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OneOdio OpenRock S2: Two minute evaluate
I’ve examined so most of the best open earbuds not too long ago that they’ve virtually began to blur into one, however I’ve by no means forgotten two of the primary open-ears I examined for a way distinctive they had been. One in every of these was the OneOdio OpenRock S – and it has lastly seen a successor within the OneOdio OpenRock S2. However the factor is, it’s fairly a unique proposition.
The OpenRock Pro and OpenRock S had been fairly massive and ponderous open-ears in comparison with what we’re seeing in 2025 however they had been excellent for out of doors adventures or operating due to their completely big battery life, rugged design and stable, sturdy, rigid design.
For higher or worse the OpenRock S2 aren’t just like the first-gen mannequin however maintain nearer to present market tendencies by way of design and have set. I can’t say I’m not upset, however these new buds could possibly be extra interesting to a wider viewers so I can perceive the change.
These are barely extra inexpensive options to a lot of the different main open earbuds we’ve seen this 12 months, nearly all of which sit simply north of the $100 / £100 / AU$200 value line. I’d advocate them to individuals who need first rate open-ears however don’t want the perfect audio, fully-rounded function set or long-lasting batteries.
The S2 are light-weight buds with a extra versatile design and far smaller carry case, so gained’t take up a lot house in your bag or in your head than the last-gen mannequin. I did discover that this design offered a couple of points with match although, because the buds would typically transfer place on my head or get caught on my ear’s antitragus, and I discovered myself lacking the older buds’ design.
One other downgrade is a battery life in that it is roughly half that of the predecessors, however different areas compensate: OpenRock lastly has a telephone app for its earbuds, which wasn’t the case upon the discharge of the previous-gen buds.
The sound profile is heat with a transparent give attention to bass, with tech from the corporate emphasizing bass to not give it additional oomph, however to make sure you may even hear it on this kind issue (which regularly loses it). They’re good choices in case you’re on the lookout for one thing to work out with.
For those who had been delay by the unique OpenRock’s rugged, chunky look and big carry case, pondering it a bit an excessive amount of of a fringe possibility for you, you’ll undoubtedly assume the S2 an fascinating new pair of earbuds. But when these traits had been all the promoting level of the originals for you (as they had been for me), the S2 simply don’t have that uniqueness.
OneOdio OpenRock S2 evaluate: Specs
|
Part |
Worth |
|
Water-resistant |
IPX5 |
|
Battery life |
8 hours (earbuds), 32 hours (complete) |
|
Bluetooth sort |
Bluetooth 6.0 |
|
Weight |
7g / Charging case: 58g |
|
Driver |
12mm |
OneOdio OpenRock S2 evaluate: Worth and availability
- Launched in June 2025
- Prices $98.99 / £79.99 / AU$154
The OneOdio OpenRock S2 went on sale in June 2025, formally marking the second technology of OpenRock’s sports-specific open-ear headphones.
You’ll be able to choose up the buds for $98.99 / £79.99 / AU$154 , so that they’re cheaper than their predecessors, which launched in October 2023 for $99 / £89 (roughly AU$150) though value cuts have seen the OpenRock S go for half that.
That additionally places the OpenRock S2 as a number of the most inexpensive open earbuds to return out this 12 months, a superb possibility for cost-cutters. You could find some rivals under, however let me communicate plain: the choices price shopping for are all about $130 / £100 / AU$200.
OneOdio OpenRock S2 evaluate: Design
- Small and light-weight case
- Light-weight buds, barely wobbly design
- Exhausting-to-press bodily buttons
Having examined earlier OpenRocks, I used to be anticipating a equally big carry case (comparatively – earbuds circumstances will be like packing containers of dental floss now) for the S2, however I used to be pleasantly shocked. It’s a a lot smaller pebble-shaped holder which weighs simply 58g and simply matches in a hand.
Whereas it’s made out of a reasonably brittle plastic that doesn’t really feel prefer it’d survive a lot of a battering (I did not attempt any drop assessments), the speckled sample on it makes it extra distinctive-looking than the huge variety of its rivals I’ve used.
The earbuds themselves are additionally smaller and extra svelte than earlier choices from the corporate. They weigh simply 7g every and are made up of a small bud, a skinny rubbery sports activities loop and a bigger counterweight/battery pack that sits behind your ear.
As acknowledged, I’ve examined a great deal of open-ears and these have gotten to be a number of the most comfy, due to how small and light-weight they’re. Typically I’d utterly neglect I used to be even carrying them.
Regardless of being comfy, the match isn’t dependable, possible as a result of simply how skinny, versatile and wobbly the sports activities loop is. When operating, figuring out or typically even strolling, the driving force housing close to my ear would wobble or change place a little bit, which might have a giant knock-on impact on audio high quality.
One other factor to criticize on the design entrance is the contact controls. On-ear controls, be they contact capacitive sensors or bodily clicking buttons, are a tough factor for corporations to get proper, however the S2 is presumably the worst instance but on an open earbuds design.
The button is on the underside of the counterweight, so if you wish to pause your music, it’s a must to press upwards — which shoves the factor straight out of your ear. Now that’ll cease your music! The answer is to carry the bud in place together with your different fingers or hand to maintain it in place, however this can be a far more convoluted course of than, say, choosing up your telephone and urgent ‘pause’.
OneOdio OpenRock S2 evaluate: Options
- 8-hour battery, 32 hours from case
- New app with additional options
- Dependable connection by way of Bluetooth 6.0
OpenRock has significantly minimize the S2’s battery life from its predecessor, which is a giant disgrace. You’re now taking a look at a long-lasting energy of 8 hours per bud, or 32 hours if you issue within the case, which is about common for open-ears however far in need of the 19/60-hour lifetime of the OpenRock S. It’s a disgrace to see a downgrade like this from one of many S’ finest promoting factors.
