Rolling Stone may receive a membership committee if you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website.

Shokz may have promoted the bone conduction category, but recently, the audio brand has launched a unique product in the open earbud space. The latest is Opendots One, which launched and joined the increasingly crowded clip-on earbud market today, competing with rivals like Bose, Anker and Jlab.

We tested Shokz Opendots before launching. Although they aren't perfect, they are one of the best fixture earbuds you can buy, and it's a compelling case that provides the right combination of comfort, sound quality and performance.

Shokz Opendots One: Design

Similar to Bose’s Ultra Open earbuds, Shokz Opendots features a flexible strap with a driver that sits in the outer ear. The battery clip holds the unit behind the ears, making these earplugs a little similar to the earrings.

The box is compact and has a stylish two-tone design. The earbuds themselves are impressively lightweight, but the ears are safe. The case is also wireless charging compatible, which is a nice touch. I rode them on long bikes and, besides the slight adjustment, I forgot that they were there.

The most unusual design decision is that the earplugs are interchangeable. No left or right marks. I thought it was an oversight until I realized that they were designed to be interchangeable without affecting stereo sound. Shokz explained that they “used dynamic ear detection technology to automatically identify buds in each ear.”

Shokz Opendots One: Features and Controls

Shokz's user-friendly app allows easy control of earbuds, including custom touch controls and EQ mode. You can choose between presets including Voice and Bass, or you can use the five-band equation to create a custom sound profile. These earbuds also have Dolby Audio mode, although I found it didn't add to the listening experience for most songs.

I did find convenient features that include pairing at a time to connect to two devices at once. One surprising feature I rarely see on the hairy earplug is wear detection. The earbud will automatically pause and play when the earbud is taken out. Some delays, but it works very reliably.

The touch controls of the earbuds are one of its weakest points. They are both slow and overly sensitive at the same time. Pinch the barrel twice, or double tapping on the band section to control playback and phone calls. It works, but slow response time can improve. However, if you find yourself accidentally pressing the control, you can turn off the pinch or faucet control.

Shokz Opendots: Sound quality and performance

Impressively, Shokz managed to produce some of the best-selling open earbuds I've tested, with very little clarity for this type of earbuds. The bass response is surprisingly robust and fits a pair of exercise earbuds. The inevitable tradeoffs include the details of reducing the high point, but overall, there are plenty to love for the sound of these earbuds.

The lightweight design and compact case make them perfect for workouts and are waterproof to facilitate sweat and rain. That said, I won't limit this to exercise. The sound quality is crisp enough to fit the office or everyday clothing to know whatever environment you want to know about your surroundings. These earbuds can also charge up to 10 hours of playback time, with a total of 40 cases.

Shokz Opendots 1: Verdict

The Shokz Opendots One earbuds are one of the best sounds in a pair of open earbuds, and whether you're running and cycling or sitting in the office, the clip design is perfect for wearing all day.

These are a pair of pretty expensive earbuds, especially given the niche category they are involved in and can improve discerning controls. Still, they lowered Bose’s super open earbuds by $100, and while I would give Bose the audio quality advantage, Opendots outweighed the Ultra’s turn on in battery life while still delivering great sound.