The Shokz OpenSwim Pro is a more capable, upgraded version of the regular Shokz OpenSwim headphones. It adds Bluetooth connectivity for live music streaming to the existing built-in MP3 support, making the headset more attractive to anybody wanting to listen to music in non-swimming settings as well as underwater.
Targeted at both aquatic and regular activities, the OpenSwim Pro is best suited to open-water and pool swimmers. Its IP68 rating means it's protected to depths of up to two meters, for up to two hours. Enough for a pretty intense triathlon swim, and certainly enough for an hour in the pool.
Like the rest of the Shokz range, the OpenSwim Pro sits over the ear, rather than in it, which means it fits more ear shapes. The bone-conducting technology may not match the sound quality of conventional earphones, but the PremiumPitch 2.0+ technology makes sure that the audio is clear and bass is reasonably strong.
It’s a shame that, even though it launched two years after the OpenRun Pro, the OpenSwim Pro uses eighth-gen bone conduction technology, whereas the Run model uses ninth-gen tech (which Shokz calls TurboPitch).
Where the Shokz OpenSwim Pro excels against other earphones is the fact that (just like the rest of the best bone conduction headphones) you can hear ambient sounds, such as traffic and people talking, very clearly. In fact, even as an avid AirPods Pro and AirPods Max user (with Transparency Mode), I found myself choosing to pick up the OpenSwim Pro headphones for a quick run or walking the dog because I felt less disconnected from the outside world.
The device only weighs 27.3 grams, which means there’s little to no ear fatigue. Plus, you can pick one of two designs that match your style – a vibrant, active-inspired orange headset or a safer grey color.
(Image credit: Craig Hale)
Although the device is waterproof, Bluetooth signals aren’t, so you’ll need to use MP3 mode to listen to your tunes when you’re in the water. This is fine, because you’re unlikely to have your phone nearby anyway, and you can switch between MP3 and Bluetooth modes by holding down the two volume buttons.
The 32GB of onboard storage is enough for around 8,000 songs, and transferring files onto the OpenSwim Pro is as easy as dragging and dropping files onto it as if it were a regular flash drive (although this is no good if, like me, you rely on streaming services for most of your auditory needs). It’s a shame that the included cable uses a regular USB connection rather than the newer, increasingly popular, and more versatile USB-C connection.
There are two noise-cancelling mics for taking calls or interacting with voice assistants in Bluetooth mode only. I took a few calls in the office, as well as while walking and cycling, and received no complaints about the quality of the audio.
The battery life is a particular strong point of the OpenSwim Pro, which is capable of up to nine hours of audio playback on Bluetooth mode, or six hours when playing from the built-in MP3 library. It might fall short of the OpenRun Pro’s 10 hours, but it does support the same quick charging speed, with a short 10-minute charge powering up to three hours of extra audio. Put it this way – I used the headphones for an entire working day and they were still ready to keep going for a little longer.
Compared with the regular OpenSwim, the OpenSwim Pro has upgraded bone conducting technology, support for quick charging, 28GB more onboard storage and Bluetooth support for streaming and calls, so it’s easily worth the small premium, priced at $179.95 / £169 / AU$299.
On the whole, the OpenSwim Pro is easy to recommend for anybody who spends a lot of time doing a variety of exercises – the fact that it’s genuinely one of the best waterproof headphones and not just water-resistant is advantageous, but even if swimming has become a failed New Year’s resolution, it’s a versatile, long-lasting and great-performing headset.
Shokz OpenSwim Pro: Specifications
Shokz OpenSwim Pro: Scorecard
AllTrails: Should I buy?
(Image credit: Craig Hale)
Buy if it...
Don't buy it if...
Also consider
How I tested
I replaced my AirPods with the Shokz OpenSwim Pro for listening to music and taking calls when in the office, walking the dog, running, cycling and swimming – both in the pool and in a lake. I compared speaker and mic quality in various settings, used Bluetooth and MP3 modes, and configured some settings in the Shokz app.
If you haven’t heard of Emeet before, you’re not alone. Previously, the company only made other work-based tech products, like cameras and speakers. It also has two pairs of over-ear headphones, but the Emeet Airflow are the brand’s first pair of earbuds.
The Emeet Airflow have an open-ear design, which uses air conduction tech by positioning a small speaker on the outside of your ear, not in your ear canal like most of the best wireless earbuds. This style has become popular over the last few years. Our best open-ear headphones guide is filled with options to suit a range of budgets. Smaller audio tech brands are introducing open-ear designs, and big tech companies like Bose are getting in on the action.
Open-ear headphones are appealing because they free your ear canals, enabling you to listen to music while still hearing sounds around you. The complete opposite proposition to the best noise-cancelling earbuds and best noise-cancelling headphones. Ideal for runners, cyclists or people who generally would like to be more aware of their surroundings in any situation. Like those who need to be on hand at an office or listen out for their kids as they work at home.
They also appeal to people who don’t like the feel and fit of other kinds of headphones. Some people don’t like the stuffed-ear feeling they get from wearing a pair of the best true wireless earbuds in their ear canals. Or the pressure of the cups and headband when they’re wearing over-ears.
But although there’s a lot of appeal to this design, it’s not always easy to get right. I tested many of the buds in our best open-ear headphones guide, and several were a little fiddly to put on when I was also wearing glasses or were unstable when I wore my hair down. So, how did the Emeet Airflow compare?
Surprisingly well. I initially had some minor fit issues when I had to position them behind my ears alongside glasses. But otherwise, they’re a secure and comfortable fit that I prefer over bigger name brands. The audio on offer here isn’t perfect. But for a pair of open ears, the sound is clear, can get loud, and is ideal for a work-based setting.
A couple of added features make the Emeet Airflow unique, including a detachable mic – a bonus for upgrading work calls – and a charging case that claims to clean the buds with UV light.
As long as you’re not expecting sonic excellence – which isn’t really possible where air conduction is concerned – the Emeet Airflow are a surprisingly solid choice of open-ear buds. They’re especially good if you’re looking for a pair of buds predominantly for the office or for making work-based calls, as they straddle the line between buds and a headset.
Emeet Airflow: Price and availability
(Image credit: Becca Caddy)
Cost $179.99 in the US
£129.99 in the UK
About AU$272 in Australia (actual pricing tbc)
The Emeet Airflow cost $179.99 / £129.99 / about AU$272, and they’re available now.
