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The OpenDots 2 fixes my biggest complaint from the original: the fiddly single-tap controls are gone, replaced with a proper tap-and-squeeze system with independent controls per earbud. The redesigned Bassphere 2.0 driver is a step up in bass and clarity for the earring-style category. But they still get drowned out on a busy street, and the bonus jewellery accessories are more hassle than they're worth without a case built to fit them. At $339, this is best for office wear and calls.
- Tap-and-squeeze controls replace the unreliable single-tap system from the original OpenDots, with independent settings per earbud
- IP57 rating on the earbuds, up from IP54 on the original OpenDots One, handles sweat, rain and brief submersion
- Bassphere 2.0's dual 11.8 mm drivers deliver a fuller, clearer sound than the original
- Up to 40 hours combined battery life, with a 5-minute charge buying 2 hours of playback
- Still gets drowned out on a busy street, pushing the volume up to compensate risks your hearing
- The jewellery clip-on accessories don't fit in the charging case, so you're removing and reattaching them constantly
- $120 more than the OpenDots Air, making them a more premium option
When I reviewed the Shokz OpenDots One last year, it felt like a breath of fresh air. Its design was a complete shift from the AirPods style in-ear buds that dominated the market, yet offered similar performance to Shokz's around-the-ear Openfit design.
A lot can change in a year, though.
Since the OpenDots One, the earring style design has become a bold new standard. Brands like Motorola and Sony have launched their own versions of the style. Even TV company Hisense chose the earrings design for its very first pair of earbuds.
With the massive increase in competition, can Shokz still deliver its impressive performance, while addressing some of the criticisms I had with the originals?
There's a lot to like with the OpenDots 2. Shokz obviously took the criticism of the controls in the original to heart and addressed it with the second generation.
But in a more competitive market, do the OpenDots 2 do enough?
What makes the Shokz OpenDots 2 stand out?
The original OpenDots had a really fantastic design, but lacked in a few other areas. The controls were disappointing, and in loud environments the audio was almost impossible to hear.
The sequel goes a long way to fix those challenges. The controls have had some big improvements, and the audio has also had a bump in performance, though as I'll explain soon, there are still some challenges in noisy environments.
The design is still a key part of these earbuds, even though the pirate earring style is much more common now. Built with a flexible nickel-titanium frame, the OpenDots fit comfortably, even for extended periods. I've spent an entire workday wearing these and not felt a moment's discomfort.
Wearing earbuds for a whole day only makes sense when the battery can last, and Shokz has impressive battery stats. 10 hours of playback per charge, and a total of 40 hours with the case, is a solid spec. If you do run out, 5 minutes in the case will give you two hours playback.
Shokz has also made a few technical improvements this time around. The IP rating for the earbuds is boosted to IP57, while the case gets an IP54 rating this time around as well.
The microphone array also got a big boost, adding a bone conduction mic to each bud for clearer call clarity.
Shokz OpenDots 2 specs
| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| Price | $339 RRP |
| Colours | Pearl White, Grey, Black |
| Weight | Earbuds: 6.4 g ± 0.2 g each. Charging case: 38.8g ± 2 g. Total: 51.6g ± 2.4g |
| Driver | Dual 11.8mm drivers in a spherical Bassphere 2.0 module (output comparable to a 16mm driver) |
| Frequency response | 100Hz–20kHz |
| Microphones | Triple AI noise-canceling: two air-conduction mics + one bone-conduction mic per earbud |
| Noise control | Open-ear design, no ANC. AI noise reduction applied to calls only |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 6.1, 10m range |
| Supported profiles | A2DP, AVRCP, HFP |
| Supported codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Charging | Qi-certified wireless charging and USB-C. Case charges earbuds in 60 minutes. Empty case: 120 minutes wired, 240 minutes wireless |
| Battery life | Up to 10 hours music playback per charge (6.5 hours calling), up to 40 hours with the case (25 hours calling) |
| Quick charge | 5 minutes in the case gives 2 hours of playback |
| Standby time | Up to 270 days |
| Water resistance | Earbuds: IP57. Charging case: IP54 |
| Materials | Earbuds: plastic, silicone, stainless steel mesh. Case: plastic, stainless steel |
Design and build quality
Side by side, it's pretty difficult to see the difference between the OpenDots 2 and the first generation. I had the black colour for both models and especially in the case, the differences are challenging to spot.
