For ten years, Shokz has built its empire on a single principle: keep your ears free. Bone conduction first, then open-ear with the OpenFit in 2023. The OpenFit Pro takes a step nobody thought fit the brand's philosophy: active noise reduction. CES 2026 Innovations Awards Honoree, €249, Bluetooth 6.1. We ran with it for several months. Here's our verdict.
© Shokz, official photo used for editorial purposes
The Shokz OpenFit Pro is the brand's first open-ear headphone with TÜV-certified active noise reduction, and it keeps the environmental awareness that makes Shokz products so valuable for running. Its sound relies on an ultra-wide dual-diaphragm driver with Dolby Atmos support, a clear leap over the OpenFit 2. At €249, it stands as the most complete running audio product on the market in 2026, provided you accept the price.
Shokz brought bone conduction to sport before the general public even knew what it was. The brand then pivoted to open-ear with the OpenFit in 2023, followed by the OpenFit 2 in 2024, strengthening its position in a fast-growing segment. The OpenFit Pro marks a break: it's the first Shokz product with active noise reduction, a technology missing from the lineup until now because it was seen as incompatible with the very idea of an open headphone.
The key technical point is the distinction between two modes. In standard Open-Ear mode, your ears stay free, as on every Shokz product. In Open-Ear Noise Reduction mode, a system of 3 AI microphones filters out unwanted noise, wind in particular, without closing the ear canal. The result: you still hear your surroundings, but the whistling at 30 km/h on a descent or the background hum of an open-plan office is toned down. It's different from conventional ANC, and that's by design.
| Brand | Shokz |
|---|---|
| Model | OpenFit Pro |
| Type | Open-ear (earhook) |
| Driver | SuperBoost ultra-wide bandwidth, dual diaphragm |
| Noise reduction | Open-Ear Noise Reduction (3 AI mics, TÜV-certified) |
| EQ | 5 presets + 2 custom (10 bands) |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes |
| Bluetooth | 6.1, multipoint |
| Battery life | 12 h (without noise reduction) / 50 h with case |
| Charging | USB-C + Qi (wireless) |
| Water resistance | IP55 |
| Hook | Nickel-titanium alloy (flexible) |
| Colors | Black, White |
| Price | €249 / 249 USD / 219 GBP |
© Shokz, official photo used for editorial purposes
The OpenFit Pro's noise reduction system isn't conventional ANC. Standard ANC seals the ear canal and generates inverse sound waves to cancel outside noise. Here, your ears stay physically open. The 3 microphones pick up the soundscape from several angles, identify repetitive unwanted noise (wind, ventilation, urban background noise) and filter it out of the signal sent to your ear. You still hear cars, cyclists and another runner calling out, but the wind whistling on a full-speed descent almost completely disappears.
Out on the road, the difference is noticeable mainly above 25 km/h or on windy days. In Noise Reduction mode, music stays clear on a technical descent without turning up the volume. In pure Open-Ear mode, it behaves exactly like the OpenFit 2: no filter, full immersion in your surroundings.
Combined use: for running, the most practical setup is standard Open-Ear for urban sections and risky paths, and Noise Reduction for long forest climbs or open stretches of road where the wind sets in. You switch modes in the Shokz app.
© Shokz, official photo used for editorial purposes
We tested the OpenFit Pro across varied sessions: track intervals, 2 to 3 hour long runs on the road, easy forest trails, flights and coworking. Here are the highlights.
Hold: the nickel-titanium hook is the key. It adapts to the shape of your ear and stays put even on high-cadence descents and technical trail sections. After 3 hours of running, no micro-adjustments needed. It beats the OpenFit 2 here, thanks to a reworked hook design.
Sound quality: the dual-diaphragm driver is a substantial upgrade. Bass is present and well defined, without the thin, surface-level sound of first-generation open-ear headphones. Dolby Atmos optimization delivers a wider soundstage, especially enjoyable on long podcasts and varied playlists. The Bass Boost preset adds just what you need for motivation in hard sessions.
Battery life: 12 hours in practice without noise reduction, around 9 hours with it. The charging case recharges the earbuds 4 times, for 50 hours in total according to Shokz. On a heavy running week (1 hour to 1 hour 30 a day), one charge a week is enough.
Wind handling: this is what truly sets the OpenFit Pro apart. On a run into a 35 km/h headwind, Noise Reduction mode eliminated about 70% of the perceived whistling. Music stays audible without cranking up the volume, which reduces the risk of listening fatigue on long, exposed runs.
© Shokz, official photo used for editorial purposes
| Model | Type | Noise reduction | Battery life | IP | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shokz OpenFit Pro | Open-ear | Yes (Open-Ear NR) | 12 h + 50 h case | IP55 | €249 |
| Shokz OpenFit 2 | Open-ear | No | 12 h + 48 h case | IP55 | €189 |
| Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 | Bone conduction | No | 12 h | IP55 | €179 |
| Suunto Wing 2 | Bone conduction | No | 12 h + 24 h power bank | IP66 | ~€175 |
A direct comparison with the OpenFit 2 shows that the €60 difference mainly pays for two things: the dual-diaphragm driver (clearly better sound) and active noise reduction. If you mostly run in quiet places and lesser sound quality doesn't bother you, the OpenFit 2 remains the best value for money in the lineup. The OpenFit Pro is for those who want the best on both fronts.
Against the Suunto Wing 2, the OpenFit Pro wins on sound quality and noise reduction. The Wing 2 fights back with its higher IP66 rating, its built-in power bank (very handy for night ultra-trails) and its cadence-reactive safety LEDs. The two products suit different profiles.
The OpenFit Pro is aimed first at versatile runners who use their headphones for running and everyday life alike. It's the Shokz product to pick if:
The Shokz OpenFit Pro is the most accomplished running audio product of 2026. Active noise reduction in open-ear mode is a technological first that delivers out on the road: the wind disappears, your surroundings stay audible, the music stays clear. The jump in sound quality over the OpenFit 2 is just as substantial, with a richer, more defined sound.
The main obstacle is price: €249 is €60 more than the OpenFit 2 for features whose relevance depends entirely on how you use them. If you often run in strong wind or noisy environments, that €60 is justified. If you mostly run in quiet forests or indoors, the OpenFit 2 covers 90% of your needs for less.
RunMorph score: 8.5/10