How do they compare to rivals? This price makes the Emeet Airflow a little cheaper than the similar 1More Fit Open Earbuds S50, which cost $149.99 / £149.99 / around AU$290, and a similar price to the JBL Soundgear Sense at $149.99 / £129.99 / AU$231.
The Shokz OpenFit are significantly more expensive at $179.95/£179.99/AU$289. Although the Shokz OpenFit are one of my favorite pairs of open-ear buds, so the elevated price does make some sense.
With this in mind, they’re priced in the mid-range, and I’d say performance-wise that adds up. I think it is possible to find better and cheaper true wireless buds, but if it’s the air-conduction style you want, this price represents good value.
Value score: 4 / 5
Emeet Airflow: Design
(Image credit: Becca Caddy)
Stable fit compared to rivals
Comfortable
Simple design
Looks-wise, the Emeet Airflow have a basic design that I’d describe as quite corporate. That’s probably because they strike me as a buds-meet-headset offering. That’s not to say they look bad or you can’t wear them outside of the office and, again, this is down to personal preference – in fact a few people I spoke to liked the more “serious” look and feel of these buds compared to sportier ones.
There are two large, shiny circles on the buds with the Emeet logo. This is the area you can tap to use touch controls. These worked well, especially because I managed to achieve a secure fit. This means activating a touch control doesn’t throw off the stability.
The buds have large hooks to sit behind your ear and position the speaker next to your ear canal. These hooks have a 1mm titanium memory steel wire inside, which makes them flexible and skin-friendly silicone on the outside. These buds also have stabilizing fins, which you can add for an even more secure fit.
Weighing in at a mere 8.5g per bud, they’re incredibly light and on par with their competitors. The combination of their design, materials, and lightweight form made the Emeet Airflow a joy to wear, especially after I had adjusted them to my liking at the start – a process that took only a minute or two.
Once I had them on, I found myself forgetting about them several times. The Emeet Airflow's design and fit make them perfect for work, but their comfort and stability also make them a great choice for sports and walking. There’s a little movement, but not enough to be a concern.
The only time they moved a little was when I took them to the gym and used the cross trainer – then again, these aren’t explicitly for workouts, and they still fared exceptionally well on a rowing machine, while lifting weights and doing some functional fitness. They also have an IPX5 rating, meaning they're sweat-proof. But although sweat won’t damage them, it might have caused the fit to become a bit loose when I tested them.
This comfortable fit experience elevates them above some key rivals, particularly the 1More Fit S50, a decent pair of open-ear buds that were just not crafted for smaller ears like mine.
Design score: 4 / 5
Emeet Airflow: Features
(Image credit: Becca Caddy)
Multi-point connectivity
Detachable mic
40-hour battery life
The Emeet Airflow has some handy features onboard, cementing them as a solid choice for offices, work and calls.
The most interesting is the detachable mic, which easily slots into a port at the base of the buds – you can pick either side – making them more of a headset-meets-earbuds hybrid. This mic is small and thin, but there’s a little spot for it in the charging case, so you can keep it safe when you’re not using it.
Battery life is good at 8 hours from the buds and 40 hours from the case. This is more-or-less exactly the amount of time I got from them during testing; this varied a little depending on how many calls I made. The more calls, the quicker the battery seemed to drain.
For comparison, the Shokz OpenFit have 7 hours of battery in the buds and 28 hours in the case, so the Emeet outperform them. Then again, the OneOdio OpenRock Pro have an exceptional 19 hours of battery in the buds and 46 hours from the case, so it is possible to get better if long-lasting power from this form factor is a priority.
The charging case isn’t small by true wireless earbuds standards, but it is slim and pocketable. It has a premium look and feel despite feeling like plastic. The case has an added trick up its sleeve as it cleans the earbuds as they charge. Emeet promises the case can sterilize 99.99% of common bacteria. This isn’t common, but I’ve seen similar tech in other true wireless bud cases – given they go into your ear canal it’s probably more necessary there. I doubt anyone would favor the Emeet buds over a rival for this feature, and it is hard to quantify whether it works, but this is down to personal preference.
The Emeet Airflow come with a small USB dongle. This allows you to connect them to a laptop. The process felt a little fiddly and annoying compared to the easy experience I had connecting them to my phone.
Emeet Tune is the accompanying app. It has many simple features, such as showing the status of the buds, allowing you to tweak the EQ, and customizing some on-ear controls.
Features score: 4 / 5
Emeet Airflow: Performance
(Image credit: Becca Caddy)
Sound quality here isn’t excellent, but it’s surprisingly good considering the design of the buds. Music sounded clear and detailed with some richness and even bass – especially at higher volumes, likely due to the large 16.2mm drivers.
Tracks like ‘Back on 74’ by Jungle and ‘Got It Bad’ by Leisure sounded clear and melodic across the range, with bright vocals and pleasing drum beats, even at the highest volumes. Overall, I felt the Emeet Airflow were really well-suited to tracks like this, which are soulful and a little poppy with smooth basslines.
But don’t expect strong bass here or the feeling of immersion you’d get from a different, closed design. I noticed this lack of immersion most distinctly when it came to heavier rock or punk tracks, like ‘Beat Your Heart Out’ from The Distillers and ‘Sick, Sick, Sick’ from Queens of the Stone Age, which sounded fine, but flatter and less lively than other kinds of buds, especially at high volumes.
Emeet says the buds are designed to be anti-sound leakage. I tested this and had to ask a friend to get close to hear the sound. Playing ‘Burn The Witch’ by Queens of the Stone Age at full volume stood around 1 meter away; they could make out sound in that sort of tinny, distant way. To some extent, it’s impossible for no sound leakage with a pair of open ears but I felt like this performance was impressive. This makes me confident to recommend them for wear in most offices – just be wary about cranking the volume up to the limits.
As you’d expect, calls here sound great. This is thanks to the detachable mic, which improved clarity and made calls way more pleasing overall. But it isn’t necessary for decent call quality if you don’t like it because there are two built-in omnidirectional microphones in the buds, too.
Emeet also offers what it calls a “VoiceCore algorithm,” which can filter out noises on both sides of the call up to 50dB. I definitely felt like taking calls with these buds was better than with other air-conduction earbuds I’ve tested.
Performance score: 3.5 / 5
Emeet Airflow: Scorecard
Emeet Airflow: Should I buy?
Buy it if...
