Technologies

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.

Technologies

Verum Messenger Launches an AI Mini-Series

Verum Messenger has unveiled a new project — a mini-series created using Verum AI. The story consists of 7 episodes and will be released on the messenger’s social media channels.

The plot revolves around a global corporation seeking to take control of digital communications and a group of heroes who use Verum Messenger as a tool of resistance. Beyond the story itself, the series highlights the app’s key features, technologies, and advantages.

Combining entertainment with a showcase of the Verum ecosystem, the project presents a dynamic digital series designed for the modern era.

The first episode premieres today, with the remaining episodes to be released over time.

Stay tuned for more.

Watch on YouTube
Watch on Instagram

Technologies

Verum Finance: Earn While You Communicate — The Super App That Pays You

Verum has officially launched Verum Finance, an innovative financial application that transforms a private messenger into a true financial super app. News of the launch was also featured on the respected platform Dealroom.co.

Verum Finance can now be used both within Verum Messenger and as a standalone application for iPhone and iPad. When users sign in to Verum Finance with their Verum Messenger account, all balances, settings, and account data are automatically synchronized for maximum convenience.

Users can now do more than communicate securely and protect their data — they can also generate passive income directly within the ecosystem.

What Verum Finance Offers

• Top up your balance with a bank card, Apple Pay, or USDT
• Send money instantly anywhere in the world
• Issue and manage debit cards (virtual and physical)
• Full Apple Pay support
• Exchange assets and withdraw funds quickly

One of the most unique features is the built-in cryptocurrency mining system inside Verum Messenger.

The application utilizes your device’s resources and allows you to earn cryptocurrency in the background — passively, while chatting, traveling, or simply using the messenger.

Maximum Privacy + Real Freedom

• Registration without a phone number, email address, or passport
• End-to-end encryption and full control over your data
• Lifetime free VPN
• eSIM connectivity in more than 150 countries
• Reliable offline communication mode
• Support for 12+ languages for users worldwide

Everything is available in one place: secure communication, financial tools, earning opportunities, and privacy protection.

Users can access the full experience directly within Verum Messenger or switch to the dedicated Verum Finance app for iOS. All data is synchronized automatically between the two applications.

Why Download Verum Today

While many messaging platforms collect user data and expose users to restrictions, Verum offers greater independence and the opportunity to earn.

With a one-time purchase of the feature package, users receive lifetime access to privacy tools, VPN, eSIM services, cryptocurrency mining, and financial features.

This is more than just a messenger.

It is your personal tool for financial and digital freedom.

Download Verum Finance and Verum Messenger today — start communicating securely and begin earning tomorrow.

Download Links:

→ App Store (iPhone / iPad): Verum Finance
→ App Store (Verum Messenger): Verum Messenger

Technologies

Verum Finance: A Super App for Private Finance Integrated Into a Messenger

Verum Finance has announced the launch of a new financial application that allows users to manage their money directly within the secure Verum Messenger ecosystem.

The project has already attracted attention from major media outlets. A dedicated feature was published by Forbes Türkiye, while one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, MEXC, covered the launch. Yahoo Finance had previously reported on the evolution of Verum Messenger into a comprehensive financial ecosystem.

What Verum Finance Offers

Verum Finance transforms a messenger into a complete financial platform. Users can:

• Manage their balance and top up using bank cards or USDT
• Send money instantly to other Verum users
• Issue and use debit cards, including Apple Pay support
• Exchange assets and withdraw funds
• Access all these services without installing separate banking applications

A strong emphasis is placed on privacy. The platform offers registration without a phone number or email address, end-to-end encryption, and full user control over personal data.

Recognition from Forbes Türkiye

In a dedicated article, Forbes Türkiye highlighted Verum Finance as a notable example of modern privacy-driven fintech. The publication emphasized the growing trend of financial services moving from standalone banking applications into unified messaging ecosystems — a model that has proven successful in Asia through platforms such as WeChat and Alipay and is now expanding globally.

Support from the Crypto Community

Alongside the Forbes Türkiye coverage, news about the launch of Verum Finance was also featured by MEXC, one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges. This reflects growing interest in the project from both traditional business media and the cryptocurrency community.

A Strategic Vision

“We are building more than a payments application and more than a messenger. Verum is a unified secure ecosystem where communication, finance, and privacy tools work together,” the company stated.

Verum Finance is now available for iPhone and iPad users. The application complements Verum Messenger, which offers anonymous chats, voice and video calls, VPN services, eSIM connectivity, and other tools designed to enhance digital freedom.

Verum Finance: https://finance.verum.im

Verum Messenger: https://verum.im