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Shokz launches lighter OpenRun Air 2 and OpenFit Air 2

Lighter open-ear audio

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Shokz OpenRun Air 2

Shokz has launched two new open-ear audio products designed for active lifestyles and everyday use.

The OpenRun Air 2 is a bone conduction sports headphone built for running, cycling, hiking, and outdoor training. The OpenFit Air 2 is a true wireless earbud designed for workouts, commuting, and all-day wear.

Both products keep the ear canal open. This lets users listen to music and take calls while staying aware of their surroundings.

OpenRun Air 2 gets smaller and lighter

The OpenRun Air 2 weighs 26.4 grams. It is also more than 9% smaller than the OpenRun.

Shokz redesigned the ear hooks to follow the natural curve of the ear. The new design distributes pressure more evenly. A forward-shifted center of gravity also helps reduce bounce during movement.

The ear hooks and neckband use a durable memory alloy. This helps keep the headphones secure during activities.

The headphones use Shokz’s PremiumPitch 3.0 bone conduction technology. Its upgraded driver uses an all-metal, dual-coil, dual-reed structure. Shokz says this delivers richer bass, clearer vocals, and a more balanced sound.

Users can also adjust the sound through the Shokz App. It offers four preset EQ modes and two custom EQ profiles.

The OpenRun Air 2 offers up to 10 hours of listening time. That’s 25% longer than the OpenRun. A five-minute Quick Charge can also provide up to two hours of playback.

An IP67 rating protects the headphones from dust and water. The device also uses USB-C charging and physical controls.

For calls, the OpenRun Air 2 uses an AI-powered noise reduction microphone. Shokz says it helps keep calls clear even in windy conditions.

The headphones come in Black and Ice Blue. Both colors are available in Standard and Mini sizes.

OpenFit Air 2 is the lightest OpenFit

The OpenFit Air 2 weighs 7.2 grams per earbud. Shokz says it is the lightest product in the OpenFit lineup.

The new charging case is 10.5% smaller than the previous generation. The earbuds and case together are also 17.6% lighter.

Shokz redesigned the ear hook with a 0.75mm nickel-titanium alloy frame. This balances flexibility and support during workouts and everyday use.

The open-ear design also reduces pressure and heat buildup inside the ear canal.

For audio, the OpenFit Air 2 uses Shokz’s Bassphere driver and OpenBass 2.0 algorithm. The system uses a dual-driver setup to improve low-frequency performance.

A 30-degree angled speaker directs sound toward the ear. DirectPitch technology also helps reduce sound leakage.

Like the OpenRun Air 2, the OpenFit Air 2 supports four preset EQ modes and two custom profiles through the Shokz App.

The earbuds provide up to eight hours of listening time on a single charge. The charging case extends total battery life to up to 36 hours. A 10-minute quick charge provides up to three hours of playback.

The earbuds also use pressure-sensitive controls designed to reduce accidental inputs from sweat, water droplets, or hair.

Other features include dual microphones with AI noise reduction, IP55 sweat and water resistance, Bluetooth 6.1, Multipoint Pairing, Fast Pair, Swift Pair, customizable controls, and Find My Earbuds through the Shokz App.

The OpenFit Air 2 comes in Black, White, and Ice Blue.

Pricing and availability

The Shokz OpenRun Air 2 and OpenFit Air 2 will be available starting August 27 through Shokz.com and select retailers.

Both products are priced at $129.95 USD and $169.95 CAD.

News

This Nokia phone can also be a powerbank

The Nokia 300 Charge has a 3700mAh battery that can charge other devices.

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Did you know that the original Nokia 3310 had only up to 1000mAh of battery life per charge? And yet, a single charge is enough to last ages. That’s because a “dumb” phone doesn’t really need a lot of juice to work. But what if you stick a larger battery onto a dumb phone. Well, you can get a phone that can double as a powerbank, and that’s just what the new Nokia 300 Charge is.

