OpenRun Pro2 Review: The Perfect Open-Ear Headphones For Those Always On The Move

Compared to in-ear headphones, open-ear ones rely on either air conduction or bone conduction for sound transmission. For some, this makes it lack that 'oomph' factor that would make the music hit just right.

Admittedly, as someone who loves blocking out the world by blasting music from my headphones, this has stopped me from getting myself a pair of open-ear ones.

First impressions? The OpenRun Pro2 feels like having your own personal soundtrack following you wherever you go... like a steady voice speaking into your ear, but when you turn, there's nobody there.

I say this because they're so light. Weighing only 30g, the OpenRun Pro2 is lightweight enough that you barely feel it resting on your ears. And because it's open-ear, your ear canals don't feel plugged up either.

This made it a very comfortable accessory for just about any activity, even when worn for extended periods of time.

The tech brings the merging of bone conduction and air conduction speakers to cover a wider range of sounds. Typically, bone conduction speakers fall a little short when it comes to lower register sounds. Shokz has worked around this by including air conduction speakers.

The bone conduction driver handles the high-frequency sounds, while the air conduction driver handles the lower-pitched ones. The result? A blend of clear music with a deep bass.

As per customary audio testing practices, I tried it out with Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, and it sounded just as good as in-ear headphones in a quiet environment. A second trial with Metallica's Enter Sandman proved no lack in sound quality, with each strum of the electric guitar and beat of the drum hitting just right. And for an open-ear experience, the bass was very impressive.

As for sound leakage, the audio can't be heard by others unless you're in a very quiet environment and the volume is set on high. For everyday use, like running or going on public transport, the sound is more than capable of sounding good to you without disturbing others. Just maybe don't go blasting loud music while you're in the office.

While you can actually go without the app at all, connecting the device to the Shokz app allows you more audio customisation. You can choose from four set EQ Modes, or you can customise it according to your liking. Multipoint pairing on the app also makes it easy to switch the headphone's Bluetooth connectivity between different paired devices.

We're talking safety here. The headphones are mainly built for runners and those on the move but still want to plug in some music. Even with music playing, I could still hear my surroundings, so I wasn't completely shut off from the environment around me.

This does come with its disadvantages. If a car sped by too fast or the screeches of the LRT against the track were a little too loud, I found myself having to crank up the volume to hear the music over them. But then again, this is all part and parcel of open-ear headphones.

The headphones come with two noise-cancelling microphones, which were sufficient for hands-free calls, even in a noisy outdoor environment.

It comes in two sizes: mini and standard. Both feature a nickel-titanium alloy frame with a silicone finish and an IP55 rating for sweat and water resistance.

It fits snugly over the ear and again, due to how light it is, it's surprisingly easy to forget you're still using it. Even while I was moving around a lot, the headphones stayed in place. If you're wearing glasses, you'll be happy to know it doesn't interfere with them at all.

Battery-wise, we're looking at up to 12 hours of playtime. Getting a full charge will take about an hour, though a quick charge of five minutes can still get you two and a half hours of playtime.

The headphones can also be charged via any USB-C cable, making it a more convenient charge compared to the magnetic charger used for its predecessor, the OpenRun Pro.

Along with a USB-C cable for charging, it comes with a special case to keep your headphones safe.

For a pair of open-ear headphones, it still delivers quality sound and it's insanely comfortable to use. The safety aspect of still being aware of your surroundings is one of its main appeals for me in a world of noise-cancelling audio devices.

With a price tag of RM899, it's a little on the pricier side. But if you see yourself using it on a daily basis and want a pair of good open-ear headphones without compromising on sound quality, I'd say it's worth a shot.