Like other open-ear earbuds, the OpenFit Pro offers an airy and open soundstage, creating a more natural listening experience compared to typical earbuds—it feels more like listening to speakers. You can enhance this experience further by turning on the oddly named Optimized for Dolby Atmos mode. It’s a bit misleading because this mode doesn’t replace Dolby Atmos or is exclusively for existing Dolby Atmos content. Essentially, it’s Dolby’s leading earbud-based audio tech, blending spatial audio processing (for a wider, deeper sound) with optional head tracking. These features are compatible with any content, though Dolby claims they shine brightest with Dolby Atmos material.
It’s the first time Dolby’s technology has made its way into open-ear earbuds, and it works beautifully. It enhances the perceived width and height of the sound space without compromising dynamic range or loudness, a common issue with similar systems. The effect is especially noticeable with Atmos content compared to standard stereo. I’ve tried Dolby’s spatial tech on various products, including the LG Tone Free T90Q, Jabra Elite 10, and Technics EAH-Z100, and this is the first time I’ve been impressed enough to keep it on for music listening.
However, it still doesn’t quite match the effectiveness of Bose’s Immersive Audio found in the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds. Bose’s head tracking feels smoother—especially when watching movies—and its spatial processing is more convincing and immersive for both music and films.
On the flip side, Shokz excels in call quality with the OpenFit Pro. Its microphones efficiently filter out background noise. Whether you’re walking down a busy street, hanging out in a crowded coffee shop, or near a construction site, your callers likely won’t know you’re not in a quiet park. Plus, being able to hear your own voice naturally (without a transparency mode) helps reduce fatigue typical with lengthy calls on standard earbuds.
Comfortable Design
Comfort is a significant advantage of Shokz’s OpenFit series, and the OpenFit Pro is no exception with its soft silicone-wrapped ear hooks. Unlike earlier models that placed speakers just outside your ear’s concha, the Pro’s speakers project directly into your ears, making contact with the inner part of that cavity. This improves stability, but I did notice that contact point over time. They never became uncomfortable, but it wasn’t quite the forget-you’re-wearing-them experience found with the OpenFit/OpenFit 2/+ models. As someone who wears glasses, I usually prefer clip-style earbuds like the Shokz OpenDots One, but the OpenFit Pro’s shape didn’t present any issues. Shokz includes optional silicone support loops, likely for those with smaller ears or who need a more secure fit. While those didn’t enhance my fit, I have fairly large ears.
As with all hook-style earbuds, the OpenFit Pro’s charging case is on the larger side. It features solid build quality thanks to the aluminum frame, and includes wireless charging (which isn’t always standard with open-ear models), yet it’s still bulkier than a set of AirPods Pro.
Easy to Use
For the OpenFit Pro, Shokz has moved away from its hybrid touch/button controls to straightforward physical buttons, which feels like a smart choice. Now, you can choose which button combinations control actions like play/pause, track skipping, volume, and voice assistant access—offering a level of flexibility that wasn’t available in previous versions.