But that's not a bad thing. I loved the design of the original, so it's not a bad thing for the OpenDots 2 to keep things the same.
The same goes for the build quality. Shokz has improved each earbud, but the overall sense of comfort while wearing the earbuds is consistent. These are designed for all-day wear, allowing you to hear your surroundings as well as your music.
Wrapped around your ear cartilage, the OpenDots 2 feel secure during activity. You can jump up and down, run hard and fast, and they don't feel like they are going anywhere.
But they aren't as secure as something like the OpenFit Pro, in the sense that they can be fairly easily dislodged when you brush up against them. I had earbuds fall out when putting on a jumper, or when I scratched my ear, which I don't think happens with the OpenFit design.
Despite several changes under the hood, the OpenDots 2 are still exceptionally comfortable to wear for extended timeframes. I would put them on for an entire day at a time. Even when the music or video call stopped, they sat there.
Like the previous gen, each earbud works flawlessly in either ear, and you can wear a single earbud for the real pirate look.
The biggest improvement with this generation is the controls. Where the first generation had an unreliable tapping control system, the OpenDots 2 lets you tap and squeeze each earbud to control your playback and volume. Every option is customisable, with each earbud offering independent controls.
It's arguably a much better control system than the likes of the AirPods now, thanks to the versatility. Shokz really addressed the issue from the original well.
The jewellery thing
One of the key pitches in the OpenDots 2's announcement was the bonus jewellery attachments that were available for the earbuds. I think Shokz was testing the waters a bit with the possibility, offering the clip on jewels as pre-order bonuses rather than purchasable accessories.
As part of the review kit, I received the jewellery attachments as well, and I have to say I think that strategically, it's a good idea. Being able to accessorise the fairly dull black earbuds with shiny jewels is a definite selling point, for women especially.
But the execution isn't quite there. The biggest issue is that the case isn't designed to accommodate the jewels. That means you need to add and remove the accessories every time you pop the earbuds in and out of the case.
That's just too much effort. For this idea to work, Shokz needs to have a case that lets you leave the accessories on.
It doesn't really impact this review at all, as it's an optional thing. But it's interesting as a look inside what Shokz is doing with the category.
Performance
Audio performance
There's a definite step-up in audio quality for the OpenDots 2, particularly when it comes to bass performance.
But the fundamental challenge of the earbuds being drowned out in loud environments remains. Walking along a busy main road with the OpenDots 2 in, you need to push the volume very high just to be able to hear it. And at those volumes, it runs the risk of doing some damage to your hearing over extended periods.
That said, if you're using these as an office tool, to let you hear your coworkers as well as your playlists, then the OpenDots 2 do an impressive job.
It's also solid for exercising in quieter areas. I took them on a bush walk with my family and could easily engage in conversation while rocking out to Rage Against The Machine. Not too many earbuds offer that.
The Dolby Audio functionality, which is activated within the Shokz app, makes a noticeable difference to the immersive nature of the audio. It's not a head-tracking implementation where the music moves around you, but it does create a fuller sound for your music when it's switched on.
If you want to get into the nitty-gritty, the app also offers four EQ presets (Standard, Bass, Vocal and Private), as well as smart EQ. This trains to your preference by getting you to choose your preferred sound on six different settings. There’s also a custom EQ for manual control.
But these custom EQ settings only work with Dolby Audio switched off.
Battery life and connectivity
Each earbud will give you up to 10 hours of playback, and you can get 40 hours total from the charging case as well.
