What you need to know
- Shokz announced new OpenFit Pro earbuds at CES 2026, the first with “Open-Ear Noise Reduction.”
- Each earbud has a triple-mic array to track environmental noise and balance it out for an indoor Private Mode, while still allowing for situational awareness outdoors.
- The Pros add a new Dolby Atmos mode with 3D directional sound, wear detection, expanded frequency with stronger bass, new add-on accessories, and an extra hour of battery life.
- They cost $249, $50 more than OpenFit 2+, and weigh about 3g more per earbud.
Fresh off releasing the OpenFit 2 and OpenFit 2+ in 2025, Shokz has announced the new OpenFit Pro wireless workout earbuds, and they offer a feature I never expected to see: Active noise reduction paired with an open-ear design.
Much bulkier than past OpenFits, Shokz OpenFit Pro squeezes in dual speaker units that enable multi-directional sound for Dolby Atmos support — a step up from the Dolby Audio feature on the 2+ earbuds — as well as enhanced bass with significantly reduced Total Harmonic Distortion.
The Pros also include three mics in each earbud: two outer-edge “feedforward” mics that “continuously monitor environmental noise,” and one inner “feedback” mic to judge noise levels within your ear canal. Using this data and an AI algorithm, Shokz can counterbalance outside noise using the speakers, and lets users “fine-tune the noise reduction level manually” depending on the context.
While the Shokz OpenFit Pro will never match traditional wireless earbuds with ANC with a proper noise seal, they’re much better for indoor contexts than the OpenFit 2 series — which force you to hear everything around you — while still giving you much better situational awareness outdoors than typical in-ear earbuds.
It’s a feature that Shokz’s bone conduction earbuds like the OpenRun Pro 2 can’t offer, since they don’t sit above the ear canal.
Of course, by cramming in larger speakers, new mics, and a “higher density, steel-cased battery to power the noise reduction system,” Shokz had to make the OpenFit Pro (12.3g per earbud) significantly bulkier than the OpenFit 2 (9.4g) or OpenFit Air (8.7g). They use the same nickel-titanium ear hooks to keep them comfortably secure, but you’ll undoubtedly feel the difference.
Perhaps because of this, Shokz includes “stabilizer” accessories in the box; they’re O-shaped rings you attach to the hook so they’re less likely to bounce or fall off while moving. I’m curious how necessary these will be for workouts like running, as I’ve never had an issue with stability while wearing the OpenFit 2s.
Plus, the noise-reducing “Privacy Mode” cuts the Pro’s 12-hour battery life down to just six hours, so it won’t last for a full workday.
Generally speaking, the OpenFit Pro earbuds have similar features and perks to older models, only slightly changed. For example, they have seamless button controls for music and call shortcuts — only now you can long-press to turn noise reduction mode on or off.
Likewise, most OpenFits support multipoint pairing, so you can sync to your phone and laptop at once. But the Pro series upgrades from Bluetooth 5.4 to 6.1, giving it better power efficiency and improved audio streaming quality.
And while past OpenFits promised “quick charging,” the Pros add four hours of playback after ten minutes, while the 2 series only adds two hours. It still uses the same style of charging case with magnetized pins, though Shokz says the Pros have a “more stable charging contact” than past models.
I’m also happy to see Shokz add Wear Detection to the Pro series, so audio automatically stops when you remove the earbuds; its absence was one of my few complaints with the OpenFit 2 series.
Shokz has offered me an OpenFit Pro review unit, so I’m looking forward to putting the Pros through their paces and see how they compare to the OpenFit 2 and 2 Plus. For now, I suspect that the Pro will be best suited for athletes who want to wear these all day; those buying them primarily for workouts won’t benefit as much from noise reduction or Dolby Atmos, and may prefer a lighter, cheaper OpenFit option.
The Shokz OpenFit Pros feature 11 × 20 mm drivers with Dolby Atmos support, 12 hours of battery per charge or 50 hours with the case, IP55 water resistance, multipoint pairing, and easy button shortcuts. Designed to leave your ears open for workouts but dim background noise at home, work, or the gym, the Pro series offers a unique design that athletes will appreciate.