You want earbuds for the office These buds are great for work, sitting between buds and a headset. The design is simple, the mic makes calls better and the open-ear design is handy if you need to be readily available.
You’ve been meaning to try an open-ear design They’re not budget, but they’re an affordable option if, for whatever reason, you want to see whether open-ear buds are for you.
Calls are important The detachable mic elevates calls, making them clearer. You don’t need to use it for calls either. There are mics in the buds.
Don't buy it if...
You need them for working out These buds fared surprisingly well on walks and at the gym, but there are more secure options available from the likes of Shokz, as well as bone conduction options, which might suit high impact sports better.
You want audio excellence For a pair of open-ear buds, they perform well. But if you’re wanting top-tier sound or ANC or anything else you’d expect from a higher-end pair of buds, you’ll need to adjust your budget and look elsewhere.
You want a stylish option It’s not that these buds look bad, but there’s a corporate vibe to them that makes them a little less cool and sleek-looking than other options I’ve tested.
Also consider
Shokz OpenFit
These buds deliver good sound, awareness of your surroundings and a solid fit that should suit most people. Go for these if you’ll solely be wearing them for working out.
You'll get a huge 19 hours of battery from these buds, and 46 hours if you have the charging case with you, making these the best choice for all-day wear.
I wore the Emeet Airflow buds every day for three weeks. This gave me the chance to use them in different situations.
I used them to listen to music and podcasts while I was walking around a few different cities and the countryside. As well as on jogs along the beach and when I worked out at the gym.
I paired them with an iPhone 14 Pro and mostly used Spotify and Apple Music to test them. I paired them with a laptop and used them to listen to movies on Mubi and Disney Plus.
I’ve tested lots of different headphones and earbuds over the past 12 years, especially devices that are designed for fitness. I’m particularly interested in audio tech that prioritizes comfort and ease of use.
The 1More Fit Open Earbuds S50 use air conduction technology to get sound to your ears. They don’t sit in your ear canal, like most other true wireless earbuds, or cover your whole ear, like over-ear headphones. Instead they’re designed to hook around your ears, positioning little speakers above your ear canals.
The benefits of this open-ear design is that you can stay more aware of what’s going on around you, which is ideal for outdoor workouts or anyone who doesn’t want to feel cut off from their surroundings. Because no part of the design goes inside your ear, they’re also a good option for people who don’t like the intrusive design of other types of buds.
Other audio brands have been venturing into air conduction tech recently, including Bose, Shokz and JBL. But, as I’ll get to soon, keeping earphones in place when there’s nothing inside your ear is a challenge: the 1More Fit Open Earbuds S50 won’t give the best earbuds a run for their money. It’s very difficult to get fantastic sound from this sort of design, but I was pleasantly surprised by their audio: it was clearer than I was expecting with some decent, but not powerful, bass.
They’re built for workouts with some specs you’d expect from the best workout headphones, like an IPX7 rating, making them sweat-resistant, and an impressive listed 38 hours of battery. I got around 35 hours during testing, so this is quite representative. The 1More Fit Open Earbuds S50 may sound like a decent set of earbuds, but they’re sadly let down by their fit: for me, they simply weren’t stable enough.
It’s easy to see why there’d be a problem with this design as in-ear buds are “anchored” in place when they fit in your ear canal. 1More attempts to solve this problem both with earhooks and small silicone rings, which sit just outside of your ear canal. However, the earhooks didn’t bend enough and were oddly-shaped for my ear. This meant I never got a good fit on my left ear, the bud fell out several times, and although I managed to get a slightly better fit on my right ear, the bud still felt precarious the whole time – not ideal for earbuds built for fitness.
Some of these fit issues could have been down to the size and shape of my ears, but I asked a few other people to test them and several had similar problems. Issues with stability became even more apparent when I was wearing glasses, too, as the earhooks and glasses were competing for the same small space behind my ear.
1More Fit Open Earbuds S50: Specifications
1More Fit Open Earbuds S50: Price and availability
(Image credit: Becca Caddy)
Cost $149.99 in the US
£149.99 in the UK
Around AU$290
The 1More Fit Open Earbuds S50 were released internationally in September 2023 and cost $149.99 / £149.99 / around AU$290. At the time of writing, they’ve been reduced on the 1More website to $99.99 / £104.99. We don’t know if this is a permanent discount or part of a limited deal.
1More also makes the S30, and while these earbuds use the same air conduction tech and have a similar design, they’re cheaper and a step down in terms of specs. They only have an IPX5 water-resistant rating and a 30-hour battery, compared to the S50’s IPX7 rating and 38-hour battery. The S30 cost $69.99 / £69.99 but, like the S50, are currently reduced to $47.99 / £49.99.
To put the S50 into broader context, similar air conduction rivals, like the Shokz OpenFit, are more expensive at $179.95 / £179.99 / AU$289, although I did find the Shokz buds to be generally better and much easier to wear. The S50 are more similar in price to JBL’s air conduction offering, the Soundgear Sense, at $149.99/£129.99/AU$231.
When comparing the 1More Fit Open Earbuds S50 to sports earbuds more generally, you can often expect to pay more for buds at the top of their game, like the Beats Fit Pro at $199 / £199 / AU$299. Then again, plenty of the options in our best workout earbuds guide are much cheaper and perform significantly better than the 1More buds, like the JLab Go Air Sport at only $30 / £29 / AU$69.
Value score: 3.5/5
1More Fit Open Earbuds S50: Design
(Image credit: Becca Caddy)
Earhook design
Unstable fit
Looks nice and slickly designed
The 1More Fit Open Earbuds S50 use air conduction technology to enable you to hear audio, which means there’s nothing in your ear canal. Instead, a speaker is just outside of it. So what keeps these buds in place is an earhook design that fits behind your ear and little silicone rings, which 1More calls “sound loops”, that rest just above the ear canal. There are three different sizes of these loops to choose from to get the best fit. Rival buds have a similar earhook, but we’ve not seen the sound loop-like design anywhere else yet.
I get the thinking behind the sound loops: they’re a way to keep the buds in place without putting anything in your ear, which means you’re still aware of your surroundings. But they defeat the point of open-ear buds a little for me, as they are still using something to block your ear, even if it’s not as intrusive as a bud in your ear canal. I much prefer the design of the Shokz OpenFit.
