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Shokz OpenDots Air Open-ear clip-on earbud
All the awareness. None of the fuss.
If the OpenDots 2 is the flagship, the OpenDots Air is the one we find ourselves recommending most often. It’s the more affordable of Shokz’s two new clip-on open-ear buds — and honestly, for most runners, it’s all you need.
Same open-ear concept, same lightweight clip-on fit, same core Shokz philosophy: hear your music and hear the world around you. At just 6.3g per earbud, the Air delivers a breathable, open-ear fit that keeps you comfortable and aware on the go. Wear them for an easy 5k or an all-day hike — you really will forget they’re there.
What you get
Powered by custom 11.8mm dual drivers and Shokz Bassphere technology, the Air delivers rich, clear sound across all frequencies — a well-balanced profile at any volume. It won’t blow you away if you’re used to premium in-ears, but for an open-ear design it’s genuinely impressive, especially for podcasts, audiobooks, and steady-pace running.
The Air supports AI-powered call clarity, IP55 water resistance, Dynamic Ear Detection, MultiPoint Pairing, and customisable controls — features you might expect to pay considerably more for. The AI-powered call noise reduction uses an adaptive beamforming system that identifies the direction of your voice and reduces surrounding noise, with average environmental noise reduction exceeding 95% in Shokz lab testing.
Battery life is rated at up to 9 hours per charge, with 36 hours available from the charging case — more than enough for a big week of training. A quick-charge feature adds two hours of playback from just 10 minutes on charge, which is handy when you’re heading out the door in a hurry.
What you miss vs the OpenDots 2
The Air doesn’t have Dolby Audio or wireless charging, and battery life is one hour shorter than the OpenDots 2. The waterproofing sits at IP55 rather than the IP57 of the flagship, so it’s still sweat and rain resistant, just not quite as bombproof. For most everyday runners those trade-offs won’t matter at all.
If you’re new to open-ear audio, or you simply want a comfortable, aware, great-sounding running companion without spending flagship money, this is the one to try first.
Key specs at a glance
£107.50
