Shokz OpenRun review (formerly AfterShokz Aeropex)
Our Verdict
If you've been wary of bone-conduction headphones, the Shokz OpenRun's workout-friendly design and better-than-expected sound might just change your mind.
For
- Comfortable, secure fit
- Long battery life
- Fully waterproof
- Respectable audio
Against
- Not adjustable
- Conventional earbuds sound better
Tom's Guide Verdict
If you've been wary of bone-conduction headphones, the Shokz OpenRun's workout-friendly blueprint and better-than-expected sound might simply change your mind.
Pros
- +
Comfy, secure fit
- +
Long battery life
- +
Fully waterproof
- +
Respectable sound
Cons
- -
Non adjustable
- -
Conventional earbuds sound better
Shokz OpenRun: Specs
Price: $159
Colors: Blue, Black, Grey, Crimson
Battery life (rated): 8 hours
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0
Processor: Qualcomm QCC3024
Size: one.7 ten 4.3 x 5.1 inches
Weight: 0.9 ounces
The Shokz OpenRun, orginially called AfterShokz Aeropex, is not bad pair of bone-conduction headphones. For those unfamiliar with the concept, bone-conduction headphones play sound by sending vibrations into your cheekbones, intentionally leaving your ears open so you tin have conversations or heed out for sounds like traffic. As such, they're well suited to runners and gym-goers, too as to people with hearing loss.
The biggest drawback of the bone-conduction approach is that audio quality is no friction match for the all-time wireless earbuds. Withal, not only does the Shokz audio surprisingly decent, simply its secure fit, waterproofing and long battery life could be enough to make fitness fans convert.
- Read our full Samsung Milky way Buds ii review
- All the best cheap wireless earbuds
Keep reading our Shokz OpenRun review to find out why information technology's one of the all-time sport headphones yous can buy. And be certain to bank check out our Shokz OpenRun Pro review for the low-downward on a newer bone conduction option with 10 hours of battery life and boosted bass.
Shokz OpenRun review: Price and availability
The Shokz OpenRun is a specialized pair of headphones, but not an overly expensive i: It costs $159, about the same as the cheapest Apple AirPods model.
Information technology comes in four colors — Blueish Eclipse, Catholic Black, Lunar Grey and Solar Red — and is sold through Amazon, Best Buy and B&H, among other retailers.
Shokz OpenRun review: Design and condolement
The design is broadly similar to that of the AfterShokz Air, with the vibration drivers on the ends of over-ear hooks that connect to each other via a thin but rigid yoke. However, the Aeropex is a little more meaty than the Air, specially around the drivers and the electronics-housing modules at the base of each hook. As a issue, the Aeropex is likewise most 0.2 ounces lighter.
Thanks in part to this barely-there weight, the Aeropex lands perfectly between comfort and the kind of secure fit you'd want from a set of sport headphones. I couldn't shake the Aeropex off, or fifty-fifty loose, but it never felt like the drivers were clamping down on my head. I could wear these for hours without complaint — and I have.
Still, it'southward worth noting that y'all can't adapt the Aeropex in any way. Y'all tin can get a smaller "Mini" version for the same price, which AfterShokz recommends if the distance betwixt the backs of your ears is less than 9.3 inches, though with both this and the standard model you lot're relying solely on the flexibility of the yoke.
Non that the Aeropex is shoddily made. If anything, the opposite is true: The whole thing has a pleasant soft-touch finish, and it's IP67-rated for both dustproofing and waterproofing. Although AfterShokz says you shouldn't take the Aeropex swimming, it will survive total submersion in upward to 1 metre of fresh water for upwards to 30 minutes.
Shokz OpenRun review: Controls and digital assistant
The Aeropex uses concrete buttons, which makes sense; impact sensors rarely play well with sweat and water. A single multifunction push button sits on the left driver housing, while a volume rocker (which integrates the power button) is on the underside of the rectangular section behind the right ear hook.
The selection of controls is basic but functional. Besides the cocky-evident volume adjustment, the MF push button can pause or play with a unmarried tap, or skip ahead with a double tap. While that might audio underwhelming to earbud owners who can triple-tap and swipe to perform additional inputs, it is enough for normal playback, and I never had to repeatedly effort an input as if the buttons were finicky tough sensors.