But the reason the Shokz OpenFit work well without similar loops is that their earhooks are effective (albeit not perfect). Unfortunately, the 1More Fit Open Earbuds S50 have earhooks that are too rigid and not as ergonomic – at least not for my ears. This meant I never achieved a snug or stable fit with the buds, especially in my left ear. This bud fell out even when I was just walking and not working out.
I played with the earhook, adjusted the positioning, tried out all of the different loop sizes but had no luck. My best guess is that the distance between the bulk of the bud and the top of the earhook was just too big, so it actually fell down over the top of my ear. I did wonder whether this was a quirk of my ears and so enlisted a couple of friends and family members to see if they had similar problems. This was by no means an exhaustive test, but I found women with smaller frames had similar problems, either with one bud or both.
There was another problem that affected the fit: glasses. Even with my right ear feeling stable, wearing glasses meant the arm of my glasses and the earhook were competing for space behind my ear. I could either lay the earhook down first and put my glasses arm on top, which meant my glasses were unstable and vision ever-so-slightly distorted or the other way around, which meant the buds were even more unstable.
I opted to wear contact lenses for the rest of my testing, but some people won’t be able to. This also means wearing these buds and sunglasses could be an issue, which feels disappointing considering these are buds designed for outdoor workouts.
Despite these fit issues, these are a nice-looking pair of earbuds with a sleek design. I tested the silver version but, from what I can tell from online press shots, the darker grey shade is a little more appealing. The silver shade is nice, but does look a little cheap and plasticky. The same can be said about the charging case, which has a shiny cheap look about it. The charging case that comes with these buds is also big compared to the cases offered by competitors at 86 × 65 × 29.8 mm and weighing in at 63g (82.5g with the buds in). It could be slipped into a bag or a large pocket, but it’s not ideal for taking out on a run with minimal gear.
Design score: 2.5 / 5
1More Fit Open Earbuds S50: Features
(Image credit: Becca Caddy)
IPX7 water-resistant rating
Air conduction for ambient awareness
Good battery life
These earbuds are durable with an IPX7 sweat-resistant rating. This means they should handle the most sweaty workout sessions, even splashes, light rain and, technically, an accidental dunk in water. However, we wouldn’t advise it – and best keep them out of the shower.
There’s some opportunity to change the audio with 12 EQ presets within the 1More app. It’s good to have this option, but I preferred the way the buds sounded out of the box. You can also use the app to customize some of the touch controls on the buds. These didn’t work well for me as I never got a stable fit, so touching them made it more unstable.
The 1More Fit Open Earbuds S50 have what 1More calls its ‘PurePower Driver’ inside. The company says it has a diamond-like DLC diaphragm, which results in a 40% boost in power over conventional models. It’s not clear whether this means whether that’s over previous 1More models or rivals. There are also dual mics on each earbud for calls, and an AI algorithm promises to distinguish voices from background noises, helping block out any ambient sound when you’re on a call.
In terms of battery, 1More promises up to 11 hours of battery life from the buds and 38 hours of battery life with the charging case. I found these figures to be accurate during testing.
This is where the S50 really shine, bringing some of the best battery compared to rivals. For example, the Shokz OpenFit offer seven hours of battery life, and 28 hours from the case. And the JLab Go Air Sport (with an in-ear design) bring you eight hours with an additional 32 hours of battery life with the case.
Features score: 3.5/5
1More Fit Open Earbuds S50: Performance
(Image credit: Becca Caddy)
Decent sound
Only some leakage
Great for hearing your surroundings
One of the biggest benefits of these open-style buds is that you can hear what’s going on around you, especially traffic, loud conversations and music. I personally found this to be a better experience than simply using the “ambient awareness” or similar modes on ANC headphones and earbuds, which I always find difficult to process.
However, due to the build of these buds – with their positioning and the silicone sound loops – not all sounds were clear in my immediate environment and it was easy to get distracted by the audio. This means you’ll need to be careful, as you definitely can’t hear everything when you’re using them. Especially when the volume is loud, which is worth bearing in mind if you run next to roads.
As you’d expect from an open-ear design, there’s some sound leakage. But not as much as I anticipated, which makes the 1More Fit Open Earbuds S50 a versatile proposition for wearing in a range of different environments – assuming you get a decent fit.
The S50 deliver a good but unremarkable sound. The audio is clear and there’s some decent bass and volume here too – again, two things I wasn’t expecting from the open-ear design. Push up the volume high on a bass-heavy track and things do start to sound a little muddied. Due to the style of these buds there’s also no real sense of immersion or an expansive soundstage. But then again, these buds were never going to be the best-sounding out there, you’d need to find a pair of the best ANC buds for a more polished experience. However, for me, the sound is perfect for providing a soundtrack to a walk or workout.
Performance score: 3.5/5
Scorecard
1More Fit Open Earbuds S50: Should I buy?
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
Also consider
How I tested
I wore the 1More Fit Open Earbuds S50 most days over three weeks, and had the opportunity to test them in a range of different environments.
I used them while walking around the city and by the beach, running through the countryside and rollerblading. I took them to work at several coffee shops and the gym and wore them as I worked at home alone.
I also went on a trip to Rome whilst testing these buds, which gave me a good opportunity to use them in some different situations, like on a plane to listen to movies with my phone and in an airport to listen to podcasts and stay aware of flight announcements.
I paired them with an iPhone 14 Pro and mostly used Apple Music and Spotify streaming services to test them with music, as well as podcasts on Spotify and movies on Mubi.
I’ve tested many different headphones and earbuds over the past 12 years, especially those designed for fitness and active lifestyles. I like to find the devices that prioritize comfort and ease of use and flag up any new tech that feels more style over substance.
Update: February 2024. The H20 Audio Tri Multi-Sport headphones are still a great buy over a year on, even with the advent of a Pro model. Onboard storage and streaming options, a cheaper price from launch and bone-conduction tech, which hasn't really advanced much, means it's standing the test of time very well. The rest of the review remains as previously published.
H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport: One-minute review
The H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport Waterproof Open Ear Headphones are a contender for our best waterproof headphones guide. Thanks to their dual Bluetooth/flash memory, these headphones are so versatile you’ll only need the one set for all your workouts, whether underwater or not.
Fully waterproof, they have surprisingly good sound in most Bluetooth conditions and from the onboard 8GB flash drive for uninterrupted play while swimming. Bluetooth’s limitations in water mean you need both modes if you never want to be without sound. While you could jerry-rig a smartwatch to your swim cap or goggles, keep in mind you’ll need the two devices within three to four inches of each other.
