Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 review: Impressive improvements

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Like movies, product sequels can be problematic. Sometimes the second generation of a product is like Speed 2, only tangentially related to the first product, but worse in almost every way.

Other times, a product sequel is like Empire Strikes Back, building upon everything the manufacturer did right in the first product, and fixing up some of the things that weren’t great the first tie around.

With the launch of the OpenRun Pro 2, Shokz has firmly planted its feet among the great product sequels. The OpenRun Pro 2 is a massive step forward for bone conduction headphones, delivering a strong audio experience without the intense vibrations that plagued the first generation at higher volumes.

Coupled with its IP55 rating, multipoint Bluetooth pairing and – thankfully – USB-C charging, and the OpenRun Pro 2 is an easy recommendation for anyone wanting open-ear headphones for running or other athletic pursuits.

What is the OpenRun Pro 2 offering?

There are plenty of little improvements with the OpenRun Pro 2, but fundamentally the most significant change is in the bone conduction technology itself.

Shokz claims that the OpenRun Pro 2 sees the arrival of its 10th generation of bone conduction tech.

The big development in this generation is a technology Shokz calls DualPitch. It’s basically a blend of traditional bone conduction technology, and the same air conduction tech that powers the impressive OpenFit open-ear headphones.

The OpenRun Pro 2 uses the bone conduction technology to deliver the high and mid-range sounds into your ear, while the air conduction delivers a stronger bass performance, without making your entire scalp vibrate at high volumes.

Shokz claims the headphones deliver a 20Hz-20kHz range through the technology, which is balanced by its custom algorithm

Aside from improvements to the bone conduction technology, Shokz has also improved the build, making the frame from a nickel-titanium alloy for a stronger, more secure build while reducing the clamping pressure on your head.

The battery also gets a boost, delivering up to 12 hours of playback from a single charge. Though that’s probably not quite as rewarding as the fact Shokz has ditched its proprietary charger in favour of a standard USB-C charging approach.

What does the OpenRun Pro 2 do well?

My biggest challenge with the original OpenRun Pro was the fact that as soon as you turned the volume up, you could feel the vibrations through your entire jaw.

I expected, even with the technology improvements, that there would still be some level of vibration with these headphones. But there isn’t.

The addition of the air conduction technology means that even at maximum volume, there’s no uncomfortable vibration on your head.

Don’t get me wrong, the music quality can’t compete with the immersiveness of a high-quality in-ear or over-ear pair of noise-cancelling headphones. If I was choosing to listen to music or watch a movie without distraction, I’d still choose something like the Sonos Ace.

But that’s not the audience for the OpenRun Pro 2. Instead, it’s a pair of headphones for athletes (or at the very least, active people) who need to be able to hear their surroundings as well as their music, so they don’t get hit by a car as they run across the road.

And in that context, the fact the Pro 2 sounds much clearer compared to the previous model is fantastic

Battery life

Shokz claims 12 hours of battery life with the OpenRun Pro 2. I couldn’t time it effectively, but I will say that it seems to last for ages. I wore the headphones my entire workday for this review, listening to music for most of that time, and it still had battery at the end.

If you do run out of battery, five minutes on the charger gives about 2.5 hours of listening time. That’s fairly standard on headphones these days, but it’s a welcome inclusion for anyone who just needs a quick top up before exercise.

I also love the fact Shokz moved away from its proprietary charger. With USB-C being small enough and powerful enough to power laptops, there’s no reason for proprietary chargers to exist anymore.

What could the OpenRun Pro 2 improve?

The combination of bone conduction and air conduction technology means that the OpenRun Pro 2 can leak a bit of sound at higher volumes.

I don’t think it’s quite as bad as the last generation of product, but it’s still noticeable. It made my wife turn and give me a look with raised eyebrows when I was testing out the volume controls, in any case, so it’s probably not something you want to use on public transport.

While I didn’t have this particular problem, I imagine people with longer hair may find the band wrapping around the back of the head a bit annoying too. The band is firm (that’s the titanium in it), without a huge amount of give. If you’re listening to these with your hair out, it could create a small amount of discomfort.

Verdict

Product sequels should always build upon what came before them, taking the best elements and improving them while fixing the weaker parts.

Shokz has definitely done that with the OpenRun Pro 2. The improvements to bone conduction technology means you have a pair of open-ear headphones that sound really superb. The headphones themselves last for ages and feel pretty comfortable to wear for extended periods.

If you’re someone who runs a lot, this is undoubtedly where you should start looking. If you are looking for an open-ear solution that’s more for an office environment than for being active, I actually find the OpenFit to be a more comfortable solution.

Ultimately, it comes down to how you will use it. But either way, these are a great pair of headphones.

Shokz OpenRun Pro 2

Shokz has addressed almost all the concerns over its previous generation with these impressive bone conduction headphones.

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