Head-to-head · Best Bone Conduction Headphones

Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 vs Shokz OpenSwim Pro

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

The short answer

Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.6 vs 4.4). 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.

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Bone Conduction Headphones

Shokz OpenRun Pro 2

4.6

$179.95as of Jun 7

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

$179.95 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #3 in Best Bone Conduction Headphones

Shokz OpenSwim Pro

4.4

$179as of May 26

The OpenSwim Pro is Shokz's swimming-focused model, combining 32GB of onboard storage for in-pool playback with Bluetooth for use on dry land. 220 Triathlon scored it 92% and reviewers consistently call it the best-sounding waterproof bone-conduction option. The trade-off is a premium price and a driver that's a step behind the OpenRun Pro 2 on bass.

Strengths

— Dual-mode: Bluetooth streaming on land plus 32GB onboard MP3 storage for underwater playback
— IP68 rating with triple-sealed seams, submersible up to 2 meters
— Up to 9 hours of Bluetooth playback, with about 6 hours in MP3 mode

Watch-outs

— Minimal bass; the driver is a generation behind the air-conduction-equipped OpenRun Pro 2
— At $230 it is the most expensive option in this group
— Still uses a proprietary magnetic charger

$179 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

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.

Shokz OpenSwim Pro

The swimmer's pick: like the Mojawa Run Plus and Nank Runner Diver2 Pro it carries 32GB of onboard storage for underwater use, but its bass trails the air-conduction Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 and it costs more than the standard Shokz OpenRun.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Shokz OpenRun Pro 2	Shokz OpenSwim Pro
Drivers	Bone conduction + air conduction (DualPitch)	Bone conduction (8th gen)
Battery	12 hours	9 hours Bluetooth / 6 hours MP3
Charge	USB-C, 5 min = 2.5 hr quick charge	Proprietary magnetic, 10 min = 3 hr
Water Resistance	IP55	IP68 (submersible to 2m)
Weight	30.3g	27.3g
Bluetooth	5.3 + multipoint	5.4 (above water)
Frame	Titanium band	Titanium band
Onboard Storage	None	32GB MP3
Warranty	2-year	2-year

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