Shokz OpenFit Air 2 review: Light enough to forget, good enough to keep
Shokz has trimmed the weight, ditched the fiddly touch controls and stretched the battery to eight hours, but the bass still hits a ceiling.
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The verdict
The OpenFit Air 2 are the open-ear earbuds we would point most runners and gym-goers towards. At 7.2g a side they are the lightest ear-hook buds Shokz has made, the new pressure-sensitive buttons fix the biggest annoyance of the original, and eight hours per charge is generous for £129 / $129.95. The sound is clear and balanced rather than thrilling, the bass has a definite limit and a little leakage is unavoidable. If you want to hear traffic, your training partner or the gym’s tannoy, this is an easy recommendation. If you want to shut the world out, look elsewhere.
Pros and cons
Pros
- 7.2g buds on a flexible nickel-titanium frame that vanish once they are on
- Pressure-sensitive buttons end the accidental skips and volume jumps of the first-gen touch controls
- Close to the claimed eight hours per charge, with up to 36 hours including the case
- Clear, well-balanced sound with proper mid-bass for an open-ear design
Cons
- Bass has less depth and weight than the pricier OpenFit models
- Leakage is better than before but still noticeable in a quiet room
- Buttons can be fiddly with gloves, and the case has no cover over its USB-C port
Quick specs
| Shokz OpenFit Air 2 | |
|---|---|
| Price | £129 / $129.95 |
| Weight | 7.2g per earbud, case around 60g |
| Drivers | Bassphere dual-driver (two 11.8mm drivers, equivalent to a 16mm unit) with OpenBass 2.0 |
| Battery | Up to 8 hours per charge, up to 36 hours with case, 10 minutes in the case adds about 3 hours |
| Bluetooth | 6.1 with multipoint, Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair |
| Water resistance | IP55 earbuds, IP54 case |
| Controls | Pressure-sensitive button on each bud, configurable in the Shokz app |
| Calls | Dual-mic AI noise reduction |
| Colours | Black, White, Ice Blue |
Price and availability
The OpenFit Air 2 cost £129 in the UK, where they went on sale on 16 September 2026, and $129.95 in the US, where they arrived on 27 August. The original OpenFit Air launched in 2024 at £119 / $119.95, so Shokz is asking £10 more for a lighter, longer-lasting pair with newer Bluetooth. That feels fair.
They are the cheapest ear-hook buds in the OpenFit range, sitting beneath the OpenFit 2+ (£179 / $199.95) and the flagship OpenFit Pro (£219 / $249.95). They also cost the same as the bone-conduction OpenRun Air 2 at $129.95, a very different proposition covered in the rivals section below.
Design and fit
Each bud weighs 7.2g, which is 1.5g less than the first-gen OpenFit Air, roughly 2g lighter than the OpenFit 2+ and more than 4g lighter than the OpenFit Pro. On a spec sheet that sounds modest. On the ear it is a different matter. The hook is a flexible nickel-titanium alloy wrapped in skin-friendly silicone, and the speaker pod hovers just in front of the ear canal rather than pressing into it. There is no seal, no pressure and none of the hot, plugged-up feeling that in-ear buds bring after an hour. It is easy to finish a session, head for the shower and only then remember they are still on.
The fit stays put, too. The soft materials do not rub, and the hook keeps the pods steady through running and cycling. That secure, unobtrusive feel is the core appeal of the OpenFit family, and the Air 2 delivers it as well as anything in the range.
The charging case has shrunk to match. At around 60g it slips into a gym bag or jacket pocket without a fuss, although it is still bulkier than an AirPods Pro case. The earbuds are rated IP55, so sweat, rain and splashes are fine, and the case is rated IP54. They are built for non-aquatic sport, so leave them out of the pool.
Controls and app
The original OpenFit Air used touch surfaces that were far too easy to set off with a sweaty ear or a stray bit of hair. The Air 2 swaps them for a single pressure-sensitive button on each bud, with a raised bump so you can find it by feel. A squeeze handles playback, volume and calls, and single, double, triple and press-and-hold gestures can all be remapped in the Shokz app. Accidental inputs essentially disappear. The only catch is that the buttons need a deliberate squeeze, which gets awkward in winter gloves.
