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Customer Ratings & Reviews

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Customer reviews

Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars with 786 reviews

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Rating by feature

  • Sound Quality

    Rating 4.6 out of 5 stars

  • Battery Life

    Rating 4.6 out of 5 stars

  • Connectivity

    Rating 4.7 out of 5 stars

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Cons mentioned filter

89%would recommend to a friend

Customers are saying

Customers find value in the OpenComm headset's sound quality, comfort, and long battery life. Many appreciate its lightweight design and the effectiveness of the bone conduction technology, which allows for situational awareness. However, some users experienced issues with the fit and reported that the maximum volume could be higher. A few also noted concerns about the proprietary charging cable and the price point.

This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.

The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 1 Showing 1-20 of 786 reviews
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Comfort, Sound quality
    Cons mentioned:
    Charging cable

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    BEST headset for calls and low/med volume audio

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    Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I bought these as I cannot wear earbuds for extended period of time due to discomfort and to preserve battery when not in use. This OpenComm headset is perfect for reasons I did not realize until continued use: PROS 1. Battery life - I've spend hours on conference calls and listening to YouTube. 2. Comfort - I wear these all day (with glasses) with no discomfort. I used in home office, car, and playing football with my sons. 3. Call Quality and Audio - Based on reviews and my own personal use, calls are clear on both ends and noise elimination works well. The audio is excellent for low/medium volume media. 4. Solid/Stable Connectivity - I used AirPods Pros and AirPods prior to AfterShokz. Although Apple has technology to sense switching between different devices, it does not work all the time. I actually prefer how AfterShokz require you to disconnect from a device before you can connect to another. 5. PRICE/Materials - MSRP is $159, I got mine during sale for $139. The headset is extremely durable with a soft silicone feel. The case included is high quality full protective hardshell case. CONS 1. Like any bone conducting headset, as a tradeoff to not having anything in your ears or covering your ears, the sound quality at high volume will not be comparable to products like AirPods or traditional wired/wireless headsets. The only time I go back to AirPods is when I want to listen to my music at full volume. 2. Charging Cable - proprietary cable

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Comfort, Sound quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Hands down, the best Bluetooth headset I've ever o

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    Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    3 weeks in and I can say for a fact that these are the best headset that I've ever owned!! I can literally wear them all day and if I wanted to all night long and I feel like I'm not wearing anything. If it wasn't for the boom and these darn facial masks I wouldn't even know I had it on. I'm not going to deduct any stars but probably the only annoying thing at all is the metal strap on the back when you lean back on a headrest or try to lay down on a pillow the headset moves and it's a little awkward but I can definitely live with it. Every single person I talk to can hear me clearly, I know this because I've asked them. The noise canceling on this Bluetooth headsets seem to be doing its job. Battery life is exceptional too I can go at least a day and a half of constant listening to music before the battery dies. Yesterday was the first day that at 10% battery life it shut down. I was trying to see how long it would last it and it almost lasted two work days worth. One last thing this may seem kind of weird but if you're listening to a really good song and you want just a little more volume tilt your head upwards and you'll get just a little more sound coming out of your headphones I think it's because they're putting pressure on the bone. I have also not put in any earplugs which is what I heard would help if you wanted to have more noise canceling from your surrounding area. But I drive for a living and I need to hear my surroundings so I don't even bother.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Comfort

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Highly recommend

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    Posted . Owned for 2 months when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I drive tow truck for a living and these are perfect. I can listen to music or books while I drive and take phones calls hands free. I can hear better then with my phone speaker. I’ve been told about the improved quality from my end sense I’ve been using this head set. They are comfortable and I wear them sometimes all day. They charge very fast and the battery last all day. Has yet to go dead on me even if I forget to charge them at night. Highly recommend

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Weight

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Perfect

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    Posted . Owned for 10 months when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Way better than the work headset, fits great, no sore ears after hours of working. I have sensitive ears and this was a life saver after 4.5 years on phone customer service. Even convinced peers to buy these too. I like that they help me walk and talk with out limiting cords. They look great and super light weight. I can wear my hair any way I want with these too. They last for days even when not plugged in and quickly connect to my computer or device.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Comfort

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    An awesome headset I've ever had

