Open - ear earbudswere once a novelty , apparently straddling the middle reason betweenbone conduction headphonesand traditional wireless earbuds . But the class is now firmly in the mainstream as emptor have project out that their intercrossed figure is both more well-fixed than earbuds and fathom good than pearl conductivity . producer have respond by developing more innovative designs , improving bass response , and add features that were missing to the first - gen products .
Two of the leading brands in the classic , earhook form variety of opened - ear , are Shokz and Soundcore . TheShokz OpenFit 2andSoundcore AeroFit 2have much in common , like dust and H2O aegis , similar levels of assault and battery life , the ability to connect to two twist simultaneously , and thelatest Bluetooth tech . But there are also substantial differences and some might mean that one of these undefendable - capitulum framework is a better choice for you than the other .
permit ’s equate them and see .
Shokz OpenFit 2
Soundcore AeroFit 2
OpenFit 2 vs. AeroFit 2: Price
Shokz call back of itself as the premium brand in the open - ear class and its OpenFit 2 is price consequently at $ 180 . Soundcore , on the other handwriting , is a mark know for its extremely competitive mix of price and performance and it sells the AeroFit 2 for just $ 100 .
While both models get deduction now and then , Soundcore discounts tend to be bass when they happen . So whether we ’re talk about unconstipated or sales agreement pricing , Soundcore is the exculpated winner .
succeeder : Soundcore AeroFit 2
OpenFit 2 vs. AeroFit 2: Specs comparison
As you’re able to see , on report ( on pixels ? ) these two Cartesian product are very cheeseparing in specification . And while the OpenFit 2 have the sharpness when it comes to battery animation , the AeroFit 2 look to direct when it come to Bluetooth codec compatibility and wireless charging .
But as we get into the finer points , you may see they ’re not quite Gemini .
succeeder : attach
OpenFit 2 vs. AeroFit 2: Design and fit
There are two big reasons that people gravitate toward open - ear earbuds : Comfort and situational cognisance . Both the OpenFit 2 and AeroFit 2 offer fantabulous ease — before long after putting them on , you forget you ’re wear them . And , like all capable - ear earbuds , they do n’t block your ear canal so outside sounds and voice can be heard as easy as if you were n’t wearing earbuds at all .
Where you remark the biggest conflict is the elbow room the OpenFit 2 sit . Shokz has discover a direction to optimize both comfort and stability . Thanks to conformation of the discharge and the habit of crack - soft silicone polymer , which wraps around the entire hook as well as a part of the the loudspeaker module , the OpenFit 2 stay absolutely anchor .
The AeroFit 2 are light and feel great , but Soundcore only use silicone on the whippy connect conducting wire , so the front and rear module do n’t grip your skin as hard as the OpenFit . Soundcore has incorporate a four - perspective hinge into the speaker module , which can be used to okay - tune the tantrum , but it also move the speaker comparative to your auricle canal . You may find a trade-off between stability and well-grounded timber .
The first - gen OpenFit only had spot controls and they were not only a bit tricky to use , but they were also limited in what action mechanism they could control . The second - gen economic consumption a highly tactile set of forcible button ( in addition to the touch control ) — a bad betterment . you could now control everything ( including volume ) and there ’s no need to guess if you tapped correctly .
The AeroFit 2 use soupcon controls . They ’re o.k. as far as touch controls go — and there ’s excellent customization in the Soundcore app — but they ca n’t quite contend with the accuracy of strong-arm clit .
If you ’re very mode - given , the AeroFit 2 ’s multiple vividness options will prove an attractive option , but I intend the OpenFit 2 are somewhat satiny , and well - looking .
With better constancy and useable physical ascendence , the Shokz take this one .
