Shokz OpenDots One Review: Unmatched Sound Balance in Clip-On Open Earbuds

Clip-on open headphones like the Shokz OpenDots One are primarily aimed at individuals who want to listen to music or podcasts without cutting themselves off from the outside world. This type of product is particularly useful for sports activities—even intense ones—as well as commuting in urban areas or in work environments where staying alert is necessary.

The main acoustic challenge for these headphones lies in the generation of low frequencies, as the ear canal is not blocked, which limits the sound pressure in the bass. Shokz appears to have found a solution—unlike its competitors—especially with the OpenFit 2 (around-the-ear headphones) that we recently tested and which are distinguished by solid bass and a nice overall resolution.

In a market where competitors often focus on features like battery life or connectivity, Shokz prioritizes with the OpenDots One the balance between ambient perception and sound immersion, targeting demanding users such as runners, urban cyclists, and traveling professionals.

Shokz OpenDots OneTechnical Specifications

This review was conducted with headphones loaned by Shokz.

Shokz OpenDots OneEar-clip headphones

The Shokz OpenDots One stand out with a clip-on ear design that combines discretion, comfort, and stability. Rather than inserting into the ear canal or resting on bone conduction, they gently attach to the ear’s helix, leaving the ear canal completely free. This approach prioritizes both safety, by allowing awareness of surrounding noises, and long-term comfort.

Materials and construction

Each earpiece is remarkably light—just six grams—making it easy to forget once in place. This lightness is achieved through the use of premium materials:

• The flexible headband is made from shape-memory titanium alloy, a material that is both flexible, durable, and light. On the ear, it ensures a stable fit without excessive pressure.
• The coating of the parts in contact with the skin is made of soft, hypoallergenic silicone, providing a pleasant touch and preventing irritation, even during extended listening sessions or intense physical activities.

• The main structure combines reinforced plastic and stainless steel for the protective mesh of the transducers.
• The entire assembly is IP54 certified, meaning the earphones are protected against dust and splashing water, sweat, or light rain, making them perfectly suited for sports training.

Ergonomics and adjustment

Installing the earphones is simple and intuitive. Just slide them onto the ear cartilage until the part containing the speaker naturally positions near the ear canal. The flexible headband allows for precise adjustments to find the ideal balance between fit and sound quality. You can play some music, then make micro-adjustments to the position to optimize the perception of low frequencies, which heavily depend on this alignment.

Charging case

The charging case is quite compact and easily fits into a pocket. Its vertical format with a top opening allows for easy storage and removal of the earphones. A Bluetooth pairing button is discreetly located on the back. Modern and practical, the case supports both Qi wireless charging for added convenience, as well as fast charging via its USB-C port.

Shokz OpenDots OneDual control system

The OpenDots One controls rely on intelligent touch control, where the user pinches the battery compartment behind the ear or taps on the headband to manage music and calls. These gestures can be customized via the Shokz app, which allows for assigning specific functions and adjusting the sensitivity of the touch area.

The only downside is that you really have to pinch hard for the controls to be recognized. 

Quite unusually for this type of earphones, they are equipped with a wearing detection system to automatically pause playback when removed and then resume when put back on.

The Shokz app is comprehensive and accessible, with a clear display of battery levels for each earphone and the case, notifications for firmware updates, and a location feature via a ringing sound emitting an audible beep up to 10 meters away. It offers four EQ presets as well as two customizable modes that allow adjustment of the bands from 64 Hz (deep bass) to 8 kHz (bright treble) in steps.

The Dolby Audio mode, which enhances sound immersion (more on this later) can be activated or deactivated directly from the main interface.

The overall experience remains intuitive, with smooth navigation that avoids unnecessary complications: integrated tutorials guide new users on the gestures, and settings automatically sync across connected devices.

In terms of Bluetooth, version 5.4 ensures a stable range of 10 meters. The AAC and SBC codecs ensure broad compatibility with Android and iOS smartphones, with slight latency in video games, while video playback is perfectly synchronized.

