We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-06 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a rugged, fully submersible set of open-ear headphones you can take into the pool and still take calls with afterward, choose AYI True Bone Conduction; if you need a lighter everyday pair for running, the gym and hands-free calls with a longer battery, choose SCPTEA Bone Conduction Headphones. Both are bone conduction designs that leave your ears open — which matters a lot for calls, because you hear your own voice and the room around you instead of a sealed-off bubble. But they steer toward different buyers, and the split comes down to water, weight, battery and how you plan to use them day to day.
• AYI True Bone Conduction — biggest strength: IPX8 waterproofing plus dual Bluetooth/MP3 mode with 32GB of built-in memory, so you can swim with no phone nearby and switch back to wireless for calls afterward.
• AYI True Bone Conduction — biggest trade-off: Heavier over-ear fit and shorter 8-hour battery, with a bulkier build aimed at the water rather than all-day wear.
• SCPTEA Bone Conduction Headphones — biggest strength: A light 28g open-ear frame with up to 10 hours of playtime and a 16mm bone conduction driver, tuned for running, cycling and hands-free calls on the move.
• SCPTEA Bone Conduction Headphones — biggest trade-off: No built-in MP3 player or onboard storage, so it always needs a Bluetooth device, and it lists no active noise cancellation.
• Who AYI is for: Swimmers and multi-sport users who want offline music and full submersion.
• Who SCPTEA is for: Runners, gym-goers and commuters who want the lightest possible fit and the longest battery for calls and streaming.
The AYI True Bone Conduction is built around one clear idea: music in the water. Its IPX8 rating means it is designed to be fully submersible, so pool laps, open-water swims and even a shower are all fair game. That is the headline, and it shapes everything else about the design. Bone conduction drivers send sound through your cheekbones and leave your ears completely open, so you keep situational awareness — you can hear a lane mate, a coach or traffic while your audio keeps playing.
What really separates it is the dual-mode setup. You get Bluetooth 5.4 for wireless listening, but you also get an MP3 player mode backed by 32GB of built-in memory. That means you can load your music, leave your phone in the locker, and swim without a signal or a device anywhere near the water. A small on-board screen shows battery life, playback mode and volume, so you are not guessing with blind button presses. The 20Hz–20,000Hz frequency range covers the full audible span, and the 140-ohm impedance tells you this is a driver meant to be driven properly rather than a loose, tinny setup.
Who should buy it? Swimmers first, then anyone who trains in wet or messy conditions and wants a self-contained player. It also suits people who want to take a call right after a workout without swapping gear. Who should skip it? If your priority is the lightest possible frame for long runs or all-day wear, the over-ear build and 8-hour battery make it the heavier, more purpose-built of the two. In my opinion, this is the one to pick when water is a real part of your routine.
The SCPTEA Bone Conduction Headphones take the opposite approach: go light, go long, stay connected. The frame weighs just 28g, which is the kind of number that actually shows up in daily use — you notice a light pair on a run or a commute, and you notice a heavy one. It is an open-ear bone conduction design, so your ears stay clear for traffic, conversations and surroundings, which is exactly what you want for safer outdoor sessions.
Battery is the other headline. The 180mAh cell is rated for up to 10 hours of continuous playback, and charging is magnetic, so the cable snaps on instead of fiddling with a flap. Bluetooth 5.4 gives faster pairing, lower latency and a stable connection with a listed range of about 10 meters (roughly 33ft), which is plenty for phone-in-pocket or phone-on-desk listening. SCPTEA also calls out clear hands-free calls as part of the pitch, and the 16mm bone conduction driver with 90dB sensitivity is a larger driver spec than you often see at this size.
The trade-offs are honest ones. There is no built-in memory and no MP3 mode, so it is Bluetooth-only — if you want music without a phone, this is not the pair for that. It also lists no noise cancellation, which is consistent with an open-ear design that deliberately lets the world in. Who should buy it? Runners, cyclists, gym-goers and commuters who want a featherweight fit, long battery and easy calls. Who should skip it? Swimmers who want fully offline playback with no device nearby. In my opinion, this is the better daily driver of the two.
• Best for swimming → AYI True Bone Conduction. IPX8 plus MP3 mode means no phone required in the water.
• Best for battery life → SCPTEA Bone Conduction Headphones. Up to 10 hours versus AYI's 8 hours.
• Best for lightest fit → SCPTEA Bone Conduction Headphones. A 28g frame is hard to beat for all-day comfort.
• Best for offline listening → AYI True Bone Conduction. 32GB of built-in memory stores thousands of tracks.
• Best for calls on the move → SCPTEA Bone Conduction Headphones. Bluetooth 5.4 with a 10m range and hands-free calling, in a frame light enough to forget you're wearing it.
• Best for on-board controls → AYI True Bone Conduction. The screen shows battery, mode and volume instead of forcing you to guess.
• Best for driver size → SCPTEA Bone Conduction Headphones. A 16mm bone conduction driver with 90dB sensitivity.
• Best for wet-weather training → AYI True Bone Conduction. Its IPX8 rating and swim-first build handle submersion, not just splashes.
If I had to pick one, I would buy the SCPTEA Bone Conduction Headphones. For calls, running and everyday use, the 28g frame, up to 10 hours of playtime and Bluetooth 5.4 make it the more comfortable, more flexible daily companion — and hands-free calls are clearly part of what it is designed for. The AYI is genuinely better at one thing: being in the water with your own music and no phone, thanks to IPX8 and that 32GB of storage. If swimming is your main sport, flip the decision. But as a best headset for calls and general training, I would go SCPTEA.
how to turn off aware mode on jlab headphones
Aware mode on open-ear and ambient-style headphones is usually toggled with a button press or a tap-and-hold, or through the brand's companion app. Neither the AYI nor the SCPTEA data sheets list a named aware or ambient mode, so there is no specific on/off control documented for these two models. Check the manual that ships with your pair for the exact gesture.
what is ambient aware on headphones
Ambient aware is a listening mode that pipes outside sound into your ears so you stay aware of traffic, conversations and your surroundings. Bone conduction headphones like these two achieve something similar by design — the drivers sit outside your ear canal and leave it open, so you hear the world naturally without needing a separate aware mode.
how to turn on aware mode on bose headphones
On Bose headphones, aware mode is typically selected with the mode button or the brand's app, depending on the model. That control is specific to Bose hardware. The AYI and SCPTEA models here are open-ear bone conduction designs with no listed aware-mode toggle, so there is nothing to switch on — awareness is built into the fit.
Both use Bluetooth 5.4, and SCPTEA specifically calls out clear hands-free calls. For swimming, the AYI is the stronger pick because its IPX8 rating and 32GB MP3 mode let it work fully submersed with no phone present. SCPTEA is IPX8 too, but it is Bluetooth-only, so you would need a device in range.
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