When it comes to bone conduction or open-ear audio, the first brand that comes to mind is Aftershokz. However, you’d be hard-pressed to find the company now as it celebrated its 10th anniversary; back in 2021 with a rebrand. It’s now known as Shokz. Shokz has continued its leadership in open-ear audio products leading the foray into the space with other brands like Huawei and Bose following suit. However, Shokz continues to set itself apart thanks to the deployment of bone-conducting technology that delivers clear sound. The latest product to employ this technology is the OpenFit Air.
The new OpenFit Air joins the company’s renowned lineup as a true wireless, open-ear audio solution. It’s also deviating from the bone conduction technology that has been the hallmark of Shokz products. The new OpenFit Air uses what Shokz is calling DirectPitch technology. This technology optimises sound delivery through the use of superposition. A little bit of a throwback to high school physics – a superposition is an overlap in one or more waves that can result in an amplification of the strength or amplitude of the wave. Using this concept, DirectPitch is able to deliver sound in a directed way that reduces sound leakage and prevents audio degradation. Paired with Shokz’s OpenBass Air and low-frequency technology, the OpenFit Air can deliver full sound with powerful bass. This allows your ears to be unobstructed while you enjoy that new Billie Eilish album.
The OpenFit Air also comes with four microphones that are able to track and isolate your voice with Adaptive Beamforming. This builds on the small 18x11mm drivers that drive the audio experience of the Air. These drivers deliver rich, full audio which immerses you in your audiobook or podcast while allowing you to be aware of your surroundings.
The earbuds themselves are lightweight, weighing only 8.7g. They are made of soft silicone making them sweat-resistant and comfortable. It’s also pliable to fit all ear shapes for better comfort and sound quality. The Air-Earhook, which hooks on your ear as the name suggests, has an ultra-fine 0.75mm flexible nickel-titanium memory alloy that provides added security and better fit when you use the OpenFit Air. The Airs also come with IP54 water and sweat resistance with a 10-metre Bluetooth range.
The battery on the OpenAir Fit can give you a full six hours of listening on a single charge. The case adds 22 hours of battery life or about 3 full charges on a single, complete charge. Need a quick top-up mid-run or workout? The OpenFit Air will be able to give you 2 hours of listening with a 10-minute charge. You’ll also be able to take control of your listening session with intuitive touch controls and even connect to more than one device with multipoint pairing.
Pricing & Availability
The Shokz OpenFit Air are now available online at the Nove Marketing website and in retail outlets like Urban Republic. They will be retailing for RM599 and will be available in three colours: pink, white and black.