Open-ear earbuds are gaining popularity at quite a rapid pace, and two popular options are the Shokz OpenFit and Oladance OWS2. A significant reason for their popularity is that they are comfortable for all-day wear but without the discomfort of plugging your ears like regular earbuds. But which of these two options is better for your all-day listening pleasure?
Shokz OpenFit and Oladance OWS2 are similar in quality, performance, and user experience. Oladance has longer battery life than OpenFit, but OpenFit has a charging case, which costs extra for Oladance. Sound quality is close but slightly better on OpenFit, and OpenFit is slightly more comfortable.
You may want to consider the latest premium model OWS Pro from Oladance. Learn more about how it competes with Shokz OpenFit in my comprehensive review Oladance OWS Pro Vs. Shokz OpenFit
The two earphone models are similar in many ways and are both high-quality products, but both have particular strengths that make them better options for specific users. Let’s compare those differences and see which would be the better option for you based on your needs.
Shokz OpenFit Vs. Oladance OWS2: Technical Aspects
Shokz’s OpenFit and Oladance’s OWS2 earphones are clear competitors. They are similar in many ways, including their design and form factors–they are both open-ear earphones. But there are several technical differences between the two.
Connectivity
Shokz OpenFit uses Bluetooth 5.2 for its connectivity, which is excellent. Unfortunately, it does not support multipoint connectivity, so you can only pair your earphones with one device at a time.
Oladance OWS2 supports Bluetooth 5.3 and multipoint connectivity. This gives the OWS2 a considerable advantage over the OpenFit for users who want to easily switch their headphones between multiple devices, like a smartphone and a laptop.
Water And Dust Resistance
The OWS2 has a water- and dust resistance rating of IPX4. This is not great, but it’s not unusual for open-ear earbuds. It means that the earphones have not been tested for their dust resistance capabilities (the “X”), but they can handle some light splashing of water (the “4”). They should be safe to wear in some light rain or if you’re slightly sweaty.
The OpenFit has a rating of IP54. It is protected against dust but not dust tight (the “5”), and it can handle the same amount of splashing water as the Oladance (the “4”). So, if dust poses a significant risk where you are, the OpenFit is probably a better choice.
Battery Life
Shokz headphones usually have impressive battery capacities, and this is also the case with OpenFit. The earbuds can run for up to 7 hours on a single charge, but the handy charging case will boost it with a total of 28 hours.
Oladance’s OWS2 offers a very impressive 19 hours of standalone playtime. However, it does not come standard with a charging case, so if you want that, you will have to purchase it separately for an additional $50.
User Experience
After testing both earphones extensively, I’ve found that there are also some significant usage differences.
Comfort
The OpenFit fits snugly around my ears. They create a tight fit, but not so much that it would be uncomfortable to wear for extended periods. The snug fit ensures they won’t easily fall out while I’m busy with strenuous activity, like at the gym. I can also wear them comfortably with sunglasses; the added pressure doesn’t make them uncomfortable at all.
The Oladance earphones don’t fit quite as snugly, creating a bit of instability especially while wearing glasses or sunglasses; this makes it feel like they could fall out if I move around too much.
It’s important to note that this could differ for other users depending on ear shape and size. Some users have indicated that the Oladance fits better over their ears than the OpenFit.
Another aspect to consider is the cases they come with. The Shokz OpenFit earbuds come with a small charging case, similar in size(a bit larger) to that of Apple’s AirPods, and it’s easy to slip into your pocket. The Oladance OWS2 comes in a longer case and doesn’t include a built-in battery, almost like the protective case you get with glasses, but a bit smaller. It’s not as comfortable to carry around in your pocket.
Sound Quality And Volume
Both earbuds have excellent sound quality. The Oladance OWS2 has stronger bass but the quality is subpar. It also produces quite a lot of white noise, which can be a bit distracting in a quiet room. OpenFit’s bass isn’t quite as strong, but its sound balance is satisfactory, creating a better audio experience overall.
Neither device has excellent volume levels, though, which is to be expected with the open-ear form factor. However, the OpenFit’s maximum volume is considerably higher than that of the Oladance, not that it matters much unless you are in a very loud environment.
Latency
A problem that I had with the OpenFit is that it has quite a noticeable latency. This is not a problem with music or podcasts, but when I watched videos, I immediately noticed the audio lagging a bit behind the video, which can be terribly frustrating. Though it might be fixed in a future firmware update, the problem still exists for now.
The Oladance doesn’t have that problem at all, which makes it a better choice for users who will be watching videos or playing games using these earphones.
Call Quality
Both devices have built-in call noise reduction to isolate your voice during phone calls, and the functionality works well, as I tested them on the street. The Oladance manages to block background noise effectively, but your voice might be muffled a bit in the process. The OpenFit doesn’t remove quite as much noise as the Oladance (though it’s generally sufficient), but your voice will sound clearer.
Controls
The Oladance OWS2 and Shokz OpenFit both come with built-in touch controls, which is very convenient, but there are some shortcomings in both.
The OpenFit doesn’t include built-in volume controls, which is inconvenient. There’s also a noticeable delay between when you touch the controls and when the earphones respond.
The Oladance is almost the exact opposite. It includes volume controls, which is excellent, but the controls are extremely sensitive. I found myself accidentally pausing my music or skipping tracks a few times while wearing them just by touching them accidentally.
Strangely, Oladance requires you to register in the app before you can use it. Though this is not a significant inconvenience, it raises a few privacy concerns.
Other Concerns
You should have a general idea of which one would suit you best by now, but there is one important factor, maybe the most important, that could influence your choice: the price.
The Oladance OWS2 comes at a lower price point than the Shokz OpenFit. Following the release of the OWS Pro, the cost of the OWS2 further decreased, making it an even more affordable option. However, it’s important to note that the OWS2’s charging case is sold separately, adding to the total cost.
Conclusion
The Oladance OWS2 and Shokz OpenFit are both excellent open-ear earbuds, and there’s a good chance you will be happy with your choice either way. But they have different approaches that make them ideal for specific scenarios.
Users who like to listen to music all day without taking a break to charge them would probably prefer the Oladance option. But users who prefer better sound quality and take breaks every few hours will probably be better off with the OpenFit.
Before you go…
Still weighing your options between the Oladance OWS2 and Shokz OpenFit? Here’s something that might tip the scales: the newly released Oladance successor, the OWS Pro. It’s a significant upgrade from the OWS2, with a noticeably higher price tag. But is the investment justified? Check out my review here:
Oladance OWS Pro Vs. Shokz OpenFit – Battle of The Best Open-Ear Audio Experience
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