Verdict
The OpenSwim Pro finally brings Bluetooth to its swim - proof headphones to make them more utilitarian when you ’re out of the water .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The Shokz OpenSwim Pro find out Shokz update its open - ear , waterproof headphones with a feature theOpenSwimwas truly knocked for not include – Bluetooth cyclosis .
As well as tot up two listening modes , the OpenSwim Pro contribute more storage to the built - in medicine player and will also have you charging the ivory headphones on a less unconstipated fundament too .
Those redundant features do see a damage gain on the OpenSwim , so is it deserving pass more for the added luxury of Bluetooth and MP3 cyclosis ? I ’ve been putting the OpenSwim Pro to the test in the pee and on ground to find out .
Availability
The Shokz OpenSwim Pro are priced at £ 169 . That means they cost more than the unconstipated OpenSwim , which are currently available for £ 139 .
There are other waterproofed swimming headphones that offer both Bluetooth and medicine histrion cyclosis modes including the Mojawa HapFit Terra , which be a hefty £ 279.99 or theNaenka Runner Diver , which are useable for less than £ 150 . The OpenSwim Pro are n’t the gimcrack itinerary to underwater take heed .
Design
Shokz has n’t made sweeping changes with the design of the OpenSwim Pro compare to the OpenSwim . It ’s still a neckband design that weighs in slightly less than the OpenSwim , down from 30 deoxyguanosine monophosphate to 27.3 g. You still have two colour options with Shokz ’s gray shade and a more colourful red option I had in to test .
Like the OpenSwim , there ’s physical buttons on the underside of the right sleeve alongside a proprietary charging port . This sees Shokz move away from the charging setup it used antecedently , but does have in mind keep hold of a proprietary charging cable system . The controls let you conform volume and hop-skip back and forward , as well as change over between cyclosis mode . A multifunction push remains on the outer of the left arm to deal call and to toy and interruption audio .
These headphones are built for swimming and Shokz gives them anIP68 waterproof rating , which is one of the strongest levels of protection against moisture . Shokz enunciate it ’s a threefold sealed design let in a waterproof tissue layer on the dual cancelling mike . As a software package they ’re rainproof up to 2 metres for 2 hr .
I ’ve used them for swims and even a showery run and have had no problem with the performance or connectivity . That extend to using them in Bluetooth mode out of the water where the experience is very close to using Shokz ’s OpenRun series . They ’re prosperous to tire out for long menstruum and do n’t parachute around during exercise .
Shokz also bundle them with a very swimming - well-disposed carry case and a set of earplugs to be used when you ’re using them in the syndicate .
Features
There ’s Bluetooth 5.4 to stream audio recording with a sizable 10 time ( 33 foot ) range . When you go into MP3 musical mode , which can be done via the headphones or the app , it ’s a case of connecting the headphones to a calculator via the shoot cable and dragging and dropping your audio files on .
There ’s a solid jumping in storage for the OpenSwim , get from 4 GB ( 1200 song ) to 32 GB ( 8000 birdsong ) . That supports MP3 , WMA , FLAC , WAV , AAC , M4A and APE data file format , which is more stomach file data formatting than the OpenSwim .
To further customise sound , Shokz proffer some EQ modes from within the app for both Bluetooth and MP3 way . The former has received and outspoken modes and the latter has a Standard and Swim EQ mode . Those are the same modes uncommitted on the OpenSwim .
In price of barrage fire life , the OpenSwim Pro declare oneself up to 9 hours over Bluetooth and that expend to 6 hr in euphony player style . To put those telephone number into perspective , the Mojawa HapFit Terra promises up to 8 hours and the Naenka Runner Diver 2 offers up to 10 time of day .
As is the case with ivory conduction , mass powerfully dictate the form of battery number you ’ll enjoy . pour from the medicine role player indent the battery faster and the drop seemed inconsistent in testing .
I plant an hour ofBluetooth streamingsaw the assault and battery drop on average by anywhere from 15 - 20 % . When using the MP3 cyclosis , for just under an hour of pocket billiards swimming the assault and battery dropped by 20 % . For an hour of open water swim , the battery drop was 10 % . When I used the MP3 cyclosis mode out of the water the battery dropped by 40 % . It was passably discrepant .
As mentioned , Shokz has simplified the proprietary charging frame-up and unlike the OpenSwim , you do get a quick charge mode that gives you 3 hours bombardment from a 10 - minute accusation . It ’s arguably drop off a more secure charging setup , but that added immediate charge modal value makes a dispute when eking out the best battery from them on a weekly fundament .
Sound Quality
Like the original model , the OpenSwim Pro uses bone conduction applied science and not the aviation conduction approach shot used on the OpenFit and OpenFit Air . Both exposed - capitulum approaches aim to bear sound without blocking up the capitulum . Bone conduction does that through transducers and send out speech sound through vibrations up your cheekbone towards your auricle .
Shokz is using the 8th generation version of its technology and not the latest ninth generation present on theOpenRun Pro . According to Shokz , that ’s due to the design and making these fit for weewee immersion .
I ’ve used Shokz ’s Bluetooth - only headphones , rival pearl conductivity headphones and regularly use the OpenSwim mannequin , so I have a pretty right musical theme of what Shokz and the competition has to offer . I ’d say the subject - ear sound operation is in keeping with Shokz better - sounding earpiece . It does n’t better what you ’ll get elsewhere , but in ivory conductivity terms they ’re up there at the top .
In the water system , Shokz advocate using the supplied earplugs to get the best auditory sensation . I ’ve used the Pro with both Standard and Swimming EQ modes with and without the earplugs and there ’s a very discernible difference in the sound profile . Standard is closer to the sound when using them out of the water . There ’s more power and a bigger sea bass bearing . The swim mode is noticeably more murky and while it hones in on a niggling more on clarity , I in reality observe the Standard mode the more enjoyable . I ca n’t say there ’s a vast conflict between how these and the OpenSwim sound in the urine .
In the Bluetooth streaming modal value , it ’s typically Shokz and similar to what I ’ve experienced on the OpenRun . The Standard modes offer something more balanced and a little more in the treble and mids . There ’s warmth and a good comportment of freshwater bass there . Switch to Vocal mode , and you ’re getting something that ’s a better conniption for listening to podcasts and audiobooks . Bass takes a backseat and there ’s impregnable stress on lucidity .
It ’s a standardized news report for call timber too , where if you ’re circumvent by tranquil or more temperate noise , the call quality and overall volume is very honest . In loud environments , it ’s more of a fight , but you’re able to apply these headphones for call .
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Should you buy it?
The OpenSwim Pro tender a honest fit , substantial open - auricle phone and are now available at a more likeable price .
While the Shokz OpenSwim Pro is a cracking all - round package , there are other waterproof headphones out there useable for slightly less than get you a similar performance and experience .
Final Thoughts
Shokz gave the OpenSwim Pro a feature film it arguably should ’ve had already and that ’s made them more operable when not swimming . It ’s also sit at a Leontyne Price that puts it within its closest competitors and while the aspiration would be tight desegregation with music stream serve , this is jolly much as near as it get for waterproof earpiece that are now made better for terra firma economic consumption too .
Trusted Score
How we test
We examine every set of earpiece we review thoroughly over an drawn-out period of fourth dimension . We use industry standard tests to liken feature of speech properly . We ’ll always tell you what we get . We never , ever , swallow money to review a intersection .
Find out more about how we test in ourethics policy
FAQs
you may heed to MP3 , WMA , FLAC , WAV , AAC , M4A , aper file on the OpenSwim Pro ’s work up - in storage .
