Verdict
Head-to-head · Best Bone Conduction Headphones

Shokz OpenRun vs Shokz OpenRun Pro 2

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 comes out ahead by a clear margin (3.7 vs 4.1). The gap is mostly about Runners and cyclists who want the best-sounding open-ear headphones for staying aware of traffic and don't need to swim with them. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Shokz OpenRun
Ranked #5 in Best Bone Conduction Headphones
Shokz OpenRun
3 sources1 derived$129.95as of Aug 1

The plain OpenRun is the cheapest current Shokz and the one that trades features for toughness. SoundGuys rates it 7 out of 10, RTINGS and Believe in the Run both 4 out of 5, and all three land in the same place: a 26-gram titanium band that disappears on a run, full situational awareness, and thin bass. Against the OpenRun Pro 2 you give up the air-conduction driver and USB-C charging, and gain an IP67 rating the pricier model does not have.

Strengths
  • IP67 rating means full sweat and dust resistance, more robust than the pricier OpenRun Pro 2's IP55
  • Light 26g titanium frame that reviewers say disappears during long runs
  • 8-hour battery with a 10-minute quick charge giving 1.5 hours of playback
Watch-outs
  • Single bone-conduction driver with no air-conduction speaker, so bass is thin
  • Proprietary magnetic charging connector instead of USB-C
  • No companion app or custom EQ
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Bone Conduction Headphones
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
3 sources$179.95as of Aug 1

The OpenRun Pro 2 is the consensus pick for the best-sounding bone conduction headphones, pairing a bone-conduction driver with a small air-conduction speaker to push bass that the form factor usually can't manage. SoundGuys calls them the cream of the crop and TechGearLab ranked them #1 of 10 running headphones tested. The IP55 rating and high price are the main caveats.

Strengths
  • DualPitch dual-driver design adds a dedicated air-conduction speaker for noticeably deeper bass than bone-conduction rivals
  • 12-hour battery life, up from 10 hours on the original OpenRun Pro
  • Switched to a universal USB-C charging port, ending the proprietary magnetic dock
Watch-outs
  • IP55 rating is a step down from the IP67 of the standard OpenRun, so they cannot be submerged
  • Volume buttons are hard to distinguish by touch, especially with gloves
  • Microphone struggles in windy conditions

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Shokz OpenRun

The value pick of the lineup: tougher IP67 sealing than the OpenRun Pro 2 but a single driver with weaker bass, and no onboard storage like the Shokz OpenSwim Pro, Mojawa Run Plus or Nank Runner Diver2 Pro carry for swimming.

Shokz OpenRun Pro 2

The best sound in this group thanks to its air-conduction driver, but unlike the Shokz OpenSwim Pro, Mojawa Run Plus and Nank Runner Diver2 Pro it has no onboard storage and its IP55 rating means it can't be submerged like the IP67 Shokz OpenRun.

Specs side-by-side

SpecShokz OpenRunShokz OpenRun Pro 2
DriversSingle bone conductionBone conduction + air conduction (DualPitch)
Battery8 hours12 hours
ChargeProprietary magnetic, 10 min = 1.5 hrUSB-C, 5 min = 2.5 hr quick charge
Water ResistanceIP67IP55
Weight26g30.3g
Bluetooth5.1 + multipoint5.3 + multipoint
FrameTitanium bandTitanium band
Onboard StorageNoneNone
Warranty2-year2-year
← See the full ranking of best bone conduction headphones