good, especially considering these are cheap bone conduction headphones. The transistors do vibrate at higher volumes during bassy tracks, which is especially noticeable above-ground on runs and in the office. However, in the water during swims, the vibrations are greatly reduced.

Controls are simple and intuitive, with volume up and down also allowing you to skip tracks as usual. Everything else is handled by the multifunction power button with a variety of long and short presses, and it’s generally easily remembered, although I kept the manual to refer back to.

Generally speaking, the Jabees 7Seven headphones offer good quality that bely their price, but there are still some niggles here and there that have been ironed out in more expensive offerings. The fit around the ears isn’t adjustable: instead, the 7Sevens are packaged with a “secure fit loop”, a little piece of elastic common in bone conduction headsets that are supposed to tighten the band around the head. The battery only covers five hours of playback time, so they’ll need to be quite frequently charged. And then there are the high vibrations from the transistors at full volume and slight call quality issues.

However, none of these annoyances are enough to reduce the 7Seven’s status as a value-for-money alternative to the likes of Shokz and H20. It’s got some great features, stores a ton of music, and that five-hour playback will be enough for several pool sessions and a run. They won’t last all the way through an ironman event, but if you’re into that, you’re probably opting for the more expensive headphones anyway.

Jabees 7Seven headphones: Price and availability

• $59.99 / £47.99 / AU$99
• Cheaper than most high-quality swimming headphones
• Same 32GB storage as more expensive brands

The Jabees 7Seven bone conduction headphones are available for $59.99 / £47.99 / AU$99, and bundle deals on multiple headphones can be found on the Jabees’ website. Considering some of their competitors are double, sometimes triple the price, you’re getting a lot for your buck with 32GB storage

Jabees 7Seven headphones: Scorecard

Jabees 7Seven headphones: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested

I tested the Jabees 7Seven underwater and on various runs. I drained the battery down, tested onboard MP3s and Bluetooth streaming alike, and adjusted the fit using the included secure fit loop.

Shokz OpenFit 2: Two-minute review

At their core, the Shokz OpenFit 2 are a great pair of open earbuds that provide a crucial mix of traffic awareness and solid sound quality that runners of all skill levels are sure to appreciate. I know they’ll be my go-to for running – for quite some time. Surely, that makes them some of the best open earbuds around, right?

Sort of, but that's not the whole story. Yes, there are some notable improvements here over the original Shokz OpenFit earbuds, including a massive leap in the available battery life, a more robust soundscape and, my personal favourite upgrade, the addition of physical buttons which just makes controlling playback on the go so much easier.

It’s a great package overall, but there’s a big asterisk over how much money you have to spend. Now at the increased price of $179.95 / £169 (which is around AU$350, give or take), the OpenFit 2 aren’t quite as affordable as their predecessor, so they're oddly less viable as a sports-specific second buy alongside a traditional pair of in-ear buds like the AirPods Pro 2 or the Sony WH-1000XM5.

Lastly, there's the existence of the also-just-launched Shokz OpenFit 2 Plus (or OpenFit 2+), which throws quite the spanner in the works. Despite only being £10 more expensive than the OpenFit 2, the 2+ come with wireless charging and Dolby Atmos compatibility, two features which are easily worth such a nominal uptick at the checkout.

If you can get the OpenFit 2 at a discount then none of this will be an issue, but at full price it’s a tricky one to recommend to the masses.

Shokz OpenFit 2: Specifications

Shokz OpenFit 2: Price and availability

• Priced $179.95 / £169.00 (around AU$350, where sold)
• Available from June 5th 2025 (announced January 2025)
• Available in the US and UK, at the time of writing

The Shokz OpenFit 2 are priced at £169 / $179.95, hitting store shelves on June 5th 2025 in the UK, despite having been available since January in the US. The earbuds are also launching at the same time as the more premium Shokz OpenFit 2 Plus which are just slightly more expensive at £179, with US pricing unannounced at the time of writing.

This is a notable price increase, particularly in the UK, against the $159.95 / £129 of the previous Shokz OpenFit, and it’s also worth bearing in mind that the entry-level Shokz OpenFit Air, priced at $119.95 / £94, are still readily available via the company's website. This does make the OpenFit 2 a tricky sell to budget-conscious buyers, but I do think that when you factor in the amount of upgrades that have been crammed into the OpenFit’s successor, there’s a lot for the avid runner in your life to appreciate.

Shokz OpenFit 2: Features

• Maintain traffic awareness while listening to music
• Vastly improved battery life
• Multi-point pairing

The main allure with the OpenFit 2 remains very much the same from every other product within Shokz’s wares. It is spatial (read also: environmental, traffic, general hubbub of life happening all around you) awareness. As any runner can attest, the last thing you want is to be caught off guard by a passing car or cyclist – if you don't have your wits about you then you can end up doing harm to yourself and others. However, going for a run without your favourite playlists is like going on a flight and staring at the tray table in front of you for the duration. Thankfully, Shokz’s open-ear format helps to bring together the best of both worlds.

Because the Shokz OpenFit 2 don’t block your ear canals in order to deliver sound, you can still hear everything that goes on around you, all while enjoying your go-to running tracks. It sounds simple enough, but it’s not easy to pipe good quality audio to ears when the product's drivers aren't covering them. It is a great feature to have in practice, and it's precisely why I’ve been using Shokz headphones and earbuds exclusively for the last several years when going for a run. For that reason alone, the Shokz OpenFit 2 will now supplant my existing Shokz headphones.

As you've no doubt guessed, the caveat to all of this is that Shokz’s products aren't great if you're trying to block out the world and focus. Simply put, with no noise cancellation to speak of, the OpenFit 2 are a terrible option to have for the commute or when working at a nearby cafe. It's not all negative however – I do find that the OpenFit 2, and earbuds of their ilk, are quite handy in an office environment as you can enjoy listening to a podcast as you work, but your colleagues won't have to flail their arms just to get your attention (unless it's a really good podcast).

Still, if you do want to use the OpenFit 2 in noisier environments, you can help to mitigate things by diving into the accompanying Shokz app and toggling the ‘Vocal’ setting to elevate voices and lead singers. There are other equaliser modes including ‘Bass Boost' and ‘Treble Boost’, but these are best enjoyed in quieter surroundings (Bass Boost is almost inaudible outdoors without cranking up the volume). Multi-point pairing has also found its way to the OpenFit 2 after being noticeably absent on the original OpenFit, so you can jump between devices without issue.

