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The New Shokz OpenFit Pro Buds Have Noise Reduction, but That’s Not Why I Like Them

Shokz’s new flagship ear-hook style open earbuds, launching at CES 2026, are its first earbuds with noise reduction. Here are my early hands-on impressions after testing them for a few days.

Shokz wanted to equip its new flagship OpenFit Pro open earbuds with active noise cancellation, but that’s not easy with open earbuds. Instead, it ended up dialing back expectations and calling the tech inside these new ear-hook style buds, «OpenEar Noise Reduction.»

It’s a good thing it did because, during my few days of testing the OpenFit Pro, they didn’t reduce ambient sound nearly as well as the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation. But they sound impressive for open earbuds, are comfortable to wear and have the premium build quality you’d expect from a set of earbuds that cost $250. Launched this week at CES 2026, the OpenFit Pro come in two color options — white and black — and are available for preorder today at Shokz and Best Buy.  

Read more: Best open earbuds of 2026

Larger dual-diaphragm drivers         

Formerly known as AfterShokz, Shokz made a name for itself with its bone-conduction headphones. But in recent years it’s added several products that use standard drivers (Shokz markets them as «air conduction» headphones and earbuds) or combines a standard driver with bone-conduction technology, as it did with its OpenRun Pro 2 headphones. 

The OpenFit Pro aren’t bone-conduction earbuds. Shokz says they’re powered by its first «SuperBoost» technology, which is built around an «ultra large 11×20 mm synchronized dual-diaphragm» driver. It says the design «expands frequency response up to 40 kHz while significantly minimizing distortion below 100 Hz, delivering more powerful bass, finer detail and a more authentic, stable sound in an open-ear design.»

While I still prefer the sound of a good set of noise-isolating earbuds with silicone ear tips, the OpenFit Pro are among the best-sounding open earbuds I’ve tested. They have full-sounding bass along with good treble detail and clear, natural sounding mids. When I cranked the volume, I did feel some vibration from the bass, which was a little annoying. That said, I encountered only minimal distortion. 

Noise-isolating earbuds in this price range (and some that cost much less) will deliver better overall bass performance. But the sound gap between open earbuds and noise-isolating earbuds is narrowing, and in quieter environments the OpenFit Pro perform quite well. They don’t leak much sound, but they do let ambient sound in. While that’s a nice safety feature for runners, bikers and pedestrians, if you’re in a particularly noisy environment like the streets of New York, it can affect sound quality. 

Noise reduction takes the edge off ambient sound

While the AirPods 4’s noise canceling isn’t nearly as strong the AirPods Pro 3’s, you can really tell when their noise canceling is engaged. When you turn on the OpenFit Pro’s noise reduction (you can adjust the level of noise reduction in the app), you also notice a difference, but the noise muffling is more subtle. Sounds around me weren’t dramatically reduced. I was still aware of them, but they weren’t as sharp. They were dulled a bit and became less cutting. 

Shokz says that the OpenFit Pro use a «triple microphone array, refined speaker design and Shokz’s Ear Adaptive Algorithm to soften unwanted background noise.» The key word here is «soften.» The noise reduction doesn’t eliminate background noise, it just tones it down a bit, taking the edge off. Some people will appreciate that, others will find it underwhelming.

Fairly full-featured

Splashproof and dust-resistant with an IP55 rating, the OpenFit Pro are equipped with Bluetooth 6.1 and also have a spatial audio feature, supporting Dolby Audio with Dolby Head Tracking (Shokz says they’re optimized for Dolby Atmos). You can turn head tracking on or off in the Shokz companion app for iOS and Android and tweak EQ settings as well. Additionally, the buds have ear-detection sensors that pause your music when you take a bud off and resume playback when you put it back on.  

Battery life is rated at up 12 hours with noise reduction off and 6 hours with it on, which is pretty big drop off. The case, which is a little heavy but feels solid and is well-designed, supports wireless charging and stores up to 38 hours of additional battery life with noise reduction off or 24 hours with it engaged.

In my tests in the streets of New York, callers said my voice sounded clear and natural (it didn’t sound too digitized or robotic) and background noise reduction was solid. Overall, voice-calling performance seemed quite good, though, as I said, the buds do let ambient sound in, so it was a little harder for me to hear callers in noisy environments.

