OpenRock X Earbuds Review: Comfortable, Clear, and Built for Movement

The OpenRock X 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 2 weeks.

I’ve been a long-time fan of open-ear headphones – perfect for walking, running, and daily social media use. I’ve used Shokz for a while now, so I was curious to see how the OpenRock X earbuds compare.

Key features of the OpenRock X Open-Ear Air Conduction Sport Earbuds

The clue is in the name – these earbuds are meant for sports! Not only do they wrap around your ear (stopping them falling out), they have an adjustable hinge system so you can completely tailor how they fit.

I often use my phone and laptop together, so switching between them using the earbuds is something I use often and really like being able to do. OpenRock X comes with two devices available as standard! I was very happy to learn this. I bought my Shokz OpenFit before they could connect to two devices which was a huge pain to disconnect/reconnect every time (they offer it now).

• Open-ear design using air conduction
• Wraparound ear hook and an adjustable hinge system for better fit
• Connects to two devices at once
• Long battery life
• IPX5 water resistance
• USB-C charging
• Touch controls easy to use and quick to change in the app

Price & value for money

The OpenRock X are priced at £149.99, and for what they offer, I think they’re very good value, especially as I’m comparing them to my Shokz Openfit earbuds that cost £179 two years ago. They have better battery life, better touch controls (in my opinion of disliking the OpenFit ones), and more colour options.

OpenRock X also come with:

• free delivery
• a 30-day risk-free trial
• a 2-year warranty, which makes the purchase feel even more reassuring if you’re trying them for the first time.

I’ve never had a product arrive with such high-quality, elaborate packing! It took me time to get into the box, due to the care and consideration that’s gone into the packaging and outer protective box.

Fit & comfort

One review I read said they fall off easily, but I don’t think they fitted them properly. The OpenRock X fold both side to side and up and down, so you can adjust them to your head shape. I have to admit this took some getting used to. My Shokz aren’t adjustable, so it’s one size fits all, and I’d gotten used to that.

The adjustability is 45 degrees left and right, then 50 degrees up and down, allowing a snug fit. Once I did that, they stayed on perfectly, even while running.

The wraparound ear hook design helps keep them in place too—it gently hugs the back of your ear without squeezing or feeling too tight. Once adjusted, they stay put, even during a run and when I clean the house (this is a very rigorous activity!). They’re lightweight, and I barely noticed them after a few minutes.

Also worth noting: they don’t interfere with glasses or sunglasses, which is always a win. I wear glasses when I’m working, which can be all day, and neither makes my ears ache.

Sound quality

I wasn’t expecting big bass or full noise cancellation (they’re open-ear, after all), but the sound was clear and surprisingly full.

Podcasts and audiobooks sound great, and music is enjoyable even outdoors. My recent runs have been in windy weather, which does affect the sound but that’s pretty standard for open-ear headphones since they don’t sit in your ears to block out ambient noise. They’ve been perfect when I’ve used them on my treadmill.

Situational awareness

This is one big plus of having open-ear headphones – situational awareness. Because the OpenRock X don’t sit in your ears, you can still hear traffic, people around you, or anything going on at home.

I’ve found them especially useful for running and walking outside, where being completely shut off isn’t ideal. You get the best of both worlds – sound and safety.

Battery life & charging

Battery life is great. I used them on and off for at least a week before needing to recharge. The website states a single charge lasts up to 12 hours, and you can get up to 48 hours of use when combined with the charging case. I also found that a quick 5-minute charge gave me about an hour of listening time, which is super convenient. They charge via USB-C and don’t take long to get back to 100%. I didn’t notice any annoying battery drain issues either.

Charging case

The OpenRock X come with a charging case, which helps extend battery life up to 48 hours. The case is a bit bulkier than the ones I’ve used with my Shokz and Bose headphones, so it’s not the most compact – but it does come with a handy silver hook to use outside of a bag.

I’ve clipped this to my bag’s zip and it’s been brilliant for keeping the case accessible and stopping it from getting lost. A small detail, but genuinely helpful.

The case opens with a single press on the side, which pops it open. It’s a neat design touch that makes accessing the earbuds quick and easy. The earbuds don’t fall out once clipped in, even if it’s open.

Touch controls

One of the biggest differences I noticed compared to my Shokz is the controls. I’ve never been a fan of the touch controls on the Shokz. They often don’t register, which can be frustrating when I’m on the move.

The OpenRock X, on the other hand, has a small physical button built into each earbud. It’s such a simple improvement, but it makes a big difference to my experience. I always know when I’ve pressed it, so there’s no second-guessing or accidental skips.

Even better, the controls are customisable in the app. I’ve set mine so:

• One press pauses the song
• Two presses skip to the next song
• Three presses goes back
• A long press turns the volume down

It’s perfect for me and makes using the earbuds completely intuitive.

Pairing with two devices

As I touched on earlier, one feature I really love is the ability to pair the OpenRock X with two devices at once. This is pretty much in the top 2 most important features for me!

I often switch between my laptop and phone, and while the earbuds do remember both, I found I needed to manually disconnect from one device before connecting to the other. Not quite as seamless as my Shokz, which switch automatically, but still very useful once you get the hang of it.

OpenRock X vs Shokz OpenFit: tech specs compared

While this review focuses on the OpenRock X, here’s a quick side-by-side comparison with the Shokz OpenFit to give you a better sense of how they stack up technically:

What do the water resistance ratings mean?

• IPX5 (OpenRock X): Protected against water splashes from any direction—great for sweat or light rain, but not for submersion.
• IP54 (Shokz OpenFit): Offers both limited dust protection (5) and splash resistance (4). Also not waterproof, but fine for everyday use and workouts.

I haven’t worn them outside in the rain and probably won’t. They aren’t waterproof, so I wouldn’t want to risk damaging them. My Shokz haven’t been the same since I didn’t check the weather beforehand and got drenched on a run.

Any negatives?

It goes without saying, but the price. It’s a lot to shell out for earbuds, but £149.99 is the norm these days. You get a 2-year warranty, which adds peace of mind and shows confidence in the product.

One small thing to be aware of – every time I pop them into the charging case, I need to re-adjust the fit slightly when I take them out and put them back on. It’s not a huge deal, but something that needs doing each time.

The charging case is bigger than normal small earbuds, but the handy loop makes it easy to store outside of a bag should you need to.

Where can I buy the earbuds?

Buy from the OpenRock.com website using the link below. The team there have also given me a whopping 15% off discount code to share with you:

• 15% Code: UKOPENX15
• OpenRock website: https://reurl.cc/dQXMyD

Final thoughts

If you’re after open-ear earbuds that are comfortable, clear and won’t fall off mid-walk/run, or want comfortable buds to wear for hours around the house, the OpenRock X are definitely worth looking into.

I’ve been able to keep them in all day without any earache or discomfort whilst wearing glasses.