Winner : Shokz OpenFit 2
OpenFit 2 vs. AeroFit 2: Sound quality
Open - pinna earbuds will likely never win any sound quality contests ( especially versus traditional earbuds ) but that does n’t think they ca n’t sound effective . In fact , when using them indoors I ’m often pleasantly surprised by just how far this class has follow . Still , because most the great unwashed will want to utilize these earbuds outside , where extraneous noise will interfere heavily with your medicine , calls , or podcasts , you need a set of open - ear that can create enough volume to compensate . They also require to have strong bass voice response as low frequency are the first victims of life outside .
The Shokz OpenFit 2 extradite both the mass and the bass reply take to tackle all but the noisy of localisation . Do n’t expect pounding low - end — you wo n’t find that on any exposed - spike designs at the moment — but you ’ll for sure be aware of the OpenFit 2 ’s bass . Along with power and bass part , the OpenFit 2 extend a pleasingly balanced strait signature that should influence well for almost any genre of music you take heed to ( though again , hip - record hop and rap fans may regain it underwhelming ) . There ’s plenty of detail and as long as you ’re not break away beside a freeway , you should be able to love the midranges too .
The Soundcore AeroFit 2 are no slouch in the sound department either . And for a exercise set of earbuds that cost 44 % less than the OpenFit 2 , they go way closer than their cost suggests . Still , they ca n’t quite match the OpenFit ’s power or freshwater bass reception . This might only be noticeable in trashy circumstances , but it ’s definitely a condition . Yes , the AeroFit 2 support Sony ’s hi - res LDAC Bluetooth codec , which in theory give you high quality sound . But unless you ’re in a perfectly tranquil room , listen to a lossless source of medicine , you wo n’t get the benefit .
Both poser give you a pick of EQ presets ( though Soundcore ’s collection is right smart bigger ) and both let you make custom EQ mixes to beseem your tasting .
The OpenFit 2 may not be ranking to the AeroFit 2 to a stage that absolve their much mellow price , but they are serious and that ’s all you postulate to win this category .
OpenFit 2vs.AeroFit 2: Additional features
Sometimes it ’s the little thing that can make a dispute . The Shokz OpenFit ’s charge case is slightly small , for instance , and yet it lacks wireless charging , which the Soundcore AeroFit 2 have . Both are superb for crap call — they ’re amazing at canceling competing auditory sensation so your representative sound clear — but the OpenFit 2 do a unspoilt job managing the effects of wind interference .
Both supportBluetooth Multipointand switching between tie in machine is a breeze , but I especially care that the Soundcore app can push the AeroFit 2 back into mating mode , while the OpenFit 2 want that you site the bud back in the case and press the conjugation push .
Soundcore rarely precede fresh feature article on its products via firmware updates ( it tends to wait for a new product variant ) , while Shokz has try out unforced and able to do so : it added Bluetooth Multipoint to the original OpenFit several months after they launched . I bring in this up because while both Cartesian product use Bluetooth 5.4 , which is capable of stand LE Audio andAuracast , neither solidifying of earbuds figure out with these feature . To be fair , neither company has say it will tally them , and yet if I were to bet on one ship’s company to do it , it would be Shokz .
OpenFit 2 vs. AeroFit 2: The verdict
In my review of the Soundcore AeroFit 2 , I called them the best open - spike earbuds for most people . I stand by that judgment . After all , monetary value matters . For some , it weigh more than anything else . What ’s great about the AeroFit 2 is just how much you get for $ 100 . There ’s no doubt in my psyche that they are the honest time value between these two Cartesian product .
Still , this is a comparison of operation as well as value , and in that smell , I have to grant that the Shokz OpenFit 2 are simply the well band of open - ear earbuds when it come to the bountiful things : comfort , stableness , sound timbre , and call quality . Admittedly , the OpenFit 2 sometimes only squeak out a victory — comfort comes to mind — and yet , a win is a win .
So my verdict is perhaps predictable . If budget is significant and you require the best residue of price versus public presentation , go with the Soundcore AeroFit 2 . If , on the other hand , you ’re willing to make up a scrap more to get a set of open - ear that deport what I view to be the best all - around compounding of features , get the Shokz OpenFit 2 .