Despite the abundance of smarter options today, dumb phones, especially those from Nokia, can still find a home in the hands of those who don’t want to feel connected 24/7. Now, there’s another use for a dumb phone: a savior for your main phone.

The Nokia 300 Charge has a sizable 3700mAh battery. Powering the phone, the battery can supposedly last up to 40 hours on standby. However, it can also double as a powerbank for your other devices, which is a basic 10W reverse wired charging with an included 4-in-1 cable.

Technically, a 3700mAh powerbank is sorely inadequate for today’s devices that often go beyond 5000mAh already. Still, if you’re in a tight situation, the Nokia 300 Charge might be a lifesaver.

In addition to saving your devices from an empty battery, the phone can also save you from darkness with a built-in LED flashlight.

Inside, you’ll get a basic Unisoc SC6531E chipset with 4GB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage. For that added flavor of nostalgia, the Nokia 300 Charge comes with a retro QVGA camera.

HMD has not announced when the phone will come out or its price, but you can expect it to be cheaper than most phones today.

SEE ALSO: Not even Nokia phones are safe from AI features

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Gaming

Stage Tour is resurrecting your Rock Band childhood

You can rock the guitar, the drums, or vocals to your favorite songs.

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A new Witcher 3 DLC, a new Final Fantasy VII, Mega Man, Rayman, and Crazy Taxi. What year is it again? With games as nostalgic as these coming out, there’s one game that can complete the circle: Rock Band. Now, resurrecting an era of rhythm games, Stage Tour will have you playing the guitar, the drums, or vocals in a star-studded game with a lot of iconic tracks.

For those who played through the classic Guitar Hero or Rock Band, Stage Tour needs no introduction. However, if you’re new to the scene, the game simply puts you into the shoes of a rock band. You can wield a guitar, a set of drums, or a microphone. And yes, the game comes with a customized controller for each instrument.

As for the soundtrack, you can rock and jam to a lot of the catchiest songs from yesteryear to today including titles from BABYMETAL, Paramore, Slipknot, The Rolling Stones, Ed Sheeran, Black Eyed Peas, Blink-182, Fall Out Boy, Metallica, Walk the Moon, and Olivia Rodrigo.

Stage Tour launches on December 10 for all major platforms like PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Switch 2. You can also grab their official accessories through their site, but they do cost a pretty penny.

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Gaming

HoYoverse’s Nodusfall looks like nothing they’ve ever made before

But it looks so similar to Elden Ring or Dark Souls.

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There’s a certain aesthetic you’ll always expect whenever you see HoYoverse mentioned. Touting long-standing hits like Genshin Impact and Zenless Zone Zero, the publisher’s games often have bright and appealing aesthetics, bolstered by highly attractive characters to get you into the gacha groove. However, for the first time, HoYoverse is trying something completely different: Nodusfall, an action RPG that looks and feels like Elden Ring.

Revealed at today’s gamescom, Nodusfall teases a deeply fantastical setting focusing on Weavers taking on ferocious monsters and divine entities. Players will be able to take on these challenges with, based on the trailer, four players. Each player can wield an assortment of weapons including a greatsword, a regular sword, a bow, and magic. The trailer also teases spells that can transform the player into a divine being themselves.

As for the enemies, they have a strangely striking resemblance to other games you might have played before. One is a grizzled warrior who beheads a giant lion, something that’s shockingly identical to Hoarah Loux in Elden Ring. Another rides a dragon, similar to the Nameless King from Dark Souls 3.

Comparisons aside, Nodusfall is an impressive transformation for HoYoverse. Since forever, the publisher thrived on anime aesthetics, highlighted these days by the godly trilogy of Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, and Zenless Zone Zero.

HoYoverse hasn’t revealed the release date of Nodusfall just yet, but we’re excited to see it in action.

SEE ALSO: HoYoverse’s first life sim, Petit Planet, opens Stardrift Test sign-ups

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