Shokz upgraded its open earbuds with better sound and a lighter design

Andrew Liszewski is a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2006, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid.Shokz has announced two new versions of its open earbuds. Like the original OpenDots One that launched in May 2025, the new Shokz OpenDots 2 and OpenDots Air are both designed to be worn clipped to the back of your ear with their drivers positioned to project sound toward your ear canals without blocking them. It’s a design that potentially offers more comfort and environmental awareness than traditional wireless earbuds, while the two new versions cater to specific needs.The OpenDots Air are an entry-level version available in black or daybreak purple color options for $129.95 which is over $70 cheaper than the original. They feature Shokz’ “next-generation spherical acoustic structure” called Bassphere that uses a pair of custom 11.8mm drivers on each side with an “optimized diaphragm” to improve bass, loudness, and clarity. You can create custom EQs in an accompanying app, but there are also preset sound profiles including a voice-boosting mode for podcasts and audiobooks, as well as a privacy mode that reduces higher frequencies while you’re in quiet environments.Battery life is estimated to be up to nine hours of playback that can be extended to up to 36 hours with their charging case. There’s no ANC, but AI algorithms are used to help reduce background noises during calls. The OpenDots Air also feature dynamic ear detection so you can wear them on either side without having to determine which earbud goes on the left or right. They’ll figure that out on their own.The OpenDots Air are also the lighter of the two new models at 6.3 grams per earbud, but at 6.4 grams per bud the $199.95 OpenDots 2 aren’t much heavier and offer more functionality. Available in pearl white, gray, and black color options, the OpenDots 2 feature the same dual-driver system as the Air but with support for Dolby Audio. To further improve how you sound on calls, an additional bone-conduction microphone has been added to help isolate your voice from background noises that could make it hard for others to hear you.Battery life for the OpenDots 2 is 10 hours on their own or 40 with their charging case that can be topped off with a Qi wireless charger. Both of Shokz’ new offerings use Bluetooth 6.1, can connect to two devices simultaneously for easy switching (such as between your phone and laptop), and can be located using the Shokz mobile app, but only if you’re within Bluetooth range. The OpenDots 2 improve their chances of being found with support for Google’s Find Hub app, which will reveal their last known location even if you’re nowhere near them.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Andrew Liszewski