Besides, in that location's 1 more apply for the MF button. Holding it down will activate Google Assistant or Siri, depending on your phone, and the onboard microphone has no trouble picking up voice commands. Information technology all works effortlessly and seamlessly.
Shokz OpenRun review: Sound quality
If y'all've never tried a pair of os-conduction headphones before, nosotros wouldn't blame y'all if y'all constitute the Aeropex flat and muted. Compared to even the best inexpensive earbuds, there's a definite lack of definition that earbuds and headphones tin easily avoid by piping music directly into your eardrums.
However, that's pretty much an intrinsic limitation of os-conduction tech. And when because how the Aeropex sounds within those limitations, and next to similar os-conduction headphones, information technology actually exceeds expectations.
Electronic parts seem particularly compatible with beingness shot through a skeleton. The main synth riff in The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights" wasn't diminished at all, and La Roux's "Impenetrable" was pleasantly punchy. Vocals are ordinarily nice and clear as well, and delivered with enough detail that it'southward possible to pick out all the layers of "Bohemian Rhapsody."
Guitar-heavy tracks can exist hit or miss; there'due south enough low-end for enjoyable renditions of Biffy Clyro's epic "Mountains" or the dynamic, swaying "Rope" by Foo Fighters. Certain effects tin can sound scratchy, though, and the bass never goes truly, powerfully deep.
Whether all this is a dealbreaker depends on what exactly y'all want from your headphones. If you want something full general-purpose, with some fettle capability on the side, there are dozens of better-sounding alternatives. If, however, y'all need a pair that won't hurt your spatial awareness when out on runs or bicycle rides, the Aeropex sounds good plenty to seriously compete with halfway-there models similar the Bose Sport Open Earbuds.
Shokz OpenRun review: Features
In that location's no companion app for the Aeropex, and in truth it doesn't really accept any bonus features across the waterproofing and digital banana support.
However, it's worth restating the efficacy of its h2o, sweat and dust protection. Even expensive earbuds struggle to friction match the Aeropex'south IP67 rating; the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro comes shut with IPX7, but that means it lacks any form of certifiable protection against dust, clay and sand. AfterShokz's attempt is a much hardier, outdoor-gear up alternative in that sense.
The Aeropex also provides a "Moisture Detected Alarm": When continued to the charging cablevision, the Aeropex can sense if at that place's any moisture around the cable connectors. If you haven't dried it properly, the Aeropex volition simultaneously beep, flash a red and blue warning LED and continuously vibrate. Information technology'due south a thoughtful touch on, and could help foreclose accidental harm down the line.
Shokz OpenRun review: Bombardment life
AfterShokz rates the Aeropex for viii hours of music and calls, but I got nearly fourteen hours of pure music playback on a single charge.
There's no charging example, then you'll always need to recharge using the included USB cable, just this longevity batters most true wireless earbuds on a per-charge basis. Even the JLab Epic Air Sport ANC, ane of the longest-lasting nosotros've tested, can't match up — though in fairness that has the added drain of active noise cancellation.
Shokz OpenRun review: Call quality and connectivity
Telephone call quality is a rare stumble for the Aeropex. I apparently sounded somewhat fuzzy in comparison to both my handset and the conventional headphones I usually use for calls, and loud background noise was a common complaint too.
On the bright side, the Bluetooth five.0 connectedness was ever rock-steady. In that location were no dropouts or deposition around or even beyond the "official" 33-foot range; this might come up in handy if you're at the gym and want to get out your phone safe in a locker.
Shokz OpenRun review: Verdict
The AfterShokz Aeropex is, absolutely, an unusual kind of Editor's Choice award winner — unless you lot want an open-ear pair of headphones specifically, information technology'southward non something we'd recommend. It's simply too like shooting fish in a barrel to get better audio quality from a pair of wireless earbuds.
But if you do want to keep your power to listen for ambient sounds, in that location aren't many meliorate options. Remember that by the standards of os-conduction headphones specifically, the Aeropex actually sounds good, and its durability and fit are practically perfect for running and workouts. Check it out if you want something more than specialized to stand in for your everyday headphones during fitness sessions.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/aftershokz-aeropex
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