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For those wondering if Shokz is the same company as AfterShokz. They are the same company. Early in January 2022, the company rebranded itself. Do a web search for more details. The Shocks OpenMove is the same as the AfterShokz OpenMove from what I can tell. The only difference is the Shokz do not come with foam ear plugs and they cost the same.
The Review – Shokz OpenMove
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A few months back I was doing some hiking on a busy trail and was having issues hearing people on bikes or joggers passing by while I was wearing my TWS earbuds. This was making me a little nervous for a variety of reasons. I’ve honestly never had this issue before but for that trip, it was concerning and I needed to be safer on the trails. I realized that TWS and wired earbuds can impair a person’s hearing while wearing them.
I decided to give a pair of Bone Conduction Headphones to my wife since she has wanted a pair for some time. Back in November 2021, I purchased a pair of AfterShokz OpenMove and we both love them. When I saw the new Shokz OpenMove come out I just had to get a pair. I thought these were going to be different and maybe an upgrade from the pair she had. But they are the same pair only rebranded.
I’ve worn the OpenMove headset around the house, during phone calls, at the gym, and in noisy environments. They work in most places. You have to crank up the sound when it’s loud around you. If you use foam earplugs you won’t have to turn up the sound that much and it helps block out the distracting noises.
The sound quality is ok and better than I thought. You have to keep in mind that sending the sound through your bones will soften the sound quality. The bass is just ok. Listening to audiobooks and taking calls are better. Most rock and country songs sound good. You just have that muted tone. Adding the foam earplugs help and proper placement of the speakers helps. To me, the safety features outweigh the sound quality.
I mostly used them while doing outdoor activities where I need self-awareness. When I was on the tractor or using loud machinery I use my safety earplugs and I can still hear the music thanks to Bone Conduction Technology.
As to the types of music, I’ve tried rock, metal, rap, country music, and audiobooks. All have a decent sound. At the gym, I have to use earplugs. It’s too distracting without them. Sometimes it is so loud in there that I can’t hear the sound from the headphones.
Charging and Update Time
Charging the Shokz OpenMove is easy. Just plug them into the USB-C charging point and a few hours later they are ready to go. I get about 6 hours of playback when listening at 80% sound level. If you listen any higher it’s about 5 hours I think. During my tests, I only went past 80% a few times. They are too loud for me.
Pairing Tests
They work great. They paired with my Samsung Galaxy Note 8 on the first try. On the AfterShokz we had some pairing issues. My wife was able to get them to pair for the first time on her iPhone 12. We found that we couldn’t keep both phones paired to it. Even if the other phone isn’t around, we still have to unpair the other device from the headset before we can pair it to another phone. Since they are the same phone and I hadn’t had a chance to test
Final Thoughts
My wife loves her AfterShokz OpenMove and uses them every day. I like mine and would still be using them if I hadn’t upgraded to Shokz OpenRun Pro. The Shokz OpenMove is a great pair of bone-conducting earbuds and perfect for someone looking for an entry-level pair of earbuds.
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