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    Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    This is a awesome pair headset, as I’ve been using it each day at work. As the designed that it won’t feel any uncomfortable while wearing it whether the longest hour Or shorter conversation. Also, the battery life is optimized. 10 minutes charger can cover hours connection. There is one thing that it almost made me to return it, because it didn’t work out at first. When I tested to call my friend, they couldn’t hear me, seems the microphone doesn’t work. I searched online that it required to reset the manufacturing mode. - My headset mic isn’t picking up my voice. https://help.aftershokz.com/hc/en-us/articles/360053358514-Troubleshooting-OpenComm#My%20headphone%20mic%20isn't%20picking%20up%20my%20voice Overall, it is working well for me.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Sound quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Best headset for a trucker

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    Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Best headsets I've ever had. I'm in over the road truck driver and I have to use a headset every single day and these are awesome. A great sound for music and the microphone picks up every single word when I am doing a text to speech. plus with my ears being open I can hear everything going on around me. So in my opinion these are the best headsets on the market.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Sound quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    My best buy, from “Best Buy”! Thanks folks!

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    Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I wear them almost all the time, keeps my neighbors happy too! Really love my Jams!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Comfort, Sound quality
    Cons mentioned:
    Volume
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Great for mildly hearing impaired

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    With moderate hearing impairment I’m always on the lookout for devices that help me. I’ve read about bone induction headphones but haven’t gotten to use them till now. When I read that there were some new ones out by AfterShokz called the OpenComm which has a boom microphone and I had to give them a try. Unboxing: These come in a nice heavy multi piece box and inside there’s a padded semi-rigid carrying case, “the case itself was pretty big so I wasn’t sure how large these were going to be”. Opening up the case I was pleasantly surprised by the size of these, as they are pretty small “a lot smaller than any of my on the ear headsets”. Also inside the case is a USB charging cable and a user manual, that’s it, nothing else. Setting up: The first thing I did was plug the USB cable into my multiport USB charger and let it charge up. There’s a red LED that lights while charging and turns “Green” once finished. The charging cable is proprietary and has a magnetic connector that firmly attaches to the back end of the earpiece. The device itself has three buttons “all in bright orange so you can’t miss them, but can’t see them either while wearing” and are raised enough to find easily by touch. One button is on the right forward piece that sits against your jawbone in front of your ear, it controls answering/ending calls and stopping pausing music. Then there are two buttons on the body that goes directly behind your ear, these are used to turn on/off the device, set pairing and to control volume. After charging was finished I followed the instructions and paired them with my S20 Ultra without a hitch. There is a voice prompt that lets you know when they are paired and when turning on/off. Use: The band itself that goes around the back of your head is very flexible and coated with a soft feel silicone covering, and the covering extends to the rest of the headset as well keeping it pretty well sealed up. The small boom microphone is thin and very unobtrusive, it also swivels up out of the way if you don’t want to use it or change the position for the best pickup. The first thing I did was to make a few phone calls, and I was pleasantly surprised how well these sound, “sort of amazing that there’s nothing inside, on, or around your ears”. The clarity with my hearing difficulties was outstanding and I could easily hear everything that was said. The callers on the other end said I sounded just as good as everything else I’ve used and they didn’t know I was using a headset, other than that I was very clear. The volume level on these seems to be enough, although I do wish it could go just a little higher but it’s plenty for now. In a noisy environment I did have to step away to a quieter area but still better than I expected. I’ve used this in a moderate noisy place “grocery store” and I can still hear my callers pretty easily, probably not as easy if I had something in my ears like my hearing aids or over/on my ears like my headset. The big difference is my ears weren’t numb from wearing a headset or sore from having my hearing aids in all day. I could tell where the pieces that rest on your jawbone sat but it was no were near as irritated as other devices. Conclusion: This is a great headset from AfterShokz, I can easily wear them for hours on end with very little discomfort. The sound quality for calls is pretty amazing “although I wish it could go just a little louder at times”. Listening to music isn’t that great, while general sound is good there’s just isn’t much for bass and that’s just due to a limitation of the technology. It works very well for listening to voice/commentary dialog and works well with listening to TV programming without something blocking out outside sounds and noises. It was pretty easy for me to listen to a program and carry out a conversation with my wife, “as long as she spoke loud enough as I wasn’t wearing my hearing aids at the time :) “. Battery life is also outstanding, I’ve made about 2 hours’ worth of phone calls, spent a good 2 hours listening to some videos and the battery is still around 75%, nothing I have will give this kind of battery life and should last close to a couple days of office use like the manufacturer states. So if you happen to have mild/moderate hearing loss these are going to be well worth trying out just for the sheer comfort of not having anything physically on/in your ears.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Comfort, Sound quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    All-day comfort and perfect for video calls.

