After testing the Shokz Open Fit 2, I might never wear another pair of fitness headphones
Stuff Verdict
A comfier fit, more impactful audio and brilliant battery life make the Open Fit 2 a slam dunk set of open-style earphones for fitness fans.
Pros Some of the best sounding open-fit open fit earphones yet
Excellent battery life
Secure fit that's wonderfully comfy
Cons Still a step behind in-ears for volume and sound quality
Missing a few features expected at this price
Introduction
Shokz being early to the open-style earphone party was hardly a surprise, given its laser focus on fitness; no other wireless earbuds come close for situational awareness, which helped make the original Open Fit just as workout-friendly as the bone conduction neckbands that established the firm as an exercise must-have.
First attempts usually leave room for improvement, of course, and Shokz has done exactly that for the second-gen version. The Open Fit 2 brings a bigger sound courtesy of dual drivers, better battery life, and an even comfier fit. That should help them compete with a rapidly growing number of open fit rivals. There's also an even more advanced OpenFit 2+, which adds Dolby Atmos spatial sound and wireless charging to the mix for an extra $10/£10.
The Open Fit 2 has been out in the wild in the US for a while now, but this is the first time they've officially made their way to Europe and the UK. At $179/£169 they command a premium over Shokz' neckband line-up – is going true wireless worth the extra outlay?
How we test headphones
Every pair of earphones and headphones reviewed on Stuff is used for a minimum of a week's worth of daily listening. We use a playlist of test tracks made up of multiple genres to assess sound, and use our years of experience to compare to other models. Manufacturers have no visibility on reviews before they appear online, and we never accept payment to feature products.
Find out more about how we test and rate products.
Design & build: get your hooks in
The hook-style design hasn't changed dramatically from the original Open Fit, but Shokz has made this latest pair thinner, with a more pronounced curve meant to keep each bud securely positioned near your ear canal. The old ones could come a bit loose while running, but I had no issues with the new version. They're only marginally heavier than before, and at 9.4g apiece you'd hardly call them heavyweights.
Both buds stayed securely in place no matter what I got up to. The nickel and titanium alloy construction helps keep the weight in check, and the way they're wrapped in ultra-soft silicone made them the most comfortable set of open-fit earphones I've ever worn. Crucially they didn't cause any discomfort when worn with glasses or under a bicycle helmet, so there aren't many sports they can't cope with.
That said, you get IP55 protection here, meaning swimming is out of the question (Shokz has the Openswim Pro if watersports are more your vibe). Sweating and running in the rain are fine, though. That rating applies to the buds only, so you've got to be a little more careful with the case.
It doesn't look all that different from the previous generation, being small enough to slip in a pocket, but a fair bit chunkier than the average true wireless earphone case. The way the headphones overlap each other can make taking them in and out a little fiddly, but strong magnets help align the charging pins and the lid opens up nice and wide.
Black and Beige aren't the most exciting of colour options, but the mix of silicone and metal effect polycarbonate trim give the buds a purposeful look. The silicone picks up dust quite quickly, but clean up just as easily with a damp cloth.
Features & battery: press for service
Touch controls are undeniably a faff to use reliably when you're mid-workout. Owners of the original Open Fit will know that first hand. Thankfully Shokz has added a physical button on each earbud, which finally means no accidental pausing or skipping tracks when adjusting the fit during a run. Even better, they're big and deep enough to press while wearing gloves.
I like that Shokz hasn't ditched the touch panels from the first-gen model altogether; they are just unbound by default now. Each side can be assigned a press-and-hold action through the companion app, should you want to use them to wake your phone's voice assistant.
The four noise-cancelling microphones get the job done when it comes to voice calls, largely stripping out wind noise but still having to contend with Bluetooth's meagre call codec bandwidth. There's no fancy aptX, or future-friendly LC3 or Auracast connectivity here either, although the former isn't a huge loss given open fit earphones are rarely the last word for sound quality.
I do wish Shokz would've added wear detection, as I'd regularly take the buds out when talking to people, then discover my audio had kept playing to itself – frustrating when listening to podcasts. Sure, the open fit means you could just pause playback and hold a conversation just fine, but to me keeping earphones in comes across as rude.
The firm gets top marks for boosting battery life between generations, though. I got very close to the claimed 11 hours of listening per trip to the charging case, with volume being the only limiting factor. The case itself has enough juice in reserve to bring total playback up to a heady 48 hours, or almost double what the original Open Fit could manage.