As with most bone conduction headphones, they’re worn on the cheekbones – an improvement over the H2O Audio Sonar (one of our waterproof headphone picks) which need to be attached to swim goggles.
Our main quibble is that the control buttons sometimes need a couple of attempts to perform how we want rather than working on the first try. Of the three function buttons, the main button controls a lot, so you need to be very precise with how you hit it and how long you hold it. This should improve after the button design change in the next production run.
H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport: Price and availability
How much does it cost? $149.99 (£128.00, AU$225.00)
Where is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, the UK, and Australia
H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport: SPECS
Interface: Bluetooth and onboard media player Battery life: 8-9 hours play time Storage: 8GB Audio formats: MP3, WMA, and Apple iTunes’ M4A Weight: 1.16 oz / 33g
Both on H2O Audio’s website and on Amazon, these versatile headphones are currently on sale at the time of writing. However, they retail at $149.99 (£128.00, AU$225.00). They’re manufactured in China and designed in San Diego, California. They ship internationally, though additional taxes and shipping fees vary by country.
It’s rare to find waterproof headphones, especially at this price, with both Bluetooth and onboard memory so you can have uninterrupted sound regardless of the conditions. For example, Shokz OpenSwim headphones have only an MP3 player (no Bluetooth) at a cost of $149.95. On sale for $89 (from $129) are the Bluetooth-only YouthWhisper SuperQ3 bone conduction headphones. While Zygo Solo headphones allow you to stream flawlessly from your phone underwater via an FM radio transmitter, it’ll cost you $299 and you need to bring extra gear to the pool.
Value: 4.5 / 5
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport: Design
IPX8 waterproof rating means you can swim without worry
Stream via Bluetooth or from the onboard flash drive
8MB of storage of MP3, WMA and M4A files
The H2O Audio Tri Multi-sport Waterproof Open Ear Headphones have the maximum waterproofing rating – IPX8. That means they can withstand immersion in 12 feet (3.6 m) of water for an unlimited time (so you’ve lost one more excuse for cutting your workout short).
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
Fairly typical for bone conduction headphones, these have two round transducers that sit below your temple, hooks that go over the top of each ear, and two rectangles that sit behind your ears with the controls and battery. The device is mostly black, though you have your choice of Caribbean blue, hot pink, or black for the band that wraps behind your neck. No need to worry if you expect to be tossed around in the waves, they come with a little rubber leash to secure them to swim goggles or a wetsuit zipper. For regular wear, you likely won’t need it – they stayed comfortably in place for us during a jog and while swimming laps.
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
Charging the headphones and downloading files to the 8GB flash drive is through a compact proprietary cable that pairs four metal circles on each device via a magnet. While you can’t sub one of your dozens of other cords in, you don’t have to worry if water will seep into the charging port.
Once the cable connects your headphones to your computer, a window instantly pops up to transfer files. Our headphones arrived with two dozen songs already loaded, and we can attest that Janis Joplin belting out “Me and Bobby McGee” energizes for several extra laps in the pool. It’s easy to drag and drop whatever MP3, WMA, or M4A (iTunes) files you like into folders and organize them by type, workout, or however you like. Note that you can’t download files from subscription services like Spotify or Apple Music because they’re copyright protected (but you can stream them via Bluetooth).
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
Three buttons manage the controls. With a click, two buttons raise or lower the volume; holding one skips to the next or previous track (or forward or back a few seconds on podcasts). In memory mode, a double click of a volume button skips to the next or previous folder. The main button turns power on and off, pauses and restarts play, and toggles between Bluetooth and memory. In memory mode, the main button also controls shuffle play and, in Bluetooth mode, answers calls as well as activates voice assistants.
The battery lasts eight to nine hours though playing at higher volumes will drain it more quickly. You’ll know your headphones are fully charged when their light turns from red to blue. A polite British lady announces the battery status when you turn the headphones on and she gives you an hour’s worth of periodic warnings when the battery level is low. She also confirms when you’ve toggled successfully between Bluetooth and memory modes.
Design: 5 / 5
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport: Performance
Easy to download to the 8GB memory and organize files how you want
Great sound, though a bit bass-y underwater
Button controls can be a bit finicky
Because the H2O Audio Tri Multi-sport Waterproof Open Ear Headphones stream sound two ways, you only need this one set for all your sports needs. Overall, sound quality is quite good, especially for music and podcasts, though a bit echo-y for phone calls. In the air, both music and podcasts sounded great and were surprisingly rich, whether streaming by Bluetooth or from the flash drive. Underwater, podcasts’ sound quality was just as good as in the air. For music underwater, we would have liked more treble and less bass, but it wasn’t a deal breaker (and we were happy that the bass wasn’t so strong that our cheekbones vibrated, as with some other bone conduction headphones).
Because water blocks Bluetooth signals, sound did go in and out while swimming in Bluetooth mode when our head was even just a couple of inches below the surface. The headphones performed better at the end of the pool nearest where our phone was sitting and less well 60 feet away at the pool’s other end. Keep in mind that the headphones must be in Bluetooth mode to receive phone calls.
Swimming is why you want headphones with a built-in MP3 player. In memory mode, the sound was great and didn’t cut out at all whether we swam on the surface or dived to the bottom of our four-and-a-half-foot-deep lap pool.
Our biggest complaint is that the control buttons of the H2O Audio Tri Multi-sport are a bit finicky, especially the main button which controls play, pause, toggling between Bluetooth and memory modes, and a few other functions. Sometimes it took a few tries to get the device to do what we wanted; occasionally we gave up and just pulled out our phone to get the sound to restart rather than continue to try to hold the button for the exact right number of milliseconds. Now, most people won’t do the extent of toggling and control adjustments that we do during testing, but keep this in mind if you frequently want to skip ads, pause and restart play, or switch back and forth from Bluetooth to memory mode. In circumstances when your hands aren’t free (or dry) to use the controls on your phone, make sure you’ve downloaded enough podcasts or music to the flash drive so you don’t need to toggle and then don’t touch the controls once it’s playing how you like it.
We’re told that H2O Audio is updating the design for the next production run to make the control buttons bigger so that they’re easier to press. This is likely to reduce the problem significantly.