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    Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    All-day comfort with the benefit of bone-conducting audio so you can hear what is going on around you. The call quality is excellent, and the headset works well with video calls - looking professional. The headset comes with a really nice carry case to protect the headset.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Outstanding

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    Posted . Owned for 1 year when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    This by far thee best hands free headset ive ever owned

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Comfort, Sound quality
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Truly shocking headset

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The AfterShokz OpenComm Wireless Bone Conduction Headset is truly a shocking piece of technology. I didn’t try any bone conduction headset before, and as soon as I tried this one, a door into a new whole experience was wide opened for me. I do not really give any superlatives to devices, this one deserves superlatives, it is just an outstanding technology/device. I use the AfterShokz mostly during my remote work meetings connected to my Windows machine through Bluetooth. So far, they are the most comfortable headphone pieces I’ve ever owned. I like the feeling of not wearing “regular” headphones and I also like not having to use the speakers and bother my family, and yet I feel like the sound is coming from somewhere else but from a device attached to my head. Sometimes I forget that the other parties cannot hear anything coming from this device unless they are very close to me. Just a note, for listening to music in your Windows 10 laptop, there are two sound devices configured as output devices, choose the one without the “hands-free” description to be able to use the buttons on the headphone to control volume, next song, etc. I’ve used the AfterShokz OpenComm with my Android phone as well, the configuration was easy with the phone even telling me how much percentage of battery was left on the device. I see this device would be perfect for someone who is on the road and needs to be aware of their surroundings and doesn’t want others to hear what they are hearing on their phones. I like that several phone operations, such as answer, hang-up, hold, are easily accessible thorough the buttons on the headset. This bone conduction technology feels like magic, I never would have thought that I’d hear with such fidelity on such a device. I know that sound transmits on hard surfaces, I even tried in-ear headphones pressing them on the sides of my head, and I also had placed my ear on the table where a speaker would be on playing some music, but of course, they do not come close to this technology (well they cannot really compare to this technology). There is only one thing that I am a “little” worried about, can this bone conduction technology have any adverse effect on your brain due to the way it transmits sound? >> Pros - Bone conduction: no need to say anything else. - Good sound quality: the sound seems to come from around you or even from inside you, not from a device attached to your head. - Very Light yet robust: despite being a flexible plastic/rubber combination the construction feels very solid. - Very comfortable: I use glasses, and sometimes I forget I have the headphones on me. - Decent battery life: so far I only charged it a couple of times over several days/hours of use. First time I charged the device it took like 40 minutes to fully charge. - Compact: it is small when compared to other headphones. >> Cons Nothing wrong with the device, it is all good. Actually, perhaps, the only thing that could potentially be a problem is if I lose the charging cable. It is a proprietary cable, so I would need to buy a similar one in case I forget to bring it along with me or if I lose it. I wish it was a regular USB cable version as other devices out there.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Worth the price

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    Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    This set is nice and the thing can connect to two items through Bluetooth. The only thing on how to do seems to be a secret. It didn’t come with the instructions on how to do it. I did find how to connect both items on their website. Those were wrong too. You need to do the first one then keep the unit on and repeat the process to connect the second. Just keep that in mind. Took me a while but I was able to connect both that way.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Comfort
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Unique tech for a new unique world

