I’ve been using Shokz (formerly AfterShokz) headphones for 4 years now. I started using the Air in 2018, but for the past 2.5 years I’ve been using the Aeropex model and sometimes the OpenMove. They’ve now given the Aeropex a small upgrade and renamed it to OpenRun.
Shokz (formerly AfterShokz) makes bone conduction headphones. The vibrations go via your bones to your inner ear rather than via your eardrum and since the headphones sit in front of your ear rather than in it or over it, you are still able to hear your surroundings.
Bone conduction headphones are great for use outdoors and during sports. I use them while I’m outside running, cycling or walking. They are also great for handsfree calling, that’s why I also wear them while I’m volunteering at parkrun. If one of the other volunteers needs to reach me for whatever reason, I can easily pick up and talk to them without having to get my phone out and still having my hands free to continue whatever I was doing (setting up the course, barcode scanning ect).
I often get the question if you can wear the headphones with glasses or a hat. Yes, I wear them with sunglasses in summer without any issues and I also wear them with a hat when it rains or a beanie when it’s cold. If you wear a thick scarf that might push against the band at the back of your head, but I’ve never had them fall off my head in all these years and I’ve never had the feeling I couldn’t wear them in combination with another accessory.
So the new OpenRun is almost the same as the previous Aeropex, it has the same sound quality and the same 8 hour battery life, except now it has a quick charging function which allows you to quickly charge the battery for 10 minutes to get 1.5 hours of playing time. I actually think that’s great, because I’ve had it happen multiple times that I was about to go out for a run, turned on the headphones and it would tell me the battery was low. So that can now easily be fixed by charging it for 10 minutes and you’re good to go.
It now also automatically tells you the battery status when you turn it on, which wasn’t the case with the older editions of the Aeropex, but the newer ones also do that I believe. It also seems to me that the lady who does the talking when you turn the headphones on or off (Audrey is her name by the way) speaks a bit faster in this version and also has a slightly different voice. Overall the headphones seem to react slightly faster than the Aeropex, but it’s not a huge difference.
The packaging has also changed a bit, it’s no longer a magnetic box that you open up like a book, but nothing major and that obviously has nothing to do with the product itself. And you now get one charging cable instead of two, but you can easily order a new one online if you happen to lose yours.
A difference that you will notice is the difference in price. The Aeropex used to retail for €169.95 ($159.95 or £149.95) when it was just released. The OpenRun now retails for €139.95 ($129.95 or £129.95) for basically the same product. I suppose because they’ve changed the line-up and removed the mid-price headphones, the Air (which used to retail for €119.95). And since the Aeropex was released in 2019, I wouldn’t be surprised if Shokz releases a new high end pair of headphones in the near future, since they seem to regularly release new products.
Not only did they change their brand name from AfterShokz to Shokz and the name of the Aeropex to OpenRun, they also changed the name of the Xtrainerz to OpenSwim. So the current line-up is now OpenRun for sports, OpenSwim for swimming, OpenComm for communication and the OpenMove for more general everyday use. But I’m sure there are stores that might still have some Aeropex or Air left in stock somewhere.
Comparison between the current models:
| Model | OpenRun | OpenComm | OpenSwim | OpenMove |
| Battery | 8 hours | 8 hours | 8 hours | 6 hours |
| Water Resistance | IP67 | IP55 | IP68 | IP55 |
| Sound | 8th generation | 7th generation | 7th generation | 7th generation |
| EQ | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Charging time | 2 hours | 1 hour | 2 hours | 2 hours |
| Quick charging | Yes | No | No | No |
| Charging | Magnetic | Magnetic | Magnetic | USB-C |
| Weight | 26 grams | 33 grams | 30 grams | 29 grams |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Price | €139.95 | €169.95 | €159.95 | €89.95 |
In conclusion, the OpenRun is still the same pair of bone conduction headphones that the Aeropex was, with the same battery life and great audio quality, but with an added quick charging feature and a better price.
