Shokz is shaking up the audio world once again. At CES 2026, the company introduced the OpenFit Pro — open‑ear wireless earbuds that, for the first time, offer a noise‑blocking experience without sealing your ears shut. Shokz avoids calling the feature “active noise cancellation,” but the effect comes surprisingly close.
Noise Reduction Without Plugging Your Ears
Open‑ear earbuds have always had one major advantage: comfort and awareness. They don’t rely on silicone tips, they let your ears breathe, and they keep you aware of your surroundings — crucial when you’re cycling or navigating busy streets. The trade‑off has always been the lack of noise cancellation.
Shokz is now challenging that limitation. Instead of redesigning the buds into a semi in‑ear shape like some competitors, the company developed a new “noise reduction” system that works while keeping your ears open.
During a short hands‑on demo at CES, activating the feature noticeably reduced the chaos of the show floor — even with no music playing. With audio on, the effect became even more convincing.
How Shokz Pulls It Off
To create this open‑ear noise‑blocking effect, the OpenFit Pro uses a trio of microphones:
- one to monitor ambient sound
- one dedicated to enhancing noise reduction
- one that predicts in‑ear noise
By combining data from all three, the earbuds generate precise inverse sound waves that counteract unwanted noise. The system can automatically adapt to your environment, but users can also fine‑tune the reduction manually.
Strong Audio and Solid Battery Life
Noise reduction isn’t the only highlight. Inside each earbud is a large 11 × 20 mm dual‑diaphragm driver, which delivered surprisingly full sound during the demo — even in the loud CES environment.
Battery life varies depending on whether noise reduction is enabled, but Shokz estimates up to six hours per charge with the feature on. That’s roughly in line with traditional ANC earbuds.
Price and Availability
At $250, the OpenFit Pro sit below some premium competitors — Bose’s Ultra Open Earbuds cost $300 and don’t offer any noise‑blocking features at all. Preorders are already open, and Shokz says early buyers will receive priority shipping starting January 12.