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Aftershockz have been making “bone conducting” headphones for a few years now, and they offer a unique way to listen to music (and now make calls) compared to traditional headsets. Normally, you would put ear buds directly into your ears, or use headphones on top of your ears, to listen to music or do calls, etc. But with bone conducting headsets, the ends sit NEXT to your ear, not on top of them. The sound enters through the side of your head next to your ear, sending vibrations directly into your inner ear and bypassing the ear canal. You “hear” what you’re listening to as clearly as you would any decent set of buds or headphones. Since the tips of the headsets don’t actually sit over your ear, this allows you to hear your music or calls, while also allowing your ears to hear things that are going on around you in your home, while jogging, etc. The Aftershockz “OpenComm” model addresses a need in our new world – many more people are working from home now, and they need good headsets in order for work calls throughout the day. The other Aftershockz models really work best for listening to music and other things, and while they can also accept calls, I always found the microphone on my two older pairs of these to be a bit weak; people complained about my voice sounding muffled or low in volume. The OpenComm model is very much like the other models but with one key addition – it adds a noise reduction microphone that comes out of the left side of it, hanging a few inches more toward your face and mouth, allowing for stronger, clearer, phone calls. In other words, this model is specifically designed for phone calls being their primary use. Charging the OpenComm takes (give or take) about an hour via an unfortunately proprietary (and VERY short) magnetically-connected charging cable. Once charged, you should get roughly 14 hours of talk time or just over half of that if you decide to listen to music. A 5 minute quick charge will add 2 hours of talk time in a pinch. The OpenComm wraps around the back of your head, and the two ends hang directly over the top of your ears, allowing the ends to rest just behind the ear openings. The microphone can be swiveled to adjust up or down on the left side (but unfortunately you can flip it around to use it on the right side of your face). There are a couple of voice prompts built in; press the “+” volume button for a couple of seconds and it will welcome you to tell you it’s on. Hold that button down a bit longer and it will tell you It’s in Bluetooth pairing mode (NFC is available on some Android devices). Press and hold again and it will tell you it’s turning off, etc. You can answer/hang up a call and control a variety of music play functions via a larger primary button on the right ear piece. To mute a call, you have to (awkwardly) press the + and – volume buttons at the same moment (and repeat to unmute). The volume and multi-function button are the only three buttons on the headset. I found the OpenComm to be very comfortable to wear, even with glasses, and even over longer periods of time. Sound was better-than-average clear; the right side seems to be slightly louder than the left, though – not a problem for calls, but for music this might bother some. There has been one incidence where when on a call, a very loud “shrieking” sound came over the earpiece. The person on the other end could not hear it, but it was painfully loud on my end, lasting only a few seconds; interference of some sort? A glitch? Not sure, but it’s only happened once. The boom microphone definitely makes a big difference with calls, as everyone I’ve called so far has told me my voice is loud and clear – much more so than my older pairs of Aftershockz. After around two days of a lot of calls, I still have battery power. It’s also IP55 water resistant should you decide to use it during light workouts, or walking and get caught in light rain briefly. I try to rate items based on “value for money”. The Aftershockz OpenComms are retailing for $159.00. There is a lot of competition in the headset product world right now, and operator-style headsets can be found from $19.95 to well over $200.00. On the plus side, these are much more comfortable than most, seem durable, offer a unique way of hearing your calls AND your surroundings at the same time, come with a handy hard storage case, and have good voice clarity. On the meh side, it uses a short proprietary charging cable (boo), you cannot switch the microphone to the right side, muting calls is awkward, and it’s a bit on the more expensive side. Only you can decide if the comfort level and unique sound delivery system is worth the extra money for you. I wouldn’t mind seeing a few dollars shaved off of the price to give it better value compared to all of the other offerings around, but I still do recommend these if they are within your budget (just look for sales!).

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Sound quality, Weight
    Cons mentioned:
    Charging cable
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    A great headset!

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The AfterShokz - OpenComm Bone Conduction Stereo Bluetooth Headset is one of the latest products from this company. But what’s so special about it? One is that is a bone conducting headset meaning that is doesn’t go to your ears but goes near your ear and sound vibrations pass on to your ears. This enables you to hear your outside surroundings. And while I really won’t recommend this for music, it is still perfect for passive listening to music and being able to hear your surroundings. Being a headset, it has a retractable boom mic which has noise cancelling features meaning it blocks outside noise while you talk which makes it ideal if you make a lot of phone calls as you work. And it does help further that this unit is lightweight too making it comfortable to wear for long hours. It connects via Bluetooth. And I have this with phone calls using both Android and iOS, Skype and Zoom and I must say call quality is good. People don’t notice if I am using a headset at all. And to add, battery life is great at 16 hours. The only downside I can think of is that it uses a proprietary magnetic charging cable rather than a USB cable (whether C or not) though my rating won’t be affected at all. So if you are looking at a headset to use in the office (or working from home) the whole day, I’d highly recommend this headset.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Sound quality
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    First Bone Conduction BT Headset with Boom Mic

