Shokz OpenDots One Review: Comfortable and Unique Open-Ear Wireless Earbuds

Explore the comfort and distinctive design of Shokz OpenDots One open-ear earbuds, blending active lifestyle ease with the freedom to hear your surroundings.

Why Shokz OpenDots One Are Worth Noticing

Open-ear wireless earbuds are quickly carving out their niche in the audio world. When Sony launched their ring-shaped LinkBuds headphones back in 2022, this design was still fresh and experimental. But as brands like Bose with their Ultra Open Earbuds headphones and Huawei’s FreeClip earbuds followed suit, it became clear this trend isn’t just a passing fad.

It makes perfect sense that Shokz OpenDots One earbuds, a name synonymous with sporty bone conduction headphones, wanted to stake its claim in the open TWS (True Wireless Stereo) market. The appeal? These earbuds offer an incredibly comfortable fit and, crucially, don’t isolate you from the sounds around you.

If you’re a fan of staying connected to your environment — whether jogging through busy streets or simply enjoying the buzz of daily life — Shokz OpenDots One promises a subtle fit that doesn’t shut you off completely.

However, the challenge for Shokz is fierce competition. This open-ear market looks like it could be the next big gold rush in audio tech. If OpenDots One don’t match up in performance, Shokz risks missing out on a booming segment.

Availability and Pricing in Local Markets

Currently, Shokz OpenDots One aren’t officially available through direct brand channels locally, as Shokz has paused direct sales. Still, you can find them on various marketplace platforms and specialty audio shops via parallel imports.

Prices float between approximately $230 to $280 USD, positioning these earbuds on the higher end for their category.

Using Shokz OpenDots One: Some Local Considerations

One catch: the official Shokz app may not be accessible on local App Stores without switching your account region. This could limit your ability to customize the equalizer or update firmware.

On the bright side, the earbuds function flawlessly as standard Bluetooth devices without regional locks. Warranty and servicing, however, hinge on the retailer since authorized service centers for Shokz don’t operate locally.

Design & Comfort: A Lightweight Companion for Active Days

Shokz markets OpenDots One as their "smallest" and "most revolutionary" earbuds yet. While calling them revolutionary might be stretching it a bit, their shape strongly echoes the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds — a style that’s both clever and practical.

The design features a cylindrical battery block that hooks behind your ear, connected by a silicone bridge to a rounded driver resting just inside your ear’s outer bowl. This open design means no in-ear tips; the acoustic chamber sits outside the ear canal, forgoing the tight seal traditional earbuds provide.

Key Specs at a Glance:

• Bluetooth version: 5.4
• Supported codecs: AAC, SBC
• Noise cancellation: None
• Features: IP54 water resistance, voice call support, Bluetooth Multipoint, Dolby Audio
• Battery life: 10 hours (earbuds), 40 hours overall with charging case
• Color options: Pink, gray, black
• Weight per earbud: 6.5 grams

They’re impressively light and compact, creating a near “invisible” wearing sensation. Yet, compared to Huawei FreeClip 2’s featherweight 5.1 grams, OpenDots One feel a bit bulkier.

If traditional in-ear buds haven’t worked for you, this open design is a breath of fresh air. That said, some users might initially struggle to find the sweet spot — we found a 45-degree angle fit quite comfortable, but the gentle grip means these earbuds can feel a tad loose during intense workouts. It’s a psychological adjustment if you’re used to the snug security of in-canal buds.

With IP54 certification, they shrug off sweat and light rain without a hitch. Even during a drizzly February dog walk, our test pair held up splendidly.

The ability to stay aware of your environment is a major draw, especially for outdoor enthusiasts who need to stay alert amid city noise. Of course, this means ambient sounds seep in more than they would with closed buds, which is fantastic for safety but less ideal if you’re craving immersive music.

Features That Fit an Active Lifestyle

While OpenDots One skip active noise cancellation, they do offer Dolby Audio. This tech aims to create a more “realistic and immersive” sound experience. Turning Dolby on gives the soundstage a lighter, more open feel, which might sound a bit distant but is pleasant for casual listening.

