AfterShokz Titanium bone conduction headphones were specifically designed for sports fans. These headphones are more comfortable and sturdy than the previous models of AfterShokz bone conduction headphones. The second version of Titanium, called Titanium Air, is a lighter, higher-performer, and more comfortable version of Titanium, but also significantly more expensive. Our sincere opinion is that the number of improvements that Air provides does not justify the price. We believe Titanium would be a better option.
According to our assessment, the AfterShokz Titanium headphones are the best bone conduction headphones in terms of value for money (price to efficiency ratio) on the market right now. In addition, they feature open ear designs, so you can hear what is going on around you. Furthermore, they are lightweight and very comfortable, making them a good option for people with stability issues.
As their name suggests, the titanium headphones are constructed out of Titanium and are incredibly durable as well. Due to the Bluetooth 4.1 technology and the built-in battery, these headphones are completely wireless, making them ideal for any sports activity (jogging, cycling, climbing, etc.).
There are, unfortunately, several problems with these headphones (average sound quality overall and average noise isolation), but this is to be expected with any bone conduction headset.
However, we didn’t like this particular model because of its short battery life. In exchange for the price that you are paying, they will give you 6 hours of playtime when you play at 50% volume, however, that does not seem sufficient. Several regular wireless headphones are available in the same price range (over the ear, on the ear, and in the ear headphones) or even for less money than delivering longer playtime significantly.
Design of Aftershokz Titanium
| Brand | Aftershokz |
| Ear Placement | Open Ear |
| Connectivity Technology | Bluetooth |
| Item Weight | 1.41 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 4.92 x 3.94 x 1.89 inches |
The difference in the principle of operation of bone conduction headphones is usually regarded as one of the most important differences between them and regular headphones. There are many differences between these operating systems, and the most significant difference comes from how they are designed.
The bone conduction headphones, unlike traditional headphones, do not go over, inside, or on the ear. Typically, they are supposed to rest on the cheekbones in front of the ears. Keeping your ears open while traveling is a great way to ensure you can be aware of everything going on around you. These titanium headphones follow the same shape as all bone conduction headphones. Titanium stands out as a more durable and long-lasting material compared with other metals in terms of material selection.
The titanium design of these sports headphones gives them a sporty and stylish look. They have a thin neckband connecting the two earphones.
There is a multifunction button on the left earpiece that can be pressed to perform different functions. As well as playing/pausing music, it can also be used to accept/end/reject calls.
On the right earpiece, you can find two noise-canceling microphones. There are two volume buttons (+ and -) on the right neckband arm, a rubber flap that hides a micro USB charging port, and a LED light that indicates Bluetooth and charging status.
Performance of Aftershokz Titanium (Positives and Negatives)
Considering the price, the performance is quite good. Although there are a few minor glitches, it performs reasonably well.
The fact that they are so comfortable is impressive. Not too heavy, and do not put a lot of pressure on your head. It is a good fit and a bit more stable than Air, but it is tighter than Air.
It should be noted that they won’t cause any discomfort while cycling if they’re worn in conjunction with a helmet and sunglasses.
In my experience, the Bluetooth connection works as expected. Initially, you must hold down the power/volume + buttons for 5 seconds until pairing is initiated. Once paired, all you have to do is start listening to music within ten seconds.
There is also the option of multipoint pairing with these headphones. Follow the instructions on the user manual to enable multipoint pairing, or you can watch a video tutorial on YouTube to learn how to do it. In addition, there are many articles on the pairing process and other topics on our website.
The only thing that we dislike about these headphones is their battery. At 50% volume, they offer a maximum playtime of only 6 hours, which isn’t very impressive. Given that the headphones were only about $80, we expected a little more. Because AfterShokz made these as light as possible, the playtime is probably short. There is no question that you’re not going to get better playtime with any other bone conduction headphones, but we don’t consider them very good in terms of battery backup.
When the environment is quiet, or there is not much wind, the microphones will work fine. But if the environment is noisy or there is too much wind, it becomes challenging to make or receive calls.
Sound Quality of Aftershokz Titanium
Titanium headphones are not as good as some regular headphones in the same price range, but they are better than other bone conduction headphones.
Almost all bone conduction headphones have a low bass response, one of their biggest problems. Due to their working principle, bone conduction headphones cannot produce better bass, so they cannot compete with regular headphones in that department. They produce a weak bass with no real impact.
With these headphones, podcasts sound better because the mid-ranges and highs are more apparent. You can easily understand and listen to the vocals.
Sound leakage is one of the biggest problems with bone conduction headphones. It is not a significant problem, but it becomes noticeable at higher volumes.
Since the ears are left open, they are not shielded from any noise that might enter. As you know, that’s the actual purpose of bone conduction headphones. It is possible to block ambient noise with earplugs, which will result in better sound quality, but the point of bone conduction headphones is that they are intended to make you more aware of your surroundings, which stands against the idea of isolating yourself from surroundings.
Related: AfterShokz Xtrainerz Review
Conclusions
Since there is also an upgraded version of these headphones, the AfterShokz Titanium headphones might not be the best available, but they definitely offer the best value for money. You can also try wired AfterShokz headphones if you cannot spend about $80 on bone conduction headphones.
Finally, let me remind you that bone conduction headphones are primarily designed for people with hearing impairments and those whose ears are susceptible to infections if they use sports earbuds/headphones.