I reviewed the first OpenMeet UC early last year. I liked the overhead headset, particularly the sound for a bone conduction model, but I joked it wasn’t a good choice for exercise. Why? While it was certainly lightweight and flexible, it wasn’t particularly secure—even Shokz officials admitted that to me at InfoComm 2026. Basically, a quick shift or a hearty sneeze could shift them out of place.
So, one of the big upgrades for the new OpenMeet 2 UC model is … stability. Gone are the replaceable pressure relief cushions near your temples (I didn’t think they did much, anyway). Instead, the “GlideFit” headband now includes two flexible, plastic extensions that gently grip your head slightly above your ears. Much better. You can still knock the headset out of position if you’re a serious headbanger and set your mind to it; for those of us who work in an office and don’t try to intentionally sprain ligaments, there should be no problem keeping it in place.
Made of titanium, with memory foam covered in synthetic leather for the portion that sits atop your head, the new model is still very lightweight and flexible. I'm not going to say you'll forget it's on, but it's not heavy and can be easily adjusted. The headset frame is angled near your ears, so it doesn’t interfere with glasses.
Out of the Box
The OpenMeet2 UC ships with a sturdy carrying case that has dedicated areas for the headset as well as the included USB-C charging cable and dongle. You have to sort of twist the headset like a pretzel to get it to fit, but it'll be well protected once it's in there. I tested the USB-C dongle, but you can also select a USB-A dongle or skip the dongle altogether to save a few bucks.
Shokz says the headset supports up to 12 hours of talk or 16 hours of listen time. I received my evaluation unit on a Tuesday, charged it to maybe 90%, and used it off and on for the rest of work week without issue, so battery life isn't a concern. Plus, a five-minute quick charge will give you two hours of talk time. Bluetooth range was fine as well.
Controls are pretty simple. The mute button at the end of the mic boom doubles as an access point for your voice assistant when you’re not on a call, while a button on the other end of the boom answers, ends, and rejects calls. You can also flip the boom up to mute.
And then there’s multifunction button at the top of the right earpiece. (No, you can’t swing the mic for use on the left side.) It’s your power and Bluetooth pairing button, but you can also pause your music and move forward/backward on your playlist with the proper number of clicks. You can even spin the thing to adjust your volume, though up is counterclockwise, which feels like the exact opposite of what it should be.
Audio performance is very, very good on the OpenMeet2 UC. It features LeakSlayer 3.0 and PremiumPitch 3.0 technology. I have no idea what either term means, but the vibration sensation, which can be a distraction for some bone conduction product users, is basically gone. I cranked up several songs and finally, barely got the driving guitar of "California" from Big & Rich to create a minor vibration. That's a big win, Shokz.
EQ and Other Options
I downloaded the Shokz app—a firmware update was available, what are the odds—and while it’s certainly not essential for using the headset, it does provide battery status and several personalization options. For example, you can swap out the voice prompt for a tone (or select none) as well as change the prompt volume and language. The default time for auto power off is four hours, but you can make that stretch of time longer or shorter, depending on your work style.
You also have a choice of three built-in audio settings—Standard, Voice, and Bass Boost—as well as a customizable EQ. Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” sounded most balanced in the Standard setting; Vocal was just fine, but Bass Boost sounded like she was singing from the bottom of a well. Standard also gave me much better results for Billy Joel’s “Zanzibar,” which sounded a bit muddy in Vocal mode and garbled in Bass Boost mode. Your ears may disagree, but the takeaway here is that the OpenMeet2 UC gives you plenty of personalization options through the app, so you can make the most of your music and phone calls.
Speaking of phone calls, I tried the OpenMeet2 UC on a few with no complaints. Audio was very clear on my end, and I was told I sounded clear as well. No problems with videoconferences on my end, though I was told by some folks that I sounded clear but “tinny” during our conversations. An LED on the right earpiece turns red when you’re on a call and illuminates in other colors to indicate charging status and more.
I'm still not going to recommend this as an exercise headset—if that's what you're shopping for, you'll be much happier with Shokz's OpenRun Pro 2. Of course, the OpenMeet2 UC is designed for the office, not the gym, and it gets high marks in that area. If you want an overhead headset that provides environmental awareness, the OpenMeet2 UC will give you lightweight, stable comfort and excellent audio reproduction.