Ten minutes of charging is enough for two more hours of listening, which is handy if you ever get caught short. These buds don't announce their remaining battery life when you put them on like the OpenRun Pro 2 neckband does.
Interface: keep it simple
Shokz hasn't shaken up its smartphone companion app much between generations, so you're still getting a streamlined UI that doesn't overwhelm with superfluous features. The important ones are front and centre, with the the first thing you see on the main screen being remaining battery life for the case and each bud.
You can upgrade the firmware here, as well as activate multipoint pairing and customise the controls. There are presets to pick for each action, rather than letting you come up with an entirely bespoke configuration, but they're all sensible choices.
I spent the most time experimenting with the four different equalizer modes – Bass Boost, Treble Boost, Vocal, and Standard – and creating my own using the five-band custom EQ. Bass boost and Treble boost worked exactly as advertised, giving my tunes a more full-bodied sound; the former was great for electronic tracks, while the latter was better for vocal and acoustic songs. It's a shame there's no way to toggle between EQ modes on the buds themselves, though – just via the app.
Sound quality: loud and proud
A new dual driver setup has transformed the way the earbuds sound compared to their predecessor. With one dedicated to bass and the other delivering the mid-range and high-end, the Open Fit 2 is louder and more full-bodied than before, while also reducing the amount of sound leakage.
Leakage is pretty much unavoidable with open fit earphones, but I was able to use them on the sofa without any complaints from my wife while she was watching TV next to me. I wouldn't wear them to the library, but they'll be just fine for the gym or any outdoor exercise.
The new drivers can't completely counter the other limitations of open fit, namely a lack of impactful low-end – but I was still impressed by how much bass presence these earbuds had. Using the standard EQ, the synth hits on Culture Shock's City Lights sounded punchier than almost every other open fit earphones I've tried, aside from the far pricier Bose Ultra Open. You'll get more sub-bass oomph from almost any pair of in-ears, but there's none of the thinness you'll get from some rivals.
At the other end of the frequency range, there's a lot more precision and bite that helps vocals and instruments make their presence felt. I can't fault the amount of volume on tap, either. There's enough of it that I wouldn't listen beyond 60%, yet I could still hear my music over passing cars while out on the road. Podcasts are more of a challenge in properly noisy environments, so these probably aren't the earphones to wear on your commute after your morning workout.
Shokz Open Fit 2 verdict
That ultimately means you'll be buying these as your second pair of earphones, rather than a replacement for your existing ones. A pair of regular earbuds are still your best bet if sound quality matters most, too.
But if you're not a fan of neckband-style headphones and need the sort of situational awareness that only open fit provides, these are easily the best of the bunch for exercise.
Stuff Says…
Score: 5/5
A comfier fit, more impactful audio and brilliant battery life make the Open Fit 2 a slam dunk set of open-style earphones for fitness fans.
Pros
Stuff Says…Score: 5/5A comfier fit, more impactful audio and brilliant battery life make the Open Fit 2 a slam dunk set of open-style earphones for fitness fans. ProsCons
Excellent battery life
Secure fit that's wonderfully comfy
Cons
Still a step behind in-ears for volume and sound quality
Missing a few features expected at this price
Shokz Open Fit 2 technical specifications
Drivers 2x dynamic ANC No Bluetooth version Bluetooth 5.4 Codecs supported SBC Durability IP55 Battery life 11 hours (buds) 37 hours (case) Dimensions 152x76x23mm, 72g (case)
9.4g/ 0.33oz (buds, each)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Stuff.tv
2 days ago
- Stuff.tv
Here's why Tesla's New Model Y is the best electric car I've driven
Stuff Verdict Fast, smooth, spacious, smart, and refined. The 2025 Model Y is Tesla's most complete car yet, and arrives at a price that will put electric SUV rivals on notice. Pros Much-improved ride Ultra-modern styling a big step forward Spacious and practical Cons Does everything really need to be controlled by a touchscreen? The one button you do get – hazard warning – is in a daft place Autopilot braking can be a bit eager As a self-confessed Tesla fan, it'll come as no surprise I was quite the fan of the refreshed Tesla Model 3 when I drove one last year. It wasn't a huge overhaul, but was comfortable, quick, and finally fixed the foibles Tesla drivers largely just put up with. The new Model Y isn't a repeat performance – it's a radical rethinking of one of the world's most popular electric SUVs. The boated Model 3 look is gone, replaced with sleek lines, striking curves, and lights that wouldn't look out of