Shokz OpenDots One review: Open-ear headphones for active lifestyles
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If you struggle to find your perfect fit when it comes to headphone earbuds, it may be worth branching out into the world of clip-on earbuds instead. Brands like Bose, Huawei and Monster have helped expand the growing tech category, and open-ear headphone company Shokz recently debuted the OpenDots ONE earbuds, the brand’s first foray into ear-clip products.
I’ve been testing the earbuds for the last few weeks to see how they perform and to determine if they live up to their claims of delivering major sound in a mini package. Below, I dive into the details of the new tech and share my experience with the earbuds. Consider the review before investing in a pair for yourself.
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What: Shokz OpenDots One earbuds
Release date: June 19, 2025
Price: $250
Where to buy:Shokz | Amazon | Best Buy
Shokz OpenDots ONE key features
Air conduction technology: Unlike some of Shokz’s other headphones, OpenDots ONE earbuds don’t use bone conduction technology. Instead, it features air conduction technology combined with DirectPitch technology and an open-ear design that clips onto ears rather than sitting inside the ear canal. According to Shokz, DirectPitch is “an advanced sound frequency allocation technology with distinct sound outlets. The central rounded sound outlet ensures crisp, pure treble, while the U-shaped sound outlet delivers deep, power bass.”
This configuration allows ambient sounds to enter your ears, letting you remain aware of your surroundings even when listening to music.
Interchangeable earbuds: The OpenDots ONE offers less fiddling to get the earbuds correctly into place. The left and right earbuds are completely interchangeable, as Dynamic Ear Detection technology automatically detects placement for optimal sound quality.
Customizable touch control: Default settings let you play or pause music, answer and reject calls or raise and lower the volume via the earbuds, but these can be changed to your preferred actions through the Shokz app. Just double-tap on the JointArc (the connector that sits between both sides of the earbud) or two-finger pinch on the earbud’s battery compartment to control.
Wireless charging: These earbuds are Qi-enabled for wireless charging as well as standard USB-C charging.
Shokz signature open-ear design keeps you connected to the world while experiencing the power of Dolby Audio and Bassphere Technology.
Shokz OpenDots ONE review
The Shokz OpenDots ONE earbuds were my first foray into the world of open-ear headphones, so I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of sound quality. Despite the brand’s claims that the earbuds are suitable for work, leisure or physical activity, I was also somewhat skeptical that they would stay in place during high-impact activities like running. On both counts, I’m pleased to report that the earbuds hold up well.
The earbuds deliver high-quality sound with Dolby Audio and can be tailored to your listening preferences through the Shokz app. You can choose from four preset EQ modes (standard, vocal, bass or private) or create your own custom audio settings. Shokz Bassphere Technology integrates two circular drivers into a unified speaker, delivering powerful bass and clear high tones. I’ve used the earbuds to listen to music and podcasts, as well as take calls and haven’t had any issues with feedback or excess background noise.
To test how they perform during workouts, I wore the Shokz OpenDots ONE earbuds on an outdoor run. To my surprise, they stayed in place for the full 30 minutes I was running and didn’t need any adjustments. The silicone exterior kept the earbuds securely in position on my ear, and the added awareness that came from the open design was a welcome feature – particularly during Red-winged Blackbird nesting season when the birds in my neighbourhood can get aggressive.
Favourite feature: Battery life, lightweight wear
Shokz boasts that these earbuds deliver up to 40 hours of listening time. Based on my usage, I’d say that’s true. Between my using them during the day and my husband stealing them to listen to music as he falls asleep, I’ve gone several days between charges. After a full eight-hour workday’s worth of use, the battery on the earbuds only dropped 10 per cent.
Since they don’t sit inside the ear canal like most earbuds, I also found them to be more comfortable during long periods of use. Each earbud weighs in at just 6.5g – noticeably lighter than The 8.7g Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 I normally wear when running and slightly more than the 5.3g Apple AirPods Pro.
Least favourite feature: Battery display and connectivity
I have an iPhone 15, so I can’t speak to the Android experience, but my biggest issue with these earbuds is that unless you download the Shokz app, there’s no way to tell the battery percentage of the earbuds or the case. Thankfully, the earbuds have a pretty long lifespan, but I’d prefer if I could see the battery life by just connecting them to the phone.
As for the connectivity, I’ve found that these earbuds don’t have as wide a range as some other Bluetooth earbuds I’ve used. When I leave my phone at my desk and head upstairs or to my patio with the earbuds on, they start to disconnect when I’m around 20m away. You can also only view details about the earbuds in the Shokz app when they are on and connected via Bluetooth, so you’re out of luck if they disconnect or you run out of battery. That also means that if an earbud goes missing and it’s outside of range, you won’t be able to use the “Find My Earbuds” feature either.
Recommendation: Who should consider Shokz OpenDots ONE earbuds
Whether you’re in an office where you need to be reachable, on alert for kids or exercising outdoors, noise-cancelling headphones aren’t always practical. The Shokz OpenDots ONE open earbuds are a happy medium between listening in and drowning out your surroundings, letting you tune into important noises and blocking out the background instead.
Frustrating app aside, these earbuds are a solid option if you have trouble finding earbuds that fit comfortably inside your ear canal – an issue many of my friends complained about when I told them I was testing out the Shokz OpenDots ONE. They’re lightweight, comfortable and easy to wear for long periods of time, with an impressive battery life to boot.
What: Shokz OpenDots One earbuds
Price: $250
Where to buy:Shokz | Amazon | Best Buy
Shokz OpenDots One tech specs
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3
Size and weight: Earbuds – 6.5 g; charging case – 39 g; total weight – 52 g
Audio: DualBoost Technology, 2 Drivers, Dolby Audio
Battery: 10 hours, 40 additional hours with case
Charging: USB-C wired and wireless charging supported
Sweat and water-resistance: IP54 Sweatproof
Controls: Single-finger tap on JointArc or battery, two-finger pinch on battery
Colours: Black, Grey
Warranty: Two years
Included in the box: (2) OpenDots ONE True Wireless Earbuds; (1) OpenDots ONE charging case; (1) USB-C charging cable;
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