As with all bone conduction headphones, you’ll need to turn the sound up in noisy environments because, unless you also wear the supplied earplugs, nothing blocks your ears. The open-ear design is a safety advantage – you want to hear the cyclist or car zooming up behind you or if another swimmer is trying to pass. Unlike with other bone conduction headphones we’ve tried, there was very minimal sound bleed (and, phew, no complaints from the noise-sensitive person we share home and office space with).
The 8GB storage is a fairly standard size and generally means you can store 1500 to 2000 songs. Downloading files onto the headphones was drag-and-drop easy – our biggest challenge was finding MP3 podcasts and songs in a Bluetooth world.
Performance: 3.5 / 5
Should I buy the H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport?
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
Also consider
H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport: Report card
First reviewed November 2022
How we test
We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.
• Original review date: July 2022 • OpenRun Pro 2 launched August 2024 • Launch price: $179 / £159.95 / AU$250 • Official price now: $179 / £159.95 / AU$250
Update: November 2024. The Shokz OpenRun Pro are some of the best bone conduction headphones on the market, but they're no longer Shokz's latest and greatest. The company unveiled its OpenRun Pro 2 earlier this year, and the new version boasts better audio thanks to a new driver for the high and mid ranges. There's also an integrated air conduction driver for bass, new dynamic 3D audio, and four EQ modes.
Vibrations have also been reduced, and you'll get an extra two hours of battery life to boot. However, you'll find the OpenRun Pro 2 often priced at around $179 / £159.95 / AU$250, whereas the original OpenRun can often be found for less than $100/£100 in major deals events. As such, if you can get them at a good price, they're definitely still worth considering in 2024.
Two-minute review
Shokz (formerly known as AfterShokz) has long held the top spot in our guide to the best running headphones, and the OpenRun Pro are its best-sounding headphones yet.
The main difference between this new set of headphones and the Shokz OpenRun (originally called the Aeropex) is the addition of new bass transducers to the pads that channel vibrations to your aural nerve.
The upgrade is immediately noticeable when you hit play, and means opting for bone conduction rather than in-ear headphones no longer means a big compromise on sound quality. It's particularly impressive if you enjoy heavy music, which is far richer than with other bone conduction headphones.
The downside of the new transducers is the way they vibrate more noticeably against your skin. It's no more than a tickle, but if you prefer to run with the volume high then you may find it becomes irritating over time. All bone conduction headphones suffer from this to some extent (it's pretty much unavoidable due to the way they work) but the extra bass means it's particularly tangible here.
Shokz is the new name for AfterShokz, which rebranded in December 2021 (Image credit: Future)
The other upgrades here are small, but thoughtfully designed. For example, the control buttons used to adjust power, volume, and tracks are now slightly larger so they're easier to press when you're wearing the headset. Shokz has also relocated the OpenRun Pro's charging connector so it's no longer occupying the same area as the buttons, and is easier to use.
Like the recently upgraded OpenRun, the OpenRun Pro have a quick charge feature that gives you an hour and a half of playback after just five minutes of charging; a game-changer if you've forgotten to power them up and it's time to hit the gym. If you rely on tunes to get you through a workout, they come highly recommended.
Price and release date
Most expensive Shokz to date
Available to order now
The Shokz OpenRun Pro were announced at CES 2022 on January 5, 2022, and became available to pre-order from the company's website the same day for $179.95 (about £130 / AU$250). That makes them the most expensive headphones in the Shokz lineup.
For comparison, the Shokz OpenRun (originally known as the AfterShokz Aeropex) cost $159.95 / £149.95 (about AU$240) when they landed in October 2020. At the budget end of the range, the Shokz OpenMove launched at $99.95 / £79.95 (about AU$140),
Design
Larger buttons than OpenRun
Repositioned magnetic charging port
IP55 water resistance rating
Shokz has struck upon a design that works, and the OpenRun Pro don't deviate from that formula. Following the same OpenFit schematic as the company's other headphones, they feature a pair of pads that sit on your cheekbones and transmit sound via vibrations to your aural nerve, leaving your ear canals open. These pads are joined by a flexible but springy titanium band, which keeps them firmly in place while you run without ever pinching (an issue we sometimes had with the budget Shokz OpenMove).
A large button on the left pad allows you to receive calls using the headset's built-in microphone, and the right pad features multi-functional controls for power, volume, track, and battery status.
The OpenRun Pro are currently available in black and blue.
The OpenRun Pro have new bass transducers in the earpieces that deliver greatly improved sound (Image credit: Future)
At first glance, the new headphones looks almost identical to their predecessor, the OpenRun, but there are a few significant differences. Firstly, the control buttons are larger, making it easier to adjust the volume, skip tracks, and power the headphones on and off without seeing what you're doing. Holding the volume down button during playback will tell you whether the power level is high, medium, or low.
Secondly, the charging connector has been repositioned. Like the OpenRun, the OpenRun Pro use a proprietary magnetic charging cable, which is much easier to connect than the fiddly micro-USB used by older models. However, for the newer model, Shokz has moved the charging port so it's no longer in line with the control buttons, making the cable easier to connect.
In all other respects, the two headsets are very similar. The OpenRun Pro are very lightweight and comfortable, even for long runs, and their light titanium construction means they never bounce as you move.
They have a water resistance rating of IP55, which means they'll be fine when you're sweating hard or running in the rain, but aren't suitable for swimming. For that, you'll want a set of waterproof headphones like the Shokz OpenSwim.
Shokz Trekz Air (left) and OpenRun Pro (right). The newer headset has a magnetic charger rather than micro-USB, a lighter build, and greatly improved bass (Image credit: Future)
Performance
The sound quality of the Shokz OpenRun Pro is extremely impressive. The new bass transducers make a real difference, and the overall result far surpasses anything we've experiences from bone conduction headphones in the past. We particularly enjoy a rock and metal playlist while running, and the OpenRun Pro are the first model that really does justice to heavy music. It's not on a par with a pair of top-tier conventional headphones yet, but the gap is definitely closing.
The downside of the extra bass is that you don't just hear it – you can also feelit as a more noticeable buzz against your face that pulses with each beat. All bone conduction headphones produce this effect to some degree at high volumes, but it's particularly noticeable with the OpenRun Pro.
The sensation isn't uncomfortable, and unless you crank the volume up high it's little more than a tickle, but if you're wearing the headphones while concentrating at work then you might find it a distraction.
