This SHOKZ OpenSwim Pro review looks at a bone conduction headphone built for swimming and land workouts. Its MP3 mode handles phone-free listening in the water, while Bluetooth is for use on land.
OpenSwim Pro Review Summary
The quick verdict
3,000+ ratings
Read Amazon ReviewsSHOKZ OpenSwim Pro
A swimming-focused bone conduction headphone for buyers who want onboard MP3 playback in the water and Bluetooth listening on land.
- Bone conduction, open-ear design for use in and out of the water.
- IP68 rating; designed for submersion up to two meters deep for two hours.
- MP3 mode stores up to 8,000 songs for offline playback.
- Bluetooth streaming for music and podcasts on land; Bluetooth does not work underwater.
Pros
- MP3 playback supports swimming without a phone.
- Water protection is tailored to swimming, with stated depth and duration guidance.
Consider before buying
- Bluetooth cannot be used underwater, so swimmers must switch to MP3 mode before entering the water.
- MP3 listening requires choosing and storing audio ahead of a swim rather than streaming from a phone in the pool.
Read the full review summary
The OpenSwim Pro is worth considering if swimming is part of your routine and you want music without bringing a phone into the pool.
It combines onboard MP3 storage with an IP68 rating and a design intended for submersion, while its open-ear fit also suits workouts where staying aware of nearby sounds matters.
It also switches to Bluetooth for music and podcasts on land, so it can cover pool sessions and dry-land exercise with one headset.
The key compromise is clear: Bluetooth does not work underwater, so swimmers need to switch to MP3 mode before getting in the water and rely on stored audio there.
The buying factors
OpenSwim Pro Scorecard
Editorial scores reflect listed features and buyer fit; they are not laboratory measurements or customer ratings.
Swimming readiness
An IP68 rating and submersion guidance make swimming the defining use case, with the important practical condition that playback underwater uses MP3 mode.
Phone-free playback
MP3 storage supports offline listening without a phone, a useful fit for swimmers who want a self-contained setup.
Land-use flexibility
Bluetooth streaming extends its use to land workouts, with compatibility across Android, iOS, Windows, and other Bluetooth-enabled devices.
Mode control
The Shokz app and physical button provide two ways to change modes and customize audio, which helps accommodate pool and land routines.
Battery and quick charge
Up to nine hours of battery life and a ten-minute quick charge for up to three hours of listening offer useful flexibility across workouts.
Fit integration
The slim ergonomic fit is designed to work with swim caps and goggles as well as common land-workout headwear, supporting a mixed-use routine.
Key Features and Specifications of OpenSwim Pro
- Bone conduction, open-ear design for use in and out of the water.
- IP68 rating; designed for submersion up to two meters deep for two hours.
- MP3 mode stores up to 8,000 songs for offline playback.
- Bluetooth streaming for music and podcasts on land; Bluetooth does not work underwater.
- Up to nine hours of continuous battery life, with a ten-minute quick charge for up to three hours of listening.
- Mode switching and audio customization through the Shokz app or physical button.
Pros and Cons of OpenSwim Pro
Pros
- MP3 playback supports swimming without a phone.
- Water protection is tailored to swimming, with stated depth and duration guidance.
- Bluetooth adds music and podcast streaming during land workouts.
- A physical control and app provide mode switching and audio customization.
Consider before buying
- Bluetooth cannot be used underwater, so swimmers must switch to MP3 mode before entering the water.
- MP3 listening requires choosing and storing audio ahead of a swim rather than streaming from a phone in the pool.
- The fit is designed to pair with swim gear and workout headwear; buyers should check how that arrangement works with their own equipment.
Who Should Buy OpenSwim Pro?
Good fit
Choose the OpenSwim Pro if pool sessions are central to your routine and you want audio without carrying a phone. MP3 mode is the practical swimming option, and its storage supports an offline library for repeated workouts.
It also suits people who move between the pool and land workouts: Bluetooth streams music and podcasts on land, and the open-ear design is intended to keep the listener engaged with surrounding sounds.