Shokz OpenDots OneUnexpectedly good sound

Frankly, I did not expect such good sound performance from open earphones, especially those attached to the edge of the ear. Usually, the results are not great, with weak bass, often harsh mids, imprecise highs, and projected sound. Clearly, Shokz has worked extensively on the acoustics of the OpenDots One and they definitely lack the common faults found in this type of earphones. Instead, all pitfalls are skillfully avoided, and the sound signature is highly optimized, surprisingly good in fact.

The bass, inevitably a weak point because the ear canal is not sealed by the earphone—and low frequencies are less directional—turns out to be quite generous and there even seems to be an extension into the sub-bass. This is probably the effect of Shokz’s Bass Sphere technology. As a result, you don’t feel frustrated, and while the drums don’t hit hard, there’s enough energy for a sports session. Furthermore, the mid and high frequencies are well balanced in volume with the low frequencies; the peak in the extreme high adds a pleasant brightness.

Controlled response curve

A look at the curve shows that the bass, although declining in the lowest frequencies, indeed offers a perfectly acceptable level at 100 Hz and still decent at 60 Hz, giving it a certain depth. The mid-range is ultra stable up to the high frequencies, ensuring a well-defined sound, both for instruments and for voices. In the upper spectrum, it’s more eventful, but that’s normal because high frequencies are projected towards the ear, with quite a few bounces in the ear. In any case, the peak around 3 kHz adds presence and the brightness bump around 10 kHz lends the highs some sparkle (strings, cymbals…).

In the end, this tonal signature is one of the most pleasant I’ve heard with this type of earphones. It remains slightly ascending and clear, but the balance in view of the open format is really very good.

Soundstage and Dolby Audio

In terms of soundstage, it’s excellent, with significant width and a convincing depth towards the center in front. Moreover, the dynamics are good, the small variations well reproduced, and the sound planes are well organized. Whether listening to pop, rock, or live performances, the ambiance is rendered with pleasant accuracy.

The Dolby Audio mode, available via the app, further improves spatialization without introducing (too much) artificiality, which remains rare in the market (clearly, only Apple handles Spatial Audio well). The benefit is appreciable, particularly when watching movies or series, in which these earphones prove just as suitable as for sports, creating an immersive sound envelope that respects ambient perception.

Listening impressions

On “APT” by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars, the bass provides sufficient rhythmic support for the electronic beats, with the bump at 100 Hz giving body to the kicks without dominating the mix, while the voices project with clarity in a defined mid-range, and the highs add a sparkle to the synths without harshness. The wide soundstage, amplified in Dolby mode for more enveloping spatialization, makes the whole immersive.

With “Die With A Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, the mid-range highlights the vocal harmonies with natural warmth, the bass brings a discreet warmth to the bass lines without blurring, and the highs ensure a finesse to the orchestral arrangements. The central depth enhances the emotion, and the dynamics accurately reproduce the intensity variations of the crescendos. It’s really good.

“Birds of a feather” by Billie Eilish benefits from sufficient bass to support the minimalist bass lines, without dominating the intimate mix, a warm mid-range for the whispered voice that gains presence without requiring effort from the listener. Don’t expect the massive impact of closed earphones, but it’s very satisfying.

“Sapphire” by Ed Sheeran sees its bass extended into the sub-bass for the deep bass of the arrangements, a warm mid-range for the voice and acoustic strings, and precise highs that illuminate the high frequencies of the guitar picks. The wide and organized soundstage faithfully reproduces the folk ambiance, and the Dolby mode adds a layer of spatialization that elevates the experience to that of a live concert.

Shokz OpenDots OneSuitable for making calls

The call performance of the Shokz OpenDots One is good, thanks to four built-in mics with “AI-driven” noise reduction. By default, this feature is not active and must be selected in the Shokz app. The algorithm then analyzes

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Maya Singh

Maya Singh is a senior editor covering tablets and hybrid devices. Her work explores how these tools reshape digital productivity and learning. She also contributes to feature editorials on emerging tech.