With the rise in popularity of bone conduction headphones among fitness enthusiasts, they are becoming increasingly common because of their advantages over conventional in-ear headphones. These bone conduction headphones allow your ear canals to remain clear during exercise, allowing you to remain more aware of the area in which you are exercising.
In comparison, the Aeropex is an excellent but rather expensive bone-conduction headphone, and the AfterShokz OpenMove is the company’s newest entry-level model for almost half the price. Could these headphones be the ones that make technology more accessible to everyone?
Let’s find out!
Material And Design
| Brand | Aftershokz |
| Ear Placement | Open Ear |
| Connectivity Technology | Wired |
| Item Weight | 1.12 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 4.92 x 3.94 x 1.89 inches |
Compared with the Aeropex, the expensive and the flagship model, you will notice that they differ in many different ways, however, not least in the design. Both models indeed send sound directly to your cochlea through speakers situated directly at the front of the ear; however, the ear hooks that secure these speakers are made from different materials.
Although recent AfterShokz headphones have rubber coatings on the titanium, the OpenMove’s ear hooks are polycarbonate, connected to a titanium neckband instead. It is also worth mentioning that there is a noticeable difference between the fit and feel of the OpenMove and the flagship model. The ear hooks, for example, are much less flexible in the OpenMove, and it is also heavier.
Functionality
With regards to the functionality of the headphones, OpenMove uses Bluetooth 5.0 and features a noise-canceling microphone integrated right into the earcup. Like most other Aftershokz headphone models, you can make or receive phone calls using headphones. However, in terms of waterproofing, the OpenMove falls short of competing with more expensive models. The Aeropex is an IP67-rated device, which means that it can withstand submersion in a meter of water for no more than 30 minutes. It should be noted that this entry-level model is water-resistant rather than waterproof, so don’t take it swimming with you.
Charging And Battery Backup
Unlike the Aeropex, they are charged with a USB-C cable, not a magnetic charger, so charging is also slow. As a final point, we should point out that the OpenMove offers a lower amount of battery life, capable of running for just six hours between recharges, in contrast to the Aeropex’s eight hours. Although it looks less if you see the price, you should be satisfied.
EQ Mode
It must be said that OpenMove has the upper hand in terms of its EQ modes. The OpenMove offers EQ modes similar to those found on other models, including the Aeropex and Xtrainerz.
Related: You can read Aftershokz Opencomm Review also.
Why Should You Buy Aftershokz Openmove?
With the AfterShokz headphones, you will be extremely able to stay aware of what is going on around you. That is what all bone-conduction headphones are meant to do – keep you aware of your surroundings at all times. They are a safer alternative to regular in-ear headphones, leaving you oblivious to traffic or other runners or pedestrians around you, irrespective of whether you’re walking the dog or running or biking.
In my experience, AfterShokz is pretty stable and comfortable during exercise, even if there were some teething problems in getting it just right.
The OpenMove’s innovative design means that you will not have to continuously pull the headphones into your ears to adjust the volume, even if there is some subtle volume change on either side.
The risk of getting amplified footsteps is essentially eliminated because there is no seal inside your ear canal, resulting in amplified footsteps.
While the OpenMove IP55 water resistance ratings are less than the Aeropex, they are still designed to provide the same level of protection from the elements when you exercise hard in all types of weather.
Additionally, the fact that the headphones come with a USB-C port simplifies your life in the sense that you will only need one fewer charging cable if you have a phone that uses USB-C, and if you lose the cable that comes with them, it won’t make any difference.
Why Should You Not Buy Aftershokz Openmove?
Keeping a full awareness of your surroundings with OpenMove means that your audio content might be overshadowed by your surroundings if there is a lot of noise around. In terms of improving that, there is no real way to do so. However, it’s something worth considering when deciding whether to use bone conduction headphones or not.
You may find them helpful when running, walking, or cycling along quiet country lanes and want to be aware of approaching traffic, but they may not be useful when commuting in a large city, where you may feel like you miss some of your podcasts and radio programs. However, an earplug EQ mode on the earplugs would be useful in noisy conditions such as trains or flights.
Another significant issue I have is that the buttons on the right ear hook have the potential to be challenging to use during exercise. Whether wearing thick or thin gloves, it is hard to operate them because of the close proximity of the other buttons and that they can be pressed simultaneously with the thumb.
Decision Time
There is no better way to get acquainted with bone-conduction technology than the latest headsets made by Aftershokz. In addition to being attractive and affordable, they embody the results of many years of research and development and reflect the results of many years of research.
Apart from the fact that they have a better design and fit, they also have good battery life and are waterproof as well. Overall, OpenMove is great if your budget is less than $100.