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.
Full review
Built for the Pool
The OpenSwim Pro exists to solve a specific problem: Bluetooth signals don't travel through water, so swimmers can't stream music while doing laps. Shokz's answer is a dual-mode design with 32GB of onboard storage for MP3 playback underwater, plus full Bluetooth for use on dry land. That makes it more versatile than the original OpenSwim, which was MP3-only. 220 Triathlon scored it 92% and called it "excellent open-ear headphones for the pool and dry land alike," while Tom's Guide labelled it among the greatest bone conduction headphones available.
The body is triple-sealed and rated IP68, certified for submersion up to two meters for as long as two hours. At 27.3 grams with a hydrodynamic shape, multiple reviewers found it stayed out of the way during swim technique work, which is exactly where a bulkier headphone would catch water and drag.
Sound Quality
Shokz fitted an 8th-generation bone-conduction driver that lowers vibration and sound leakage compared to earlier models, and reviewers generally rate it the best-sounding waterproof bone-conduction option you can buy. But it is still bone conduction only, with no air-conduction speaker, so bass is minimal. Everydaylistening was direct about the hierarchy, writing that Shokz "delivers a perfectly adapted headphone for the intended use case if shy of the absolute versatility of the new OpenRun Pro 2."
Underwater the sound signature changes again when you fit the included earplugs for isolation, which everydaylistening noted markedly alters the tuning. For a swim companion that's an acceptable compromise; for a primary music headphone on land, the OpenRun Pro 2's air-conduction bass is the better listen.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery life is up to nine hours in Bluetooth mode and about six hours in MP3 mode, the gap explained by the storage module's higher power draw. Alex Reviews Tech tested both modes and found Shokz's claims held up "almost exactly" in real-world use. A 10-minute quick charge yields roughly three hours, which is generous for the category.
As with the standard OpenRun, the OpenSwim Pro still relies on a proprietary magnetic charging connector rather than USB-C, which is a notable miss given the OpenRun Pro 2 made the jump. For a headphone you'll take to the pool that cable is one more thing to keep track of.
Fit and Waterproofing in Practice
Alex Reviews Tech found the OpenSwim Pro "sailed through" water-immersion testing, though the reviewer drew a careful distinction between water-resistant and truly waterproof and cautioned buyers to respect the depth and time limits. The lightweight titanium band and secure ear hooks held position through swim strokes in testing, and the open-ear approach means you can still hear a coach or lifeguard at the pool edge.
Where It Falls Short
The OpenSwim Pro is the most expensive headphone in this roundup at around $230, and that premium only makes sense if you actually use the dual-mode functionality. Alex Reviews Tech made the point explicitly: you'd want to be sure you'll use both the MP3 playback and the waterproofing to justify the price. Land-only listeners are overpaying for capability they won't touch, and the proprietary charger and bone-conduction-only bass are real compromises versus the cheaper Mojawa Run Plus, which offers similar swim-and-store features for less.
How It Compares to Alternatives
The OpenSwim Pro's natural rivals are the other two storage-equipped swim headphones here. The Mojawa Run Plus matches its 32GB storage and IP68 rating for noticeably less money, and reviewers like HeadphonesAddict actually rate the Run Plus's sound higher, which makes the OpenSwim Pro's price premium hard to justify on sound alone. The Nank Runner Diver2 Pro pushes waterproofing further to IP69 and also undercuts it on price. What the OpenSwim Pro offers in return is Shokz's polish: the most refined fit, the lowest sound leakage thanks to the 8th-generation driver, and a two-year warranty against the rivals' one year.
Against the land-focused OpenRun Pro 2, the comparison is about use case rather than quality. The Pro 2 sounds better on dry land thanks to its air-conduction driver and costs $50 less, but it can't be submerged and has no storage. Everydaylistening captured the relationship precisely, calling the OpenSwim Pro perfectly adapted to its swimming purpose while falling "shy of the absolute versatility of the new OpenRun Pro 2."
Who It's Best For
The OpenSwim Pro is the clear choice for swimmers and triathletes who need in-pool MP3 playback and Bluetooth on land in a single device, want Shokz's best-in-class fit and low leakage, and will use that versatility enough to justify the highest price here. If you swim but want to save money, the Mojawa Run Plus delivers the same 32GB-and-IP68 formula for less and arguably better bass; if you want even higher waterproofing, the Nank Runner Diver2 Pro goes to IP69. Land-only runners should skip it entirely and buy the OpenRun Pro 2, which sounds better on dry land for less money.
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
- +8th-generation bone-conduction driver lowers vibration and sound leakage
- +Light 27.3g titanium frame and a hydrodynamic shape that stays out of the way while swimming
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
- −MP3 mode drains the battery faster than Bluetooth
How it compares
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.
Who this is for
At a glance: Swimmers and triathletes who need both in-pool MP3 playback and Bluetooth on land, and will use the extra functionality enough to justify the price.
Why you’d buy the Shokz OpenSwim Pro
- 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.
Why you’d skip it
- 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.
Rating sources
“Excellent open-ear headphones for the pool and dry land alike, with great battery life and a comfy fit.”
“The Shokz OpenSwim Pro are a good inclusion in the Shokz lineup, though you'd want to be sure that you were going to use the expanded functionality of their MP3 playback mode.”
“Shokz delivers a perfectly adapted headphone for the intended use case if shy of the absolute versatility of the new OpenRun Pro 2.”
Our 4.4 score is the average of these published ratings. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
