Verdict
The OpenDots Air are a brilliant choice for those who want a comfortable pair of open-ears that provide a solid listening experience for a genuinely affordable price. Although the buds provide a more natural sound that can struggle to add depth and excitement to songs, overall they’re a brilliant budget-friendly pair.
-
Light and comfortable design
-
IP55 rating
-
Affordable
-
Not the brightest or most immersive sound
-
No noise reduction
Key Features
-

Review Price:
£129
-
Open-ear
Clip-on open-ear form
-
Design
Interchangeable left and right buds
-
Battery Life
Up to 36 hours battery life with charging case
Introduction
Shokz has earned itself a solid reputation for making some of the best open headphones on the market, with plenty of options to suit different budgets and needs.
On the cheaper side of things sits the OpenDots Air which Shokz promises deliver a balanced sound while offering a natural and always on listening experience for everyday use.
With an affordable £129 price tag, do the OpenDots Air miss out on the more premium features seen on other Shokz buds? Or are they a solid compromise for those seeking affordability and comfort? I’ve put them to the test to find out.
Advertisement
Design
- Clip-on, open-ear form with interchangeable left and right buds
- Gesture control is present but can be fiddly
- Lightweight case
The OpenDots Air buds come in a choice of two colours, with my sample boasting the more fetching Daybreak Purple finish over the standard Black affair.
They take after the OpenDots One and recently launched OpenDots Two, with the same clip-on, open-ear form. Each bud is impressively lightweight, at just 6.3g each, and is fitted with a flexible stem that connects the two parts of the buds. The back part that sits behind your ear has a soft silicone coating to avoid causing discomfort.

The buds are easy to wear and don’t require much thought when taking them on or off. They also slot much nicer into their case than the Huawei FreeClip 2, which always takes me a second to arrange.
Advertisement

Overall, the buds fit comfortably, however I should note that after particularly long periods of wear, they did start to pinch my ears a bit. Despite Shokz marketing the “always-on listening experience”, I don’t think I’d want to wear them for an entire day in the office.
While the OpenDots Air aren’t necessarily designed for workouts, they do have an IP55 rating, which means they can withstand drops of sweat and rain. I also wore the buds on runs, and found they stayed in place and didn’t cause any discomfort.

There’s no physical controls on the buds, with gestures instead to play and pause music, adjust volume and the like. While such controls come in handy when running, personally I do find gestures more hassle than they’re worth, so I’d stick to the old fashioned way.
Features
- Bluetooth 6.1
- Customisable EQ modes
- No noise reduction
Advertisement
As the affordable alternative to the Shokz OpenDots Two, it’s perhaps unsurprising that the OpenDots Air aren’t quite kitted out with the same level of features. That means there’s no Bassphere 2.0 technology nor upgraded Dolby Audio. The buds do sport Bluetooth 6.1, though you’ll need to make sure your paired device actually supports that too.
You can also pair the buds with the Shokz app, which allows you to customise the gesture controls, ping your buds if you’ve lost them and set the EQ mode. There are four pre-set EQ modes to choose from, including Standard, Bass, Vocal for podcasts and audiobooks and Private which promises to control sound leakage. Private was the most disappointing of the lot, as not only did sound still leak from the buds, but it caused songs to sound muddy and muffled.

Unlike other open buds, there’s no noise reduction at play here, which means it’s down to you to lower the volume if someone tries speaking to you, or increase it if things get noisy. Coming from a pair of open-ears that had noise reduction, this did take some getting used to.
Shokz claims that the OpenDots Air can last up to a whopping 36 hours with the charging case, and I can attest they’re long-lasting. I’ve had my review sample for the past three weeks, and have used them near-enough every day since – sometimes for multiple hours at a time. During this period, I haven’t had to recharge the case once. In fact, it’s currently sat at 10%, which is impressive.

Advertisement
Sound Quality
- Sound is reasonably balanced but lacks oomph
- Most songs play well
- Bass is fine but may disappoint some
Put simply, I don’t think the Shokz OpenDots Air are the best sounding buds – but I don’t think they’re trying to be. If you’re a true audiophile, then open-ears are likely not on your radar.
Generally, the sound quality is pleasant enough with most songs sounding balanced and playing well. However, I have found myself consistently using the Bass EQ instead of the Standard, as I find it gives songs that extra bit of oomph and energy. Brianstorm by Arctic Monkeys sounds balanced on Standard and, although switching to Bass mode doesn’t drastically alter its quality, there’s certainly an extra level of depth.
However, the OpenDots Air aren’t the most energetic pair of buds around. Mountain At My Gates by Foals lacks punch while the buds struggle with The Strokes’ Welcome To Japan. With the latter, not only did bass fall flat, but high notes had a slight piercing sound that I’ve never noticed before with other earbuds.
I made a few phone calls on the buds and found voices came through without any fault, while those on the other end of the line confirmed that I sounded clear too. I also sent a few voice notes via the buds, and although occasionally my voice sounded slightly muffled, generally my ramblings were clear.
Advertisement
Should you buy it?
If you want an affordable and comfortable pair of open-ears
If you’ve been keen to try a pair of open-ear headphones, then the Shokz OpenDots Air are a great option. They’re inexpensive, easy to wear and offer a balanced sound across most genres.
If you want more immersive sound experience
While open-ear headphones won’t provide a true ANC performance, there are options out there that do a better job at actively reducing background noise. Although the OpenDots Air are a solid performer, songs can lack energy and vibrancy.
Final Thoughts
The Shokz OpenDots Air are a solid pair of open-ears, and are perfect for those who want to listen to music and podcasts while out on walks or runs, but still want to stay aware of their surroundings.
They’re not the best sounding buds around, but they serve their purpose well and provide a comfortable, balanced listen. Bass heads and audiophiles will be left disappointed, but everyday listeners won’t find much to complain about.
How We Test
We test every pair of headphones we review thoroughly over an extended period of time. We use industry-standard tests to compare features properly. We’ll always tell you what we find.
We never, ever, accept money to review a product.
Find out more about how we test in our ethics policy.
- Tested for three weeks
- Tested with real world use
FAQs
Generally speaking, the OpenFit range is designed to wear while you’re working out while the OpenDots are more for everyday use.
Full Specs
| Shokz OpenDots Air Review | |
|---|---|
| UK RRP | £129 |
| USA RRP | $129.95 |
| EU RRP | €139 |
| Manufacturer | Shokz |
| IP rating | IP55 |
| Battery Hours | 36 |
| Fast Charging | Yes |
| Weight | 49.9 G |
| Release Date | 2026 |
| First Reviewed Date | 05/06/2026 |
| Audio Resolution | SBC, AAC |
| Driver (s) | Air conduction transducer |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 6.1 |
| Colours | Daybreak Purple, Black |
| Frequency Range | 100 20000 – Hz |
| Headphone Type | On-ear (Open) |

