Even if you’ve heard the brand name “Shokz,” have you ever wondered, “Which country is this company actually from?”
While Shokz is known as synonymous with bone conduction headphones, it is surprisingly little known where its headquarters are located or what kind of company it is. In this article, we will thoroughly explain everything based on official information, from Shokz’s home base and technical capabilities to its history spanning over 20 years.
What you will learn in this article!
- Which country Shokz is a brand from
- Shokz’s company overview and proprietary technology
- Its history from founding to the present and brand reliability
Ms.GadgetsI’m interested in Shokz bone conduction headphones, but what country is the brand from in the first place?
Mr.GadgetsShokz is a brand that originated in Shenzhen, China. It is a company leading the world in bone conduction technology. Let’s take a closer look.
Conclusion: Shokz is a company from Shenzhen, China
Shokz is an audio brand headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China. The formal corporate name is “Shenzhen Shokz Co., Ltd.,” and it was established in 2004. It consistently handles the research and development, design, manufacturing, and sales of open-ear headphones centered on bone conduction technology.
Shenzhen is a technology hub often called the “Silicon Valley of China.” In this city, where global tech companies like Huawei, DJI, and BYD are headquartered, Shokz has established its position as a pioneer in the field of bone conduction. Leveraging the geographical advantage of Shenzhen, where the supply chain for electronic components is concentrated, the company’s strength lies in a system that allows for efficient operations from research and development to manufacturing.
Ms.GadgetsSo Shenzhen is a place where many famous technology companies are gathered.
Mr.GadgetsThat’s right. In addition to its headquarters in Shenzhen, Shokz also has a North American base in Austin, Texas, and operates with a dual-base system.
Currently, Shokz operates in over 60 countries and regions worldwide, holds over 3,800 patents (as of 2023, according to the official website), and has over 7 million users globally. On Amazon, its major products consistently receive high ratings of around 4.5 stars.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand Name | Shokz |
| Corporate Name | Shenzhen Shokz Co., Ltd. |
| Year Established | 2004 |
| Headquarters Location | Shenzhen, Guangdong, China |
| North American Base | Austin, Texas |
| Regions of Operation | Over 60 countries and regions worldwide |
| Number of Patents | Over 3,800 (as of 2023) |
| Number of Users | Over 7 million |
| Core Products | Bone conduction headphones / Open-ear headphones |
Ms.GadgetsOver 3,800 patents is quite a significant scale!
Mr.GadgetsThey also hold numerous patents related to bone conduction. It is the result of their continuous investment in technology.
Shokz’s Company Overview and Technical Capability
The reason Shokz is supported globally lies in its proprietary bone conduction technology. Here, we will explain their technical strengths.
How Bone Conduction Technology Works
Standard headphones deliver sound by transmitting air vibrations through the ear canal to the eardrum. On the other hand, bone conduction technology adopts a completely different approach. It converts sound into mechanical vibrations and transmits them directly to the cochlea (the auditory organ in the inner ear) via the skin and temporal bone (the bone near the temples).
This method has significant advantages. Because it does not block the ear canal at all, ambient sounds are heard naturally as they are. Whether it’s noticing an approaching car while running or responding to a colleague’s call in the office, you can ensure safety and communication while enjoying music or podcasts.
Ms.GadgetsSo, because it doesn’t block the ears, you can listen to music safely?
Mr.GadgetsThat’s correct. The revised Road Traffic Act enforced in November 2024 has strengthened penalties for mobile phone use while riding a bicycle. With rising safety awareness, the attention toward open-ear types that do not block the ears is increasing.
Shokz’s Proprietary Technology
Over more than 20 years of R&D, Shokz has developed multiple proprietary technologies.
- PremiumPitch™: A foundational technology that optimizes the structure of bone conduction transducers to expand the frequency response range. It continues to evolve from 2.0 to 2.0+.
- DualPitch™: A dual-driver system consisting of two drivers: a bone conduction driver (mid-to-high frequencies) and an air conduction driver (low frequencies).
- DirectPitch™: A technology that achieves listening without blocking the ears while suppressing sound leakage (adopted in the OpenFit series).
- DualBoost: The latest technology featured in OpenFit 2. It balances the richness of bass and treble.
Ms.GadgetsThere are many technologies. Are they evolving rapidly?
Mr.GadgetsYes. Bone conduction technology has evolved from the 7th generation to the 10th generation, and with PremiumPitch 2.0+ and DualPitch, it has developed into a hybrid system that also combines air conduction.
World No. 1 Track Record
Shokz holds a high market share in the bone conduction headphone field. The official website positions the brand as the “world-leading sports headphone brand,” and it consistently ranks high in category rankings on Amazon.com.