According to Shokz, the OpenFit 2 have the same four built-in noise cancelling mics as the OpenFit, but this time there’s some AI optimisation going on under the hood to improve the quality even further. While I will say that the actual quality of voice recordings with the microphones is fairly standard (legible but nothing to write home about), I was very impressed to see just how much heavy lifting the noise cancelling could do. Even with loud music blaring on my Sonos Ray nearby, I could still take down voice notes and listen to them without any hint of external sound getting in the way. For taking a quick call mid-run, the OpenFit 2 are more than up to the task.

Arguably the biggest shake-up on paper is the massive leap forward in battery life offered by the OpenFit 2, now boasting up to 11-hours of listening time on a single charge, and a total of 48-hours when the charging case is factored in. Given that the total use time capped out at 28-hours on the OpenFit, that’s a big improvement and it means you'll be able to get in more runs without needing to worry about giving the Shokz OpenFit 2 a top up.

Putting those claims to the test, I was able to drain about 10% from both earbuds after 30-minutes of playback at 50% volume. At that rate, it would have taken roughly five hours for the batteries to drop to 0%, but it's far more likely that you'll get closer to that 11-hour claim at a reasonable volume.

• Features score: 4 / 5

Shokz OpenFit 2: Sound quality

• New dual driver system
• Rich bass and vocals
• Easliy some of the best sounding open-ear earbuds I've tried

One of the upgrades that Shokz has been keen to point out is the inclusion of a dual driver system in each earbud for the OpenFit 2, which is designed to deliver enhanced clarity for both the bass and the vocals of any given track.

Coming in from my usual trusty pair of Shokz OpenRun Pro (which are a few years old now), the difference was immediate and tangible. Shokz was spot on in highlighting bass and vocals in particular as they both have a richer quality to them on the OpenFit 2. I knew this from the moment I kicked off a run with a tried and true classic, Linkin Park and Jay-Z’s Points of Authority / 99 Problems / One Step Closer mash-up – the opening guitar riff is as crisp and cutting as expected, but it’s when the backing vocals kick in that you can really hear the depth. And that’s only elevated once the bass drops (no small feat for earbuds of this type) to bring the whole song into view.

Further on in the playlist, the Black Eyed Peas’ Boom Boom Pow came up and I was impressed to see just how bouncy and impactful the percussion sounded throughout the song. Again, this is a pair of earbuds that attempting to convey sound without obstructing your ear canal, but as any fans of in-ear headphones can attest, that tends to be the way to get the most fulfilling sound quality, so the fact that the OpenFit 2 can still do justice to a song like this is quite something.

I did notice that at certain frequencies, the bass was unable to fully come to the surface and replicate what I'd expect from 'regular' buds. Megan Thee Stallion’s Opposite Day, a song that I rely on for weightlifting because of the thumping bass right from the start, just didn’t sound quite as powerful as it usually does with the OpenFit 2, but I will say that moments like this were certainly the exception to the norm.

If you prefer to listen to podcasts while you run, you won’t have any problems here as vocals come across as clearly as intended, although if you are in a busy area then you can always toggle the aforementioned Vocal equaliser to give it a bit of a boost.

At this money, the Shokz OpenFit 2 aren’t that far off some of the best earbuds you can buy, and I’ve lost track of the amount of times that the epic AirPods Pro 2 have dropped to around the same price during sales events. Even though I would sooner bring a pair of Shokz headphones or earbuds with me on a run ahead of anything else, I still use my AirPods the rest of the time, and if you’re tied to a strict budget then this might be something you have to weigh up at the checkout.

What is also odd is that for an extra £10, you can get the Shokz OpenFit 2 Plus, which add Dolby Atmos support for a more cinematic soundscape if you’re streaming video content. When you also throw the addition of wireless charging into the mix, I don’t know why you wouldn’t just go for the OpenFit 2 Plus, unless you’re desperate to hold on to a tenner.

• Sound quality score: 4 / 5

Shokz OpenFit 2: Design

• New silicone finish is very comfortable over long periods
• The earbuds stay firmly in place when running
• Physical inputs now sit alongside touch controls

If sound quality is the one area where the Shokz OpenFit 2 struggle to truly kick away from the competition, this is thankfully not the case where the design is concerned. These are a comfortable pair of open-fit earbuds that have been constructed with all-day wear in mind, a feat that’s largely achievable thanks to the new material used for the chassis.

The OpenFit 2 are largely encased in a soft silicone finish, which feels so comfortable against the ear that after a while, you start to forget they're there.

The hooks also remain sturdy and at no point during my runs with the Shokz OpenFit 2 was I ever concerned that the earbuds might become dislodged and lost, which is far more than I can say for most in-ear headphones which do not provide the same peace of mind.

One of the more welcome additions is a revamp of the control scheme on the OpenFit 2, finally bringing physical buttons into the mix. Both the OpenFit and the OpenFit Air relied entirely on touch controls which, I can tell you, was certainly a mixed bag from my experience with the latter. I could never quite wrap my head around the input system which is why, after a while, I ended up ditching them in favour of an older pair of Shokz headphones with physical controls.

This time around, there’s a push button sat on top of both earbuds and they can be customised (not independently) to recognise different actions. For example, I set the buttons to tweak the volume after a long press, and move either backwards or forwards through a playlist with a double click. There are still touch controls available, but they can only be assigned to wake your preferred digital assistant.

There are two colorways available, black and beige, and while they’re not quite as eye-catching as some of the more vibrant colours that Shokz has offered in the past, there is a refined quality about them that makes the earbuds feel stylish in their own way.

• Sound quality score: 4 / 5

Shokz OpenFit 2: Value

• Cheaper options are available within this market
• The more feature-packed Shokz OpenFit 2+ aren't much pricier

It’s a shame – I do genuinely appreciate what Shokz has achieved with the OpenFit 2, what with a more comfortable design, improved sound quality and the inclusion of physical buttons (finally), but the one thing that holds it all back is the product’s pricing, which has left me scratching my head for two reasons.