Shock OpenFit Pro early conclusions

Several new premium open earbuds are being released in early 2026, so I’m reserving final judgment on the OpenFit Pro until I have a chance to compare them to some of these new models. But I liked the design of these ear-hook style buds and thought they were among they top-sounding open earbuds I’ve tested. While I was less impressed with the buds noise-reduction feature, at least Shokz didn’t try to position these as true active noise-canceling earbuds. That would have been a mistake and taken away from the buds’ many likable attributes — and perhaps angered some buyers.  

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Technologies

Xbox Set to Bring Resident Evil, Star Wars and More to Xbox Game Pass

Subscribers can play several other games, including the original Final Fantasy in all its 2D glory, on Game Pass in January.

Resident Evil Requiem, the ninth game in the main Resident Evil series, is set to be released on Feb. 26. Xbox Game Pass subscribers can prepare for Requiem by playing Resident Evil Village, the most recent entry in the series, starting on Jan. 20.

Xbox Game Pass offers hundreds of games you can play on your Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Amazon Fire TV, smart TV and PC or mobile device, with prices starting at $10 a month. While all Game Pass tiers offer you a library of games, Game Pass Ultimate ($30 a month) gives you access to the most games, as well as Day 1 games, like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, added monthly.

Here are all the games subscribers can play on Game Pass soon. You can also check out other games the company added to the service in December, including Marvel Cosmic Invasion.

Note: «Handheld» means a game is optimized for handheld play.

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

Brews & Bastards (cloud, PC and Xbox Series X/S)

Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass subscribers can play now.

What’s a hero gotta do to get a drink around here? Choose an inebriated hero to travel deep under a tavern in search of the stolen Brew Stone. You’ll explore tavern-themed dungeons and use bar-inspired weapons, like high-caliber champagne bottles, to blast through drunken demons and other boozy monsters. And if you’ve ever called one of your exes a drunken demon, maybe this game will be a little cathartic for you.

Little Nightmares Enhanced Edition (cloud, handheld, PC and Xbox Series X/S)

Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass subscribers can play now.

Little Nightmares is back in high-quality 4K and 60 frames per second in this enhanced edition of the dark tale. You play as a lone child trapped in a massive world inhabited by monstrous versions of adults called the Maw. All you can do is run from these creatures, but you’ll also have to sneak and hide to throw them off your trail if you want to survive. 

Atomfall (cloud, console, handheld and PC)

New to Game Pass Premium. Previously on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.

The Windscale fire was the worst nuclear disaster in the UK’s history, and it’s estimated that it caused between 100 and 240 cancer-related deaths. Atomfall asks, «What if Windscale was similar in magnitude to the disaster at Chornobyl?»

This game takes place five years after a far more devastating Windscale disaster. You’ll encounter gangs of bandits, cults and rogue government agencies throughout the quarantine zone in the beautiful Lake District, in northern England. It’s up to you whether you avoid conflict or charge into the heat of battle, but resources are scarce, so maybe don’t go in guns blazing every chance you get.

Lost in Random: The Eternal Die (cloud, Xbox Series X/S, handheld and PC)

New to Game Pass Premium. Previously on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.

You’re the once-great ruler of Random, Queen Aleksandra, and you’re on a mission of vengeance and redemption in this fast-paced rogue-like game. You’ll fight monsters and beasts with four unique weapons, plus powerful card-based abilities and relics. But death isn’t final here, so if you fall, you’ll return to Sanctuary to rearm, upgrade and prepare for your next run. 

Rematch (cloud, PC and Xbox Series X/S)

New to Game Pass Premium. Previously on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.

Tackle, dribble and score in this team-based football game (or soccer, depending on your locale). This game was designed for 5v5 online multiplayer matches where players control a single athlete. That means you’ll have to coordinate and plan with the rest of your co-op teammates if you want to win. And with no player stats to give one person an advantage over another, coordination is the key to success.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition (cloud, PC and Xbox Series X/S)

New to Game Pass Premium. Previously on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.

You are Capt. Demetrian Titus, an Ultramarine in the Imperium of Man tens of thousands of years from now, and it’s up to you and your squad to help reclaim the Forge World Graia from an Ork horde. Originally released in 2011, this third-person shooter has been remastered for modern consoles with enhanced character models, a modernized control scheme and more. So grab your chainsword and bolter and get ready to fight. For the Emperor!

