After 15+ Years of Headsets, This One Finally Won Me Over

Product Reviewed

Aftershokz/OpenComm 2 UC — a bone-conduction “communication” headset with a flip-down boom mic and a USB-C (UC) dongle for direct PC connection.

Main Features Mentioned

Connectivity Options

• Bluetooth to phones/tablets/wearables (e.g., Pixel, Pixel Watch, iPad, Switch, and TV via Bluetooth).
• USB-C dongle (UC variant) connects directly to a PC/Mac for apps like Zoom/Teams (also tested with a Pixel phone).
• Uses a multi-point style experience to switch between paired devices—especially via Bluetooth.
• App control (Shocks app) for managing multi-device behavior:
  • can limit connections to fewer devices
  • supports up to five connection targets (phone + watch + iPad + Switch + TV were mentioned)

Microphone + Controls

• Movable boom mic:
  • if tucked up, others hear the wearer more quietly
• Mute button and voice prompts for mute/volume/battery
• Volume up/down buttons
• Power button acts as volume up (hold to power off/on)
• Single multi-purpose button for phone + media:
  • answer/hang up
  • play/pause
  • double-tap: next track
  • triple-tap: previous track
• Limitation noted: can’t trigger voice assistant (Siri/Google Assistant) with the headset button, unlike some other devices where holding the multifunction button works.

Sound + Audio Behavior

• Bone conduction means nothing goes in/over the ear, so ambient sounds remain audible (cars, people, jogging cues).
• Claimed excellent voice clarity (“crystal clear voice”) with strong audio leakage reduction:
  • people nearby can barely hear it at max volume
• No noise cancellation, since there’s no seal (conceptually similar to using earplugs).

Comfort & Fit

• Lightweight; user “forgets it’s there” for most of the day.
• Adjustable headband pieces for clearance.
• Works well with most hats, with main issues for:
  • ski masks (muffle the mic)
  • skull caps (can create sealing gaps and cause more problems—cold/fit and mic/comfort)

Battery / Charging

• Battery life described as “incredible”—can go all day with minimal charging.
• Battery status voice prompts:
  • battery high/medium/low (mostly high/medium; rarely low)
• Charging habits:
  • often twice a week or less
  • no need for in-car top-ups
• Charging improvement in OpenComm 2 (UC variant):
  • uses USB-C charging instead of an older proprietary magnetic connector

Pros (Unique Points)

• Great day-long battery life; rarely hits low.
• Very clear microphone audio for calls (“phone-like” voice clarity).
• Excellent range for PC use, with a demo suggesting roughly ~30 ft walkaround working for “wireless mic” use.
• High comfort and low wearability burden.
• Preserves ambient awareness (no ear blockage), helpful for running/cycling and not missing conversations/soft speech.
• Works across many devices with pairing/multi-device switching supported via app controls.
• USB-C dongle reduces audio dropouts/interruption common in some purely Bluetooth workflows (especially for PC use/recording workflows).
• Good “nearby people won’t hear it” behavior at high volume.
• Included accessories mentioned: case, USB-C to USB-C cable, dongle.
• 2-year warranty.
• Improved charging flexibility vs older models (USB-C instead of proprietary magnetic charge).

Cons / Downsides (Unique Points)

• Case doesn’t store the dongle well:
  • extra space, no proper slot
  • dongle could be lost while traveling
• Voice assistant shortcut doesn’t work from the headset button (must use the phone).
• No noise cancellation (not a closed-ear solution). Suggests earplugs for airplane engine noise.
• Boom mic usability issues:
  • if not lowered, call audio quality drops
  • when moving/leaning, the boom may bounce and need adjustment
• Hat compatibility limitations:
  • ski masks can muffle the mic
  • skull caps create gaps and are the biggest appearance/function issue
• UC mode caveat on phones:
  • when plugged into a Pixel phone via USB-C, the phone treats the headset like a “PC/wired-like” device, limiting functionality vs true Bluetooth mode
  • Bluetooth reconnection requires turning the headset off and back on after disconnecting the UC/dongle
• Price: around $200; cheaper options exist (OpenComm variants without the boom or without UC/dongle features).

Comparisons Made

Against Older Aftershokz Versions

• Older models were described as too rigid/uncomfortable; later versions improved.

Against In-Ear Bluetooth Earbuds (Pixel Buds)

• Pixel Buds 2:
  • liked Find My Earbud and improved beeping
  • but materials irritated their ears severely

Against Over-Ear Bose QuietComfort

• Bose:
  • best for truly eliminating engine noise while flying
• OpenComm 2:
  • no noise cancellation, so it won’t “disappear the world” like Bose QC
  • can be supplemented with earplugs

Against “True Wireless” Style Earbud Use

• User dislikes dual-bud designs (risk of losing one bud).
• OpenComm avoids that by using a single connected headset.

User Experience Highlights (Feel / Performance)

• Mic works best when the boom is down; tucked up makes the wearer much quieter.
• Lightweight headset—often forgotten during wear.
• For work:
  • supports Zoom/Teams/desktop calls
  • enables walking around without losing mic function
• For play:
  • quickly switches back to music on the phone after calls
• Ambient sound remains audible, supporting safer awareness while exercising.

Numerical / Rating Info

• Price: stated as ~$200
• Distance demo: walkaround roughly ~30 ft (estimate from narration)
• Warranty: 2-year warranty
• No formal star ratings or score out of 10 were provided.

Overall Verdict / Recommendation (Concise)

Highly recommended if you want a bone-conduction headset with excellent call mic clarity, long battery life, and strong multi-device/PC dongle performance—especially for work calls on a computer.

Skip it (or expect tradeoffs) if you need noise cancellation or frequently wear tight skull caps/ski masks that interfere with mic/fit. The main annoyances are dongle storage in the case and the lack of a button-based voice assistant shortcut.

Unique Points by Aspect / Speaker

Only one speaker is present (“Detroit Love”); no separate speakers or distinct viewpoints were provided.