OpenRock is back with a new generation of open-ear air conduction earbuds — this time, it’s the second iteration in their S line series: the OpenRock S2.
So, what does the S2 offer that its predecessor, the OpenRock S, didn’t? In short — almost everything. While not a complete overhaul, the S2 brings significant upgrades across the board… except in one area: battery life. The OpenRock S2 offers up to 8 hours of playback on a single charge, compared to the impressive 19 hours of the original OpenRock S.
But don’t jump to conclusions just yet — there’s a good reason for this trade-off. The engineers behind the S2 prioritized a featherlight design, bringing the weight down to a remarkable 7 grams. It’s so light, you’ll barely even notice you’re wearing them.
Before diving into all the new features the OpenRock S2 has to offer, let’s start with a look at the specs and an unboxing.
Check out our review of the OpenRock X.
OpenRock S2 Open-Ear Air Conduction
Specification
| Model: OpenRock S2 | Speaker: 12mm | Bluetooth Version: 6.0 |
| Waterproof Rating (Earbuds): IPX5 | Audio Codec: LDAC, AAC, SBC | Bluetooth Connection Distance: ＞10m |
| Single Earbud Weight: 7g | Total Weight: 58g | Battery Life: 8 Hrs / 32 Hrs (with case) |
| Operating Temperature: 0 ~ 45°C | Charging Time: 1.5 h | Battery (Charging Case): 3.7V 450mAh/1 |
Where To Buy:
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Unboxing and First Impressions – OpenRock S2 Open-Ear Air Conduction
The packaging of the OpenRock S2 is relatively compact, with its key features clearly highlighted around the box. However, don’t expect extras — there’s no charger or additional USB-C cable included, just a user manual and a safety guide. So be sure to keep that in mind.
Closer Look – Design and Build
There’s nothing particularly special about the packaging itself, so let’s go straight to the case. The charging case features a galaxy-themed obsidian design, giving it a sleek, premium appearance — as if it’s made from polished stone. On the top, you’ll find the OpenRock logo, while a USB Type-C charging port is located on the side.
Inside, the case has a molded hard plastic interior that perfectly fits the earbuds. Magnetic contacts help snap them securely into place, ensuring reliable contact with the charging pins. Between the earbuds is a single multifunction button used to switch between paired devices — handy, since the S2 supports dual-device connectivity.
Taking a closer look at the earbuds themselves, you’ll notice their lightweight yet flexible construction. The outer shell is coated with a soft matte silicone finish, contributing to their comfortable fit. Each earbud weighs just 7 grams and features an ear-hook design, 12mm BassDirect drivers, and more under the hood.
Media controls are handled via a button located on the underside of the rear-ear section of the earbuds. Unfortunately, reaching for the button can be a bit tricky, and it requires a firm press to activate. It’s slightly disappointing that OpenRock opted for a mechanical button instead of touch controls — possibly a compromise to maintain the ultra-lightweight build, since touch sensors typically require additional hardware.
Beyond that, there’s not much else to see in terms of exterior design.
Looking closely at the inner ear section, you’ll find several small holes that appear to serve as speaker driver pass-throughs. This design choice is a bit surprising for a product marketed as “conduction,” as most conduction-based headphones tend to use closed or bone-conduction designs. It’s an unconventional setup that raises some questions about its conduction classification.
Performance – Audio Quality
The OpenRock S2 impresses right out of the box with unexpectedly high-quality audio, especially for an open-ear design. Sonically, it punches well above its weight — delivering crisp highs, a rich midrange, and bass that’s surprisingly full for an air conduction device. In terms of sound performance alone, it rivals many traditional in-ear earbuds and confidently exceeds expectations in its category.
However, the open-ear format still comes with inherent compromises. Noise isolation is virtually nonexistent — a well-known limitation of this design — which, while great for situational awareness and long-term comfort, makes the S2 less than ideal in quiet or shared workspaces. Sound leakage is a notable concern as well, potentially disturbing those nearby and raising privacy issues in public settings.
Overall, the OpenRock S2 strikes a compelling balance between performance and awareness-focused design, but it’s best suited for specific use cases rather than all-around listening. It’s a standout in the open-ear market, though its strengths may not fully outweigh its environmental limitations for every user.
Performance – Microphone Quality
While the audio output of the OpenRock S2 holds its own against many premium earbuds, microphone quality is equally important — especially for users who rely on earbuds for calls, meetings, or voice recordings. Open-ear designs can often struggle with mic clarity due to their open structure and distance from the mouth, so we put the S2’s microphone to the test under typical real-world conditions to assess how well it handles speech pickup, background noise, and voice clarity. Let’s find out how it performs.
The microphone performance of the OpenRock S2 reflects the typical strengths and limitations of open-ear audio devices. The voice comes through intelligibly and without noticeable distortion, which is commendable for a mic placed further from the mouth compared to boom or in-line alternatives.
However, there are a few notable compromises. The overall clarity lacks the crisp, detailed presence you’d expect from premium in-ear or dedicated call-focused earbuds. The recording carries a slightly hollow or airy quality, and background noise is subtly picked up, though not overly distracting in this sample. While acceptable for casual calls or voice notes, the lack of noise suppression makes it less reliable in noisy environments or professional settings like virtual meetings.
Volume levels are well-balanced and consistent throughout the sample, which is a positive sign. There’s no aggressive compression or peaking, and the stereo capture provides a slightly broader feel to the voice—though this doesn’t significantly enhance speech intelligibility.
Final Thoughts…
The OpenRock S2 is an impressive leap forward for open-ear audio, especially for users who want comfort, awareness, and above-average sound without sealing off the world. It’s not trying to be an all-in-one solution — and that’s okay. In fact, its greatest strength is how clearly it defines its purpose: a lightweight, stylish, and capable earbud for active users and commuters.
If you understand and accept the inherent compromises of open-ear listening — mainly the sound leakage and reduced isolation — the S2 offers outstanding value in its niche. It’s not a replacement for in-ear monitors or ANC headphones, but for what it’s built to do, it does it remarkably well.
