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Shokz, which used to be called AfterShokz but changed its name in December 2021, has been making bone-conduction headphones for a while. It has a range of wireless headphones that are perfect for people who don’t like the idea of putting earbuds in their ears but still want the freedom that over-ear headphones don’t give them.
The Shokz OpenSwim, which used to be called AfterShokz Xtrainerz, are MP3 headphones instead of wireless ones. This means they don’t have Bluetooth and have a pretty simple design. Depending on what you want from them, that can be both good and bad. Add an extra point to our rating if you can swim, and you’ll be happy. But everyone else might want to think again.
Shokz OpenSwim SPECIFICATIONS
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Weight | 30g |
Frequency response | 20Hz – 20kHz |
Water resistance | IP68 rating |
Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 |
Battery life | Up to 8 hours |
Microphone | Dual noise-canceling microphones |
Shokz OpenSwim review: Design
The Shokz OpenSwim are very light and easy to wear. They weigh a little more than 1oz and fit around your head in a way that makes you forget about them quickly. You also don’t have to worry about finding the right fit for your ears because they use bone-conduction technology. They just sit right in front of your ears and send the sounds down into your bones.
If you’ve never used this kind of technology before, it feels like good magic. It’s especially good for swimming, since you won’t have to worry about your earbuds falling out or getting in the way. Not if you keep the Shokz OpenSwim safe by sliding it under your swim cap. You can buy this headphone from its official website
Shokz OpenSwim review: Features and sound quality
The first thing to talk about with the OpenSwim is how it sends sound to your ears while you’re swimming. Shokz does this with its bone conduction PremiumPitch 2.0 technology. The sound comes from the built-in 4GB music player, which has enough space for about 1,200 songs. There’s no Bluetooth streaming, which is less of a problem in the water because Bluetooth and swimming don’t go together, but more of a problem if you want to use these headphones to stream other audio.
Shokz OpenSwim gives you two different ways to listen to the sounds. There are two modes: general and swimming. The general mode is made to give a more balanced sound for listening to music, while the swimming mode is made for listening while swimming. These two modes are easy to tell apart when you’re not in the water, but I’d say it’s not as easy when you are.
Shokz OpenSwim review: Battery Life and Connectivity
There is no Bluetooth on the Shokz OpenSwim. This doesn’t matter much when you’re swimming, but it’s very useful when you’re not. The headphones can play music in MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, and FLAC formats, which can be moved to the headphones from a PC or Mac.
Since your computer sees the headphones as a 4GB external hard drive, it’s not too hard to do. But, depending on how you copy them, the file system could get mixed up, causing files to be in a mess. If you want to move music tracks from one computer to another, you won’t have any trouble.
Shokz OpenSwim review: Price and availability
The Shokz OpenSwim were called the AfterShokz Xtrainerz until early 2022. Since the company changed its name, nothing has changed, and the same product still has a price tag of $149.95, £139.95, or AU$219.95 on its website.
Final Words
The Shokz OpenSwim headphones are a great choice for people who swim often and want to listen to music or an audiobook while swimming. Because the headphones use bone-conduction technology, you don’t have to worry about them being waterproof or causing problems with your ears. When you get to land, you might want to connect it to Spotify to change things up, but for a certain purpose, these are fine. When they’re not in the pool, it would be great if they could connect to Bluetooth.
Shokz OpenSwim Ratings
Shokz OpenSwim review: THE GOOD AND THE BAD
The Good
- Very lightweight
- Perfect for swimming
The Bad
- No Bluetooth connectivity
FAQS
What is bone conduction technology?
Bone conduction technology is a way to send sound to your brain through your skull bones instead of your eardrums. This lets you hear sound while still being able to see what’s going on around you.
Are the Shokz OpenSwim headphones suitable for swimming?
Yes, the IP68 rating means that the Shokz OpenSwim headphones are completely waterproof and can be used while swimming.
Can Shokz be used for phone calls?
Can you make phone calls with the Shokz OpenRun? Yes, you can make phone calls with the Shokz OpenRun, but the microphone isn’t very good.