Shokz OpenSwim Pro S803

The Shokz OpenSwim Pro is a waterproof bone conduction headset with a clever dual-mode trick: Bluetooth for land, MP3 for the pool. It's built like a tank with a 96th percentile build score and IP68 waterproofing, but battery life is short at 9 hours and sound quality is just average. Prices range from $34 to $230 in the US, so shop around. Swimmers and triathletes will love it. Everyone else should look elsewhere.

Let's talk about what bone conduction actually means for your ears. The OpenSwim Pro uses two bone conduction drivers with a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz, 8 ohms impedance, and 105dB sensitivity. Those numbers look fine on paper, but bone conduction just doesn't hit the same as a sealed earbud. Bass is present but not punchy. Mids are clear. Highs can get a little thin at volume. Our sound score puts it right at the 51st percentile, which is about average for this category. For podcasts, audiobooks, and upbeat workout playlists, it's perfectly serviceable. For critical listening, you'll want something else.

The battery is the other number worth staring at. Nine hours of playback is what Shokz claims, and that lands at the 18th percentile in our database. That's not great. For context, plenty of wireless earbuds and over-ears in this price range push 20 to 40 hours. The quick charge helps a bit, five minutes gets you two and a half hours, which is handy if you forgot to charge before a swim. But if you're a daily swimmer who also uses these for runs and calls, you'll be reaching for the charger more often than you'd like. The connectivity side is solid though. Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint means you can pair to your phone and laptop simultaneously, and the 87th percentile connectivity score backs that up.

Stacked against the Sony WH-CH720N, the OpenSwim Pro loses on sound quality, battery life, and comfort. The Sony is a proper over-ear with ANC and a much more refined audio profile. But the Sony would die instantly in a pool. That's the trade-off in a nutshell. The Soundcore Life Q20 is even cheaper and sounds better, with battery life that embarrasses the Shokz. But again, no waterproofing, no open-ear design, no MP3 mode. These are fundamentally different tools for different jobs.

The JBL Tune 670NC and Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus are similar stories. Better sound, better battery, better comfort, zero water resistance. The OpenSwim Pro's 96th percentile build quality actually beats most of these competitors, which makes sense given the abuse it's designed to take. The nickel-titanium alloy headband and triple-sealed design are built for punishment. But if your workout routine doesn't involve water, you're paying for durability you don't need and sacrificing sound quality you'd actually enjoy.

Here's where things get interesting. The OpenSwim Pro doesn't have a single official price in our data, but US listings range from $34 to $230 across 12 vendors. That's a massive spread. If you can find it at the low end, it's an absolute steal. At the high end, you're paying a premium for the waterproofing and dual-mode trick. The best deal in our database comes from the US listings at $34, which is frankly absurd for what you're getting. Even at the higher end, you're paying for a very specific capability set that no generic earbud can match.

Compared to the competition, the value story is all about the water. The Sony WH-CH720N, Soundcore Life Q20, and JBL Tune 670NC are all traditional over-ear headphones with better sound and battery life for less money. But none of them can survive a swim. If you don't need waterproofing, those are better buys. If you do, the OpenSwim Pro is in a class of its own, and the price spread means patient shoppers can find a deal.

The Shokz OpenSwim Pro S803 is a weird little gadget, and I mean that as a compliment. It's a bone conduction headset that's equally happy playing MP3s at the bottom of a pool or streaming Spotify over Bluetooth on a trail run. That dual-mode trick is the whole pitch here, and it's a genuinely clever one. Most waterproof headphones force you to pick a lane. This one just shrugs and does both.

Who's this for? Swimmers, mostly. But also triathletes, open water folks, and anyone who wants situational awareness during outdoor workouts. The open-ear design means you hear traffic, trail noises, and pool deck chatter while your music plays. That's a safety feature as much as a comfort choice. And with an IP68 rating, you can take it down to two meters for two hours without worrying about it dying on you.

What makes it interesting is how specialized it is. This isn't a general-purpose headphone trying to be everything. It's built for a specific lifestyle, and it nails that niche. The social proof is through the roof, sitting at the 99th percentile in our database. People who buy this thing tend to love it. But that love comes with some real trade-offs, especially if you're expecting traditional headphone sound.

If you don't swim or do water sports, skip the OpenSwim Pro. You're paying for waterproofing and an MP3 mode you'll never use, while sacrificing sound quality, battery life, and comfort. The commute score of 24.2 out of 100 tells the story. These aren't great for noisy environments, and the open-ear design means you'll hear everything around you, which is great for safety but terrible for immersion. If you want something for the gym or office, look at the Sony WH-CH720N or Soundcore Life Q20. Both sound better, last longer, and cost less.

Also skip these if you're an audiophile. The bone conduction drivers just can't match the frequency response of traditional drivers, especially in the bass department. If you want to feel your music, not just hear it, these will leave you wanting. And if you have a small head or find most over-ear headphones uncomfortable, the 30th percentile comfort score suggests these might not be the most forgiving fit.

If you swim regularly, the OpenSwim Pro is an easy recommendation. The MP3 mode means you don't need your phone nearby, the IP68 rating means you don't have to baby it, and the open-ear design keeps you aware of your surroundings in the water and on the road. The 99th percentile social proof isn't an accident. Swimmers love this thing because it solves a real problem that almost nothing else addresses.

If you don't swim, skip it. The sound quality is average, the battery life is short, and the comfort score is mediocre. You'd be better off with a pair of traditional wireless earbuds or over-ears that sound better and last longer. The OpenSwim Pro is a specialist's tool. It's brilliant at what it does, but what it does is pretty narrow. For the right person, it's worth every penny. For everyone else, it's a curiosity.