First off, as I’ve mentioned a few times, $179.95 / £169 just feels far too expensive for a pair of open-ear headphones. Even though I still think that open-ear is the way to go if you’re an avid runner, or hoping to get into running, they’re just not great options for any other setting. This hasn’t been too much of an issue in the past thanks to cheaper pricing, but with this increase the Shokz OpenFit 2 are encroaching on the space typically held by more premium earbuds.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, the more premium version of these earbuds, the Shokz OpenFit 2 Plus, are only £10 more expensive but for that minimal amount you get wireless charging and Dolby Atmos compatibility which begs the question – why on earth would you opt for the regular OpenFit 2 when the OpenFit 2 Plus are almost the same price? I don’t know if this is an intentional tactic from Shokz to get people to upgrade to the pricier pick, but the result is that it undermines the OpenFit 2’s position on the market.

• Value score: 3 / 5

Shokz OpenFit 2: Scorecard

Should I buy the Shokz OpenFit 2?

Buy them if...

Don't buy them if...

Also consider

How I tested

• Tested for two weeks
• Used in indoor and outdoor scenarios
• Connected to both iPhone and Android handsets

For testing, I wore the Shokz OpenFit 2 over the course of two weeks. I began my initial tests by taking the earbuds with me for a run at a local park with slight elevation, to get an idea of how well they could stay in place.

I also took the earbuds with me on a trip to Central London, listening to music and podcasts against the backdrop of a commuter train, passing cars and conversations, as well as the occasional spot of roadworks.

• First reviewed June 2025

Shokz OpenFit 2+: One minute review

After weeks with the Shokz OpenFit 2+ I can tell they’re great headphones that are worthy of inclusion in our best open-ear headphones buying guide, our best running headphones guide, and will be ideal for any runner willing to splash out on a pair.

They're comfortable to wear: the over-ear design isn't ideal for glasses wearers like myself, but I made do on my commute, with Shokz’ flexible nickel-titanium alloy ear hooks looping over your ears and weighted down by a bulbous end, while the driver sits snugly against your temples. It didn't affect the sound quality, but did affect the fit slightly: more on that later. However, as I don't run with glasses, it didn't cause any real lifestyle issues.

The silicon covering, which Shokz labels its “ultra soft silicone 2.0” is comfortable to wear in sweaty conditions. The whole earbud weighs 9.4g, making it light, but a gram heavier than the original OpenFit. Physical buttons and touch controls allow you to adjust volume, pause and skip tracks. The headphones are rated IP55: splashproof and sweat-resistant, ideal for rain but not water immersion.

The drivers aren’t bone-conduction headphones like the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 or Shokz Openswim Pro. Instead, they’re more like traditional drivers or speakers, directing sound towards your ears without covering the lughole entirely. Four beamforming mics with ANC and AI-powered algorithms allow you to make clear calls: Shokz' claims about clarity on calls were a bit of an exaggeration on windy days and runs, but clear enough.

The sound is really very good: I'd say it's close to the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (our gold standard in open-ear sound) in terms of quality, and far and away better from a fit perspective. The addition of Dolby is noticeable from the moment you flip the setting on in the Shokz app: everything becomes richer and more pronounced.

Likewise, I had fun tinkering with the EQ settings in the app, switching from Vocal mode to listen to my podcast during the first part of the run, and Bass Boost once I got up the giant hill I'd foolishly decided to tackle. I needed something heavier to get myself through the second part of my run, and Bass Boost paired nicely with the pounding roars of Linkin Park’s new (at the time of writing) Heavy is the Crown. The app even has a "find my headphones" style feature, which is clever stuff.

While the sound is comparable to the Bose Ultra Open, the OpenFit 2+ are certainly more reassuring to wear during strenuous exercise. I was continually worried that the Ultra Open would fall off my ears during jogs due to their pendulous wobbly clip design, and while I got through a 20km run without it happening, I personally know one person who had this happen during a marathon – a disaster, as the earbuds are very expensive.

Taking the Shokz OpenFit 2+ on runs, I felt very secure on linear road runs, and even during trails that demanded a little lateral agility to navigate: I felt them shift slightly a few times, but never feared they would drop off. The only time I did feel them wobble precariously was during explosive jumping motions in a demanding circuits session, and they did indeed threaten to leave my ears during dynamic vertical movement.

Nonetheless, this is a quibble: I loved them. They lie so flat against my skull that I even wear them to bed when I can't sleep and don't want to disturb my wife with an audiobook. They're extremely comfortable, and great for all aspects of active life. They're not quite as rich in sound as the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, but they're almost there, they feel more secure, and crucially work out around $100 / £80 cheaper.

Shokz OpenFit 2+: Specifications

Shokz OpenFit 2+: Price and availability

• $179.95 / £169
• $100 / £100 cheaper than Bose Ultra Open Earbuds at launch
• Only $20 / £10 more expensive than regular OpenFit 2

The Shokz OpenFit 2 cost $179.95 / £169 (about AU$350), while the Shokz OpenFit 2+ cost $199.95 / £179 (about AU$370). Official pricing for other regions is TBC. The Shokz are available to order now.

For the extra few dollars and pounds, you get the Dolby audio setting and wireless charging on the hard plastic case, whereas the OpenFit 2 need to be charged via USB, and they're still much cheaper than the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds were at launch.

It’s such a nice convenience, and Dolby makes a big difference for such a small price increase, that my initial thoughts are that the standard OpenFit 2 will rapidly become obsolete; I can’t imagine a situation in which I’d recommend them over the 2+.

• Value score: 4/5

Shokz OpenFit 2+: Scorecard

Shokz OpenFit 2+: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested the Shokz OpenFit 2+

I wore the Shokz OpenFit 2+ in the gym, during road and trail runs, and during my commute. I wore them with and without glasses for one month, tested the controls in the Shokz app, and drained the battery down. I even wore them during sleep.

First reviewed: June 2025

Shokz OpenFit 2+: One minute review

After just 24 hours with the Shokz OpenFit 2+ I can already tell they’re great headphones that are worthy of inclusion in our best open-ear headphones buying guide, and perhaps our best running headphones guide as well.

They're comfortable to wear, even for glasses wearers like myself, with Shokz’ flexible nickel-titanium alloy ear hooks looping over your ears and weighted down by a bulbous end, while the driver sits snugly against your temples.

