AfterShokz OpenMove vs AfterShokz Aeropex

Hi there, I am pretty satisfied today because the postman delivered my new AfterShokz OpenMove! A new generation bone conduction headphones which will spread the bone conduction message even more. Being a bone conduction blog we will try to provide you each and every detail of this marvelous headset. This way you will be able to make the right choice when it comes down to bone conduction headphones. Visiting the AfterShokz website namely, you will nowadays be able to choose between the AfterShokz Aeropex, the AfterShokz Air, the AfterShokz Xtrainerz, the AfterShokz Opencomm and the AfterShokz OpenMove. In today’s article I will cover the AfterShokz Aeropex vs the AfterShokz OpenMove story.

The looks

Unpacking the AfterShokz OpenMove the first thing I notice is the fact the design goes back into the time. The Aeropex had and has a completely new design but the OpenMove goes back to the titanium days. That’s at least my personal opinion. Of course new technologies have been used but if you just take a look at the design. The ‘ears’ have little ribbons, and the titanium frame runs into the ‘ears’. It gives the OpenMove a kind of retro look which I honestly do like. It doesn’t look as aerodynamic and sporty as the Aeropex but I can imagine some people like this classy retro look more. There is no accounting for taste of course.  

The colors Aeropex vs OpenMove

Color-wise AfterShokz could have done better at OpenMove level. The OpenMove is only available in alpine white and slate grey. For the ones familiar with AfterShokz headphones the slate grey color will probably ring a bell since both the Air and the Titanium had a slate grey version. The Alpine white color is a new one; looks good and fresh to my opinion.

The Aeropex on its turn has a broader range of colors to choose from. Besides cosmic black which is similar to the OpenMove slate grey one can also go for solar red, lunar grey and blue eclipse. Since appearance does matter, some people might be tempted to go for an Aeropex instead of choosing the OpenMove.

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Wearing comfort

I tested both the Aeropex and the OpenMove during a 3 hours session on my bike while my wife tested both AfterShokz bone conduction headphones during a 2 hour run. There is little to no difference with regard to wearing comfort. The Aeropex has a so-called wrap-around titanium frame while the OpenMove has a partial titanium frame but we didn’t really feel the difference. Maybe if you go for these long endurance rides (6 hours and more), you would feel the difference. I will test it one of the coming days and will let you know. I do remember in an Air vs Aeropex test, the wearing comfort also became a factor during endurance trainings.

Features and functionalities

With regard to features and functionalities the big differences are the waterproof level of protection and the battery life. Especially the second aspect is crucial for me. The AfterShokz OpenMove has a battery life of 6 hours, while the Aeropex has a battery life of 8 hours. Since I often go on 6 hours+ rides the Aeropex suits me better. Many people though will not need those 8 hours so the 6 hours of OpenMove will do in that case. 8 hours are of course not only handy for long rides, runs or activities. The long battery life is also a blessing for those who tend to forget to recharge their devices on a frequent basis.

The Aeropex also has an IP67 waterproof level of protection vs IP55 for the OpenMove. I must say I have never experienced issues with my Air when wearing him in the rain or when sweating really hard. I compare it to the Air now because I have been using these headphones for about 2 years and they have the same IP55 waterproof level of protection.  An IP55 therefore does the job perfectly.

Except for the weight: 26 grams for the Aeropex vs 29 gramsfor the OpenMove, the other features and functionalities are the same. Both headphones for example have Bluetooth 5.0.

Price AfterShokz OpenMove vs Aeropex

The AfterShokz Aeropex is the top of the bill high-end bone conduction headphones model of AfterShokz. It comes at a price of $159,95. The AfterShokz OpenMove is the step-in model which comes at a price of $99,95.

AfterShokz Aeropex vs OpenMove Conclusion

Personally, I am still a bigger fan of the AfterShokz Aeropex but the OpenMove hasn’t been designed to replace the Aeropex. I see it as an enhanced but cheaper version of the Aeropex Air. This version is ideal for people who want to discover the bone conduction technology via a very decent product. The fact the OpenMove uses the same sound quality technology as the Aeropex is a big pro to go for these bone conduction headphones if in doubt between the Air and the OpenMove.

The reason I like the Aeropex more is the fact I regularly make long endurance rides and I like the looks more. But as stated before, the looks or the design that’s a matter of personal taste. My main reason is the battery life. In case 6 hours of battery life is sufficient for you, I would really consider buying the AfterShokz OpenMove. I hope you liked this AfterShokz OpenMove vs Aeropex article.