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    INTRO: The AfterShokz OpenComm takes AfterShokz bone conduction headphone technology to allow you to remain alert of your surroundings while being able to be on a call or listen to music. But on top of that, the OpenComm integrates a noise canceling boom microphone for those who need to be in communication—whether for a personal call, conference call or other. UNBOXING: Inside the packaging, you get a nice carrying case which holds the OpenComm and magnetic charging cable. Additionally, there’s a small card with instructions on how to get started, as well as a manual with more detailed instructions towards the various controls available on the headset. BUILD QUALITY: The OpenComm has a lightweight build at 33g, with a titanium frame and soft touch rubber. And compared to alternative offerings from other brands, I’d say the AfterShokz have the most professional look and do their best not to look clunky. On top of that, they have IP55 water resistance and moisture detection to protect the battery for safe charging. SETUP: The setup is very easy on the OpenComm. While wearing them, simply power them on by holding the Volume+ button for 5-7 seconds. A voice will first let you know that the headset is on, and after holding for the full duration, the voice will let you know that you’ve entered pairing mode. At this point, your device should be able to see the “OpenComm by AfterShokz” device in the bluetooth settings. If you’d like to enable multipoint pairing (which I only just now figured out you can do while looking at the online FAQ), simply enable the pairing mode as mentioned above, then hold the Multifunction button and Volume+ button for 2-3 seconds. Then connect your first device. Afterwards, power it down by holding the Volume+ down for 2-3 seconds. Then enable pairing mode again by holding the Volume+ button for 5-7 seconds. After which, connect your second device. Now you can have two devices connected to your OpenComm simultaneously. You won’t be able to receive audio from both devices at the same time, but if you were to pause the audio on one and start audio on the other, it should transition in under 10 seconds—a small inconvenience, but it’s more convenient than having to turn off the device just to initiate pairing to the other device. Additionally, if you use an NFC-enabled device, you can also pair using the NFC chip on the left side of the headset. CONTROLS: The controls are mostly standard fare, but there are a couple “gotchas” that I recommend reading the manual for or visiting the online FAQ for to get more information about the controls. Overall, I’d say these “gotchas” could have been avoided if a separate power button was integrated, but considering how quickly I was able to adapt, it’s really not anything I’d complain about. Additionally, you can flip the boom microphone out of the way, but this DOES NOT mute the microphone, which is really unfortunate, as I would expect this behavior from most headsets these days. While the noise canceling microphone will work to reduce any background noises, you may still remain audible. COMFORT: In terms of comfort, the AfterShokz says the OpenComm was designed for all-day communication. I think this experience is going to differ from person to person, especially because the comfort and positioning will depend on the anatomy of your ears and the length of the arc from one ear to the other ear. From my experience, I can certainly wear the OpenComm for several hours at a time, but I do have sensitive ears and prefer to take breaks. I’ve worn them with my glasses on, and with a hat and face mask all simultaneously. I did have to put on my face mask first before I could put the OpenComm on, but I took it with me on a trip to the grocery store and had no issue enjoying music while still remaining aware of my surroundings. PORTABILITY: As far as portability is concerned, you can wear these anywhere, and they can be used for extended periods of time. The headset itself doesn’t cause any obtrusion while worn. However, while the carrying case is nice and sturdy, it’s kind of comically large compared to the actual headset. That being said, I understand that the frame is made of titanium and can’t be expected to be bent around and stuffed into a bag. The case can definitely house the headset, the magnetic charging cable, a USB charger, and perhaps a few more cables if you wish to do so. But I think it could and should be more portable. If AfterShokz are willing to change the interior mold of the case to house a cable and maybe an optional USB charger, I think they could lower the footprint of their case. SOUND: As far as sound is concerned, this one is tough because it’s even more