The silicon covering, which Shokz labels its “ultra soft silicone 2.0” is comfortable to wear in sweaty conditions. The whole earbud weighs 9.4g, making it light, but a gram heavier than the original OpenFit.

The drivers aren’t bone-conduction headphones like the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 or Shokz Openswim Pro. Instead, they’re more like traditional drivers or speakers, directing sound towards your ears without covering the lughole entirely.

The sound is really very good, perhaps even coming close to the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (our gold standard in open-ear sound) in terms of quality. The addition of Dolby is noticeable from the moment you flip the setting on in the Shokz app: everything becomes richer and more pronounced.

Likewise, I had fun tinkering with the EQ settings in the app, switching from Vocal mode to listen to my podcast during the first part of the run, and Bass Boost once I got up the giant hill I'd foolishly decided to tackle. I needed something heavier to get myself through the second part of my run, and Bass Boost paired nicely with the pounding roars of Linken Park’s new Heavy is the Crown.

While the sound is comparable to the Bose Ultra Open, the OpenFit 2+ are certainly more reassuring to wear during strenuous exercise. I was continually worried that the Ultra Open would fall off my ears during jogs due to their pendulous wobbly clip design, and I personally know one person who had this happen during a marathon – a disaster, as the earbuds are very expensive.

Taking the Shokz OpenFit 2+ on a run, I felt very secure even during a trail that demanded a little lateral agility to navigate: I felt them shift slightly a few times, but never feared they would drop off.

I probably wouldn’t, however, wear them during circuit training with explosive movements like burpees, as I’d feel they might leave my ears during dynamic jumps. That’s something to test and report back on in my full review.

Shokz OpenFit 2+: Price and availability

• $179.95 / £169
• $100 / £100 cheaper than Bose Ultra Open Earbuds at launch
• Only $20 / £10 more expensive than regular OpenFit 2

The Shokz OpenFit 2 cost $179.95 / £169 (about AU$350), while the Shokz OpenFit 2+ cost $199.95 / £179 (about AU$370). Official pricing for other regions is TBC. The Shokz are available to order now.

For the extra few dollars and pounds, you get the Dolby audio setting and wireless charging on the hard plastic case, whereas the OpenFit 2 need to be charged via USB, and they're still much cheaper than the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds were at launch.

It’s such a nice convenience, and Dolby makes a big difference for such a small price increase, that my initial thoughts are that the standard OpenFit 2 will rapidly become obsolete; I can’t imagine a situation in which I’d recommend them over the 2+.

Shokz OpenFit 2+: Early Verdict

The Shokz OpenFit 2+: are great open-ear headphones for both workouts and general listening, with Dolby Audio as the flagship sound-enhancing feature – and the OpenFit 2 now seem a bit redundant as the two models are so similar in price. You’ll be able to check back soon for our definitive verdict in our full Shokz OpenFit 2+ review,.

First reviewed: June 2025

Shokz OpenRun Pro 2: One minute review

The Shokz OpenFit Air are probably the best running headphones for people in the 5k to half-marathon distance bracket who want to be able to hear their surroundings when they train and race. Offering a very reasonable 6 hours on a full charge, the battery life will get most people through a full marathon, too, although more expensive Shokz options give double the playtime.

Open-ear headphones like the OpenFit Air sit around and over your ears rather than in your ear canal like the best wireless earbuds. This pair is particularly light, at just 8.7g per bud, and you barely feel them on when you're jogging along a bumpy country lane or doing burpees in a virtual class. The design incorporates a flexible silicone ear hook, and this holds them securely in place without creating any pressure or discomfort during long listening sessions.

While they fit a wide range of ears and sit alongside glasses, the open design won't be for everyone. Music is brought to a confusing backdrop when you're near heavy traffic or crowds, and some people will still want active noise cancellation. Of course, many professional running and cycling races have rules on the type of headphones you can use. For safety, you need to be able to hear other runners, marshals, and cars, and the OpenFit Air allow you to do this.

Unlike Shokz's best bone-conduction headphones, open-ear options like the OpenFit Air use tiny speakers to transmit sound. Shokz calls it Air Conduction via DirectPitch, which is a fancy way of saying that sound waves move through the air to hit your ear, as is sort of the case with the best earbuds anyway.

It feels like Shokz has carefully considered its target market with OpenFit Air. The headphones were released in June 2024 as a more affordable open-ear option compared to the original Shokz OpenFit and the Bose Ultra Open earbuds. With IP54 water and sweat-resistance, they're not just for runners either, but yogis, walkers, and cyclists. Other key features include touch controls and multipoint pairing for switching been a phone and a desktop or smartwatch.

Given that the more expensive OpenFit 2 headphones were released in January with almost double the battery life and physical buttons, and that the Shokz OpenRun Pro offer such fantastic bass for runners, are the Shokz OpenFit Air too much of a Goldilocks option? Over more than three months of testing, I've loved wearing them and loved hearing them. They don't suit all my listening needs, but they've been hooked around my ears more than I ever imagined.

Shokz OpenFit Air: Specifications

Shokz OpenFit Air: Price and availability

• Cost $119.95 / £94 / AU$199
• More affordable than the OpenFit
• Well-priced for the quality and design

At $119.95 / £94 / AU$199, these headphones are cheaper than the Shokz OpenFit 2 ($179.95/£129.95) by some way. It's fair to say that those offer better waterproofing and more than double the battery life on a single charge, but not everyone needs 11 hours of juice in one go. Contrasting with other options from the brand, the OpenRun Pro2 bone-conduction headphones come in at $179.95/£169, and they give you up to 12 hours of audio.

The OpenFit Air headphones are cheaper than other brands targeting runners and fitness fanatics. The Beats Fit Pro at $199 / £199 / AU$299.95, give up to 6 hours of playback. But they're an in-ear bud, making it a harder comparison. Then there's the premium Bose Ultra Open earbuds at $299 / £249.95 / AU$449.95, which aren't marketed for runners in quite the same way but offer a similar fit and premium audio.

You'll always be able to find cheaper options, of course. The Soundcore V20i by Anker also keep your ear canal bud-free and cost around $40 / £50 / AU$89.99, with four mics to chop out surrounding noise on calls. Without testing, it's hard to say how they compare, but they're marketed for everyday use and light running.

