Shokz OpenSwim Pro

Built for the Pool

The OpenSwim Pro exists to solve a specific problem: Bluetooth signals do not travel through water, so swimmers cannot stream music while doing laps. Shokz answer is a dual-mode design with 32GB of onboard storage for MP3 playback underwater, plus full Bluetooth for use on dry land. That makes it more versatile than the original OpenSwim, which was MP3-only only.

The body is triple-sealed and rated IP68, certified for submersion up to two meters for as long as two hours. It weighs 27.3 grams and has a hydrodynamic shape.

Minimal bass, and earplugs alter underwater tuning

Shokz fitted an 8th-generation bone-conduction driver that lowers vibration and sound leakage compared to earlier models. But it is still bone conduction only, with no air-conduction speaker, so bass is minimal — a structural limitation of the technology.

Underwater the sound signature changes again when you fit the included earplugs for isolation, which markedly alters the tuning. For a swim companion that is an acceptable compromise; for a primary music headphone on land, the OpenRun Pro 2 air-conduction bass is the better listen.

Still uses a proprietary charging cable

Battery life is up to nine hours in Bluetooth mode and about six hours in MP3 mode, the gap explained by the storage module higher power draw. A 10-minute quick charge yields roughly three hours, which is generous for the category.

As with the standard OpenRun, the OpenSwim Pro still relies on a proprietary magnetic charging connector rather than USB-C, which is a notable miss given the OpenRun Pro 2 made the jump. For a headphone you will take to the pool that cable is one more thing to keep track of.

Fit and Waterproofing in Practice

The lightweight titanium band and secure ear hooks held position through swim strokes, and the open-ear approach means you can still hear a coach or lifeguard at the pool edge. Trusted Reviews noted that they are comfortable to wear for long periods and do not jump around during exercise.

Priciest here, worth it only for dual-mode use

The OpenSwim Pro is the most expensive headphone in this roundup at $230, and that premium only makes sense if you actually use the dual-mode functionality. Land-only listeners are overpaying for capability they will not touch.

Undercut on price by the Mojawa Run Plus

The OpenSwim Pro natural rivals are the other two storage-equipped swim headphones here. The Mojawa Run Plus matches its 32GB storage and IP68 rating for noticeably less money, which makes the OpenSwim Pro price premium hard to justify on sound alone. The Nank Runner Diver2 Pro pushes waterproofing further to IP69 and also undercuts it on price.

For swimmers who want MP3 mode and Bluetooth both

The OpenSwim Pro is the clear choice for swimmers and triathletes who need in-pool MP3 playback and Bluetooth on land in a single device, want Shokz best-in-class fit and low leakage, and will use that versatility enough to justify the highest price here. If you swim but want to save money, the Mojawa Run Plus delivers the same 32GB-and-IP68 formula for less; if you want even higher waterproofing, the Nank Runner Diver2 Pro goes to IP69.