Rank #3 in Best Open Ear Headphones 2026: 10 Ranked, and the 40-Hour Myth
SHOKZ OpenSwim Pro Bone Conduction Sports Headphones, IP68
Price and rating as shown on Amazon when we collected them. Both change.
The SHOKZ OpenSwim Pro is the number three entry in this guide, and it is the one built around water rather than running. The listing rates it IP68, which it defines as depths of up to 2 metres for 2 hours, and pairs that with 32GB of MP3 storage on board, Bluetooth 5.4 and physical controls — at £199.00. It holds 4.4 out of 5 from 18,994 ratings, and the rating bars on the page run 73 at five stars down to 6 at one star, a set that adds to 100; read those as the page's own proportions, not as counts of individual buyers.
The finding here is a gap rather than a sum. Everywhere else in this list a '40-hour' figure had to be pulled apart into a single-charge number plus a case, but the OpenSwim Pro's bullets quote no listening hours at all — the only '2 hours' on the page is a depth-and-duration figure for water, not for battery. The spec table also argues with the copy: it lists Control Type as 'Touch App' and Control Method as 'App', while a bullet sells 'Sports-Optimised Physical Buttons' with instant feedback. Those describe different objects, and the listing does not reconcile them. One more oddity on the sheet: the external testing certificate is ANATEL 06240-24-16608, a Brazilian mark, on a UK listing. Everything on this page comes from the Amazon listing as it stands, not from testing we have carried out.
How those 18,994 ratings break down
An average hides its own shape. This is the spread behind the 4.4 stars.
Specification
Exactly as published on the Amazon listing, field for field.
| Price | £199.00 |
|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4 out of 5 from 18,994 ratings |
| Waterproof rating | IP68 — depths of up to 2 metres for 2 hours |
| Storage and wireless | 32GB MP3 storage; Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Battery life per charge | Not stated anywhere in the listing |
| Control type (spec table) | Touch App; control method App (as listed) |
| Rating breakdown | 73 five-star and 6 one-star, on a scale that adds to 100 |
| Warranty | 2 years |
What buyers actually say
Quoted from customer reviews on Amazon
Verified purchase“I have waited over a year to write this review because other products I have swum with have never lasted more than a few months. My Shokz are ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT & have been perfect for my needs. They are excellent value for money & I would strongly recommend them; look nowhere else.”
Verified purchase“An absolute must for gym and swim. No more sweaty issues and some tunes to swim with. Pricey but worth it for comfortable light fit and simple to use.”
What it is up against
The rivals it was ranked against in Best Open Ear Headphones 2026: 10 Ranked, and the 40-Hour Myth.
Questions people ask
How long does the SHOKZ OpenSwim Pro run on one charge?
The listing gives no hour figure for battery life at all. The only '2 hours' on the page is the IP68 claim of 2 metres of depth for 2 hours, which is about water, not about listening time.
Can I use the SHOKZ OpenSwim Pro without a phone?
Yes. The listing says it carries 32GB of MP3 storage alongside Bluetooth 5.4, and that you switch between the two modes with the buttons or through the app.
Are the controls touch or physical buttons?
The listing does not settle this. The spec table lists Control Type as 'Touch App' and Control Method as 'App', while one of the bullets describes 'Sports-Optimised Physical Buttons' that give instant feedback. Both claims sit on the same page.
How much does the SHOKZ OpenSwim Pro cost?
£199.00 on the listing.
What do buyers rate it?
4.4 out of 5 from 18,994 ratings. The page's own rating bars read 73 at five stars and 6 at one star.
What is in the box with the SHOKZ OpenSwim Pro?
According to the listing: the OpenSwim Pro headphones, a magnetic charging cable, a protective case, swimming earplugs and a swimming nose clip. The stated warranty is 2 years.
Comments
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