If you exercise on a regular basis, you’d appreciate a good and reliable pair of workout/sports-focused headphones. Personally, I go for runs and I like using headphones or earbuds that doesn’t require putting something into my ear canal. That’s where the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 steps in. It’s a lightweight neckband style headphones with a clever mix of bone and air conduction technology that offers audio improvements over its predecessor. The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 retails for S$269, but with year-end sales coming up – you should be able snag one at lower prices.
Build quality and features
At first glance, the OpenRun Pro 2 doesn’t look too different from its predecessor. You get the same lightweight neckband style with over-ear hooks, weighing in at about 30 grams. The frame is made of a nickel-titanium alloy which makes it flexible yet sturdy, and is covered in soft matte silicone-like material that feels comfortable against the skin.
There are small quality-of-life upgrades vs its predecessor, with the most important: USB-C charging means no more fiddling with proprietary magnetic cables anymore. Like the Shokz OpenFit 2, the OpenRun Pro 2 are also rated IP55, meaning they’ll survive sweat and rain. Just keep in mind they aren’t waterproof enough for swimming. The overall build feels premium, and I’ve had no issues with durability during long sweaty runs or strength workouts.
Battery life
Shokz rates the OpenRun Pro 2 at 12 hours of playback, and in my usage (with volume at about 70–80%), I managed around 10 to 11 hours before needing to charge. That’s long enough for a pair sports headphones, any if you ever get caught with a low battery notification, a 5-minute quick charge gives about 2.5 hours of playback.
Controls
I appreciate that Shokz sticks with physical buttons rather than touch controls as they are far easier to use mid-run. You get two types of buttons – (1) a volume rocker, and (2) multifunctional button. The multifunction button is on the left hook for playback and calls, and volume rocker on the right is for power and volume. The buttons have distinct clicks, so I could operate them purely by feel without breaking stride.
The Shokz app gives you the ability to customize or select EQ presets (like Bass Boost), and an avenue to update firmware and change certain settings. It’s not as loaded with features as the OpenFit 2, but it’s a useful companion.
Fit and comfort
If you’re not aware, the OpenRun Pro 2 comes in two sizes – (1) Regular, and (2) Mini. For my head size, the Mini was a better fit as there was less excess space between the back of my head and the band. I’ve used the OpenRun Pro 2 as my training companion for all my outdoor runs, and the fit has been excellent. The hooks rest securely over my ears, and the bone-conduction pads sit neatly on my cheekbones. The clamping force also feels natural and light.
One thing to note: because it’s an open-ear design, the neckband will press against benches or headrests, so they’re not the best if you’re doing a lot of workouts that require you to lie flat on your head. But for my use case of running, the stability and comfort have been great.
Sound quality
Traditional bone-conduction headphones often lack in the sound department as they tend to sound thin and lack bass. The OpenRun Pro 2 introduces a dual-driver system where the bone conduction handles mids and highs, while air-conduction micro-speakers fire bass directly toward your ears.
The result is noticeably fuller sound vs its predecessor (which I tried on at Challenger). Bass now has real punch and warmth without overwhelming the mids, while vocals and instruments manage to have good amount of clarity. There is also less of that “tickly vibration” on the cheekbones that bone conduction usually brings especially if you crank up the volume. And speaking of volume, I do find the OpenRun Pro 2 to be a little softer than expected as I find myself listening to 80% volume most of the time. Shokz seems to be aware of this and has pushed a “Volume Boost” EQ Mode in the app (only if you choose the sales region as ‘United States’).
With all that said about noticeable bass improvement and better clarity, do keep expectations reasonable as the sound quality of the OpenRun Pro 2 still cannot compete with other in-ear earbuds as those will just sound more dynamic and full-bodied. But if you’re really hard-pressed for good sounding open-ear headphones, the Shokz OpenFit 2 offers much better audio performance.
Microphone quality
Microphone quality is another pleasant surprise. In a quiet environment like at home, my voice came through clearly with natural warmth and depth. And in noisy places with quite a lot of background chatter and noise, OpenRun Pro 2 is able to cancel out almost all of the noise while keeping my voice forward and clear. This is likely due to its use of dual wind-resistant mics. For work calls on the go or quick chats mid-run, they’re more than serviceable.
Pairing, connectivity, and latency
The OpenRun Pro 2 supports Bluetooth 5.3, and pairing was instant with my phone. The connection stayed rock solid with no dropouts, even in crowded areas. The addition of multipoint pairing is useful as well, especially if you also want to use them for work calls, allowing you to switch connection your laptop and phone easily. There was also no audio-video lag experienced as well when watching YouTube on my iPhone 16 Pro.
Conclusion
The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 is easily the best set of bone-conduction headphones I’ve tried so far especially in terms of sound quality. Well, they technically aren’t 100% bone-conduction since it also employs air conduction drivers. Solving the issue of thin sound seems to commands a premium pricing of S$269, but you’re getting a really solid package all round in terms of build quality, sound, battery life, comfort, and even microphone.
How to choose: Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 vs OpenFit 2
If sound quality is the most important factor, then go for the OpenFit 2 as it offers much more bass response, clarity, and richness compared to the OpenRun Pro 2. Volume can also get noticeably louder as well. If stability and portability is needed, then go for the OpenRun Pro 2. You can easily wear them around your neck without needed to carry a case. The fit of the OpenRun Pro 2 is much more secure and locked-in compared to the OpenFit 2.