Open-ear headphones are nothing new these days, and countless variations exist with different technologies, such as bone conduction and air conduction (just to create marketing hype), but generally all characterized by the promise of absolute comfort that sometimes isn't delivered. After testing the OpenRock E for some time, using them for various purposes such as sports, relaxation, study/work, etc., I can tell you all about it in this review. I can already tell you that my verdict on the OpenRock E is positive, offering an unexpected balance between sound quality, comfort, and practicality that is difficult to replicate.
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Design and comfort
I'll skip the unboxing part, as, as with other products from this brand—which, I recall, belongs to the more famous OneOdio brand—the sales package contains only the earbuds and the instruction manual, so there's no charging cable, which should have a Type-C connection. The earbuds are extremely comfortable, and this is the main aspect I want to emphasize, as similar products often create discomfort after prolonged use. However, the OpenRock E gently envelop the edge of the ear, resting on it without digging into the ear canal, thus also avoiding the annoying feeling of "blockage." Each earbud weighs about 4 grams, a weight that contributes to the aforementioned comfort, making you forget you're wearing them after a few minutes.
Their lightweight and compact size doesn't mean they're not durable; in fact, the OpenRock E feature a 0,5mm titanium memory core in the TPU-coated headband that connects the driver to the element that rests behind the ear, allowing for ample flexibility without deforming. These earphones fit snugly, which I especially appreciated when wearing glasses. Aesthetically, they're more discreet than most fitness headphones; in fact, the mirrored finish doesn't make them look like a "gym accessory," which I think is important for anyone who wants these types of earphones but isn't a dedicated athlete.
Sound quality
Typically, open-ear headphones, due to their physical nature and design, aren't impressive in terms of sound reproduction and volume, but OpenRock's engineers have truly achieved some small miracles with the E model. The 10 mm dynamic driver combined with the brand's proprietary LISO Lite algorithm pushes just the right amount of low frequencies, resulting in audio that I would describe as full-bodied, rich, and far from flat. Every musical genre, even electronic music, is expressed in a balanced manner, with bass that isn't boomy yet still punchy without distortion. Vocals are clear, and the details typical of acoustic recordings are preserved without fatiguing.
If we really want to find a flaw that's more of a stretch, it's that if you're in crowded environments, background noise is present, and you'll therefore be forced to turn the volume up more than necessary. But in reality, this might seem like a flaw, but it's actually one of the strengths of the OpenRock E and all those headphones with an identical design. Indeed, outdoors, perhaps while cycling or jogging, you maintain situational awareness: you can hear traffic, conversations, even the faint hum of the world around you.
Autonomy
And still taking their light weight and compact size as a starting point, you might think these earphones wouldn't allow for extended use without requiring additional charging. Well, even in this respect, the OpenRock E excel, without overdoing it but still with excellent results. With a single charge provided by the case in about 1,5 to 2 hours, we can get up to 7 hours of music playback and calls, while total battery life reaches 28 hours, essentially a full work week of travel, relaxation, sports, and more. But if you really find yourself in a pinch and have forgotten to charge them, know that with just 10 minutes in the case, you can get an hour of use, ideal for a late-day jog. It's not a revolutionary feature, but it's the kind of thing you appreciate when you actually use it, as in my case, when I forgot to charge them before going for a bike ride and had to handle some work calls. The case itself is compact, not particularly luxurious in appearance but still durable and functional. I carried it in my backpack with keys and cables and it held up better than I expected.
Connectivity and special functions
The OperRock E's Bluetooth 6.0 offers faster pairing and more stable connections, and that's truly the case. I never noticed any dropouts, even in crowded environments or when moving from one room to another in the house with walls in the way. Furthermore, the case lid integrates a Hall sensor, meaning you don't even need to remove the headphones from the case to connect instantly to the last device used. However, they don't have multipoint connectivity, so if you manage multiple devices with the same headphones, this could be a disadvantage.
The controls are touch-sensitive and customizable via the companion app. The app's interface isn't the most refined, but it gets the job done: you can adjust the EQ, toggle the game mode, and even find a "Find My Headphones" option. I appreciated the ability to fine-tune the EQ, though I found myself using the default balance most of the time. There's a Game Mode with 60 ms latency, which is sufficient for mobile gaming, even with shooters, though I admit I did notice a slight delay in syncing between voices and gunfire.
They also boast IPX4 resistance, meaning they're not suitable for diving but are still resistant to sweat and rain. For workouts or the occasional drizzle, they're perfect. The real problem, albeit one caused by the nature of the product itself, is sound leakage, a typical issue with open designs. When you use the earphones in the office or in quiet environments, those around you could hear the audio being played, or worse, calls. While this might be annoying for the other user, it also affects your privacy, especially during conversations. Yes, the OpenRock E can also handle calls with good microphone performance, although they don't offer true noise cancellation. If there's a lot of wind in the room, some words might sound muffled, so it's best to handle calls in peace.
Conclusions
These earbuds have gradually become my everyday choice for many reasons, including comfort, sound, and their open design, which gives me a sense of security when I'm out and about. I appreciated being able to hear train announcements without having to remove the earbuds, or hear when someone was speaking to me even when I was busy with other activities and isolated in my music. They blend in well enough to not draw attention. They're not ideal for flights or noisy environments like public places, but that's no bad thing, just as in-ear headphones don't offer ambient awareness.
That said, the OpenRock E have largely won me over with their comfort, quality audio, long battery life, and thoughtfully designed extra features in a product that feels more refined than most of the competition. They're superb for runners, commuters, athletes, and anyone who wants to stay connected to their surroundings without sacrificing too much on sound quality.
Totally clear! OPENROCK completely changes the experience - comfort, sound and top design