Soundcore is taking a genuine technical gamble by bringing “2-in-1” earbuds to market. These in-ear headphones can be converted into open-ear earbuds with a single movement - a world first.
Every year-end has its rituals. At publications such as Presse-citron, it is the season for buying guides. We do our best to help with Christmas shopping, whether that means recommending a particular product or highlighting a notable innovation.
Compiling these guides, and choosing which products to include in particular, can prompt lively internal debates. They lead us to discuss our favourite devices as well as the technologies we would like to see emerge over the coming months.
I remember one such conversation with a colleague about our preferred sports earbuds. Bone conduction naturally came up, but we both felt it had shortcomings. It certainly lets you remain aware of your surroundings, which is extremely useful in certain situations, yet it does not really allow for complete isolation. Sound quality has also improved markedly in recent years, but still falls well short of competing solutions.
At the same time, “open-ear” earbuds arrived on the market in 2025. It was an appealing approach, and it led us both to imagine a possible next step: open-ear headphones that could work in an “open” mode as well as an in-ear mode. On paper, this offered nothing but benefits. Unfortunately, that technology did not yet exist last December.
A world first
So you can imagine my surprise when Soundcore, Anker’s audio subsidiary, unveiled the AeroFit 2 Pro. These open-ear earbuds make one promise: the ability to switch from an “open” mode to an “in-ear” position. Clearly, I am not the only person with good ideas.
Out of the box, the AeroFit 2 Pro are exactly what you would expect. They are open-ear earbuds that wrap around the ear, with the battery sitting behind the auricle. In practical terms, a simple push on the earbud moves them from open mode to an in-ear position. The gesture feels fairly natural.
The earbuds offer five positions to suit every ear shape. Changing their position also enables or disables the active noise cancellation, or ANC.
Add the fact that the earbuds’ hard-plastic outer surface is effectively one large button, and that covers the essentials.
Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro: the real-world verdict
As mentioned above, I had been eagerly awaiting earbuds able to operate both in-ear and in an open configuration. Combining these two technologies seemed like a sound idea, and after several weeks of testing, I can say that I have not been disappointed.
They respond flawlessly, and both positions are very comfortable to wear without ever irritating the back of the ear - something this type of design can do on certain models. They are light enough that you quickly forget you are wearing them.
The earbuds stay securely in place, including in the open position, although that configuration is inevitably less stable. I would not recommend wearing them on a trampoline, as they may fall off, but they are more than secure enough for running and other “moderate” physical activities.
Soundcore delivers very good audio quality here. You can tailor the experience through Soundcore’s excellent companion app, available from both the App Store for iPhone and the Google Play Store for Android.
More specifically, Soundcore has equipped this model with 11.8-millimetre composite drivers, certified for Hi-Res Audio and using LDAC technology.
An open mode that is quickly forgotten?
Being able to use these earbuds in an open position or as in-ear headphones makes for a highly interesting experience. That said, I expected my use of the two modes to be more evenly balanced.
After a few days of testing, I realised that I was only wearing the AeroFit 2 Pro in in-ear mode. For this review, I had to make myself use the open mode. Without you reading this on the other side of the screen, I would have used these earbuds solely in in-ear mode, where both the audio quality and the overall experience are at their best.
Two exceptionally practical buttons
The AeroFit 2 Pro were designed with athletes in mind, and it shows. Rather than offering touch controls or small adjustable physical buttons, Soundcore has made the entire earbud act as the button.
With every press, you feel your finger pushing against the mechanism. It is genuinely intuitive. Some people may take issue with the AeroFit 2 Pro’s lack of refinement. The rigid plastic does not feel especially “premium”, but these are minor details.
Dependable battery life
Battery life is a crucial consideration for connected devices. Soundcore claims between 7 and 5 hours of use for the AeroFit 2 Pro, depending on whether ANC is enabled. For charging, the company promises 3.5 hours of listening time from just 10 minutes of charging.
Our testing returned similar charging figures. The charging case also supports wireless charging. I quickly got into the habit of leaving it permanently on a charging dock without giving it a second thought.
Any shortcomings?
Having read this review, you may be wondering whether the AeroFit 2 Pro have any flaws, given how little I have addressed them so far. To be completely transparent, there are very few. The most demanding users may criticise the case’s dimensions. It is admittedly rather large and takes up considerable room in a trouser pocket.
Others might argue that these earbuds’ active noise cancellation could be improved. It is plainly not the best on the market, but neither is it a weakness. Given this hybrid design, the AeroFit 2 Pro actually perform very well in this area.
The AeroFit 2 Pro’s open-ear architecture will not appeal to everyone. This is a deliberate design choice by the manufacturer. You either like it or move on, but Soundcore cannot be accused of lacking innovation.
Price and our verdict
The AeroFit 2 Pro are a superb innovation. As I said at the start of this article, I had hoped that a brand would produce earbuds with this technology, and that has now happened. My expectations for this device were very high, and all of them have been met.
Finally, there is one last, and far from insignificant, criterion to consider in this review: price. At €179.99, these earbuds are certainly not an entry-level model. They are, however, slightly cheaper than direct rivals such as Shokz’s OpenFit Pro at €249 or, in a different style, Apple’s AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation at €199.
AeroFit 2 Pro
Price: €179.99
Overall score
9.5/10
We like
- Audio quality
- Active noise cancellation
- Very good battery life
- An innovative design
We like less
- A slightly large case
- Finishes that could be improved
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