Audio & Headphones · Head-to-head
Shokz OpenFit 2 vs Baseus Bowie MC1 Pro
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Open-Ear Headphones: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The OpenFit 2 is the best all-round open-ear earbud, with light 9.4 g ear-hook buds, physical buttons, two mics per bud, multipoint and up to 48 hours with the case. The Baseus Bowie MC1 Pro is the value pick, a clip-on design with an IP67 rating and multipoint at a budget price.
Shokz OpenFit 2
Buy itLight ear-hook earbuds with physical buttons, two mics per bud and the most complete spec sheet for workouts and calls.
- DualBoost air-conduction drivers, with Shokz's DirectPitch 2.0 aimed at keeping leakage low
- Each bud weighs 9.4 g, with Shokz Ultra-Soft Silicone 2.0 hooks
- Up to 11 hours per charge and 48 hours with the case; a 10-minute charge gives 2 hours
- Physical multifunction buttons instead of touch-only controls
- IP55 covers dust, sweat and light rain, and the charging case is not waterproof
- Two separate buds are easier to drop or misplace than a one-piece band
- Premium price tier
Baseus Bowie MC1 Pro
Buy itA budget clip-on open-ear pair with an IP67 rating, multipoint and Bluetooth 6.0, the value pick of the group.
- IP67 dust and water rating, well above the OpenFit 2's IP55
- Clip-on U-ring design about 5 g per bud, for buyers who find ear hooks uncomfortable
- Multipoint connection, Bluetooth 6.0, and SBC, AAC and LDAC codecs
- About 40 hours of total playback with the charging case
- Baseus quotes about 9 hours per charge at 50 percent volume with Bass Boost and Spatial Audio off, so expect less with them on
- No quick-charge figure on the product page
- A clip-on cuff holds differently from an ear hook, so check the fit if you sprint
Side by side
| Shokz OpenFit 2 | Baseus Bowie MC1 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Runners, gym-goers and commuters who want one pair of open-ear buds that handles workouts and calls equally well. | Budget buyers who want a water-resistant, multipoint open-ear pair, especially anyone who prefers a clip-on design to ear hooks. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $ · budget |
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Shokz OpenFit 2 - Light ear-hook earbuds with physical buttons, two mics per bud and the most complete spec sheet for workouts and calls. Choose the Baseus Bowie MC1 Pro instead if budget buyers who want a water-resistant, multipoint open-ear pair, especially anyone who prefers a clip-on design to ear hooks.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Open-Ear Headphones: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).