KZ SHOKZ OpenFit Air True Wireless Open-Ear Review

The SHOKZ OpenFit Air is a solid open-ear bud for people who need to hear their surroundings. Its microphone is top-tier, and comfort is great. Don't buy it for immersive sound or noise canceling. Worth it if you hate things in your ears.

The SHOKZ OpenFit Air is an open-ear true wireless earbud that's all about situational awareness. You get decent sound without blocking your ears, which is perfect for runners, cyclists, or anyone who needs to hear their surroundings.

It's not trying to be a noise-canceling powerhouse. Instead, it focuses on comfort and connectivity, with a flexible earhook design and solid Bluetooth 5.2 with multipoint. Think of it as the anti-AirPods Pro.

Sound quality is surprisingly good for an open-ear design, landing in the 87th percentile in our database. The 18mm drivers and OpenBass Air tech deliver enough low-end to not feel anemic, though you're obviously not getting the deep thump of in-ear buds. The mic is a standout, scoring in the 93rd percentile, so your calls will sound clear. The battery life is fine at 6 hours per bud, but the ANC score is predictably low at the 36th percentile—because there isn't any real ANC to speak of.

At around $120, it's a niche product that nails its niche. You're paying for the unique open-ear form factor and top-tier call quality. If you need to hear ambient noise, this price is justified. If you just want the best sound for your money, you can get better-performing traditional earbuds for less.

Stacked against giants like the Sony WF-1000XM5 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra, the OpenFit Air loses badly on pure audio fidelity and noise cancellation. That's not the fight it's in. Its real competition is other open-ear buds or bone conduction headsets. Compared to those, it offers better sound quality and a more familiar earbud-like feel. The Apple AirPods Pro 3 will destroy it for sound isolation, but if you hate the feeling of earbuds sealing your ear canal, the SHOKZ is your only real option.

Skip these if you commute on a loud train or fly often. The lack of noise cancellation makes them useless in noisy environments. Also, avoid them if you crave powerful, thumping bass or need complete audio privacy, as sound leaks out.

Buy this if you're an athlete, a busy parent, or work in an environment where you need to hear alerts and people. The comfort and awareness are the main sells. It's also fantastic for people who get ear fatigue from traditional in-ear tips.