If you swim regularly and want to listen to music underwater, or if you prefer audio that doesn't seal off your ears during workouts, you might be considering waterproof open-ear headphones. The SHOKZ OpenSwim Pro in red is built specifically for this purpose, combining an MP3 player with Bluetooth connectivity and serious water resistance. Understanding whether this type of headphone suits your needs comes down to how you plan to use them and what trade-offs you're willing to make.

What Are Open-Ear Headphones, and Do You Actually Need Them?

Unlike traditional earbuds that fit inside your ear canal, open-ear headphones sit on the bone near your temple and vibrate to transmit sound directly to your inner ear. This design means you can hear your surroundings—traffic, other people, pool deck announcements—while still enjoying music or podcasts. This matters most if safety is a concern: runners on busy roads, swimmers who want to hear a coach or lifeguard, or anyone who finds sealed earbuds uncomfortable for extended wear.

The trade-off is that open-ear headphones won't give you the sound isolation or bass response of traditional earbuds. If you spend hours listening to music and want complete immersion, or if you work in a loud environment and need your headphones to drown out noise, this design won't serve you well. But for workouts, commutes, or casual listening where you want connection to your environment, they excel.

MP3 Storage Versus Bluetooth: Understanding the Dual-Mode Design

The SHOKZ OpenSwim Pro offers two separate listening modes, and this is crucial to understand before buying. In Bluetooth mode, you stream music and podcasts from your phone to the headphones. This works on land only—Bluetooth signals don't travel through water, so underwater listening is impossible with streaming.

For swimming, the headphones use their built-in MP3 player with 32GB of storage. You load music files directly onto the headphones via USB or a computer, creating an independent music library. With 32GB, you can store around 8,000 songs depending on file quality, giving you weeks of swimming soundtracks without repeating. You'll toggle between modes using either the physical button on the headphones or the Shokz App on your phone.

This dual approach means you need to plan ahead. Before a swim session, make sure you're in MP3 mode and that your desired songs are already stored on the device. If you forget and try to use Bluetooth underwater, you'll get silence. For many people, this workflow becomes automatic within a week or two of ownership.

Water Resistance Ratings Explained

The IP68 waterproof rating tells you exactly what the headphones can handle. This certification means the device can be submerged in water up to two meters deep for up to two hours. In practical terms, that covers swimming laps, snorkeling, and casual water sports. You could use them during a shower or light rain without worry.

However, IP68 does not mean unlimited depth or duration. Diving deeper than two meters or staying submerged longer than two hours pushes beyond the tested limits. The headphones also use a triple-sealed design to keep water out of electrical components. After water exposure, rinse them briefly in fresh water and let them dry completely before storing, which helps prevent salt water corrosion or mineral buildup.

Battery Life and Charging Realities

The SHOKZ OpenSwim Pro delivers up to nine hours of continuous playback on a full charge. For context, that's enough for multiple swimming sessions across a few days. If you need a quick listening session, a ten-minute charge gives you about three hours of use, so even a brief top-up before heading to the pool adds real value.

Charge the headphones regularly—don't let them sit for months without power, as this can degrade battery health. The magnetic charging system is convenient and helps keep water out of charging ports.

Is the SHOKZ OpenSwim Pro Right for You?

Consider these questions: Do you swim or do water sports regularly and want music? Do you value hearing your surroundings during workouts? Can you remember to load songs onto the device before swimming? Are you comfortable with a separate device from your phone for underwater listening?

If yes to most of these, the SHOKZ OpenSwim Pro fits your needs. If you're mainly a Bluetooth listener who occasionally gets rained on, or if you need maximum sound isolation, a traditional waterproof earbud might serve you better. Either way, understanding the difference between MP3 and Bluetooth modes—and the reality that only one works underwater—is the foundation of making the right choice.

The product in this guide: SHOKZ OpenSwim Pro Open-Ear MP3 Headphones, Red, IP68 Waterproof, 32GB MP3