Shokz joins in on the clip-on earbud craze, releasing its most advanced (and expensive) earbuds yet

Shokz, a pioneer in bone conduction headphones, has announced a new product for people wanting open-ear true wireless earbuds designed for casual, everyday use. The new Shokz OpenDots One sport a clip-on form factor and promise better sound, battery life, durability, and personalization than their competitors.

Shokz’s current catalog of open-ear headphones is designed for exercising, but, according to Shokz, the OpenDots One are the company’s first product for everyday use. Despite their casual use case, the OpenDots One have an IP54 rating, making them sweat-resistant.

Review: Shokz OpenDots One

The OpenDots One’s clip-on design is supposed to offer enough security to keep the earbuds in your ear, and the silicone on the ear hooks provide enough comfort for all-day wear. Shokz fitted the OpenDots One’s hook with nickel and titanium, which the company calls the JointArc. The hook is covered in silicone, and all three materials work together to provide flexibility, comfort, and a firm grip on the ears.

The OpenDots One boast two 11.8mm drivers with Shokz’s Bassphere technology, pledging a deep and prominent bass response. Like all of Shokz’s headphones, the OpenDots One include proprietary DirectPitch technology that vows to keep your audio private, despite the headphones’ open design.

According to Shokz, the OpenDots One provide 10 hours of battery life, and the charging case offers an additional 30 hours. The charging case is compatible with Qi2 wireless charging and USB-C wired charging.

The OpenDots One support Dolby Audio, a first for Shokz. Not to be confused with Dolby Atmos, Dolby Audio is reproduced in stereo mode, meaning the audio is two-dimensional. Still, Dolby Audio promises improved audio clarity and balance. You can toggle Dolby Audio in the Shokz companion app, tailor EQ modes, customize the earbuds’ touch controls, and access Find My Earbuds.

Also: Why I recommend these Shokz headphones over the AirPods Pro for outdoor listening

One of the most interesting features of the OpenDots One earbuds is their disregard for left/right rules. You can wear either earbud on either ear and place either bud in either charging station within the case. There’s no need to decipher which ear or side of the case the earbuds belong to.

Although Shokz is headquartered in Texas, the company’s headphones are designed and manufactured in China. The company hasn’t formally acknowledged how it will navigate recent US tariffs implemented on China. However, OpenDots One are the most expensive headphones in Shokz’s catalog, aside from the OpenMeet, which are geared toward professionals. 

According to the company’s website, the OpenRun Pro 2 ($180) and the OpenFit 2 ($180) are flagship headphones for listening to music while engaging in outdoor sports. Aside from tariffs, the price jump of the new headphones could be explained by better-quality audio components or by Shokz paying to license Dolby audio technologies and recouping those expenses from the consumer. 

Also: Why these wireless earbuds are the best option from Apple – and not the AirPods Pro

The Shokz OpenDots One are now available in Black and Grey for $199. You can purchase them on Shokz’s website or at participating retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart.