Shokz Opendots ONE review: I tested £179 open-ear clip-on headphones,
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It’s great to immerse yourself fully in your favourite song or podcast.
But sometimes, being completely cut-off from the outside world isn’t ideal – like if your co-worker is trying to talk to you or you miss the announcement for your stop on the train.
Now, Shokz has launched its new open-ear clip-on earbuds that allow you to listen to audio while remaining ‘connected’ to the world around you.
Its newest product, Opendots ONE, simply clip onto your ears and provide high-quality sound without the isolation that comes with in-ear headphones.
They’re incredibly lightweight – just 6.5g for each earbud – and don’t get in the way of your sunglasses or hat.
The technology means you can blast your cheesiest hits and the person sat next to you won’t hear a thing. It also gives you some more security when walking home alone in the evenings.
Shokz kindly sent the Daily Mail’s Executive Science Editor Xantha Leatham a pair of the £179 earbuds to test this week.
They’re the first clip-on earbuds I’ve tried – and they’re so much more comfortable than any other pair of headphones I’ve ever owned.
Our verdict
These clip-on earbuds are designed for general everyday use – not for exercise – but they do the job brilliantly.
They’re so light it’s easy to forget you’re wearing them, and the sound quality is impressive for something that doesn’t cover your whole ear.
It’s the perfect go-to for when you want to listen to some tunes while still remaining aware of what’s going on around you – ideal for when you’re walking home at night.
They’re also cheaper than comparable products, like the £249 Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, without compromising on comfort or versatility.
How we test
When testing earphones, we try them across multiple real-world settings, including the office, our homes, and out and about.
We evaluate the devices across a range of measures, including design, comfort, price and sound quality. Each pair of earphones goes through several days of hands-on testing. This allows us to provide an in-depth review to help consumers make informed decisions.
Why trust us
Xantha Leatham is the Executive Science Editor at the Daily Mail and has worked at the newspaper for nine years. She completed a Master’s degree in Print Journalism at the University of Sheffield in 2014 and previously worked at Deadline News in Edinburgh.
Shokz Opendots ONE review
Comfort
I currently own two pairs of headphones – the classic Beats noise-cancelling headphones and the Jabra Elite earbuds.
While the Beats are great for getting in the zone in the gym, and the Jabra have served me well for about five years, I was ready for a new pair for my commute to work.
The new Shokz earbuds are genuinely so lightweight it’s easy to forget you’re wearing them. For the first few days of testing I couldn’t help but put my hand up to double-check they were still there, even with the music still playing.
While each earbud weighs only 6.5g, the charging case is also super-light at 39g.
Despite being so light, the earbuds feature a soft silicone grip that holds them in place on your ear, meaning you’re not constantly adjusting them.
An ultra-thin titanium alloy provides a gentle yet secure clamping force, providing a firm grip without any discomfort. They’re easily the comfiest pair of headphones I’ve ever worn.
Sound quality
There’s nothing more annoying than boarding a train and hearing someone else’s music leaking out of their headphones. It’s always, inevitably, hard rock or drum n bass.
When I saw the design of these earbuds I thought fellow commuters would now be forced to listen to my personal playlists.
But when I tried playing Shania Twain at a high volume, my colleague assured me she couldn’t hear a thing.
What’s even better, I was able to listen to music while being semi-aware of what was being said around me.
I think many women will agree that this is an incredibly attractive feature – as in recent years we’ve had it drilled into us that we should take our headphones off when walking home alone.
This design means we can continue to listen to our favourite audio while remaining vigilant of what’s going on around us.
The earbuds boast a powerful bass and four pre-set modes which you can toggle between. Along with standard mode these include ‘vocal’, which is ideal for podcasts, ‘bass’, ideal for rock and electronic music, and ‘private’, which is the best to control sound leakage.
Ease of use
It may sound trivial, but it’s something we’ve all encountered – trying to work out which headphone goes in which ear.
This can be a nightmare when using well-worn devices if the ‘L’ or ‘R’ has rubbed off over time.
These earbuds, however, can be worn in either ear and can also be placed in the charging case on either side.
Its technology automatically recognises which earbud is in which ear, allowing for interchangeable wear.
The battery life is also impressive – with up to 10 hours of uninterrupted listening on a single charge. With the charging case, you can extend this to 40 hours.
Meanwhile a quick 10-minute charge is all it takes to power your earbuds for another two hours of listening – excellent for those who are in a rush.
Intuitive touch control also means it’s easy to pause and play songs, as well as turn the volume up or down without getting your phone out.
Price
At £179, these make for a great ‘treat yourself’ gift or present for a special someone’s birthday.
While more expensive than other Shokz products, such as the £94 OpenFit headphones, their additional features such as the clip-on element make it worth the extra money.
They are also £70 cheaper than similar devices, like the £249 Bose Ultra Open Earbuds.