The track record of being sold in over 60 countries and regions worldwide is evidence that the product quality and support system are internationally recognized. In the Japanese market, in addition to the official online store, products are widely available at major electronics retailers such as Amazon, Yodobashi Camera, Bic Camera, and K’s Denki, and ease of purchase is another reason why Shokz is chosen.
Ms.GadgetsCan you buy them at electronics retailers in Japan too? That’s reassuring.
Mr.GadgetsYes. Being able to listen to the actual products at physical stores before purchasing is a major benefit. Limited colors and other items are also available on the official website.
Shokz’s History and Reliability
Shokz is a company with over 20 years of history since its establishment in 2004. Here, we look back at its journey based on the official history.
Shokz’s Journey (2004–2025)
The history of Shokz is also the history of the evolution of bone conduction technology.
- 2004 — Company established in Shenzhen, China. Began development of electronic acoustic products.
- 2011 — Debuted as the consumer brand “AfterShokz.” Filed the first open-ear patent.
- 2012 — Entered the bone conduction headphone market in earnest.
- 2015 — Announced the wireless model “Titanium,” which became a record-breaking hit.
- 2017 — Announced the lightweight model “Air.” Won multiple Red Dot Design Awards.
- 2019 — Announced the flagship “Aeropex” and the fully waterproof swimming model “Xtrainerz.”
- 2020 — Announced the entry-level model “OpenMove” and the business-oriented “OpenComm.”
- 2021 — Changed the brand name from “AfterShokz” to “Shokz.” Announced “OpenRun” and “OpenSwim.”
- 2022 — Announced the flagship “OpenRun Pro,” the smaller “Mini,” and “OpenComm UC.”
- 2023 — Announced “OpenFit” featuring DirectPitch™ technology. Entered the True Wireless (TWS) market.
- 2025 — Announced “OpenFit 2.” Improved sound quality and fit with DualBoost technology.
Ms.GadgetsEstablished in 2004, they have quite a long history. But why did you change the name along the way?
Mr.GadgetsIt was to accelerate global expansion. “AfterShokz” strongly conveyed an image of only bone conduction, so it was refreshed to “Shokz” as a brand name that can support a wider product lineup.
Why AfterShokz Changed to Shokz
In December 2021, AfterShokz officially changed its brand name to “Shokz.” Behind this decision lies a strategic intent that goes beyond a simple name change.
According to the official announcement, “AfterShokz” had challenges in being difficult to remember and share. On the occasion of its 10th anniversary, the goal was to accelerate global expansion by refreshing it to “Shokz,” which is simpler and easier to pronounce in languages all over the world.
“Shokz” was chosen as a name that covers the broader “open-ear” category as a whole, is easy to remember worldwide, and is globally applicable. The logo design was also renewed, reborn into a more modern and approachable brand image.
Reliability Backed by Awards
Shokz products have been highly evaluated in global design and technology awards.
- CES Innovation Award — Won multiple times in 2016 (Titanium), 2018 (Air), 2025 (OpenMeet / OpenFit 2), and 2026 (OpenDots ONE / OpenFit Pro).
- Red Dot Design Award — 2016 (Titanium), 2018 (Air), 2025 (OpenRun Pro 2 / OpenMeet / OpenFit 2).
- EDISON Gold Award — 2014.
- IDEA Award — 2015 (Bluez 2).
- Good Design Award (Japan) — 2019 (Aeropex), 2022 (OpenRun Pro), 2023 (OpenFit), 2024 (OpenHear300), 2025 (OpenRun Pro 2).
Ms.GadgetsThey have won so many awards! I feel like I can use them with peace of mind.
Mr.GadgetsRepeatedly winning global awards such as the CES Innovation Award and the Red Dot Design Award is objective evidence of their high technical capability.
Summary
Shokz is an audio brand originating from Shenzhen, China, and is a company that has been pursuing bone conduction technology for over 20 years since its establishment in 2004.
Key points of this article!
- Headquarters: Shenzhen, Guangdong, China (North American base: Austin, Texas)
- Patents: Over 3,800 (as of 2023)
- Operations: Over 60 countries and regions worldwide, over 7 million users
- Technology: PremiumPitch™ / DualPitch™ / DirectPitch™ / DualBoost
The company rebranded from AfterShokz to Shokz in 2021 and continues to evolve as a leading brand not just for bone conduction, but for open-ear audio in general. Global award history, such as the CES Innovation Award and the Red Dot Design Award, supports the high level of its technology and quality.
If you are considering purchasing bone conduction headphones, why not start by checking out products from Shokz, the global leader?
Thank you for reading until the end!
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This article was originally written in Japanese and has been translated.
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