Final Fantasy (cloud, Xbox Series X/S and PC)

Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass subscribers can play on Jan. 8.

This is the game that started it all. Join the Warriors of Light on a journey to restore power to the Crystals and save their home world. The remastered version of this game introduces enhanced gameplay features, including auto-battle and more, to your screen.

Star Wars Outlaws (cloud, PC and Xbox Series X/S)

Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play on Jan. 13.

Luke Skywalker and the Jedis are cool and all, but who didn’t want to be a cool smuggler like Han Solo? This open-world Star Wars game lets you become just that. You play as Kay Vess, a scoundrel looking for freedom and a new life. You’ll fight, steal and outsmart crime syndicates from around the galaxy. But the Empire is out there, too, so watch your back.

My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery (cloud, console, handheld and PC)

Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass subscribers can play on Jan. 15.

Go on an adventure with Sunny, Hitch, Izzy, Pipp, Zipp and Misty as you try to solve a mystery together. Strange music is turning the world upside down, and it’s up to you and your friends to use your powers to put a stop to the music.

Resident Evil Village (cloud, console and PC)

Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass subscribers can play on Jan. 20.

The latest entry in the mainline Resident Evil series puts you back in the shoes of Ethan Winters as he ventures into a haunting European village in search of his abducted daughter. You’ll fight lycans, vampires and other monstrous creatures as you try to uncover why your daughter was taken and your wife was murdered.

MIO: Memories in Orbit (cloud, handheld, PC and Xbox Series X/S)

Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass subscribers can play on Jan. 20.

Get ready to explore a treacherous ship in this sci-fi metroidvania game. You play as Mio, a nimble android who wakes up in the Vessel, a spaceship drifting aimlessly through the stars. The ship’s machines have gone rogue, and vegetation has taken over parts of the Vessel. It’s up to you to figure out what happened to the Vessel and the ship’s purpose.

Games leaving Xbox Game Pass on Jan. 15

While Microsoft is bringing those games to different Game Pass tiers this month, the company is also removing these games from the service on Jan. 15. So, you still have some time to complete your campaign or any sidequests before you have to purchase these games separately. 

For more on Xbox, discover other games available on Game Pass now and check out our hands-on review of the gaming service. You can also learn about recent changes to the Game Pass service.

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Technologies

We’ve Found the Coolest, Most Futuristic Tech at CES 2026. And the Show Just Started

We’ve already had a day to trawl for our favorite cutting-edge technology. Neat stuff abounds!

We have people all over the show floor and beyond at CES, searching for the most interesting, innovative and cutting-edge tech available. A ton of useful new information is also available, which you can find on our CES 2026 live blog and in our CES hub.

The show floor opened Tuesday, and we had a lot of preview time beforehand to gawk at some CES staples, such as robots, electronic toys, phones and more. I’ll be back here to top off our fun finds regularly throughout the show.

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Technologies

Grab This Tariff-Busting Xbox Series X Deal and Save $44 While You Can

You can bag a 1TB Xbox Series X for just $606, but act fast, since we don’t know how long this deal will last.

Ever since tariffs and other economic uncertainty led to Xbox price increases in late 2025, things have gotten expensive. A 1TB Xbox Series X now sells for $50 more than it used to, and there is little sign of these prices improving anytime soon.

Thankfully, every so often, a deal pops up that helps make things a little more affordable like this Walmart discount that slashes that same Series X to just $606. The catch? Well, there isn’t one. But we don’t expect this deal to last for long, so make sure to get your order in soon before it leaves for good.

The Xbox Series X has been around for a while now, so there are no surprises with what you get in the box. The Series X comes with a 1TB SSD for storage, and you get a controller in the box. This version also has a disc drive for installing games and watching Blu-ray movies, too.

Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.

You can look forward to watching 4K content and playing 4K games, as well as enjoying audio options such as Dolby Digital, Dolby TrueHD and DTS. All of that makes this a capable machine, whether you want to watch content or play games.

CHEAP GAMING LAPTOP DEALS OF THE WEEK

Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article.

Why this deal matters

It’s unlikely that Xbox prices will get any cheaper anytime soon, so deals like this are the best we can expect for a while now. If you’re in the market for an Xbox and have the $604 to spare, then this is probably the time to place your order before it’s too late.

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