Personally, if I'm going to put a pair of headphones through a lot of wear, tear, and sweat, I'm just not sure I can justify a very expensive option. I think the OpenFit Air are brilliant value when you balance the design, battery life, and functionality they give the average runner.

• Value: 4 / 5

Shokz OpenFit Air: Design

• Memory alloy core with a silicone outer
• Super light: only 8.7g per earbud
• Resist dirt and sweat, even in white

The way that Shokz approaches design and packaging for the OpenFit Air feels sleek. The buds, which are made from a mixture of a flexible, matte silicone surface and a metallic ring, come in a solid snap-shut charging case with a USB-C port at the back.

Of the three colorways for the OpenFit Air—white, black, and pastel pink—I reviewed the white pair. While I love white tech, I was worried they’d get grubby with regular wear in sweaty workouts. Three months in, however, and they still look as good as new. Unlike in-ear headphones, they don’t trap sweat, so I wager they’ll last longer even under heavy use. It's worth noting that the IP54 water resistance rating is okay for light rain and sweat, but below the IP55 rating of the Shokz Open Run Pro.

The OpenFit Air are my first pair of open-air headphones, and when I first tried them on, I was amazed at their lightness (just 8.7g each). They fit neatly around my small ears, whereas other headphones can dwarf them. But I was dubious about them staying on during exercise. The flexible silicone ends wrapped around my ears snugly, and I felt confident about taking them for a run. To see how well they'd fit a wider range of ears, I asked my partner, who has larger lugs than I do, to try them too, and the adaptable ear hook gave a good fit and sound without putting pressure on the ear (below).

• Design: 4.5 / 5

Shokz OpenFit Air: Features

• Touch controls are easy to press accidentally
• A few equalizer options within the app
• Four microphones for clear voice calls

Unlike the Shokz OpenFit, the Air has a multi-point pairing mode feature. This means you can connect them to your phone and say, a Bluetooth running watch, then switch between the two quickly. I paired them with Android, iOS, and Windows, plus a Garmin Forerunner watch, and found a seamless transition between them. There's no ear detection, so if you take the buds out, they keep playing, and you'll need to cut the audio off at the source.

By design, given that the OpenFit Air are meant to keep you aware of your surroundings, there’s no noise cancellation feature. But there are four microphones on the left bud, with a Qualcomm cVc 8.0 voice recognition algorithm designed to filter out background noise. I tested the mics for voice calls as a listener and a talker, and the sound was clear on both ends, apart from in very heavy wind. The mics are only in the right earbud, so obviously you'll need to wear that one to be heard.

The OpenFit Air has no physical buttons for the volume, pausing, or skipping tracks. Instead, there’s a touch-sensitive interface on the main body of each headphone, which presents a few problems. Although the design keeps the headphone exterior smooth (where buttons would likely gather dirt or sweat), it’s easy to touch these controls accidentally.

Reaching up to adjust my ponytail or removing a layer would brush them enough to create a loud, confused beep. By default, you have to hold down your finger on the side of either headphone to raise or lower the volume. And when running at even a moderate speed, this feels awkward. You can change which gestures do what in the Shokz app, but the clunky control lets down an otherwise seamless feature set.

Otherwise, the free Shokz smartphone app is satisfyingly simple. It also offers basic info about the buds and case battery levels, and there are five preset EQ settings for changing the audio balance. For the most part, I kept the buds on Bass Boost and enjoyed the richer sound it offered.

• Features: 4 / 5

Shokz OpenFit Air: Performance

• 6 hours of battery and 28 hours from the case
• A 10-minute gives 2 hours listening time
• Leaks sound at high volumes, as open-ears do

I wasn't expecting the Shokz OpenFit Air to deliver the same bass and immersive listening as my Bose QuietComfort Over-Ear headphones, but I did want to be able to enjoy my eclectic library of tunes while running. I started using the headphones while training for a half marathon, and although it took me a while to get used to the open-ear design and the ambient noise that was intentionally let in, I learnt to love them.

Sound comes from custom 18 x 11mm dynamic drivers that Shokz has engineered for balanced bass, mid, and treble frequencies. I felt there was a decent amount of bass on pumping tracks like The Veldt by deadmau5, but I also enjoyed quieter, minimalist piano from Ludovico Einaudi when I wanted my runs to take on a more soulful vibe. During podcasts, with multiple people talking, I often had to crank up the volume to hear exactly what was being said.

The headphones let in background noise to keep you safe on runs and walks, lest you get into a spot of bother when crossing roads or tracks. When I was running in the city centre, the music was hard to hear, rather than the main event, but that's sort of the point here. It's not a flaw with the headphones, just something to bear in mind if you're not sure you always want to hear your surroundings. In a busy hipster gym, for example, I still don my over-ear headphones to block out distracting noises and focus on my own workout. But for HIIT classes at home, the OpenFit Air are again the ideal, lightweight companion.

There's noise leakage from the headphones, but it's not obtrusive until you get to three-quarters of the full volume. I'd never wear the OpenFit Air in my open office, or on the bus or train, but for walks around the countryside where I wanted to listen to a podcast and keep my ears open to birdsong, wildlife, and farm machinery, the balance of both was perfect.

Traditional in-ear buds can give me an earache after a few hours, and over-ear headphones neckache. By contrast, the Shokz OpenFit Air are the most comfortable headphones I’ve ever worn, so much so that I often forget they’re there. I can wear them with sunglasses arms sitting on top, and I've also seen several users reporting comfort when wearing a helmet, although I haven’t yet tested this.

I've worn the Shokz under a bandana or woolly hat during colder runs and found no more discomfort from having them slightly pressed to my head. Whether it's to be recommended or not, when pottering on a day off, I often wear the Airs for as long as the battery lasts.

Speaking of battery, I've found that impressive too. Shokz says you'll get up to six hours of battery life from the buds and a further 28 hours by popping them in the case to charge them up. This is close to what I've experienced; on one day when I wore the OpenFit Air from a full charge, I timed 5 hours 45 minutes of use. Similarly, the buds lasted me a full weekend of travel with top-ups from the case on the go.