The OpenRun Pro follow the same basic design as Shokz' other headphones, but it's been refined for convenience and comfort (Image credit: Future)
Another frequent problem with bone conduction headsets is the sound leakage; with no silicone seal between the transducers and the outside world, it can be easy for those nearby to overhear your songs, audiobooks and phone calls. You might annoy workmates in a quiet office if you crank up the volume on the OpenMove Pro, but when kept at modest levels they're the least leaky Shokz headset we've tested to date.
Despite the improved bass, ambient noise is still clear thanks to the open-ear design. Many noise-cancelling headphones have a 'transparency' mode that uses a microphone to transmit external sound to your ear, but this doesn't give the same directional awareness you get from bone conduction headsets.
When AfterShokz announced that it was rebranding as 'Shokz' in December 2021, it also launched a new version of its Aeropex bone conduction headphones with quick charging. This is a feature that it's carried over to the OpenRun Pro, and a five-minute charge while you're getting changed and lacing up your running shoes will provide 1.5 hours of playback.
The Shokz OpenRun Pro has a quick-charge feature that gives over an hour of playback after just five minutes of charging (Image credit: Future)
When the OpenRun Pro begin to run low on juice, a voice will warn you that it's time to charge them. You'll receive two warnings before the headset powers off, so if you're close to home or at your desk, you'll have time to plug them in.
A complete charge will keep your music playing for up to 10 hours (a figure matched in our tests) which is the most impressive battery life of any headset we've tested to date. If you've been turned off other bone conduction headphones due to their short playtime, it's well worth checking out the OpenRun Pro. You might be pleasantly surprised.
Buy it if
You want a set of all-purpose headphones The OpenRun Pro are excellent running headphones, but they're also comfortable enough to wear all day at your desk, with sufficient battery life to keep you going all day. The improved on-board microphone makes them great for video calls, too.
You're planning long training sessions The OpenRun Pro's quick charge feature is a game-changer if you're disorganized, but give them enough time to juice up fully and the headset will keep running for 10 hours. That's more than enough for all but the toughest ultra training sessions.
You enjoy heavy music The OpenRun Pro is the first bone conduction headset we've tested that really does justice to bass-heavy music, and is a viable alternative to in-ear headphones when you need solid sound to keep you motivated.
Don't buy it if
You want noise cancelling The appeal of bone conduction headphones is that they always allow ambient noise in. You could use them with a pair of earplugs to block out your surroundings, but that's no substitute for active noise-cancelling.
You're easily distracted The tickle of the new bass transducers might be annoying if you're very sensitive to small distractions and want a pair of headphones to wear while you're wearing. The original OpenRun headset feels less 'buzzy' against your face.
You're on a tight budget The Shokz OpenRun Pro are the most expensive bone conduction headphones we've tested. If you don't mind sacrificing some sound quality, the original OpenRun, and even the older Trekz Air are both good alternatives.
Update: February 2024. Zygo is still unopposed three years on as the best premium option for in-pool workouts. The Zygo Solo vs H20 Audio Tri versus feature we did last year has a lot of points that remain relevant one year on: the FM radio transmitter means if you want to stream, Zygo Solo is the best option, especially if you want to stream guided workouts. The continued limited availability in the UK and AU is a big frustration, but otherwise for US swimmers, Zygo is the premium headphone set for you. The rest of this review remains as previously published.
Two-minute review
Is this the Peloton of the pool? With the success of that workout streaming service clearly in its sights comes Zygo Solo, a unique audio gadget for swimmers.
We’ve seen waterproof headphones and bone conduction headphones before, but not like this. Since Bluetooth can't penetrate water, all other swim headphones are little more than waterproof MP3 players (pretty much that music file format’s last stand). The Zygo Solo is different, and is able to stream content from a smartphone through water using an FM transmitter that can penetrate water.
It’s something of a 'hallelujah!' moment for swimmers, many of whom have by now experimented with the Sony Walkman NW-WS413 and then the Aftershokz Xtrainerz, both of which are good at what they do, but only play MP3s. Does anyone even have any MP3s anymore?
The Zygo Solo kit consists of a headset, FM transmitter, stand and charging case, plus a pair of earplugs (Image credit: Jamie Carter)
A four-piece set consisting of headset, FM transmitter, stand and charging case, the Zygo Solo has a lot more hardware than your average pair of super-slim swimming headphones.
It works like this: your phone connects to the FM transmitter via Bluetooth and the transmitter to the headset via radio frequency. It’s easy to set up, though there’s definitely more physical equipment to deal with. It also means taking a lot of gear poolside. Fine in a private swimming pool, but not so great in a public pool where you’ll have to keep one eye on your stuff while you swim.
Nevertheless, committed swimmers with the right environment will adore the Zygo Solo. A long overdue audio upgrade for the pool, it’s surprisingly easy to use, offers great FM-quality sound and has hundreds of excellent on-demand workouts that can really change how you approach your swimming fitness. Or you can just listen to your own music, audiobooks or podcasts without having to drag-and-drop MP3 files prior to a swim.
How does Zygo Solo compare to its underwater MP3 player competitors? It blows them out of the water, of course – and it’s priced accordingly.
Zygo Solo price and availability
Out now
Costs $299 / £218 (about AU$400)
Available in the US, Canada and the UK in two sizes – standard and large – the Zygo Solo costs $299 / £218 (about AU$400) for the full package. A replacement headset costs $99 / £72 (about AU$150), while an external mic costs US$30/UK£22 (about AU$40), and is useful if a coach wants to use the FM transmitter as a hands-free walkie talkie.
If you want Peloton-inspired streaming swim workouts (comprising short and long audio workouts delivered by instructors and paired with music) then you also need to take out a Zygo All Access Monthly Plan, which costs $14.99 / £12.99 (about AU$20) per month after a 14-day trial.
In future Zygo tells us it’s planning metric tracking similar to that offered by the best running watches, leaderboards, and truly Peloton-style live classes. On Zygo’s website you can purchase an app gift certificate for an entire year for $149 / £108 (about AU$200), which gives you two months free.
Zygo Solo design
Headset weighs 66g
Waterproof to 2ft / 60cm
FM transmitter streams to 55yds / 50m
The Zygo Solo is, technically speaking, by far the most ambitious set of swimming headphones available. Predictably that means it comes with some baggage. The package consists of an IP68-rated waterproof headset, an IP67-rated (waterproof for 30 minutes) FM transmitter and stand, a pair of earplugs and a charging case.