place on a concept car. It's equal parts flashy and futuristic, which is precisely what you'd want from a car that silently rockets off the line like it's escaping a black hole. Entry-level models start from $44,990/£44,990, which is lower than the previous generation and puts it among more mainstream electric SUV competition. There are a lot more rivals in 2025 than there were when the Model Y first arrived, though, including plenty of more affordable alternatives. And none carry the baggage associated with the Tesla brand. Does the much-improved Model Y earn the attention of more than just the Tesla faithful? How we test cars Every electric car reviewed on Stuff is tested on a range of road surfaces and, where possible, in varying weather conditions. We use our years of experience to compare with rivals and assess ergonomics, technology features and general usability. Manufacturers have no visibility on reviews before they appear online, and we never accept payment to feature products. Find out more about how we test and rate products. The styling Gone is the stretched, jellybean silhouette of the old Y. In its place is a sculpted, athletic SUV that looks like it was designed by someone who finally got to use the curved lines tool in CAD. It looks ultra-modern, distilling the essence of Tesla's most divisive vehicles – the Cybertruck and the Cybercab – into something far more palatable. A new light bar dominates the car's nose, stretching across the entire front end like a smirking face. The slim LED headlights that flank it on either side are bright without being obnoxious, with adaptive dimming that effectively prevents other drivers from being dazzled. The bonnet is smoother, and crucially, the Tesla badge is gone. Some will say the design is so distinctive it doesn't need branding; others might argue it's Tesla acknowledging the logo has lost some lustre in recent years, due to the actions of its controversy-courting owner. Things are even more interesting around the back. The tail lights cast a red glow that diffuses down onto the Tesla logo beneath the boot release – no actual light bar required. The effect is surprisingly elegant and minimalist, leaving a trail of red light in your wake unlike anything I've driven before. It's effortlessly cool and quite a head-turner. The Launch Edition I drove adds some bespoke badging, but all versions get a subtle rear spoiler. The futuristic theme continues inside the cabin, only this time with an added layer of plush. A new velvet-like trim on the dash and doors feels fancy, but should be easy enough to clean if a toddler smears it with yogurt. An ambient LED strip then wraps around the front and rear of the cabin for a spaceship-style glow – although frustratingly doesn't do a complete loop. There's a gap around halfway down the doors that's small but maddening if you're cursed with detail-oriented OCD like me. Storage is generous throughout, and the magnetic sun visors are a small but very welcome upgrade. They light up with LEDs when flipped down, and snap into place with a satisfying click. You'll probably never use them unless you're reapplying makeup at the lights, but it's the thought that counts. Otherwise the ultra-minimalist interior remains, with a few smarter design choices scattered throughout. Dual wireless phone chargers live just below the screen now, so your passenger can keep their handset refuelled as well. The drive Tap the brake and the Model Y comes alive; no buttons to press or keys to turn, just a quiet whirr as it gets ready to go. The new automatic gear selection almost always gets it right, too. If you've got your seatbelt on and there's a wall in front of you, it'll pick reverse. That spares you the awkward fumbling with Tesla's screen-based gear selector which, let's be honest, no-one asked for. Acceleration remains as brutal as before, with around 500bhp helping it hit 0-60mph in just 4.1 seconds. And this isn't the Performance spec – that is coming later in the year. If leaving other drivers in the dust at traffic lights tickles your pickle, you'll be right at home. More importantly, it feels planted while doing so. The ride is smoother than the already excellent new Model 3, which is largely down to the newly revised suspension. It doesn't wallow like many cushy SUVs do, staying controlled while also gliding over dodgy Tarmac. It's a major improvement over the old Model Y. Tesla has dialled in the one-pedal regenerative braking very well. There's no jerking to a halt, no nervous passengers bracing themselves – just a gentle deceleration that makes the brake pedal almost redundant. Autopilot also returns, taking care of long motorway drives with smooth lane changes and chilled cruising. I did notice it being a bit heavy on the brakes this time around, though. European safety laws forced a rename on my side of the Atlantic, with Autosteer not able to change lanes for you. The Enhanced Autopilot package, a $3500/£3500 extra, can. This also includes Navigation on Autopilot and traffic light detection, which lets the car suggest what to do