The app is where the extras live. There is a Find My Earbuds audible alert, four EQ presets and two custom slots built on a five-band equaliser. Multipoint lets the buds switch between a phone and a running watch without drama. Bluetooth 6.1 replaces the 5.2 of the original, and Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair make first-time setup almost instant on Android and Windows.
Sound quality
The first OpenFit Air used a single driver. The Air 2 gets Shokz’s Bassphere design, which packs two 11.8mm drivers into each pod, with the OpenBass 2.0 algorithm adding low-end support. Shokz says the pair performs like a single 16mm driver.
By open-ear standards the result is impressive. The Standard preset is the one to leave on: vocals are clear, mids and treble are handled capably and the balance feels full-bodied rather than thin. There is a volume sweet spot as well. Around 60 per cent gives the best clarity, so you do not need to crank it.
Bass is where physics wins. Open-ear designs cannot deliver sub-bass that rattles your fillings, and the Air 2 is no exception. What it offers is enough mid-bass presence that kick drums and basslines keep their body, so a thumping dance track does not collapse into synths and hi-hats. That is a clear step up from the original, which was criticised for thin bass.
A hollowness still seems built into the open-fit concept. The OpenFit Pro does a better job of countering it, and both the OpenFit 2+ and the Pro sound richer, but the Air 2 are not far behind. Sealed earbuds will always punch harder, though they cannot touch the Shokz for letting the outside world in. For running, cycling or an office day where you still need to hear your colleagues, that trade is the whole point.
Leakage is the other honest caveat. People close to you will hear that something is playing, though not what, and the Air 2 are better in this respect than the first-gen pair. In a silent library or quiet carriage, others will still notice. And if the problem is a noisy gym or a playlist you cannot stand, an open design cannot fix that. The OpenFit Pro’s noise reduction can, for a lot more money.
Call quality
Each bud carries a dual-mic array with AI noise reduction, and it works. Callers hear you clearly outdoors, even on a blustery afternoon, because the algorithms strip back wind noise rather effectively. It is not studio quality, but for hands-free calls on a walk or a ride it is dependable.
Battery life
Battery is a clear step forward. The buds last up to eight hours per charge, up from six on the original, and real-world use lands close to that claim. A ten-minute top-up in the case buys another three hours or so. With the case topping up the buds, total playback reaches up to 36 hours, against 28 hours for the original.
For perspective, the OpenFit Pro stretches to 12 hours per charge, though that halves to six with noise reduction switched on, and the Soundcore AeroFit 2 manages 10 hours. The Air 2 are competitive rather than class-leading, but a full working day plus a lunchtime workout from one charge is easily achievable. The only real irritation is the case’s uncovered USB-C port, which is happy to collect gym-bag grime.
Also consider
Shokz OpenFit Pro (£219 / $249.95): Choose this for the best sound in the range and noise reduction that takes the edge off a busy gym or commute. It also brings 12 hours of battery with noise reduction off, Dolby Atmos optimisation and wireless charging. You pay a lot for those upgrades.
Soundcore AeroFit 2 (launched at £99.99 / $99.99): The budget alternative. It offers 10 hours per charge, 42 hours with the case and LDAC support, but the buds weigh 10g and it uses touch controls rather than pressure buttons. Pick it if price matters most.
Shokz OpenRun Air 2 ($129.95): Same money, different technology. This bone-conduction neckband is rated IP67, lasts up to 10 hours and stays put because it sits behind your head. It is the sturdier choice for heavy rain and rough training, but at around 26g it is far bulkier.
Should you buy the Shokz OpenFit Air 2?
Yes, if you want open-ear listening for workouts or everyday wear and can live without class-leading bass. The Air 2 do the important things very well: they are astonishingly comfortable, they stay put, the controls finally make sense and the battery will see you through a long day. The sound is good rather than great, but it is among the best you will find at this price if you need to stay aware of your surroundings.
Skip them if your priority is immersion. Open-ear designs leak sound and let the world in, and the Air 2 are no different. If you want to block out noise, look at the OpenFit Pro or a sealed pair of noise-cancelling earbuds. If you want maximum bass or audiophile detail, this is not the product for you.
For everyone else, these are the open-ear earbuds to buy. They are light enough that you will forget they are there, and good enough that you will keep wearing them.
Buy them.
