These Shokz earbuds easily replaced my Bose Ultra Open, and for a fraction of the price

I used to not be a Shokz believer; the company’s headphones seemed best suited for running or swimming, neither of which I do enough to spend $200 on activity-specific headphones. The company’s OpenFit 2 earbuds changed my stance, but they still weren’t perfect for my time working at my desk or lifting weights at the gym.

Also: The best headphones for working out: Expert tested and reviewed

I’ve learned that open-ear headphones don’t work for me at the gym, but I’m open to using them while working, taking an evening walk, or meandering around my local TJ Maxx. The Bose Ultra Open are our favorite open-ear earbuds for casual use, but their $300 asking price is steep.

Shokz’s new OpenDots One true wireless open-ear earbuds aim to solve my problem, and they’re $100 less than the Ultra Open buds. I spent a week wearing them, and if you’re looking for clip-on earbuds, you’ll want to know how it went.

Shokz’s open-ear headphones have always sounded great, and the OpenDots One are no different. They are Shokz’s first audio product with Dolby Audio, not to be confused with Dolby Atmos, the popular spatial audio technology.

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

Dolby Audio is an audio enhancement technology that promises higher-quality audio in stereo format, enhancing the earbuds’ sound quality whether you’re watching YouTube or streaming on Spotify. According to Shokz, the OpenDots One are the company’s first product designed for casual, everyday use, making their attention to improved sound quality imperative for music enjoyers.

Still, Apple Music subscribers can listen in Dolby Atmos, although the experience isn’t as immersive as listening with over-ear headphones or in-ear earbuds.

I thought Shokz’s earlier OpenFit 2 earbuds sounded great, but the OpenDots One have a warmer sound profile, characterized by a present but not boomy bass response. The highs are easy on the ears, without any harshness. Because of their open-ear design, there’s a natural spaciousness to the sound of the OpenDots One buds.

Deep South rap like Glorilla’s Yeah Glo! sounded vibrant enough to get me in the writing groove while working all day at my desk. Meanwhile, an upbeat alternative like Matt Champion’s Slug provided enough ambiance to be the background track to my evening Kindle time.

Also: My new favorite headphones for swimming come bundled in a unique charging accessory

The allure of open-ear earbuds is enjoying music while being able to hear your surroundings, and the OpenDots One do just that. 

I’m staunchly anti-ear hook, so I’ve avoided Shokz’s headphones. The clip-on form factor encourages long-term wear for people like me, as the soft silicone coating on the ear cuff is comfortable enough to forget you’re wearing them while keeping them in place on your ear. 

Open-ear earbuds don’t give me the listening experience I desire when weightlifting at a loud, busy gym, but the OpenDots One are magnificent for lower-impact sports. I took the OpenDots One on the golf course, and the quiet environment allowed the earbuds’ sound to shine.

Also: My favorite bone conduction headphones have 3 invaluable safety features

Georgia’s heat and humidity are starting to gear up, and wearing over-ear headphones, in-ear earbuds, or earbuds with over-ear hooks outdoors makes for sweaty ears. The OpenDots One’s clip-on design avoids my ears’ sweaty hotspots, making them ideal for pickleball, golfing, light jogging, or yoga.

My favorite feature is that you can wear either earbud on either ear and place either bud into either charging dock inside the case. There are touch controls on the earbuds’ battery compartment behind your ear and on the earbuds’ hook, but they aren’t the easiest to use. The earbud hook doesn’t have a lot of real estate for reliable touch controls, and the battery compartment requires a two-finger pinch that can make the buds unstable on your ears.

Also: I was skeptical of clip-on earbuds, but Soundpeats’ latest pair made me a believer

The OpenDots One charging case is compatible with USB-C and wireless charging. The earbuds promise ten hours of uninterrupted listening, three more hours than the Bose Ultra Open. The charging case promises 30 more hours of listening time, and ten minutes of wired charging should give you two extra hours of playtime.

ZDNET’s buying advice

The Shokz OpenDots One are a solid open-ear earbuds option for people who want better sound and software features than what cheaper, lower quality options can offer, without paying $300 for Bose’s Ultra Open buds. Shokz’s option promises more battery life and better protection against dust and water, but Bose’s open earbuds are compatible with some Bose soundbars and are available in eight more colorways.

Still, if you’re a fan of Shokz, you know that the OpenDots One are a product of the company’s years of experience with bone and air conduction technology, not a trial run of a popular earbud trend. If the OpenDots One’s $200 price tag is still too expensive, consider the JLab Flex, Soundpeats Pop Clip, or Soundcore AeroClip.