while following directions. You've got to keep your hands on the wheel the entire time, unlike Bluecruise on the Ford Mustang Mach-E – but Tesla's system can be used anywhere. Whether it's worth paying extra for is still a bit of a headscratcher. It looks like Full Self-Driving might be coming in September, which will be much more compelling. So maybe cash in on Autopilot now in case prices go up. Tesla's Supercharger network continues to make charging a breeze. The newest ones can go up to 250kW, so you can get to full in around 45 minutes. It's the least inconvenient it can be on this car, although Superchargers are more spread apart in the UK than they are in the US. The technology Tesla's signature central landscape touchscreen once again acts as your command centre, with everything – and I mean everything – controlled from it. Want to heat or cool the rear seats? Screen. Fold down the back row for extra boot space? Screen. Watch Netflix while you charge? Yep, that too. It's overkill at times; I longed for a button to adjust the temperature, and having to tap an on-screen button just to open the glovebox feels like tech for the sake of it. Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal are all integrated into the infotainment, with the Long Range model getting 17 speakers to blast them through. Improved microphones have made calls clearer, helped by the air conditioning being dialled down automatically so it doesn't blast over your voice. A secondary rear display gives rear passengers their own entertainment options, which is ideal for road trips with kids. They can play game, control their seats, or adjust music playback – and if the backseat chaos gets out of hand, you can override it all from the front screen. Storage is better thought out this time around. The centre console offers deep storage under the armrest, and there's a satisfying mechanism to cover your cup holders and front cubby for a cleaner look. And the boot? Absolutely massive. At 854 litres, you'll struggle to fill it, and with the seats down, you get over 2100 litres. They're power-controlled now, which should make trips to the dump that bit easier; the front seats get moved forward to accommodate the rear ones as they fold, then moved back ready for driving – but only when they aren't occupied. Very clever. A new front-facing camera – finally – makes tight spots less panic-inducing. A built-in washer saves you having to get out of the car to wipe it on wet days. The Model Y can still do Tesla's familiar light show party trick. The new light bars mean it's less like a children's birthday party and more like a high-end Vegas lounge act. You can control everything from the companion app, and even use your smartphone as the key (while still in your pocket). These days, you can even open the boot by standing behind the car with your phone in your pocket. It's really rather clever stuff. Tesla New Model Y verdict The new Model Y isn't just a facelift – it's a full transformation. Tesla's styling is bold and confident, the interior is smarter and feels more lavish, and the right quality has majorly improved. While there are a few small irritations – that awkwardly placed hazard light button, for instance – they're hardly deal-breakers. You'll forget about them the moment you tap the accelerator or marvel at how much stuff you can cram into the boot. It's by no means a bargain buy, but considering what else is out there in the $45,000 ballpark, other electric SUV makers should be rather worried indeed. Stuff Says… Score: 5/5 Fast, smooth, spacious, smart, and refined. The 2025 Model Y is Tesla's most complete car yet, and arrives at a price that will put electric SUV rivals on notice. Pros Ride has improved greatly from the last Model Y Ultra-modern styling is a big step forward Spacious and practical Cons Does everything really need to be controlled by a touchscreen? The one button you do get – hazard warning – is in a daft place Autopilot braking can be a bit eager Tesla New Model Y specifications Powertrain 2x permanent magnet synchronous motors Battery 75kWh Power 514bhp Torque 487 lb-ft (approx) 0-60mph 4.1 seconds Top speed 125 mph Range 353 miles Charge rate Up to 250 kW Cargo volume 854 litres
Stuff.tv
2 days ago
- Stuff.tv
Make Father's Day special with Yaber's T2 portable projector
