The Shokz OpenFit 2+ takes the company’s already sold open-ear formula and refines it with two key additions: Dolby Audio and wireless charging. Priced at AED 700 - just AED 80 more than the standard OpenFit 2 - they are positioned as the premium option in Shokz’s open ear lineup.

That extra few bucks might not sound like much, but the Dolby Mode genuinely transforms the listening experience, adding depth and richness that makes music and shows considerably more enjoyable. Throw in wireless charging, and the OpenFit 2+ makes a strong case for being worth the upgrade over the slightly cheaper model.

Shokz OpenFit 2+

The Shokz OpenFit 2+ delivers open-ear audio with rich sound, Dolby enhancement, and marathon battery life. They are ideal for active users who want situation awareness without compromising too much on audio quality, though some comfort issues, lack of adjustability and no wear detection may give some pause.

Pros

Excellent sound quality with Dolby Audio
Long 11-hour battery life
Secure fit and sturdy build
IP55 dust and water resistance
Physical buttons alongside touch controls

Cons

Movement and fit issues for spectacled beings
No adjustability for better fit
No wear detection

Design, Features and Comfort

The OpenFit 2+ comes in a case that’s noticeably more compact than other open-ear options I have tried, like the Soundcore AeroFit 2. Shokz achieved this by having the earbuds overlap when you place them in, rather than providing each its own dedicated slot.

It’s a clever design move—you can drop either earbud in first and it will work just fine. That said, the case is still considerably larger than what you get with stand-in-ear buds, so if your pockets are already crowded with keys, wallet, and phone, fitting this in might be a squeeze.

The case itself feels well-made. The smooth matte coating gives it a premium, sturdy feel, though it’s a fingerprint and dust magnet. Still, it beats flimsy plastic any day.

As for the earbuds themselves, they weigh just 9.4g each and use a nickel-titanium alloy for the ear hooks, wrapped in what Shokz calls Ultra-Soft Silicon 2.0. They are undeniably light, and the flexible hooks loop over your ears with the drivers sitting just in front of your ear canals. The IP55 rating means they will handle sweat, rain, and dust without issue.

Comfort-wise, they are good but not invisible. I always knew they were there, partly because they didn’t fit quite as snugly around my ears as I had hoped - likely because I wear glasses. This meant the earbuds would occasionally move or bounce when I moved my head.

They never fell off thanks to the secure hook, but the shifting was noticeable and sometimes mildly irritating. It’s not a dealbreaker, and honestly, it seems like part of the territory with loop-style earbuds, but it's worth mentioning if you are also a glasses wearer.

One thing I missed was adjustability. Unlike the Soundcore AeroFit 2, which lets you tweak the fit, the OpenFit 2+ is fixed in position. A little flexibility here could have helped with getting that snug fit, especially for those of us with glasses. That said, the drivers landed perfectly outside my ear canals for proper audio delivery, so Shokz clearly got the positioning right.

I appreciated having both touch controls and a physical multifunction button. I am a physical button person—they are more reliable and satisfying to use—but the touch controls worked fine when I did use them. Both options give you volume adjustment, track skipping, call handling, and access to a voice assistant.

Audio Hardware and Sound Quality

The OpenFit 2+ packs what Shokz calls DualBoost Technology—essentially two separate drivers in each earbud. One handles bass frequencies; the other handles mids and highs. This separation, combined with Shokz’s OpenBass 2.0 algorithm and DirectPitch 2.0 technology, aims to deliver fuller sound with minimal leakage.

In practice, they absolutely deliver on volume and audio quality. These earbuds can get pretty loud, which is essential for an open-ear design and manages to cut through worldly noise to deliver a good listening experience. The mids are clear and forward, vocals come through naturally, and there’s plenty of detail in the high frequencies. 

Bass is where open-ear designs typically struggle, and while the OpenFit 2+ won’t satisfy bassheads, what’s there is well-controlled and doesn’t feel muddy or weak. It’s just not earth-shaking, which is the trade-off for keeping ears open to the world.

Dolby Audio mode is where the earbuds shine. Flip it on in the Shokz app and everything sounds richer, deeper, with a noticeable surround effect. It stretches vocals a bit, so I wouldn’t recommend it for audiobooks or podcasts where clarity matters most, but for music, TV shows, and movies, it’s excellent. I spent several hours listening to music and watching a few shows with Dolby mode on, and it genuinely enhanced the immersion.

The Shokz app also offers four EQ presets (Standard, Bass Boost, Treble Boost, and Vocal) plus a five-band custom EQ. I played around with Treble Boost for instrumental tracks and Vocal mode for podcasts, and both worked well. The app includes multipoint pairing for connecting to two devices simultaneously, a device locator and firmware updates.

Call quality was decent in quiet environments, with reasonably clear voice pickup and good background noise suppression thanks to four beamforming mics with AI-powered algorithms. Wind did affect performance outdoors, but that’s pretty standard.

One missing feature is wear detection. The earbuds won’t automatically pause when you take them off or resume when you put them back on. Given how this has become such a basic feature in all earbuds, it seems like a glaring omission.

Battery Life

Battery life is excellent. The OpenFit 2+ offers up to 11 hours of playback on a single charge, which easily covers a full workday or a long flight. The charging case adds another 37 hours, bringing the total to 48 hours—more than enough for extended use without needing to find an outlet. 

Charging is quick, too. A 10-minute charge gives you 2 hours of playback. The earbuds take about 60 minutes to fully charge when placed in the case, and the case takes 100 minutes to fully charge when empty via USB-C. 

The earbuds use Bluetooth 5.4, which provides stable connectivity and improved energy efficiency, contributing to that impressive battery life. I didn’t experience any dropouts or connection issues during my testing, and offered impressive range unless I put a few walls between the device and the earbuds.

Should You Buy the Shokz OpenFit 2+?

The Shokz OpenFit 2+ are impressive open-ear earbuds that deliver excellent sound quality. The Dolby Audio mode adds real depth and richness to music and shows. The battery life is fantastic, and having both physical buttons and touch controls gives you flexibility.

For runners, cyclists, and anyone who needs to stay aware of their surroundings without sacrificing audio quality, these will do the job just fine. They are not cheap at AED 700, and with some comfort issues for glasses wearers and the lack of wear detection, the overall experience is somewhat marred.

But suppose you are fixed on the OpenFit 2s and are debating whether to get the cheaper older model. In that case, the inclusion of Dolby Audio and wireless charging for a small markup is definitely worth it.