That means you can wear these all day at work without needing to think about charging them. Combined with the all-day comfort, that's probably my favourite thing about these earbuds.
But it's also worth pointing out that if the earbuds do run out of charge, you can pop them in the case for five minutes, and you'll get another two hours worth of playback. Impressive.
The case offers wireless Qi charging, which is a convenient inclusion for anyone with wireless chargers all over the house (like me).
And you can easily pair the OpenDots 2 to multiple devices, seamlessly switching between them.
Verdict
As much as open-ear design earbuds make an argument as a companion for runners and cyclists who need to hear their surroundings, I feel that Shokz' OpenDots lineup is better geared towards office workers.
The sound quality is solid, the open ear design lets you engage in conversation with coworkers without having to pause your music, and the earring design looks great.
The fact Shokz has remedied the control issues of the first generation, while improving things like the IP rating and fast charge performance, is a bonus.
But for anyone looking for some open-ear headphones for fitness-based activities, I feel the OpenFit lineup, and in particular the OpenFit Pro, would be a better choice. They do a better job of cutting through in noisy environments, and are less likely to be knocked off.
Buy the Shokz OpenDots 2 if
- You work from an office or need to stay aware of your surroundings all day. The open-ear design lets you hear colleagues and traffic without pulling a bud out, and the comfort holds up for a full workday.
- You want the best-sounding earring-style buds going around. The dual 11.8 mm Bassphere 2.0 drivers and upgraded Dolby Audio give noticeably fuller bass and clarity than the original OpenDots or rival clip-on designs.
- You're tired of fiddly touch controls. The redesigned tap-and-squeeze system fixes the biggest complaint from the first-generation OpenDots and lets you set independent controls per earbud.
Skip the Shokz OpenDots 2 if
- You need to hear music clearly on a busy street or gym floor. Open-ear design means loud environments drown out the audio, and pushing the volume to compensate risks your hearing.
- You want a secure fit for high-impact training. They can be knocked loose brushing past your ear or pulling on a jumper, which doesn't happen with Shokz's own OpenFit Pro.
- You'd rather save $120. The OpenDots Air offers the same clip-on comfort and open-ear sound for $219, without Dolby Audio or the bone-conduction mic.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Shokz OpenDots 2 have active noise cancellation?
No. The OpenDots 2 is an open-ear design, so there's no ANC and no passive noise isolation either, you'll always hear your surroundings. The triple microphone array, including a bone-conduction mic, is there to clean up your voice on calls, not to block outside noise.
How does the Shokz OpenDots 2 compare to the Shokz OpenFit Pro?
The OpenFit Pro is Shokz's ear-hook design, and it's the more secure, more comfortable option for long runs or high-impact training. The OpenDots 2 trades some of that stability for a smaller, more discreet earring-style look that suits office wear better than a workout.
Is the Shokz OpenDots 2 waterproof enough for the gym or rain?
The earbuds are rated IP57, so sweat, rain, and even brief submersion in fresh water won't cause problems. The charging case is only rated IP54, so keep it away from any serious water exposure, even though the buds themselves can handle more.
How long does the Shokz OpenDots 2 battery last?
You'll get up to 10 hours of music playback per charge, or up to 40 hours total when you factor in top-ups from the charging case. A 5-minute stint in the case buys you 2 hours of playback if you're caught short.
What's the difference between the Shokz OpenDots 2 and OpenDots Air?
The OpenDots Air is the cheaper option at $219 against the OpenDots 2's $339, and it drops the upgraded Dolby Audio support and the bone-conduction microphone. It's also rated one notch lower for water resistance on the earbuds and doesn't support wireless charging on the case.
Can I use the jewellery clip-on accessories with the charging case?
Sadly not. The charging case isn't designed to fit around the jewellery attachments, so you'll need to remove them every time you charge the buds. They're only available as a limited pre-order bonus rather than a standalone purchase, so this is a minor consideration rather than a dealbreaker.