Father's Day is approaching, and a meaningful and practical gift will be top of the shopping list for anyone who wants to show their dear old dad how much he means to them. Yaber's T2 portable projector with JBL speakers ticks all the boxes, bringing portability, ease of use and immersive audiovisual quality that will show him exactly how much he means to you. Yaber is offering a special Father's Day deal until June 15th, with an exclusive discount code for Stuff readers, so you could save up to 35% on this fantastic device. The Yaber T2 projector is available at 33% off in the UK, now just £239. That's a saving of over £120 off the usual price of £359. You can also save $122 on Amazon US, where the price drops from $349 to $227. A portable projector is the ideal gift for Father's Day, and Yaber offers the best battery-powered projector for outdoor use, with a big-screen, cinema-grade performance in a portable frame. It's sleek, portable and built for adventure, allowing you to enjoy films, sports, TV and games wherever you can find a suitable screen. Whether it's wildlife documentaries while camping, movie nights in the back garden, or football matches projected up to 120-inches across on the living room wall, the Yaber T2 has everything you need. The T2 is ultra-bright, producing a sharp 1080p image that's superbly detailed, even outdoors. Its maximum brightness means you'll get bright colours, and the projector's autofocus, four-point keystone correction and obstacle avoidance technology mean it's easy to set up. The carrying handle even folds underneath to create a stand, so it's stable even on uneven surfaces – something dads always appreciate. It easily adapts to various spaces and settings, so you'll always be able to make it work. A battery life of 2.5 hours from a full charge makes this the best battery-powered projector for outdoor use, as it's easily able to complete a whole movie or football match without needing to be topped up. If you use it in its Bluetooth speaker mode to play music, this endurance rises to a phenomenal 18 hours. And you'll want to do this too, as the JBL dual 8W internal speaker system with Dolby Audio is capable of delivering rich, immersive audio for a true musical experience, whatever you're listening to. You can also hook it up to an external Bluetooth speaker (or headphones to keep the noise to a minimum), and there's a 3.5mm audio jack too if your speaker choice doesn't include a wireless connection. Dreams of streaming Getting your movies and TV shows onto the Yaber T2 is simple. There's a built-in HDMI port that can be hooked up to any streaming stick, DVD or Blu-ray player, games console or PC. Alternatively, you can use the Yaber app on your phone for seamless screen mirroring and remote control, all through a tap on the side with NFC. There's also a USB port, which you can fill with a drive full of image or movie files if you're watching without WI-Fi – and which can also be used to power your streaming stick of choice. The Yaber T2 is distinctively designed, with a minimalist, modern aesthetic, bold visual impact, and artwork inspired by American pop artist Keith Haring. It's exceptionally light, at just 2.5kg, and can be transported easily to anywhere with a large enough surface to use as a projection screen, and measures 165 x 140 x 290mm so can be conveniently carried in a bag. If you're looking for a smart projector with auto-focus and keystone correction this Father's Day, or a compact cinema projector for travel, or just something to provide outdoor viewing on the long summer evenings, the Yaber T2 is a great gift that will make Father's Day really special. You can save up to 35% on the Yaber T2 portable projector with the exclusive discount code STUFFDAY (valid until June 15). Just click the Amazon links below: Amazon UK Save 33% Original price: £359.99 Final price: £239.21 Amazon USA Save 35% Original price: $349.99 Final price: $227.99
Stuff.tv
3 days ago
- Stuff.tv
These Dolby Atmos speakers will be going in my living room thanks to this one key feature
If you've tried to get Dolby Atmos sound in your living room, you'll know it's like playing surround sound Tetris. You've got to find some spare outlets, line up your speakers, and then fiddle with the calibration. It's definitely not the easiest of tasks. That's why Dolby started working on FlexConnect for Atmos. It's some clever tech that actively adapts the sound based on where the speaker is plonked in your room, so you don't need to line things up precisely. And TCL's newest Dolby Atmos speakers are the first to support FlexConnect, which means they're headed straight for my living room. TCL's Z100 speakers are designed to pair with Dolby Atmos FlexConnect-enabled QD-Mini LED TVs from TCL – specifically the QM8K, QM7K, or QM6K models. You can start with one speaker and scale up to four, and the system will adjust itself accordingly. It's a bit like building a LEGO set, only it makes your TV sound like an cinema theatre. Now, don't get too excited if you've already got a decent TV or speaker setup. Dolby's FlexConnect won't work with legacy kit, and the Z100s won't pair with anything outside of TCL's new FlexConnect-enabled TVs. It's all very proprietary. Dolby first announced FlexConnect in 2023, but this is the first time we're actually getting speakers ready to buy and shove into our homes. Performance details are still a bit thin on the ground, and while no one's expecting these to dethrone a professionally tuned 7.2.2 setup, that's not the point. These are for those of us who want immersive Atmos sound without faffing with AV receivers. Pricing for the TCL Z100 speakers hasn't been confirmed yet, and neither has the exact release date. TCL says the Dolby Atmos speakers are due out this summer. Surprise, surprise, there's also no word yet on pricing.
