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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-28 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• APHUWJ Ear Buds Open — biggest strength: up to 80 hours of total playback with the charging case, plus an IPX7 waterproof rating and a genuinely pocketable case design.
• APHUWJ Ear Buds Open — biggest trade-off: a longer 8-hour charge time and a bulkier spec sheet that leans hard into sport use rather than everyday polish.
• Monster Open Ear AC317 — biggest strength: a refined open-ear fit with a directional sound nozzle, AI noise reduction for calls, and a case that tops up in about an hour over USB-C.
• Monster Open Ear AC317 — biggest trade-off: 24 hours of total playback and IPX5 sweat resistance mean it's less suited to all-weather, all-day athletes.
• Who each pick is for: APHUWJ for runners, cyclists and long-shift users who hate charging; Monster for commuters, callers and casual listeners who want a lighter, quicker-charging companion.
The APHUWJ Ear Buds Open is built around one idea: keep you listening for as long as possible. The headline number is 80 hours of total playback — 8 hours on a single charge, topped up repeatedly by the charging case for a combined 80 hours. That's a spec aimed squarely at people who don't want to think about battery. Add an IPX7 waterproof rating and you've got a set that can handle rain, sweat and the general mess of outdoor training without much drama.
The design reinforces that sport-first identity. These are open-ear earbuds with silicone ear hooks, meaning nothing goes into your ear canal — you get ambient awareness for running, cycling or gym work, and you can hold a conversation without pulling them out. The case itself is only about 2.5 inches on its longest side, so it genuinely disappears into a pocket. Bluetooth 5.4 handles pairing and connection stability, and there's ENC (environmental noise cancellation) working on the microphone side to clean up your voice on calls. A useful detail: the case has an LED power display, so you can see remaining battery at a glance instead of guessing.
Who should buy it: runners, cyclists, gym-goers and anyone on long shifts who wants maximum playtime and real water resistance. The touch controls let you adjust volume, skip tracks and take calls one-handed without reaching for your phone. Who should skip it: if you mainly want the lightest possible fit for desk work and short commutes, the 8-hour charge time and the sporty silicone-hook build may feel like more headphone than you need. In my opinion, this is the pick for people whose priority is endurance, not elegance.
The Monster Open Ear AC317 takes a different route. It's also an open-ear, hook-style design — nothing enters your ear canal, so you stay aware of traffic, coworkers and conversation — but the emphasis here is on audio refinement and everyday usability. Monster talks up a "Pure Monster Sound" tuning powered by a digital audio processor and professional drivers, with a boost to the mid and high frequencies. There's also a directional nozzle design that aims sound toward your ear while reducing leakage, which is exactly the kind of engineering that matters when you're wearing open-ear buds on a train or in an office.
Battery is 7 hours per charge and up to 24 hours with the case — a real step down from APHUWJ. But the case charges fully in about an hour via USB-C, and the cable is included. That's a meaningful quality-of-life difference if you're the type who plugs in for a quick top-up before heading out. Call quality gets an AI noise reduction algorithm, and Bluetooth 5.4 keeps latency low for video and gaming. The AC317 is rated IPX5, which handles sweat and light rain but isn't built for submersion or sustained downpours. The enclosure is plastic with an ultra-soft silicone cushion, and Monster bundles a 180-day warranty.
Who should buy it: commuters, remote workers, students and casual listeners who want a comfortable, lightweight open-ear set for calls, podcasts and music, and who value fast charging over huge total runtime. Who should skip it: if you run in heavy rain, sweat through long sessions, or want to go a week between charges, the 24-hour total and IPX5 rating will feel limiting. My honest read: the AC317 is the more "daily driver" of the two.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for battery life → APHUWJ Ear Buds Open. 80 hours total versus 24 hours is not close.
• Best for water resistance → APHUWJ Ear Buds Open. IPX7 beats IPX5 for rain, heavy sweat and accidental splashes.
• Best for call clarity → Monster Open Ear AC317. AI noise reduction is its stated focus, though APHUWJ's ENC is a legitimate alternative for daily calls.
• Best for sound-tuning detail → Monster Open Ear AC317. The digital audio processor, professional drivers and directional nozzle point to a more audiophile-leaning approach.
• Best for all-day sport and outdoor training → APHUWJ Ear Buds Open. The silicone ear hooks, IPX7 rating and huge runtime fit active use better.
• Best for portability → APHUWJ Ear Buds Open. A case around 2.5 inches long slips into a pocket with room to spare.
• Best for low-latency video and gaming → Monster Open Ear AC317. Both use Bluetooth 5.4, but Monster explicitly calls out synced audio and video.
If I had to pick one, I'd take the APHUWJ Ear Buds Open for anyone with an active lifestyle. The 80-hour total playback and IPX7 rating solve the two problems that actually ruin open-ear earbuds in the real world: running out of charge and getting soaked. The Monster Open Ear AC317 is the better everyday companion if your listening happens at a desk or on a commute, and its 1-hour charge is genuinely convenient. But for the person this category is built for — the runner, the cyclist, the gym regular — I'd go APHUWJ. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since that's the one variable that can flip this call.
Most touch-control earbuds don't have a dedicated hardware switch to turn touch off. On models like these two, touch control is managed through the companion app if the brand offers one, or by simply not tapping the earpiece. Neither the APHUWJ OW02 nor the Monster AC317 lists a physical touch-lock button in their specs, so treat touch as always-on unless the manufacturer's app says otherwise.
Why are my headphones controlling my phone?
Touch control means the outer surface of the earbud is a capacitive panel. Instead of pressing a physical button, you tap, double-tap or hold to change volume, switch songs, take calls or wake a voice assistant. APHUWJ describes single-hand operation for volume, tracks and calls; Monster lists music switching, volume, calls and voice assistant on a simple touch.
Yes, on total playtime. APHUWJ advertises up to 80 hours with the case and 8 hours per charge; Monster advertises up to 24 hours with the case and 7 hours per charge. The trade-off is charge time — APHUWJ lists 8 hours to charge, while Monster's case reaches full in about 1 hour via USB-C.
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