Note: The OpenRun was given to me by Shokz for this review, but all opinions are my own and Shokz has no say over what I put in this review.
Heart Runner Girl 
There are some great reasons to purchase a pair of aftershokz. After mastering the correct positioning in relation to head vs earphones the audio is sharp with the safety of hearing the traffic and footsteps behind. However they lose their clarity with base notes drums ECT. Hopefully there’ll be a technician somewhere who will tackle that problem successfully. Here’s hoping. Several other friends have noticed the same.
They do work differently than in-ear headphones, that’s true. And they do sound a little different, just like you voice inside your head sounds a little different than it might sound to someone else. But I think they are working on the base, so maybe the next model will be better in that regard.
I am still using the Air – mainly because the specialized charging cable is not for me. Too many locations, you know. Still waiting for a newer model with USB-C (or micro-USB, why not)
The OpenMove has USB-C charging, and better sound than the Air, but it’s not as flexible as the higher end models. Reason for the propriety cable and magnetic charging is that it’s less sensitive to water rather than if you have to stick a USB-C or micro-USB inside the headphones. You can buy extra magnetic charging cables online if you want more or lose yours though.
Thank you for your quick reply! Yes, I know. Alas, OpenMove is not comfortable enough (for my ears) – tried’em. Extra cables – yes, but I’d like to be able to get powered everywhere, and everywhere you see USB-C/Micro-USB. In fact, I have two Airs – when the first one is out of juice, I get another. Plus powerbank if I am in a desert 🙂
Just remark – don’t know every use of Shokz, but water resistancy of the Air is quite enough for me. Have an Aeropex too, but lost its two cables 🙂 Now it’s on hold 🙂
The new OpenRun Pro also has a magnetic charging cable, so don’t think there will be a new model with a USB-C/micro-USB any time soon.
Well, who knows, who knows… Don’t think I’m the only fan of USB-C who is not taking shower with the Shokz :))
Just a final remark – very good review, thank you!
Aftershokz-One word “AWESOME”!!!!
After purchasing several different models of Samsung earbuds& other models of earbuds Not only was i tragically ALLERGIC TO SAMSUNG EARBUDS &All earbuds period!!! I WAS only able to get a refund on one pair of Samsung earbuds& the others I tried i had the same symptoms.(Before I figured it out)I spend hundreds of dollars @ the ears ,nose& throat Doc.I realized it was the earbuds I was using!!! So, I was told about bone conduction- AfterShokz.So I said why not give them a shot aftetall these DON’T GO DIRECTLY INTO YOUR EARS! To my surprise!!!! They’re “AWESOME”!!!!! WHAT’S LIFE WITHOUT MUSIC 🎶!!!??!!?
ROCK ON 🎸 🤘 PEOPLE!!!
Hello. Would you say there’s much difference in sound quality between the OpenMove and the OpenRun models or is it just more functionality that you’re paying for?
Hi Mark, I’d say there is a little difference and the OpenRun is a bit better, but it’s not a huge difference. But the OpenRun has longer battery and better water resistance than the OpenMove and the OpenRun is more flexible so if you wear them for a longer period of time the OpenRun is more comfortable. Basically if you plan on using them once in a while for 1 or 2 hours or so, you could go for the OpenMove, but if you plan to use them quite frequently and for longer periods of time, the OpenRun would be better.
Thank you very much, that’s really helpful. I think I’ll go for the OpenRun then.
I have the aeropetz for more then 2 years now. I want to buy the openrun mini because it would fit better. But something in the the aeropex is loose on both sides. Everything is still working but it is rattling when you touch it.
I’ve had the Aeropex for over 3 years now, since 2019, and have also given them as a gift to other family members, and none of us has had any issues with them. I now also have the OpenRun and the OpenRun Mini, just haven’t gotten around to writing the review for the Mini yet. I prefer the Mini to be honest, I didn’t think it would make much difference, but it does fit a little snugger.