While the Sony Walkman NW-WS413 and the Aftershokz Xtrainerz weigh 32g and 29g, respectively, the Zygo Solo headset weighs 66g. Why? It’s got a radio receiver as well as a battery inside that makes it possible to receive audio from the FM transmitter connected wirelessly to a smartphone.
The 101g FM transmitter itself is a figure of eight-shaped device that’s also waterproof, so it’s fine to leave it close to the water. Also included is a small 25g holder for the FM transmitter that keeps it upright, which extends its range.
The Zygo Solo is considerably heavier than other swimming headphones due to its radio receiver (Image credit: Jamie Carter)
Meanwhile, the charging case itself weighs 450g, and 623g with both the headset and the transmitter inside. Resembling the kind of case you might find housing a pair of the best noise cancelling headphones, it’s rounded and compact, and fairly easily fits inside a swim bag. The headset also has an accelerometer inside, so expect activity tracking soon.
Zygo Solo setup
Connects via FM transmitter
Streams any audio from a smartphone
Despite a slightly convoluted hardware arrangement compared to MP3 swim players, the Zygo Solo is always easy to set-up. It takes a bit of getting used to. If you’re used to entering the pool with just a pair of goggles, or even if you’re used to donning an MP3 swim player, the Zygo Solo seems a lot to get used to.
The headset feels reasonably solid and unwieldy at first – it is, after all, more substantial than a basic swim MP3 player – partly because it’s designed to stay firmly in place during underwater turns. It’s chunkier because it’s got more hardware inside.
The robust, chunky design of the Zygo Solo helps it stay in place during underwater turns (Image credit: Jamie Carter)
What’s really different about the Zygo Solo compared to MP3 swim players is that you have to have the FM transmitter and your smartphone poolside. That FM transmitter works to a range of 50 meters – so the size of an Olympic swimming pool – which is generous enough (it can also transmit to an unlimited number of headsets). However, if you’re used to leaving your phone in a locker and entering a neighborhood pool deck with just a towel, having to take a smartphone and an FM transmitter is a bit of a change.
The 50m limit applies only to swimming pools, with a half-mile range promised in the great outdoors. So you could get away with wearing a Zygo Solo while open water swimming, surfing, canoeing, kayaking, water skiing and even sailing.
Zygo Solo sound
Bone conduction works well
Sounds best with earplugs
Only the FM transmitter has playback buttons
Make no mistake about what Zygo is trying to do here; streaming live audio underwater is not easy. In fact, the tech it took two years to perfect. The Zygo Solo’s sound is good. Out of the pool it sounds a little tinny, but in the water it suddenly gets a lot of bass.
Let’s not overdo it; this is not audiophile quality, and overall the impression is (not surprisingly) of FM radio-like sound, with a little crackle and hiss now and again. However, at all times it sounds much better than any waterproof MP3 player. That is, if you remember to use the earplugs.
The Zygo Solo uses bone conduction to send vibrations to your auditory nerve (Image credit: Jamie Carter)
Like the Aftershokz Xtrainerz the Zygo Solo are bone conduction headphones, using a technology that employs an open-ear design and transmits audio through vibrations in the cheekbones directly into the inner ear.
You don’t need to use the included earplugs, but if you don’t you’ll find that every time your ears are not immersed the quality of sound drastically changes. So for a more consistent experience it’s best to use the earplugs.
It’s possible to tweak the volume using + and - buttons on the headset’s right temple, and the FM transmitter has some too. It just about goes loud enough, but only the FM transmitter has skip track and play/pause controls, which is a shame. It means you have to make sure you have lots of songs/podcasts/content queued up, or keep the FM transmitter accessible by the side of the pool.
Play, pause and skip controls are all on the FM transmitter, not on the headset itself (Image credit: Jamie Carter)
We found the headset to be reasonably comfortable when worn for long periods, largely because the bone conduction design leaves your ears alone, though it did begin to feel slightly tight after about half an hour. The advice is to put the headset on, followed by a swim hat, goggles and then earplugs.
As a nice bonus the transmitter doubles as a walkie talkie, so a coach can speak to a swimmer directly as they swim in the pool. What the headset doesn’t have is a microphone, so you can’t answer back … or make hands-free calls from the pool.
Zygo Solo companion app
Huge choice of pre-recorded workouts
Excellent instructors and lots of music
Live classes and activity tracking promised
The Zygo app for iOS and Android has had a lot of investment in it and is arguably the best reason to invest in Zygo Solo. It’s not free, but there’s a huge choice of classes and activities inside. As a few random examples we found a 20-minute beginner-level tutorial in learning backstroke, an intermediate 30-minute HIIT workout and a ‘fun’-grade 25 minute DJ drill set to music.
Each one has excellent instructors and a lot of music, the latter the result of various licensing deals struck between Zygo and the music industry.
We counted over 50 drills, which seems good value, which can be browsed on a timeline but also by specific genres, such as ‘strengthen and lengthen’, ‘5 days of fitness’ and ‘your first sprint triathlon’. It’s best to download them on WiFi within the app before hitting the pool.
The Zygo Solo mobile app includes instructor-led workouts, with licensed music (Image credit: Jamie Carter)
However, the app does need a queue so that lessons and drills can follow-on from each other. Since some are only a few minutes long you can easily find yourself completing a drill and then swimming in silence.
In future Zygo tells us it’s planning to go full-Peloton and add live classes and leaderboards, with new software incoming that will use the built-in accelerometer to track your activity in the pool.
The app works independently of the device, so in theory you could just subscribe to the app and use all the workouts … though the Zygo Solo is so far the only way to stream content underwater.
Zygo Solo battery and charging case
Headset lasts for three hours
Charging case uses micro USB not USB-C
Charging case doesn’t hold a charge
Inside the Zygo Solo headset is a battery that lasts for three hours, and the transmitter lasts for around six hours. Sadly the hard-sided charging case itself doesn’t hold a charge, but if you snap both gadgets into place in its molded interior, both nestle up against precisely-placed connectors and begin charging automatically if the case is hooked up to power via a micro-USB cable.
The headset and transmitter are charged by placing them inside the case, which is powered by a micro-USB cable (Image credit: Jamie Carter)
It’s a shame the case doesn’t contain a battery of some kind, and micro-USB also feels slightly outdated given the popularity of USB-C.