dependent on your anatomy compared to traditional headphones. And while I am an audiophile and have reviewed and purchased headphones and headsets across different price points, I have very limited experience with bone conduction. As a result, I lowered my expectations. The sound here is not going to blow away any audiophiles, but it is certainly adequate/sufficient to have a decent listening experience for both communication and music. Remember, this headset was designed with communication in mind first, rather than music. That being said, my personal experience has been that treble is generally a strong point and bass can be experienced if the OpenComm is worn in a way that lends to it. That being said, the quantity of bass won’t satisfy serious bass heads, but for the way I position it, the sound signature leans neutral with some treble emphasis I have noticed that I can get clearer midrange and treble depending on how I position the bone conduction drivers just in front of my ears, and the same applies to the bass response. Unfortunately, you can’t really adjust how you wear the OpenComm aside from tilting it or slightly rotating it. And since it kind of rests on your ears without anything else to keep them positioned, it can be challenging to consistently get the same exact fit/position each time you put them on. Which means that the sound you get each time you put them on can be a bit variable. So there are times where I’m impressed with the sound, and there are times where I feel like there is a veil over the top-end where the treble takes a hit. For music purposes, I usually find myself adjusting until I get a sound I find to be pleasant, but it usually doesn’t take very long. I do think it would be nice if I could better conform the frame to my head. I tried putting a hat on while wearing the OpenComm and it pushed the frame downwards, causing the bone conduction drivers to tilt a bit—which consequently changed the sound I was experiencing. So I had to adjust the OpenComm again after putting the hat on. That being said, these things don’t really matter as much when you’re simply on a call with someone. I’ve used the OpenComm on long calls for work as well as for chatting up a friend. I had no issues hearing anyone talk, and I’d generally stick with the default EQ. The secondary EQ cuts out the bass and focuses on midrange and treble. This is likely a more sensible EQ if you are wearing earplugs with these in use—in which case, the sound can actually get overly bassy with the default EQ. Why would you want to wear earplugs with these in use? Loud environments like construction zones where you can’t have noise canceling headsets. The earplugs will let you attenuate the loud noises while the bone conduction drivers will let you hear audio at volumes that won’t destroy your ear drums. MICROPHONE: As mentioned previously, the microphone can be flipped out of the way, but it DOES NOT mute the microphone. So it’s important to be mindful of this. You can mute the microphone while on a call by holding the Volume+ and Volume- buttons for two seconds. But AfterShokz claims that this may not work with all applications—in which case, you should use the mute functionality in your software. I’ve found the microphone to be clear, and the noise cancellation is pretty good at eliminating background noise. When I compared to other bluetooth options I have, the OpenComm was slightly quieter likely due to the noise cancellation, but delivered excellent clarity, otherwise. BATTERY LIFE: AfterShokz claims up to 16 hours of call time, 8 hours of playback time, and up to 14 days of standby time. While I certainly have not tested a full 16 hours of call time, I will say that I’ve had no issues being on extended calls with the OpenComm with some mixed usage of music playback, as well. In my testing with mixed usage, I could easily get through a full day without charging them. And even if you needed to charge them, a quick 5 minute charge can yield 2 hours of talk time. A full charge can be had in 1 hour. CONCLUSION: Overall, I approached the AfterShokz with curiosity and skepticism, but I was pleasantly surprised at what they deliver. Whether you work from home and need a bluetooth headset that allows you to be attentive to your family, or someone who works in environments where you can’t safely use other headsets, or you’re just looking for a small comfortable headset that lets you be remain alert, the OpenComm is worthy of your consideration. And while I think the OpenComm has noteworthy potential in business applications, transportation and construction, it really does stand out to me as a choice many people ought to consider.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Best purchase ever!