As with most open earbuds, there’s no noise cancellation right here; actually, the shape issue makes it straightforward to listen to surrounding sounds. In reality, the buds’ comparatively low max quantity implies that usually, you won’t even hear your music over the encompassing din in built-up cities, say.
The OpenRock S2 work alongside the OpenRock telephone app which brings a couple of additional options. A very powerful one in all these is the equalizer, which has three presets (Rock Mode, Loosen up Mode and Increase Mode, a graphic of the equalizer curve being the one manner you’ll know what any of them do) and a seven-band customized mode.
This was a little bit infuriating to make use of as each time you modify profile, music shortly sparkles off and again on, so repeatedly tweaking the sound creates a strobe-like impact.
The app provides a couple of premium options like Spatial Sound, a strategy to regulate the left-right stability of music, a Hello-Res Mode and Multi-Level Connection. Some anticipated options seem like the flexibility to customise contact controls and there are two rarer ones: the flexibility to set an alarm to let you already know you’ve been listening for a set period of time, and a most quantity limiter (ironic, given what I mentioned in regards to the quantity).
All through testing, I discovered the OpenRock S2 fast and straightforward to connect with my telephone, and dependable at sustaining a connection.
OneOdio OpenRock S2 evaluate: Sound efficiency
- 14.2mm driver
- Bass tech returns for heat sound profile
- Low max quantity, will be arduous to listen to
Every bud of the OpenRock S2 has a 12mm driver. It helps LDAC, AAC and SBC codecs, the previous when you allow it by way of the app. The buds sound first rate for his or her price, although they’re not one of the best open-ears for audiophiles.
A promoting level of OpenRock’s first-gen open-ears is again right here: TubeBass, which boosts low-end sounds to repair a standard grievance of the shape issue, that thumping rhythms will be misplaced within the hole between earbud and ear canal.
TubeBass works properly in guaranteeing the S2 is likely one of the higher open-ears for bass followers, guaranteeing that you simply hear the bump of a bass guitar, synth or double bass in your chosen track. It makes the buds helpful for individuals who take heed to plenty of exercise songs, although clearly they don’t examine to any over-ear or in-ears which can ship way more bass.
The bass isn’t overwhelming although, so it doesn’t drown out the treble in sounds. The general sound profile of the buds is undeniably heat although, so guitars are crunchy and brass will be punchy however vocal strains lack some sparkle and sharpness via the higher mids and trebles. Mids will also be misplaced in songs, even rockier ones that get pleasure from additional ‘oomph’ from their rhythm guitars.
The soundstage is pretty restricted, combining devices right into a little bit of a thick lump at occasions, however this isn’t as damning because it sounds as a result of the type of nuance {that a} detailed soundstage can supply will also be shortly misplaced in open-ears when surrounding sounds get in the best way.
- Sound efficiency rating: 3.5/5
OneOdio OpenRock S2 evaluate: Worth
OpenRock’s determination to cost these as extra inexpensive than most different open-ears from main manufacturers was a sensible one. It makes them tempting as an alternative choice to high choices from manufacturers like Nothing, Huawei and Honor, for individuals who wish to get monetary savings.
The S2 isn’t so improbable worth for cash that it’s an immediate must-buy, however they nonetheless present plenty of bang to your buck. That’d be doubly true if a reduction ever involves them to scale back the value a little bit additional, particularly for US patrons.
OneOdio OpenRock S2 evaluate: scorecard
|
Class |
Remark |
Rating |
|
Worth |
It is an inexpensive possibility that does not have the function set of rivals (or predecessors) however is not that a lot of a downgrade. |
4/5 |
|
Design |
Far more light-weight and svelte than earlier than, maybe an excessive amount of so. |
3.5/5 |
|
Options |
Many of the options you want are current, even when some have seen a downgrade from previous fashions. |
4/5 |
|
Sound |
A heat sound profile that’ll attraction to individuals figuring out, although it has its limitations. |
3.5/5 |
OneOdio OpenRock S2: Do you have to purchase them?
Purchase them if…
Do not buy them if…
Additionally think about
|
Part |
OpenRock S2 |
Earfun OpenJump |
JLab Epic Open Sport |
OpenRock S |
|
Water-resistant |
IPX5 |
IPX7 |
IP55 |
IPX5 |
|
Battery life |
8 hours (earbuds) 32 hours (complete) |
11 hours (earbuds) 42 hours (complete) |
7 hours (earbuds), 30 hours (complete) |
19 hours (earbuds), 60 hours (complete) |
|
Bluetooth sort |
Bluetooth 6.0 |
Bluetooth 5.3 |
Bluetooth 5.4 |
Bluetooth 5.3 |
|
Weight |
7g / Charging case: 58g |
8g / Charging case: 67g |
16.8g / Charging case: 49.6g |
12g / Charging case: 132g |
|
Driver |
12mm |
14.2mm |
14mm |
16.2mm |
How I examined
The OpenRock S2 underwent roughly two weeks of testing with a purpose to write this evaluate, and because the introduction implies they’re simply the newest in a protracted chain of open-ears I have been testing.
Through the evaluate interval the buds had been related to an Android smartphone and I typically used them for music on Spotify but additionally sometimes for calls, video games, TV present streaming and listening to voice notes. This passed off on runs, on the gymnasium, on walks round my neighborhood and at house.
I have been reviewing devices for TechRadar since early 2019 and have used an enormous vary of tech. This consists of different open-ear buds in addition to previous earbuds from OpenRock and different headphones from dad or mum firm OneOdio.
- First reviewed: July 2025