The dual-driver design finally gives bone-conduction headphones good sound, plus comfortable fit, low vibration and good calls, making them the best of their type though somewhat pricey.
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
Image: Shokzrecommend
Critics’ consensus
10 professional reviewers tested the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, and 7 recommend it. Most praised: comfort and sound quality. Most common complaint: call quality.
Reviewed by CNET, TechGearLab, PCMag and 7 more
The catch: The microphone is weak for calls.
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What do critics say about the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2?
A runner's dream: very comfortable, stable and aware of surroundings with better sound than other bone conduction models, though sound can't match in-ear buds.
Best-in-class bone-conduction headphones for outdoor athletes with class-leading audio, good battery and solid build, though not usable for swimming and bass is thin.
The best running headphones for those wanting power and awareness, with bigger bass and USB-C, though clarity slips and battery falls short of promise.
Top bone-conduction pick with improved bass, reduced vibration and app support, held back by mediocre microphone and general limits of the format.
A solid upgrade with better bass, no harsh vibrations, strong build and easy controls, though pricey and not for bass lovers.
Comfortable, well-built sports headphones but with weak, lifeless sound, so only worth it if you cannot use in-ears and do not care about audio.
The added bass speaker, comfortable fit and USB-C charging won over a skeptical reviewer who now prefers these for workouts, though call mic quality is poor.
After daily runs for two weeks the tester found the best-sounding bone conduction headphones he has used, with a secure fit and long battery, worth the upgrade for sound.
A light, comfortable, well-built bone conduction headset with decent sound for the category, ideal for runners and cyclists but not for everyone.
Scores are converted to 0–100. "est." means the outlet gave no number, so we estimated one from its verdict and checked our estimates against ratings outlets print. How we check estimates
What critics praise most
What critics dislike most
Not sure about the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2?
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Common questions
Is the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 worth it?
Most critics think so: 7 of 10 recommend it. The microphone is weak for calls.
Do critics agree about the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2?
Broad agreement: scores range from 60 (What Hi-Fi?) to 89 (The Verge), a spread of 29 points across 10 reviews. Most reviewers land fairly close together.
What do critics dislike about the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2?
Call quality (3 of 10 reviews), Price (3 of 10 reviews), Battery life (2 of 10 reviews).
What is the best alternative to the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2?
The Sony WF-C710N (critic score 94), top pick, narrowly.