These earbuds were gifted to me for a review. As per my T&Cs that brands agree to, I do not guarantee a positive review. Everything reflects my honest experience after using these earbuds for over 3 weeks.
I’ve been using the OpenRock X for a while now, so I was curious to see how the new OpenRock S2 would compare.
Spoiler: I’m impressed. The S2 has all the features I like about the X, but they’re smaller, comfier and cheaper.
The kind folks at OpenRock sent me these buds for free for my honest review. I’ve tested them for 3 weeks in situations, and review them below. I do some comparison to the previous version, X, and Shokz – they are all open-ear, made for sports and situational awareness.
Comfort + fit
One of the biggest differences I noticed right away is the weight. The OpenRock X earbuds weigh 12g each, while the new S2 are just 7g – I felt this difference right away.
7g is extremely lightweight.
Shokz OpenFit2+ are 9.4g each and they’re a whopping £179. The older version I have (OpenFit) are 8.3g each and they’re £129.
The S2s are so light I forget they’re on (similar to Shokz) and I can leave them in all day when working without any ear aches. With the X, they are comfy for an hour or 2 but then they made my ears ache.
The X features an adjustable hinge that allows you to move the earbuds both front-to-back and side-to-side to get the perfect fit. Although it’s fiddly, I really like being able to modify them to fit perfectly.
The S2 skips the adjustable part but nails the comfort straight out of the case. They hook over ears and stay put – simple, secure, and very comfortable. Very similar to my Shokz but are slightly smaller, giving me a closer fit.
With glasses
I wear glasses when I work, all day. The buds fit behind my ear with my glasses. Neither pushes the other.
Situational awareness
If you haven’t had open-ear buds before, it’s worth noting a few things.
They don’t block out sounds; they’re meant for situational awareness – meaning they’re great for listening to music whilst still knowing what’s going on around you. Perfect for my runs so I can still hear for people, and cars. It’s also good for being at home, so my husband doesn’t have to listen to my music, or tiktoks!
I wear other headphones if I cook or commute, because I want to completely shut off any outside noise.
Scenarios when I wear and love the S2:
- I work from home, so I wear them all day to listen to music. Open-ear means I can still hear for the doorbell, and what my dogs are up to
- I don’t wear them for work remote meetings – I haven’t tried connecting to Teams although I’ll update this blog if I try that
- They fit well with my glasses
- Outside running
- Inside pilates, bike, HIIT workouts
- Whilst cooking if I don’t mind the noise
- Around the house if I’m watching listening to my phone
Sound features (with solid upgrades from the previous Openrock buds)
Both models sound great and have impressive open-ear performance, but the new ones introduces something called TubeBass™ tech, which gives a more punchy low end than I expected from open-ear earbuds. I found it had plenty of volume for podcasts, calls, and music, even when I was walking or running outside.
One of my favourite features that both the X and S2 have is dual-device connectivity. I regularly switch between my phone and laptop, and not having to manually reconnect every time is such a win for me!
Openrock S2 v X
The S2 is the newest version, with X being a year old now. One key difference is that the X is more expensive. This is justifiable, looking at the specs below, but the higher spec elements aren’t necessarily a need for everyone.
I personally prefer the S2 and haven’t opened the X since I received them.
- you get more charge from the X buds and case
- you can modify the fit of the X buds so they’re very customisable
- S2 buds weigh less
- S2 have a smaller case
- S2 are less quality, which aligns with the cheaper price – but still extremely well made
| Feature | OpenRock X (Higher Cost) | OpenRock S2 (Lower Cost) |
|---|---|---|
| Adjustable pivot hinge | Custom fit mechanism | Fixed-over-ear hook design (one size fits all) |
| Audio tech | 14.2 mm drivers + LISO 2.0 + BassDirect™ | Speakers 12mm + LISO 2.0 algorithm + BassDirect™ |
| Bud weight | 12g | 7g |
| Single charge | 12hours | 8hours |
| Charge in case | 48hours | 32hours |
See my full Openrock X review here.
Controls: S2 makes it easier to change a song
The S2 improves the placement of the control button. On the X, the button is tucked inside and a bit tricky to find when I’m wearing them.
On the S2, it’s right at the end of the part that’s tucked behind the ear – much easier to reach and use when I’m in the middle of a run and just want to skip a track quickly.
Music is really important to me while running so being able to change the song helps!
Controls and other useful things can be changed in the app. It’s nice to use, doesn’t crash & doesn’t contain ads!
Case design
Another noticeable difference to X is the charging case. The X case is bulky – definitely not something I’d want in my pocket. The S2 case is smaller, much more streamlined, and feels more like the one that comes with Shokz, if you’re familiar with those.
You get a better charge from using the X case, likely due to its quality and size. The S2 has a slightly rough touch about it which doesn’t convey as higher quality as Shokz or the X.
One small thing I love? As soon as I open the S2 case and pop them in, my music connects instantly. No delays, no fiddling – just open, wear, and go.
Great for sports – running, HIIT, pilates
The S2 are open-ear buds that allow you to hear both your music and the world. I wear them for running so I can still hear what’s going on around me. The buds hook on your ear, rather than go inside your ear canal like normal buds.
I wear them for running outside but not for treadmill running. As the buds don’t cancel out noise, I don’t particually like the pounding noise! So I wear my Bose QuietComfort large over-ear for this activity.
I’ve worn then whilst running, doing pilates, and more impact exercise like HIIT workouts. They haven’t moved, unlike some that get sweaty and fall out (TMI? sorry!).
Wearing them for working out at home means I can also hear what the dogs are up to, as well as if the postman knocks!
The S2 have waterproof ‘nano-coating’ to increase durability and ‘BaseDirect™‘ chambers to protect certain components from sweat.
They have a rating of IPX5 Waterproof, meaning they protect against “low pressure water stream from any angle”. So you can wear them in light rain but it isn’t recommended to wear them in the shower!
I’ve actually done this with my Shokz as I forgot I was wearing them. :-\
See this useful article on hyper-gear.com about IPX ratings.
How much are they?
The OpenRock S2 are £79.99, or £64 using my code below. Well worth it for the features and quality.
- Buy from OpenRock.com
- Use my code AhoyDesigns for 15% off (I don’t earn any commission from this link or code)
Final thoughts
If you want lightweight open-ear earbuds that stay put whilst working out, sound great, are easy to use and comfy for long periods, the S2 are great and I’d recommend them 🙂
If you’re in the market for headphones of a higher-quality, checkout the OpenRock X I’ve mentioned in this blog. They:
- have a better battery life
- the case provides a better and longer charge
- are customisable, able to fit around your ear how you’d like
- are more expensive
- come with a 2year warranty
Check out my OpenRock X review here or go straight to the OpenRock website. If you decide to buy them, use code UKOPENX15 to get 15% off your order.
LAST EDITED: July 2025 | CATEGORY: Couch to 5k Fitness
Hi, I’m Rachael — a blogger, digital product creator, and optimisation enthusiast. I write about beauty, tech tips, and simple ways to make life easier, sharing honest reviews and practical advice. When I’m not writing, you’ll find me running, reading thrillers, or experimenting with new skincare.
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