If you want hearing protection and long battery life for noisy jobs and Zoom calls, choose PROHEAR 033; if you need lightweight, open-ear earbuds for calls on the move, choose Shokz OpenDots ONE Open-Ear. For a quiet desk, Shokz’s clip-on design is the more natural fit; around loud tools, PROHEAR’s earmuff format is the more relevant choice.
PROHEAR 033 vs Shokz OpenDots ONE Open-Ear at a Glance
• Shokz OpenDots ONE strength: Lightweight clip-on earbuds keep the ears open, include optimized microphones, and offer up to 40 hours with the charging case. Trade-off: They provide no noise reduction and are not hearing protection.
• For protection during noisy work: PROHEAR 033 is the more suitable pick.
• For a lighter, open-ear fit during everyday calls: Shokz OpenDots ONE Open-Ear is the more suitable pick.
PROHEAR 033: Who It's For
PROHEAR 033 is an over-ear hearing-protection headset designed for situations such as mowing, woodworking, construction, landscaping, and snowblowing. Its stated NRR is 25 dB. That makes its central purpose different from ordinary earbuds: it combines sound isolation with Bluetooth audio and a built-in microphone, so you can take calls without removing the earmuffs.
The trade-off is the physical format. PROHEAR weighs 0.82 lb and has cushioned cups connected by an adjustable padded headband. It is built to cover the ears, not to disappear during a call. I’d consider it for someone who wants hearing protection while working and can accept an earmuff-style headset. If your calls happen mainly at a quiet desk, or you want your ears uncovered, it is likely more headset than you need.
Shokz OpenDots ONE Open-Ear takes the opposite approach. Each earbud clips onto the ear with a flexible nickel-titanium plate and silicone grip, while leaving the ear open. Each bud weighs 6.5 g, and the left and right earbuds are interchangeable. That design suits calls and listening when staying aware of nearby sounds is more important than blocking them.
The product includes optimized microphones and is described as supporting clear conversations. It uses Bluetooth 5.4 and can connect to two devices through multipoint pairing, which could be handy if you move between a computer and phone during the day. The Shokz app lets you adjust EQ modes and touch controls. Battery life is listed as up to 10 hours per charge and up to 40 hours with the case; a 10-minute quick charge is specified to provide two hours of playtime. The earbuds are IP54 water-resistant.
That open-ear design is also the key limitation. Shokz lists noise control as none, so these earbuds are not a substitute for hearing protection in a loud workshop or while using power equipment. They may fit someone looking for headphones for Zoom calls at a desk, on a commute, or while moving around, but they are not the choice for reducing hazardous noise. If you specifically want the best in-ear headphones for Zoom calls, note that these are clip-on, open-ear earbuds rather than conventional in-ear buds.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-19 · 10 min read · Independent comparison
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for calls around noisy work: PROHEAR 033. Its earmuff design is built around sound isolation and has a stated NRR of 25 dB; Shokz offers no noise reduction.
• Best for long Bluetooth listening without a case: PROHEAR 033, with up to 48 hours of Bluetooth playback. Shokz lists up to 10 hours per charge, or up to 40 hours when including the charging case.
• Best for switching between two devices: Shokz. Multipoint pairing is a named feature, which can help when alternating between a laptop and phone.
• Best for radio without a phone: PROHEAR 033. It includes FM/AM radio, station search, presets, and an LCD display; no radio feature is listed for Shokz.
• Best for a lightweight clip-on fit: Shokz. Each earbud weighs 6.5 g, while PROHEAR is an over-head earmuff headset weighing 0.82 lb.
• Best for quick extra listening time: Shokz specifies a 10-minute quick charge for two hours of playtime. PROHEAR’s listed full charge takes six hours.
• Best for water resistance: Shokz has an IP54 rating. Neither product’s supplied details establish it as waterproof, so don’t treat IP54 as permission to submerge it.
For Zoom calls in a noisy work setting, I’d choose PROHEAR 033 because it pairs an integrated microphone with earmuff-style hearing protection and up to 48 hours of Bluetooth playback. It is the more purpose-built option when the environment, not just the call, is part of the problem.
For ordinary desk calls or moving around while staying aware, Shokz is the easier format to wear. But my overall pick for the stated use case of Zoom calls is PROHEAR 033—provided you actually need its hearing-protection design.
For calls in a noisy work area, PROHEAR’s earmuff design and integrated microphone make it the more relevant choice. For a quieter setting where you want an open-ear fit and multipoint pairing, Shokz is the better match.
They have no listed noise-control feature and are not identified as hearing protection. Their open-ear design is useful for awareness, but it does not replace protective earmuffs around loud equipment.
The supplied details do not give PROHEAR an IP water-resistance rating. Shokz is listed as IP54 water-resistant, but that is not the same as being waterproof or safe to submerge.
PROHEAR lists up to 48 hours of Bluetooth playback. Shokz lists up to 10 hours on a charge and up to 40 hours with its charging case, so PROHEAR has the longer stated continuous Bluetooth playback figure.
