The Shokz OpenRun Pro Bone Conduction are the upgraded version of the Shokz OpenRun Bone Conduction. Like their sibling, they use vibrations on your cheekbones rather than speakers to conduct sound, leaving your ears completely open so that you can hear your surroundings. The Pro model also has 'TurboPitch Technology', which aims to improve their bass reproduction. Like other bone conduction headphones, they still lack a thumpy, punchy sound, so tracks sound flat. This isn't much of a problem for vocals and lead instruments, which sound clear, accurate, and neutral. Overall, they don't look or sound like regular headphones. However, their sporty IP55 rating for dust and water resistance combined with their stable and comfortable fit make them a unique choice if you want to stay aware of your environment without sacrificing your audio.
Our Verdict
The Shokz OpenRun Pro are disappointing for neutral sound. These headphones reproduce sound by creating vibrations on your cheekbones, which travel to your inner ear. As a result, our testing rig can't adequately measure their performance. In real-life usage, they have difficulty reproducing a thumpy, rumbly bass and mixes sound flat. However, they do a significantly better job with the mid-range. Vocals and lead instruments sound clear, accurate, and neutral. Their treble range is also fairly balanced and isn't too bright. However, due to their bone conduction design, they're prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery if the transducers don't sit well on your cheekbones.
- Stable, comfortable, and well-built design.
- Prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery.
- Really lack low-bass.
The Shokz OpenRun Pro are sub-par for commute and travel. They aren't designed for this purpose, as they don't block out any background sound and leak audio at high volumes. That said, they have a comfortable and stable fit, are well-built, and come with a hard carrying case to help protect them when you're on the go. They also deliver over 14 hours of continuous playback time, which easily lasts through long days on the go.
- Stable, comfortable, and well-built design.
- Over 14 hours of continuous playback time.
- Don't block out any background noise.
- Prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery.
- Leak audio at high volumes.
The Shokz OpenRun Pro are decent for sports and fitness. Thanks to their bone conductor design, you can stay aware of your surroundings during tough workouts in the park. They have a stable ear hook design, making it difficult for them to fall off your head, and a comfortable, lightweight fit. They're also well-built and with an IP55 rating for dust and water resistance. However, you can't put these headphones into your pocket when you're not using them, but you can wear them around your neck in a pinch.
- Stable, comfortable, and well-built design.
- IP55 rating for dust and water resistance.
- Prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery.
The Shokz OpenRun Pro are a suitable choice for office use as they allow you to monitor your office space while still delivering your audio. Due to their design, they don't block out background noise, and they leak audio at high volumes, which can annoy others around you if your office doesn't have a door. However, they have a comfortable design, support multi-device pairing, last over 14 hours continuously, and the mic is fine for calls if you don't have much background noise.
- Support multi-device pairing.
- Over 14 hours of continuous playback time.
- Don't block out any background noise.
- Prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery.
- Leak audio at high volumes.
The Shokz OpenRun Pro are Bluetooth-only headphones. They're compatible with Bluetooth-enabled PCs, but their latency is too high for gaming.
The Shokz OpenRun Pro are Bluetooth-only headphones, and you can't use them wired.
The Shokz OpenRun Pro are sub-par for phone calls. Their integrated mic has decent recording quality, ensuring that your voice sounds clear and natural to whoever you're talking to. That said, the mic struggles to separate your voice from moderate ambient noise, so if you're calling from a busy street or office, speech can be drowned out. As these headphones don't enter or cover your ears at all, they won't block out any background noise, making it harder to hear your call well.
- Decent recording quality.
- Don't block out any background noise.
- Prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery.
Changelog
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Updated Dec 11, 2025:
The Stability box has been updated to mention the Mojawa Run Plus.
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Updated Mar 26, 2025:
This review's Comfort section has been updated to compare the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 Bone Conduction.
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Updated Oct 17, 2024:
We referenced the Shokz OpenFit Air True Wireless in the Battery box.
- Updated Mar 28, 2024: The Portability of this headset has been compared to the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds Truly Wireless.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Shokz OpenRun Pro come in four color variants: 'Blue', 'Black', 'Beige', and 'Pink'. In addition, they come in two sizes, Standard and Mini. At launch, they only came in Standard size, but now there's the Shokz OpenRun Pro Mini for smaller adults and younger people as well. We tested the 'Black' Standard-sized variant, and you can see our model's label here. If you come across another variant, please let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Shokz OpenRun Pro are the upgraded version of the Shokz OpenRun Bone Conduction. Unlike the base model, these headphones have the manufacturer's 'TurboPitch Technology,' which they advertise helps their bass reproduction. However, they still struggle to reproduce a thumpy, punchy bass, so your music lacks fullness. That said, vocals and lead instruments are clear and accurate, making these headphones great for vocal-centric genres like podcasts. While these headphones are a suitable choice if you want to stay aware of your surroundings while you're listening to audio, if you're looking for headphones that can block out sound, consider more traditional in-ears like the Jaybird Vista 2 Truly Wireless.
Check out our recommendations for the best headphones for running and working out and the best headphones.
The main reason to choose the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 Bone Conduction over the Shokz OpenRun Pro Bone Conduction is for quality-of-life improvements, like the USB-C charging port and the reduced vibrations associated with the first-generation OpenRun Pro. While neither offers amazing sound quality, you may prefer the OpenRun Pro 2's extra EQ options. Both have the same IP55 rating with similar builds. If you already own the OpenRun Pro, there aren't many other reasons to get the OpenRun Pro 2, aside from slightly longer battery life.
The Shokz OpenRun Pro Bone Conduction are the upgraded variant of the Shokz OpenRun Bone Conduction. While both headphones are comfortable, the Pro come with a better hard case to protect the headphones when you're not using them. They also reproduce a bit more bass, though it's likely not enough if you like thumpy genres like EDM and hip-hop. That said, their companion app offers a couple of EQ presets to help you adjust their sound. The original OpenRun have a higher IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.
The Shokz OpenRun Pro Bone Conduction and the Shokz OpenFit True Wireless are both sports headphones but with different designs. The OpenRun Pro are bone conduction headphones that send vibrations on your bones to reproduce sound and keep your ears open. They have a headband that circles behind your head, so they're bulkier than the OpenFit. They're certified IP55, so they can handle water immersion, they have a longer-lasting battery life, and they support multi-device pairing. Conversely, the OpenFit are buds that sit outside your ear canal and use their speakers to play audio without obstructing your hearing. They're more portable and stable, can deliver more bass, and have a graphic EQ that lets you fine-tune their sound.
For most people, the Shokz OpenFit Air are a better choice for running outdoors than the Shokz OpenRun Pro Bone Conduction. The OpenFit are more stable on the ear and easier to transport since they don't have a neckband. That said, some runners might find the OpenRun more comfortable. The OpenRun's continuous battery life of 14 hours is also far superior to the 6.5 hours the OpenFit offer, but the OpenFit's case provides an extra three charges, while the OpenRun's doesn't provide any. Annoyingly, the OpenRun use a proprietary cable to charge, unlike the OpenFit, which charge via the USB-C port on their case.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
Test Results
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