Treat that awareness as a design feature, not a guarantee of safety during road use.
The battery and quick-charge combination may suit workouts spread through the day, while app and button controls allow mode changes.
Check whether the included control approach fits your routine and whether your swim gear works comfortably with the headset.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you expect Bluetooth streaming to continue underwater. The headset requires MP3 mode for swimming, so pool listening depends on audio stored in advance.
It is also a poor fit if you want one headset primarily for dry-land Bluetooth use and do not need its swimming-focused MP3 mode and water protection.
OpenSwim Pro Review: How It Fits Pool and Land Workouts
Swimming Requires MP3 Mode
The central buying distinction is between the headset’s two listening modes. Bluetooth works for land streaming, while swimming requires MP3 playback; plan to transfer or store the audio you want before the session.
That makes it a better fit for a prepared playlist than for someone who expects to browse or stream from a phone in the water.
Water Rating and Use Case
The IP68 rating and submersion guidance directly address pool use, while the sweat-resistant construction also serves dry workouts.
Buyers should keep their own use within the described depth and duration limits and treat the open-ear design as a way to hear surroundings, not as a safety guarantee.
Battery Planning Across Workouts
Up to nine hours of continuous battery life gives a broad window for regular workouts, and the quick-charge option can help when a session is approaching and the headset needs a short top-up.
The battery figure is a maximum, so plan around the possibility that actual listening time varies with use.
Fit Around Swim Gear
The slim ergonomic shape is intended to stay in place and work with swim caps and goggles, while also accommodating sunglasses or bike helmets.
If you already rely on closely fitted swim equipment, check the combination before making this the headset for every session.
Alternatives to OpenSwim Pro
Sweat-resistant alternative
24,000+ ratings
Read Amazon ReviewsSHOKZ OpenMove
Choose OpenMove if your routine is land-based and six hours of Bluetooth listening meets your needs; choose OpenSwim Pro if you want MP3 playback for swimming and the stated submersion rating.
- OpenMove is a Bluetooth bone conduction headset for sweat-resistant running and workouts, with six hours of music, calls, and podcasts on a charge.
- OpenSwim Pro pairs Bluetooth land listening with MP3 playback for swimming, where Bluetooth does not work underwater; it is designed for submersion up to two meters deep for two hours.
Quick-charge alternative
15,000+ ratings
Read Amazon ReviewsSHOKZ OpenRun
OpenRun suits Bluetooth workouts where its eight-hour playback and quick charge match your routine; OpenSwim Pro is the swimming-oriented choice for MP3 playback and submersion.
- OpenRun is a Bluetooth bone conduction headset with eight continuous hours for music, calls, and podcasts, and a ten-minute quick charge for up to one and a half hours of battery life.
- It is not suitable for swimming.
- OpenSwim Pro adds MP3 playback for swimming and is designed for submersion up to two meters deep for two hours, while Bluetooth remains a land-use feature.
Is OpenSwim Pro Worth It?
The SHOKZ OpenSwim Pro is worth considering for swimmers who want phone-free audio in the pool and Bluetooth streaming on land.
Its MP3 mode, IP68 rating, app and button controls, and swim-gear-oriented fit make it a focused option for routines that combine water and dry workouts.
Buy it if the MP3 workflow and stated water-use limits suit your swimming; pass if Bluetooth streaming underwater is essential. For land-only workouts, its swimming-specific design may offer more than your routine needs.
Your review at a glance
3,000+ ratings
Read Amazon ReviewsSHOKZ OpenSwim Pro
A swimming-focused bone conduction headphone for buyers who want onboard MP3 playback in the water and Bluetooth listening on land.
- Bone conduction, open-ear design for use in and out of the water.
- IP68 rating; designed for submersion up to two meters deep for two hours.
- MP3 mode stores up to 8,000 songs for offline playback.
- Bluetooth streaming for music and podcasts on land; Bluetooth does not work underwater.