Shokz's New $130 Earbuds Let You Hear Music Without Blocking Your Ears

Shokz has released two new headphone models, both priced at $130 and available starting August 27. They are called the OpenFit Air 2 and the OpenRun Air 2, and they share a key feature: neither one blocks your ear canal. Instead of sealing your ear like most earbuds do, they sit outside the ear, which means you can hear music and your surroundings at the same time (Engadget).

The OpenFit Air 2 uses small hooks that wrap over the ear to stay in place. Each earbud weighs 8.7 grams, about 17 percent lighter than the previous version. Shokz says the new design and software produce "richer bass" and "fuller sound," though because the earbuds don't seal the ear, they can't match the deep bass of traditional earbuds that plug the canal. A companion app lets users choose from four sound presets or create two custom ones to fine-tune the audio (Engadget).

Battery life is good for the price. The Air 2 lasts eight hours on a single charge and up to 36 hours total when you count the charging case. A 10-minute quick charge gives three hours of playback. The earbuds connect over Bluetooth 6.1 and can pair to two devices at once, so you can stay connected to your phone and computer simultaneously (Engadget).

The OpenRun Air 2 takes a different approach. It uses bone conduction, which means it sends sound vibrations through the bones of your head directly to your inner ear, skipping the eardrum altogether. It has a wraparound band that fits over the head, and Shokz says it is lighter and bounces less during exercise than the previous model. It lasts ten hours per charge, and a five-minute quick charge provides two hours of playback. Like the Air 2, it works with the Shokz app for sound adjustments (Engadget).

Shokz has been expanding its lineup steadily. At CES 2026 in January, the company introduced the OpenFit Pro at $249.95, its most advanced model, featuring the company's first open-ear noise reduction technology (Shokz). Two mid-range models, the OpenFit 2 and OpenFit 2+, sit between the Air and Pro levels. The 2+ adds Dolby Audio and wireless charging, and both offer up to 11 hours per charge and 48 hours total with their cases (Shokz).

The Air 2's eight-hour battery and 36-hour case life put it below the OpenFit 2 and 2+ on endurance, which fits its lower price. The OpenRun Air 2's ten-hour rating actually beats the Air 2's, partly because bone conduction uses less power than traditional speakers, and partly because the headband design has room for a bigger battery.

Looking at the full range, Shokz now offers three tiers: the $130 Air 2 and OpenRun Air 2 at the entry level, the OpenFit 2 and 2+ in the middle, and the $249.95 OpenFit Pro at the top. The Air 2 trades shorter battery life and no noise reduction for a lighter weight and a much lower price than the Pro. For people who want to stay aware of their surroundings while running, commuting, or working, that may be a worthwhile trade.

Open-ear headphones still serve a niche rather than the mainstream. Sealed earbuds and over-ear headphones remain the better choice for sound quality, noise cancellation, and bass. But for outdoor exercise, office settings where you need to hear colleagues, or anyone whose ears get tired from wearing sealed earbuds for long stretches, the open-ear design solves a real problem.

The wider picture is that Shokz's steady rollout of updates across three price levels suggests the company sees lasting demand for this type of headphone, not a passing trend. And by launching both the OpenFit Air 2 and OpenRun Air 2 at the same $130 price, Shokz has made the decision straightforward: you choose between ear hooks with traditional speakers or a headband with bone conduction. The specs are close enough that comfort and personal preference will decide it.