Greatest Bone-Conduction Headphones of 2024

In contrast to Shokz’ higher-end fashions, the OpenMove would not have as glossy a design. Nor does it function its newest bone-conduction expertise (it is geared up with its seventh-generation expertise with its PremiumPitch 2.0 sound). However these headphones do sound and carry out higher than different budget-priced bone-conduction headphones on the market. In different phrases, whereas they are a step down from each the OpenRun and OpenRun Professional, they’re nonetheless respectable bone-conduction headphones that match securely and comfortably (they only weigh a little bit extra). Be aware that their worth sometimes dips to as little as $55 throughout flash gross sales.

Just a few years in the past, Shokz turned its OpenRun (previously Aeropex) bone-conduction headphones right into a extra communications-friendly headset with an built-in increase microphone referred to as the OpenComm ($160), which stays out there. The second-generation OpenComm 2 UC prices greater than the unique, however options an upgraded Bluetooth 5.1 chipset that improves efficiency a bit and now permits for the firmware upgrades which are required for Zoom certification. Moreover, the microphone has moved from the left ear to the precise and a handy mute button has been added to the increase microphone — an essential addition. 

Since these go away your ears open — the sound is carried out by your cheekbone — they are not for individuals who wish to seal their ears out from outdoors noise. Reasonably, the thought is which you can hear all the things round you with out having something protecting your ears or jammed inside them. The headset is sort of snug to put on. Some of us discover that liberating and these do function wonderful noise discount for calls, as callers advised me they heard little or no background noise even once I was out on the noisy streets of New York. 

Whereas the Shokz are arguably the best-sounding bone-conduction headphones, they are not great-sounding for music as a result of they’re missing within the bass division. Nonetheless, they’re nice for speech, in order that they work very effectively as a headset for making calls and listening to podcasts or audiobooks. These even have multipoint-Bluetooth pairing, so you’ll be able to pair them along with your telephone and PC and simply change to your telephone if a name is available in whilst you’re in your pc. And so they include both a USB-A or USB-C wi-fi dongle (you select) that you simply plug into your pc for fast and dependable wi-fi connectivity.  

So long as you do not thoughts the increase microphone, you should utilize the OpenComm 2 for sporting actions as effectively and are favorites for runners who wish to hold their ears open to listen to the skin world for security causes. They’re additionally water resistant. The one draw back is that they require a proprietary charging cable as a substitute of USB-C. Battery life is rated at 16 hours of discuss time and eight hours of listening.

Launched in 2021, the Shokz OpenRun is predicated on the corporate’s former top-of-the-line bone-conduction mannequin, the Aeropex. The OpenRun’s design is identical because the Aeropex, however the headphone has been upgraded with a quick-charge function and Bluetooth 5.1. It options eighth-generation bone-conduction expertise as a substitute of the ninth-generation expertise discovered within the step-up OpenRun Professional (that OpenRun Professional has barely higher sound high quality). The Professional additionally has barely higher battery at as much as 10 hours versus the 8 hours for this mannequin. That stated, the OpenRun is absolutely waterproof and dust-proof with an IP67 ranking whereas the Professional has an IP55 ranking, which implies it is dust-resistant and may cope with a sustained spray of water.

Total, the Professional does function a barely higher design and efficiency, however it’s not an enormous distinction (possibly 10% to fifteen% higher) and the OpenRun does price $50 much less.

The OpenRun Mini is simply the OpenRun headphones with a shorter neckband. The OpenRun Mini has a .83 inch shorter band measurement than OpenRun and Shokz says that if the again of your head’s measurement from the left to the precise ear is 9.25 inches or much less, the Mini is your better option.

The Shokz OpenSwim is a rebranded model of AfterShokz Xtrainerz (sure, OpenSwim is a lot better title). This mannequin is provided with Shokz seventh-generation bone conduction expertise, so it is not going to sound nearly as good because the OpenRun Professional, which makes use of ninth-generation expertise, however you are in all probability not going to be doing any important listening whereas swimming (most individuals are simply on the lookout for satisfactory sound whereas swimming underwater). Be aware that these do not function Bluetooth for wi-fi listening (Bluetooth would not transmit underwater). They’ve 4GB of onboard storage for playback of MP3 information that you must load onto the headphones like an old-school MP3 participant.

The OpenSwim provide as much as hours of battery life and are clearly absolutely waterproof with an IP68 ranking.