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    Posted . Owned for 5 months when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Excellent product. If you work a callcenter type job or anything keeping you on the phone all day, this is what you need. Your ear canals will thank you!!!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Comfort, Sound quality
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    I Love This Headset

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    This is my first bone conduction headset and I love it. This headset is my new default. It's comfortable. No more buds slipping out of my ear canal. No bulky / hot ear pieces. Just great audio. After a few minutes, I forget I am even wearing them. I should say that I received this headset for the purpose of providing an unbiased review. And my unbiased opinion is: this headset is awesome. This is great for phone calls. The noise cancelling microphone works well and can be repositioned when not in use. I've made several calls over the last few days and I have been consistently told I sound great. Very clear. I tested it outside on a particularly windy Oklahoma day and they could still hear me. The bone conduction is interesting. Sometimes feels a bit like a buzz on my temple. It's oddly relaxing. Setup was easy. The built-in nfc chip made bluetooth set up a breeze. The headset stayed connected for quite a ways away from my phone. You also get a nice, thick case for storage. The charger is proprietary. One side is USB-A and the other is a proprietary magnetic connection. I didn't find any app for equalizer settings. I find that a bit refreshing as my other headsets were getting a bit pushy with their firmware updates. Sound quality was good. It's not the richest audio I have ever experienced, but it's better than most buds and pods geared towards mobile users. Battery life has been good. I'm still getting used to the multi-purpose button, but it does make it easy to take and hang up on calls. Very easy to feel for the volume buttons as well. For people working from home or looking for a new headset for travel, the gym, or day-to-day wear, I'd say you can't really go wrong here. Highly recommend!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Sound quality, Weight
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Definitely an upgrade to the other models

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I've had aftershokz before. And the old one still works years later. I love it for when I'm strolling around in the city. When I got the open comm model I was ecstatic . So much thinner , now that I wear glasses they don't have to be angled anymore. I wear the aftershokz and my glasses go over them, they don't inhibit whatsoever the use of my glasses. Super lightweight had them on for hours they dont hurt my head or ear area at all. If you haven't used bone conductivity devices then just know that the sound is not the best out there. Even with that downgrade in sound quality you can still hear your music very clearly or audiobook while still hearing the world around you. If this is what you're looking for then go buy them now. They are very easy to use 3 buttons 2 for volume and 1 for everything else.(play/pause, voice assistant, fast forward, rewind, and etc.) Now that aftershokz added the external mic its another bonus . Before on the older models the mic wasn't really good. I can talk but I had to make sure that it was in a quiet area. With the opencomm wow they upgraded that area and 99% better. I tested them in a noisy area. My friends could hear me with no issues at all. It does what it says on the box the noise cancelling mic is very good. Now for my personal daily use, it still fails the wind test. While riding my bike I would definitely have to either slow down or cover the mic a bit. The other con is the magnetic charging cable. You get one and pray you don't lose it or break it, because it's a proprietary cable by aftershokz. Its $10 for another one and I would definitely be getting one to carry with me at all times and leave one home.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Great idea, great execution

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I'm new to the concept of bone conduction, but AfterShokz made a great first impression. The most important feature of an audio product is the sound. Despite not being placed inside the ear, they sound great. The mic does block out external noise, and the mic was acceptable. I have two minor complaints concerning the headphones. They are a hassle to put on if you wear glasses and if your head is slightly larger than the average lol. Yet, this does not take away from their comfort quality once they are in place. The other drawback to the item is that it comes with a short unique cable that may be hard to find in the event of losing or damaging the original. Regardless of my concerns, other features worked as expected such as battery life and pairing options. Overall, this is product performed according to its intended design. This headset would work well for teachers or those in other professions where they are constantly "on the go".

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Comfort, Sound quality, Weight
    Cons mentioned:
    Bass, Fit, Price

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Very Useful Product

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Pros: 1. Phone calls are clear (like landline quality) when making and receiving calls. 2. Flexible, but sturdy; Made of silicone and titanium. 3. Not headache-inducing. 4. No hot and sweaty ears compared to over-ear headsets. 5. So light that sometimes you forget that you have it on. 6. Does not cause ear infection since the unit is outside your ears. 7. You look cool, and strangers will be asking you about it. 8. Chances are, you are the only one wearing it and people will be envious. Cons: 1. Expensive. 2. Pinches the area of the upper jawbone (and outside the ear tragus) where the sound prongs touch the skin. 3. Bass is hardly audible unless you wear ear plugs. 4. Recharging unit is a proprietary magnetic connection instead of USB-C. Why, why, why? 5. No app for software updates for such an expensive unit. CONCLUSION: This is a very useful product which I use everyday. Highly recommended.

    I would recommend this to a friend
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