DONE:VEVENTCHANTABILITY
If you want hearing protection and long battery life for noisy work and Zoom calls, choose PROHEAR 033; if you need lightweight, open-ear earbuds for calls on the move, choose Shokz OpenDots ONE Open-Ear. For a quiet desk, Shokz’s clip-on design is the more natural fit; around loud tools, PROHEAR’s earmuff format is the more relevant choice.
• PROHEAR 033 strength: Over-ear hearing protection with an NRR of 25 dB, Bluetooth calling, FM/AM radio, and up to 48 hours of Bluetooth playback. Trade-off: Its earmuff design covers the ears and is bulkier than open-ear buds.
• Shokz OpenDots ONE strength: Lightweight clip-on earbuds keep the ears open, include optimized microphones, and offer up to 40 hours with the charging case. Trade-off: They provide no noise reduction and are not hearing protection.
• For protection during noisy work: PROHEAR 033 is the more suitable pick.
• For a lighter, open-ear fit during everyday calls: Shokz OpenDots ONE Open-Ear is the more suitable pick.
PROHEAR 033: Who It's For
PROHEAR 033 is an over-ear hearing-protection headset designed for situations such as mowing, woodworking, construction, landscaping, and snowblowing. Its stated NRR is 25 dB. That makes its central purpose different from ordinary earbuds: it combines sound isolation with Bluetooth audio and a built-in microphone, so you can take calls without removing the earmuffs.
The trade-off is the physical format. PROHEAR weighs 0.82 lb and has cushioned cups connected by an adjustable padded headband. It is built to cover the ears, not to disappear during a call. I’d consider it for someone who wants hearing protection while working and can accept an earmuff-style headset. If your calls happen mainly at a quiet desk, or you want your ears uncovered, it may be more headset than you need.
Shokz OpenDots ONE Open-Ear takes the opposite approach. Each earbud clips onto the ear with a flexible nickel-titanium plate and silicone grip, while leaving the ear open. Each bud weighs 6.5 g, and the left and right earbuds are interchangeable. That design suits calls and listening when staying aware of nearby sounds is more important than blocking them.
The product includes optimized microphones and is described as supporting clear conversations. It uses Bluetooth 5.4 and can connect to two devices through multipoint pairing, which could be handy if you move between a computer and phone during the day. The Shokz app lets you adjust EQ modes and touch controls. Battery life is listed as up to 10 hours per charge and up to 40 hours with the case; a 10-minute quick charge is specified to provide two hours of playtime. The earbuds are IP54 water-resistant.
That open-ear design is also the key limitation. Shokz lists no noise control, so these earbuds are not a substitute for hearing protection in a loud workshop or while using power equipment. They may suit someone looking for headphones for Zoom calls at a desk, on a commute, or while moving around, but they are not the choice for reducing hazardous noise. If you specifically want the best in ear headphones for zoom calls, note that these are clip-on, open-ear earbuds rather than conventional in-ear buds.
• Best for calls around noisy work: PROHEAR 033. Its earmuff design is built around sound isolation and has a stated NRR of 25 dB; Shokz offers no noise reduction.
• Best for keeping your ears open: Shokz OpenDots ONE Open-Ear. Its clip-on fit leaves the ear canal open, while PROHEAR covers the ears with cushioned earmuffs.
• Best for long Bluetooth listening without a case: PROHEAR 033, with up to 48 hours of Bluetooth playback. Shokz lists up to 10 hours per charge, or up to 40 hours with the charging case.
• Best for switching between two devices: Shokz. Multipoint pairing can help when alternating between a laptop and phone.
• Best for radio without a phone: PROHEAR 033. It includes FM/AM radio, station search, presets, and an LCD display; no radio feature is listed for Shokz.
• Best for a lightweight clip-on fit: Shokz. Each earbud weighs 6.5 g, while PROHEAR is an over-head earmuff headset weighing 0.82 lb.
• Best for quick extra listening time: Shokz specifies a 10-minute quick charge for two hours of playtime. PROHEAR’s listed full charge takes six hours.
• Best for water resistance: Shokz has an IP54 rating. Neither product’s supplied details establish it as waterproof, so don’t treat IP54 as permission to submerge it.
My Verdict
For Zoom calls in a noisy work setting, I’d choose PROHEAR 033 because it pairs an integrated microphone with earmuff-style hearing protection and up to 48 hours of Bluetooth playback. It is the more purpose-built option when the environment, not just the call, is part of the problem.
For calls in a noisy work area, PROHEAR’s earmuff design and integrated microphone make it the more relevant choice. For a quieter setting where you want an open-ear fit and multipoint pairing, Shokz is the better match.
They have no listed noise-control feature and are not identified as hearing protection. Their open-ear design is useful for awareness, but it does not replace protective earmuffs around loud equipment.
The supplied details do not give PROHEAR an IP water-resistance rating. Shokz is listed as IP54 water-resistant, but that is not the same as being waterproof or safe to submerge.
PROHEAR lists up to 48 hours of Bluetooth playback. Shokz lists up to 10 hours on a charge and up to 40 hours with its charging case, so PROHEAR has the longer stated continuous Bluetooth playback figure.
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