Battery life is solid: 10 hours on a charge and a total of 40 hours with the case. For comparison, Huawei FreeClip 2 offers 9 and 38 hours respectively. A quick 10-minute charge on OpenDots grants two hours of playback — and yes, the case supports wireless charging.

The touch controls on these buds are customizable via the Shokz app. Though you might notice a slight delay between tap and action, it works well overall. Double tap the silicone bridge to play/pause music; long-press either earbud to adjust volume.

The app itself is user-friendly, letting you check battery status, toggle Dolby Audio, tweak the equalizer, and even find misplaced earbuds with a handy locator feature.

Bluetooth Multipoint is a major plus, allowing connection to two devices simultaneously for seamless switching. Plus, wear detection sensors pause playback when you remove the buds and resume once they’re back in place (this can be disabled if preferred).

Call Quality: Clear, But Not Perfect

Packed with four noise-canceling microphones, OpenDots One aim to offer crisp call clarity. However, as is common with open-ear designs, call quality can struggle in noisy environments.

We noticed voices sounding slightly muffled and distant when standing near a busy road, with traffic sounds easily bleeding into conversations.

Switching to the iPhone 15’s built-in mic and speaker delivered a clearer, more stable voice experience. So if you have the option, old-school phone calls might still be your best bet for noisy spots.

Sound Performance: Powerful But Lacking Finesse

OpenDots One promise “rich, powerful sound” thanks to dual drivers and Shokz’s “OpenBass 2.0” algorithm, designed to enhance bass depth and texture.

But let’s temper expectations. While open designs can’t match the airtight precision of in-ear buds, Shokz still need to hold their own against rivals at this price point.

The bass is certainly punchy and full-bodied — listen to “Big Appetite” by Liars and you’ll feel that weight and warmth come through loud and clear. For open-ear headphones, these deep lows deserve credit.

Still, we craved more nuance and finesse in the lower frequencies. It sometimes felt like the bass was wearing a one-size-fits-all jacket, lacking subtle shading.

This lack of musical agility extends beyond bass, too. Tracks like Justice’s “Phantom Pt. II” should pulse with mechanical precision but sounded somewhat flat and lifeless here.

Imagine not the smooth moves of John Travolta in “Saturday Night Fever,” but rather a tipsy uncle at a wedding trying to keep up after a few beers and cake slices — that’s the vibe.

Clarity and sharpness fell short. The sound was hazy, and intricate parts like the sharp strings and crisp percussion in Radiohead’s “Burn The Witch” lacked their usual punch.

Compared to Huawei FreeClip 2 earbuds, which also received a modest three-star rating for sound, OpenDots One lag behind. The Huawei buds deliver cleaner, more detailed audio, breathing much more life into electronic tracks with their precise rise and fall.

Final Verdict on Shokz OpenDots One

Shokz’s foray into open TWS earbuds with OpenDots One is mixed. Their unobtrusive, reliable design suits both casual and athletic use, but the underwhelming sound quality leaves them trailing behind competitors in this price range.

With better-sounding alternatives available, it’s tough to wholeheartedly recommend OpenDots One—unless you prioritize comfort and environmental awareness above all else.

Ratings:

• Sound: 2/5
• Features: 4/5
• Comfort: 5/5

OpenDots One blend comfort with awareness, but their sound leaves room for improvement.

FAQ

• What makes Shokz OpenDots One different from typical earbuds?
  They feature an open-ear design that sits outside the ear canal, allowing you to hear ambient sounds while listening to music.
• Can I use the Shokz app locally without restrictions?
  The app may be unavailable in local app stores without changing your account region, limiting some features like firmware updates and equalizer settings.
• How long does the battery last?
  Up to 10 hours on a single charge and 40 hours total with the charging case.
• Is Bluetooth Multipoint supported?
  Yes, allowing connection to two devices simultaneously for easy switching.
• How do these earbuds perform in noisy environments?
  Call clarity can suffer near busy roads due to the open design; ambient noise is noticeable during music playback as well.

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