Review: Shokz OpenDots One

I’m currently wearing the Shokz OpenDots One, Shokz’s latest launch. It wasn’t so long ago that I tested the Huawei FreeArc, and at the time I wondered if Huawei had modelled itself on Shokz OpenFit in terms of appearance. Now it’s the other way round, because it’s not hard to see that someone at Shokz clearly liked the idea of the Huawei FreeClip.

Fit and technology

The earbuds, which have a clip-on design, are soft, flexible and easy to use and fit. A slightly different feature, which they also share with the FreeClip, is that I don’t have to keep track of which earbud goes in my right and left ear. Thanks to the dynamic ear-sensing technology, the earbuds automatically recognise which ear they are placed in. For me, who usually has a hard time seeing the little R and L markings, this is heaven!

Although these headphones look nothing like their predecessors Shokz OpenFit and OpenFit Air, they feature the same direct pitch air conduction technology, which means that thanks to their placement, sound waves are carried directly into the ear canal.

Of course, not everyone appreciates the open design, which naturally lacks noise cancellation and doesn’t block out ambient noise either. And if you don’t, you should definitely choose a set based on a different technology.

The clip-on design, on the other hand, means that they are extremely easy to use – even if you wear glasses.

The app and the sound

The Shokz app allows me to customise my headphones to my listening and user preferences.

I find the soundstage to be airy, clear and engaging. Bass, midrange and treble are all there, although the bass isn’t the deepest I’ve experienced and the treble isn’t the most melodious. The music is easy to listen to and there’s nothing wrong with their drive.

Of course, it’s a challenge to get really, really good and powerful sound with this type of technology. When the ear canal is open, ambient sound leaks in, and the bass and treble from the plugs leak out along the way. But hopefully you’ve already realised that this is not a headphone for ‘fine listening’.

The Shokz OpenDots One keeps up with me on my morning walks, and despite pretty heavy morning traffic in some places, I can hear what I’m listening to if I turn up the volume. Shokz has done really well with its vocal setting, which is the best choice when listening to audiobooks or podcasts.

There’s also the option of Dolby Audio if you have a streaming service that supports it. But while the sound reproduction is good, rich and detailed, and my workout playlists are delivered seamlessly, I miss that extra bit of engagement.

In the middle of the test, the husband calls and immediately points out that I don’t need to answer the phone when I’m on the loo – it’s perfectly fine to call back when I’m done! The thing is, I’m not on the loo at all, I’m sitting in our home office typing this text. Ouch, ouch!

Conclusion

Shokz OpenDots One are really comfortable to wear and I personally love the clip-on design. They’re perfect if you want to listen to music or an audiobook and still be aware of what’s going on around you.
The sound is good, but the price is quite high. For that reason, I’d probably opt for the Shokz Open Fit for a better audio experience (unless I absolutely wanted a clip-on model). It simply feels a little more ‘alive’ in sound.