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

Shokz OpenFit Air: Scorecard

Should I buy the Shokz OpenFit Air?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested

• Used daily for over three months
• Listened to podcasts, music and phone calls
• Ran two half marathon races wearing them

I've spent more than three months wearing the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, and during that time have used them for all my outdoor runs – including two half-marathon road races and a rainy 10k on bumpy terrain.

I wore them on daily dog walks in the countryside when I still wanted to hear wildlife and farm machinery. I also used them for at-home HIIT workouts, to test how well they stayed on while I was star-jumping, doing burpees, and generally moving around erratically. I didn't use these buds in the gym or the office as I need heavier noise cancellation there.

I connected the earphones to my iPhone 15 Pro and Garmin running watch to see how easy it was to connect and switch between the two devices. I listened to all sorts of audio, from classic music on the radio, to voice calls with my family, to podcasts and audiobooks, and the indie rock from my teenage years. I also tried all four EQ settings available in the Shokz app.

Lastly, to test the microphone, I took several calls both at home and in a city centre with background traffic, noting both how it performed for me and asking the person on the other end to tell me how they found the sound quality.

Nank Runner Diver2 Pro: One Minute Review

The Nank Runner Diver2 Pro are unquestionably one of the best pair of bone conduction headphones on the market, and certainly the best pair of waterproof headphones I’ve personally tried in a very long time. They perform well in all areas, offering long-lasting battery life and ample storage, and prove comfortable to wear both on land and in water.

I used the headphones on my runs for quite a few weeks and could find precious little to moan about. Their adjustable hooks allow you to achieve supreme comfort, and you can also adjust the transducers – bend them inwards towards your ear, for example, to activate the Runner Diver2 Pro’s “noise canceling” mode – to suit your needs. Note, though, that noise canceling here isn’t exactly on a par with the ANC you’ll find on the Apple AirPods 2 Pro; you’ll need to wear earplugs to really eliminate sound leakage.

Nevertheless, to expect a pair of bone conduction headphones to feature world-class noise canceling is likely an ask too much. The Diver2 Pro are open-ear headphones that have been designed to enable you to continue to hear the world around you, stay safe on the roads and perform well in water. By their nature, bone conduction headphones don’t shut sound away, which explains the reason that the noise canceling mode disappoints here.

Bone conduction headphones work by using transducers to emit sound waves through your temples towards your eardrums, rather than directly into your ear canals. And coupled with the proprietary magnetic charger, silicone casing and 32GB storage in the Diver2 Pro, allow them to be used in the water, too. Bluetooth signals don’t travel well underwater, so the onboard storage is crucial for swimmers.

Overall, the Nank Runner Diver2 Pro are genuinely well-crafted and well-executed headphones for all manner of sports, from running to swimming. They’re a bit thicker and bulkier than market leader Shokz’ slender offerings, probably in order to accommodate that MP3 player – but we really can’t fault that; the headphones are quick to charge, simple to use and high-performing; they’re great for runners, cyclists and swimmers alike, which will make them near-perfect for triathletes.

Nank Runner Diver2 Pro: Price & Availability

• $199.99 / £154.50 / AU$427.80
• More expensive than OpenRun Pro 2
• Can be found on sale for less

The base price of the Nank Runner Diver2 Pro is $199.99 / £154.50 / AU$427.80. For that sum you get the headphones, the proprietary magnetic charging cable, earplugs, and three sizes of sound-quality enhancers. A carry case is available, but it’s sold separately - which is disappointing considering the price

While the base price is more expensive than the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, putting the Diver2 Pro at the very top end of bone conduction models, the headphones can frequently be found at a discounted price on both Nank’s own website and third-party outlets such as Amazon. At the time of writing, Nank’s website has the US version of the Diver2 Pro on sale for $159.99, and the UK version for £123.60.

Find them on sale for less, and I’d consider the Diver2 Pro a good buy – especially at that UK price point.

• Value score: 3.5/5

Nank Runner Diver2 Pro: Design

Weighing around 32g, the Nank Runner Diver2 Pro headphones are light and comfortable both in and out of the water, which is surprising given they come packing 32GB storage. Their silicon casing is remarkably soft, especially on the enclosed earplugs, which are made from the same material. The IP69-rated sealed unit makes the Diver2 Pro headphones fully waterproof and sweatproof; even open-water swimmers can use them without worry of saltwater getting into cracks and crevices.

The magnetic proprietary charger is well designed and clips onto the inside of the unit neatly; however, given the price, I was surprised to see Nank still using USB-A for its charging point. I reckon if we’re expected to pay full-price for these headphones, then USB-C – rapidly becoming the new universal standard due to its faster data transfer and charging speeds – should have been used instead.

The headphone’s arms allow you to pull the transistors towards your ears by up to 35 degrees, delivering greater control over how much sound is heard, while a trio of buttons enable you to skip tracks, adjust volume, and switch between Bluetooth and TF (storage) modes. Patented technology aims to reduce vibrations in the unit – a common problem with bone conduction headsets – by up to 35%. You can also slip the included silicon sound-quality enhancers over the base units, to stick in your ears, to ensure sound is conducted more effectively.

Overall, the Diver2 Pro’s are extremely well-designed: light, durable, comfortable and eminently functional.

• Design score: 5/5

Nank Runner Diver2 Pro: Features

• Noise canceling mode
• Multipoint connections
• Masses of storage

The adjustable arms of the headphones operate the noise canceling mode that Nank advertises: it claims that by pressing sound units closer to the ears and adding ‘noise canceling waves’ that you have the option between open-ear and closed-ear. You can slip the included silicon sound quality enhancers over the base unit, to stick in your ears and ensure sound is conducted more effectively.

However, the real stars of the show here are the multipoint connection with Bluetooth 5.4, which allows you up to two high-quality connections at once to switch between freely, and the built-in storage. The 32GB offered here is generous, holding up to 8,000 tracks – enough for hours upon hours of podcasts, or the longest workout playlist anyone has ever (probably) compiled. You can adjust the volume up and down, switch between modes or skip tracks with the Diver Pro2’s simple button configuration. While this might appear a limited feature set, in terms of bone conduction headphones, the Diver2 Pro are practically feature-rich.

I can’t really think of anything else I’d want on the Runner Diver2 Pro, apart from the ability to isolate the stored music into specific playlists, as I can do on Spotify. However, I can’t imagine how Nank would go about implementing such capability. These headphones are effectively a high-capacity iPod Shuffle at a fraction of the size, built into a pair of headphones. Awesome.

