Shokz, best known for its fitness-focused bone conduction headphones, is heading in a new direction with its latest release: the OpenDots ONE. These new earbuds aren’t just for runners and cyclists—they’re made for everyday life, whether you’re commuting, working, or just don’t like having earbuds jammed in your ears.

The OpenDots ONE are a first for Shokz in a few ways. They’re the brand’s first clip-on open-ear earbuds, ditching the usual behind-the-neck band in favor of a lightweight and minimal design. 

Each earbud weighs just 6.5 grams—about the weight of a quarter—and they hook gently onto your ears using what Shokz calls the JointArc, a flexible nickel-titanium loop wrapped in soft silicone. The idea is to create a secure and comfortable fit that works for a wide range of ear shapes without putting pressure on the ear.

"The introduction of OpenDots ONE represents an exciting evolution for Shokz," said Roger Zhang, Head of Product Innovation at Shokz. "As our community has grown, we've seen more people using Shokz throughout everyday lives—from the gym to the office and everywhere in between. We're committed to developing products that support this expanding lifestyle segment, and OpenDots ONE was designed for those moments."

Unlike traditional earbuds that sit inside your ears or bone conduction models that vibrate on your cheekbones, the OpenDots ONE use air conduction. The speakers sit just outside your ear canal, letting you hear your music or podcasts while still being able to pay attention to what’s going on around you. 

This approach has been catching on lately, with other brands like Soundcore and Huawei releasing similar designs, and now Shokz is joining the mix.

To beef up the sound quality, Shokz developed something called Bassphere Technology. Instead of a single big speaker, each earbud contains two 11.8mm drivers positioned in a spherical setup, aiming to replicate the power of a 16mm driver. This helps boost the bass while keeping the earbuds compact.

There’s also DirectPitch Technology, which uses carefully placed vents and sound wave manipulation to limit how much your audio leaks out—helpful if you're using these in an office or on a quiet train.

One key feature is that the OpenDots ONE are Shokz’s first headphones to support Dolby Audio. It’s not the 3D surround sound of Dolby Atmos, but it does enhance stereo playback to make things like voices clearer and music more balanced. You can turn this on or off using the Shokz app, where you’ll also find EQ settings (four presets and two custom slots), touch control customization, and a “Find My Earbuds” option in case one goes missing.

There’s also an unusual design twist: you can wear either bud in either ear. Thanks to built-in sensors, the earbuds detect which ear they’re on and adjust the stereo channels automatically. That also means no more squinting at tiny “L” and “R” labels—or putting them in the wrong side of the case.

Battery life is solid, with up to 10 hours on a single charge, plus another 30 hours from the case. The case itself supports USB-C and Qi2 wireless charging, giving you a few convenient ways to top it up. You won’t find active noise cancellation here (it wouldn’t really make sense on open-ear earbuds), but there are dual microphones with AI-powered noise reduction to help you sound clearer on calls.

The OpenDots ONE are IP54 rated, meaning they can handle light rain or sweat, and they support Bluetooth multipoint, so you can connect to your phone and laptop at the same time—no need to keep switching back and forth.

They’re priced at $199.95 on Amazon, which makes them the most expensive lifestyle-focused model in Shokz’s lineup. That price may be due to the added tech, like Dolby licensing and custom drivers, but Shokz hasn’t said whether recent tariffs on Chinese-made electronics are part of the reason, since their products are manufactured in China.

You can grab the OpenDots ONE now in Black or Grey from Shokz.com, Amazon, and other select retailers.