Shokz OpenDots ONE

Design and wearing comfort

Instead of relying on the familiar ear-hook solution, Shokz has opted for a minimalist clip-on mechanism. The result is a look closer to stylish mini-earrings than traditional sports headphones, ensuring that they sit discreetly on the ear without drawing attention. Available in black or a subtle beige-grey silver tone, they integrate seamlessly into everyday life, whether in the office, on public transport, or while exercising.

Weighing just 6.5 grams per earpiece, the Shokz OpenDots ONE are extremely light yet sit securely on the ear. Even during activities such as running or cycling, they remain in place, shifting only minimally over time without affecting the audio experience. Their closer positioning to the ear canal provides a slightly more direct listening impression than is typical for open-ears, though it does reduce environmental awareness somewhat — an important consideration in traffic-heavy surroundings.

Connectivity and operation

Bluetooth 5.4 ensures a stable connection, with support for SBC and AAC codecs. The wireless range extends to around 30 metres outdoors, though walls and staircases can cause interruptions indoors. Pairing is straightforward but somewhat traditional, lacking the animated setup experiences offered by such as Google Fast Pair. Multipoint connections with two devices are supported but must first be activated via the Shokz app.

One clever detail is the automatic side detection: the Shokz OpenDots ONE adapt to whichever ear they are placed in, eliminating the need for left/right markings. They switch themselves into standby after three minutes of inactivity and can also be used in single-ear mode.

My main criticism of the otherwise impressive Shokz OpenDots ONE headphones is their somewhat fiddly controls. Much of the silicone-coated titanium band, the transition between the band and the battery, and the top and bottom of the battery compartments are touch-sensitive. Initially, the hit rate on our test device was 50/50, which was frustrating. It’s no surprise that Shokz added a high-sensitivity mode, which can be activated via the app, to improve success rates. With a little practice, the hit rate improved, but sweaty fingers repeatedly caused the connection to drop.

There are a few functions that can be controlled with your finger: play/pause, track forward/back, and change volume. You can also answer, hang up, and reject calls. These actions are exclusively distributed across double and triple taps, as well as pressing and holding the top and bottom of the rear battery. The OpenDots do not respond to single clicks to prevent accidental operation. It should be noted that, at the time of testing, the “triple tap” function was still in beta.

The app also offers no useful additional control options. If you need to use the voice assistant by pressing and holding, you can no longer adjust the volume. In its defense, it must be said that most of its competitors are similarly restrictive in this regard. However, some competitors offer more flexible customization options via the app.

Even the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, which cost around €50 more and have only one proper button for control, have an additional function thanks to a shortcut. At least that’s something.

The app and features

The Shokz app, available for iOS and Android, is multilingual and clearly laid out. It shows all important parameters at a glance. In addition to displaying the battery status of the Dots and the case, it allows you to activate Dolby Audio, choose from four EQ presets, reassign the controls, search for lost headphones (but not the case), adjust the prompt volume, and run firmware updates. The app also includes Auto Pause (“Smart Wear Detection”), a noise cancellation function for phone calls, and various FAQ links.

There are four equalizer presets to choose from: “Standard,” “Vocal,” “Bass,” and “Private.” The “Private” preset primarily caps the high frequencies so that the outside world hears less of your audio content. If you prefer to customize, you can do so with a maximum of two custom EQ memory slots.

Battery life

According to the manufacturer, the Shokz OpenDots ONE achieve up to ten hours of playback on a single charge, with a total of forty hours including the case. In practice, especially in louder surroundings where higher volumes are required, the runtime is usually shorter. The earbuds themselves charge fully in around an hour, while the case takes about two hours by cable or four hours wirelessly. A ten-minute quick charge yields roughly two hours of listening time. The earbuds are IP54-certified, though the case carries no water-resistance rating.

Voice clarity when making calls

With slightly spatial sound, the person I was talking to said the voice clarity was very good, though it became slightly “crunchier” when a gas lawnmower passed by about ten meters away. The noise cancellation, which can be activated via the app, worked very well; the person I was talking to didn’t hear the lawnmower at all.

Sound performance of the Shokz OpenDots ONE

Shokz is not known for audiophile sound; its specialty has traditionally been in the “sports” sector. Hi-fi sound isn’t important here; what’s important is “usable sound with maximum awareness of your surroundings.”

The Shokz OpenDots ONE deliver surprisingly good results in this regard. The closer-fitting speakers create a more direct sound channel to the ear, comparable to real in-ear headphones. In quiet environments, such as an office or when reading at home, the sound is clear, differentiated, and balanced. Voices are easy to understand, and music sounds pleasantly full. However, real deep bass is still rather sparse. With some test tracks, however, I wasn’t always happy with the upper mids, which sounded washed out with Dolby Audio turned on (see below).

Nevertheless, drum ‘n’ bass tracks, which spread a lot of bass in the low frequencies, are fun to listen to. Of course, the “deep impact” is missing, but the OpenDots don’t sound thin, midrange, nasal, or insubstantial. If you want more bass, you can activate bass boost mode in the Shokz app. This is likely the preferred setting for many users, as the open design naturally weakens bass transmission.

As with almost all open-ear systems, one fundamental problem remains: loud ambient noise makes content less audible. On busy shopping streets or on the train, we had to turn up the volume significantly, which wasn’t always comfortable. The Shokz OpenDots ONE also suffer from a problem that affects all open-ear designs due to their construction. At around 70 percent volume, the bass recedes into the background, and the mid and high frequencies take over. However, we have noticed this more harshly and sharply with competing products.

Sound leakage remains an issue, as outsiders can hear what you’re listening to at high volumes. The “Private” equalizer setting helps somewhat, but the muffled sound quality is not a long-term solution.

The Dolby Audio feature deserves a special mention. I was skeptical that an open-ear design would benefit from it, but the answer is a resounding yes. In general, the sound is more spacious, voices are clearer, and the highs are livelier. The difference is particularly noticeable in quiet environments, making listening to music more enjoyable.

It doesn’t work equally well with all music, but in my tests, the Shokz OpenDots ONE are the first open-ear headphones with permanently activated Dolby Audio and a custom EQ with a bathtub signature for a warm sound.

In short, open-ear headphones are improving in terms of sound quality, and Shokz is among the top contenders.

Conclusion

The Shokz OpenDots One headphones are really good-sounding headphones in the popular open-ear headphone category. The manufacturer opted for a clip design that gives glasses wearers the freedom they need behind their ears, thus dispensing with stabilizing arms. Nevertheless, the OpenDots are very comfortable to wear, perhaps because of this design. In terms of sound quality, there is little to complain about as long as you are aware of the limitations of open-ear headphones.

Unfortunately, the controls on these otherwise high-quality, top-tier open-ear headphones repeatedly tested our patience. Some significantly cheaper competitors perform better in this regard. However, since sound quality is the ultimate purchasing criterion, we recommend the Shokz OpenDots ONE.