• Features score: 4/5

Nank Runner Diver2 Pro: Performance

• Great performance and comfort during runs
• Works well in the pool
• Battery lasts ages

I used the Diver2 Pro for multiple runs of varying length in Bluetooth mode, and found them ridiculously easy to set up and simple to use. My one gripe was that I was expecting the volume up/track forward button to be on the front of the unit rather than the rear, which took some getting used to.

Aside from that minor gripe, the headphones were light, comfortable and a pleasure to run with. While I didn’t find the noise canceling mode particularly useful – there was still plenty of ambient noise leakage, and the music just got louder rather than clearer – but this is a small complaint. From the start, the sound was clear, nicely balanced rather than overly-bassy (which is common with bone conduction headphones), plus the headset worked well for taking calls on the go, cutting out some ambient wind noise at my end.

In the pool, I found the Diver2 Pro similarly useful. Loading the built-in MP3 player with music was super simple from a laptop, and switching to storage (or “TF mode”) from Bluetooth was simply a matter of pressing the power button three times in quick succession. Despite an unavoidable change in sound levels as my head rose and fell out of the water during a swim, I could hear my music clearly throughout my swim.

Battery-wise, the headphones performed as described, lasting for around 12 days with plenty of use before needing to recharge. On the occasion I did find the battery low, charging for 10 minutes delivered an extra hour of use.

• Performance score: 5/5

Scorecard

Nank Runner Diver2 Pro: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested

I spent weeks testing the Nank Runner Diver2 Pro, going on runs and one pool swim. I drained the battery down with frequent use, charged it again, tried all the modes and loaded songs onto the unit using the proprietary cable.

First reviewed: March/April 2025

Amazfit Up: One-minute review

The Amazfit Up earbuds feature an open-ear design, making them a great choice for those who want to stay aware of their surroundings while listening to music. This makes them particularly popular for fitness enthusiasts, outdoor runners, and anyone who struggles with traditional in-ear or over-ear designs.

But these earbuds take a different approach. While many of the best open-ear headphones rely on ear hooks that go over the top of your ear or neckbands for stability, the Amazfit Up earbuds "clip" onto the edge of the ear instead. This isn’t unique to Amazfit – other brands, most notably the Bose Ultra Open earbuds, have used a similar design, along with various budget-friendly alternatives.

However, the Amazfit Up buds could be a game-changer for those who find ear-hook designs uncomfortable, especially if you have thick hair or wear glasses (I’ve personally had trouble with them for both of these reasons).

Another key selling point is price. Amazfit, owned by Zepp Health, is known for its budget-friendly fitness smartwatches, like the Amazfit Bip 3 Pro, which we praised for covering the basics at an affordable price – though not without its drawbacks. The Amazfit Up follow a similar pattern.

Open-ear earbuds can be pricey, with brands like Shokz and Bose offering premium options that require a serious investment. And since open-ear listening isn’t for everyone, spending that much can feel like a gamble. The Amazfit Up buds offer a more affordable entry point, though, as with most budget-friendly devices, compromises are inevitable.

Read on to find out what I thought after three weeks of testing the Amazfit Up – and whether budget-friendly buds can deliver without cutting too many corners.

Amazfit Up: Price and release date

• Priced at $49.99 / £44.99
• Released in late 2024
• Cheap compared to rivals – but competition is mounting

The Amazfit Up earbuds launched in late 2024 with a price tag of $49.99 / £44.99. At the time of writing, there’s no official pricing or release date for Australia.

This price makes them an incredibly budget-friendly option – not just among open-ear designs but among wireless earbuds in general, even compared to those in our best budget wireless earbuds guide.

For context, our current top pick for open-ear earbuds, the Shokz OpenFit, cost $179.95 / £179.99 / AU$289, making them significantly more expensive. While the Shokz model does have a more premium build and better sound quality, fit is subjective. Personally, I found the Amazfit Up more comfortable for my ears, making them an outstanding value prospect.

Some other earbuds with a similar clip-on design – where the buds attach to the edge of the ear rather than sitting in, over, or around it – are priced much higher. The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, which we rated highly in our review, are often considered the gold standard for clip-on earbuds but come at a steep $299 / £299 / AU$449.95. The Huawei Free Clip, another alternative, is also pricier at $212.37 / £169.99.

That said, the market for affordable clip-on earbuds is growing. Models like the JLab Flex Open and Anker Soundcore C30i are priced similarly to the Amazfit Up, offering more competition in the budget open-ear space.

So while the Amazfit Up is a strong contender at this price point, it’s not the only budget-friendly option. However, considering what it offers, it stands out as a great value – though it’s worth keeping an eye on the increasing competition in this space.

Amazfit Up: Specifications

Amazfit Up: Design

• A clip-on design
• Incredibly comfortable and light
• Exterior looks a little cheap

The Amazfit Up earbuds feature an open-ear design often described as “clip-on.” While this term is becoming more common, I find it a little misleading since there’s no clamping or tight pressure involved.

Each earbud consists of a main housing that sits behind your ear, connected by a small curved band to a spherical speaker that rests lightly in your ear’s concha, just above – but not touching – your ear canal. While this design isn’t unique, it’s a clever take on open-ear audio, allowing sound to play close to your ears while keeping your ear canals free for situational awareness.

Unlike many earbuds that create pressure points over time, these distribute their lightweight 5g-per-bud so evenly that I barely noticed them, even after hours of wear. In fact, they’re some of the lightest, most comfortable earbuds I’ve tested – and I’ve tested a lot. That’s rare for me to say, as I usually experience some level of discomfort with most headphones. After wearing these for a while, everything else felt heavy in comparison.

For me, this design wasn’t just more comfortable – it was also far more practical. The area behind my ear, where many other open-ear buds sit, is already occupied. If I’m not wearing contacts, my glasses rest there. I also have thick, long hair and often wear hats, especially when running. This is why ear-hook designs tend to get in the way for me, and why the Amazfit Up felt like such a great fit.

For everyday use, they were ideal for walking and light jogging. While I wouldn’t trust them for intense activities like sprinting or inversions during yoga, they stayed more secure than I expected during running, especially compared to ear-hook designs.

Visually, they’re… fine. The textured design isn’t particularly sleek or premium-looking. A friend pointed out that they resemble a 1990s Star Trek: The Next Generation gadget, and I can’t unsee it now – especially with the small red light and ridged details adding to the sci-fi aesthetic. That said, once they’re on, all you really see is the sleek black band, which I actually loved.

The earbuds are IPX4-rated, meaning they can withstand light splashes, sweat, and rain. That’s fine for casual workouts, but some fitness-focused earbuds offer better water resistance, so it’s something to consider if you plan to use them in tougher conditions.

The charging case is compact and functional, but feels a bit flimsy. While it does the job, it doesn’t seem particularly durable, so it’s worth handling with care.

• Design score: 4 / 5

Amazfit Up: Features

• Multi-point connectivity
• Connects with the Amazfit line of smartwatches
• 24 hours battery in total: 6 from the buds, 18 from the case

The Amazfit Up earbuds come with a decent range of features, though there are some gaps. One of the most notable omissions is the lack of an app, which is frustrating for those who like customization options. However, they do support voice assistants, including Zepp Flow and other phone-based assistants.

For controls, Amazfit has opted for actual buttons positioned behind the ear. I really appreciated this, especially for fitness use. A tactile button makes a huge difference – especially when your hands are sweaty, cold, or tired. These buttons allow you to adjust volume, play and pause music, skip tracks, answer or reject calls, and wake up your voice assistant. There are multiple input methods – single, double, and triple-taps, as well as a press-and-hold gesture. While the positioning behind the ear isn’t the most intuitive at first, I found the controls to be responsive once I got used to them.

One standout feature is multipoint connectivity, which is rare for budget buds and something even the Shokz OpenFit (our top open-ear pick) doesn’t offer. I connected the buds to two devices simultaneously, my Macbook Air and my iPhone, and the connection was seamless between them both.

Amazfit claims that the Up earbuds integrate well with Amazfit smartwatches, though I wasn’t able to test this firsthand. If you already own an Amazfit watch, this could be a nice bonus.

For calls and noise reduction, Amazfit advertises an “advanced AI algorithm” designed to reduce background noise, particularly wind. While I could still make calls outdoors, and they performed better than expected in windy conditions, the call quality was just okay – my voice sounded slightly muffled and distant according to the person I was calling. For casual use, they do the job, but if you rely on earbuds for frequent calls, you’ll likely want something with stronger microphone performance.

Battery life is decent but not outstanding. You get 6 hours per charge and a full 24 hours in total with the case too, which is lower than some competitors. For comparison, the Bose Ultra Open buds offer 7.5 hours per charge, while the Shokz OpenFit buds deliver 7 hours per charge and 28 hours total. So while the Amazfit Up holds its own, it’s not leading the pack.

• Features score: 3.5 / 5

Amazfit Up: Sound quality

• Decent clarity and crispness
• Volume and bass okay considering the design
• Only a little noise leakage

Open-ear earbuds aren’t designed for premium, immersive audio, especially at the budget end of the market. But I was pleasantly surprised by the way the Amazfit Up sounded – design and price considered.

Since they play audio just outside of your ear canal rather than sealing sound in, they naturally lack some punch, particularly in the bass. That said, there’s still enough low-end presence here to keep workouts energized, and I found the overall sound to be really enjoyable. Vocals come through well, instruments in the higher range are crisp, and the treble is clear – though occasionally a little on the sharp side. The soundstage has an expansive feel, making tracks sound open rather than compressed.

Compared to pricier alternatives like the Shokz OpenFit Air, the clarity isn’t quite as refined, but the difference isn’t huge, especially considering the price gap. Volume levels are decent here, though not the loudest. Then again, the whole point is you’re meant to be able to hear your surroundings, so what could be a negative with other designs is a plus here.

One thing I noticed was a slight vibration at times, which is common with this style of earbuds. Noise leakage is also expected, but in my testing, it was minimal. At about three feet away, people could detect a faint sound but couldn’t make out what was playing. Only those standing very close could actually hear the music, but even then, it wasn’t intrusive. So in the past, I wouldn’t have recommended this design to take from say a run to the office, but unless you’re used to strict silence, these can multi-task.

Ultimately, you’re not getting top-tier audio or ANC here, but that was never the point. Instead, for casual listening, workouts, and walks, the Amazfit Up buds deliver a surprisingly solid, well-balanced sound for the price.

• Sound quality: 3.5 / 5

Amazfit Up: value

• Excellent value for money
• Cheap compared to rivals – though there is competition
• A good way to try this design

The Amazfit Up earbuds offer excellent value for money, delivering a surprising combination of decent sound quality, excellent comfort, and good features at a budget-friendly price.

While open-ear designs typically come with compromises, the fit is a standout feature, making them far more comfortable – especially for those who struggle with ear-hook designs, many of which are significantly more expensive. They also seriously undercut premium clip-on competitors like the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds while still offering a solid listening experience.

That said, the market for affordable clip-on earbuds is growing, with brands like JLab and Anker offering similar designs at comparable prices. While competition is likely to increase, the Amazfit Up still holds its own as one of the best budget-friendly open-ear options we've tested. If you’re looking for an alternative to ear hooks without spending a fortune, they’re well worth considering.

• Value: 4 / 5

Should I buy the Amazfit Up?

Buy them if…

Don’t buy them if…

Amazfit Up: Also consider

How I tested the Amazfit Up

• Tested for three weeks
• Tested at home, in a cafe, at the gym and outside in all sorts of weather conditions

I used the Amazfit Up open ear buds for three weeks before writing this review, and that involved listening to music and watching streamed movies. This gave me a good opportunity to trial them in a range of different environments and all sorts of situations.

Throughout the testing period, I used the Amazfit Up alongside my iPhone 14 Pro via Bluetooth. Streaming was done via Spotify and Mubi.

I listened at home, whilst travelling on a train, working in a cafe, working out at the gym, running along the beach and in the countryside and walking outside in all sorts of weather conditions.

I've spent the past 12 years testing a wide range of headphones and earbuds, particularly those designed for fitness. I have a keen interest in tech that emphasizes comfort and user-friendly design.

• First reviewed in February 2025.

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