We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-24 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want an open-ear design that keeps you aware of traffic and surroundings while you run, choose BETAHEAR Bone Conduction Headphones; if you need a fully sealed, IPX7 waterproof in-ear pair for sweaty workouts and rainy commutes, choose C5G CSG True.
• BETAHEAR Bone Conduction Headphones — biggest strength: an open-ear bone conduction build on Bluetooth 5.3 with a 29g titanium-alloy neck strap and 10 hours of playtime. Biggest trade-off: it's only described as sweat resistant, not IPX7 waterproof, so heavy rain and full submersion are a real risk.
• C5G CSG True — biggest strength: a true wireless in-ear design with an IPX7 rating, touch controls, and a charging case that adds up to 24 extra hours. Biggest trade-off: it seals your ears completely, so you lose the ambient awareness that makes open-ear models safer outdoors.
• Who BETAHEAR is for: runners, cyclists, hikers and drivers who want music without blocking out the world.
• Who C5G is for: gym-goers, swimmers-adjacent athletes and commuters who want a locked-in, water-resistant fit and a pocketable case.
• In my opinion: pick BETAHEAR for situational awareness on the road; pick C5G when water and sweat resistance is the deciding factor.
The BETAHEAR K08 is built around one idea: keep your ears open. Instead of pushing sound into your ear canal, it uses a bone conduction driver with a 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz frequency range, so audio travels through your cheekbones and leaves your ear canal completely free. That's the whole point of the design, and it's why the brand leans so hard on safety in the spec sheet — you can hear a car, a bike bell, or a running buddy while your podcast keeps playing.
The physical build is where this pair earns its keep for sport. The body weighs just 29g, which is genuinely light for something that sits on your head for hours, and the neck strap uses a memory titanium alloy that the brand says bends 360° without deforming. The ear pads are food-grade silicone, so long sessions shouldn't irritate your skin the way harder plastics can. Bluetooth 5.3 handles the wireless connection, and there's a built-in mic for calls, plus remote media controls for play, pause and track skipping.
Battery is a strong point: 10 continuous hours of music, calls or podcasts, with up to 240 hours of standby. For a long ride or a full workday of background listening, that's plenty.
Who should buy it? If you run or cycle on open roads, hike on trails with traffic nearby, or drive and want calls without sealing your ears, this is the logical pick. It also suits anyone who finds in-ear tips uncomfortable after an hour.
Who should skip it? If your workouts are soaked in sweat or you train outdoors in heavy rain, pay attention: BETAHEAR describes this model as sweat resistant, not IPX7 waterproof. There's no IP rating listed at all. That's a meaningful gap if water exposure is your main concern. And because there's no noise control or isolation, loud gyms and windy roads will compete with your audio.
The C5G CSG True goes the opposite direction. This is a true wireless in-ear pair, and the headline spec is right in the title: IPX7 waterproof. That rating is the reason this comparison exists — an IPX7 claim means the earphones are designed to withstand sweat, rain, and even brief immersion, which is a different league from "sweat resistant."
Sound-wise, the brand promises high-fidelity audio with deep bass and crisp treble, delivered through ergonomically shaped ear tips that sit inside your ear canal. Bluetooth 5.3 is on board here too, and C5G claims a stable connection at up to 49 feet — useful if you set your phone down at the gym and walk across the room. Touch controls handle music, calls and a voice assistant, and there's a built-in microphone for hands-free calls.
Battery life is 8 hours per charge with roughly 1.5 hours to top up, and the included charging case adds another 24 hours. The package ships with a USB-C charging cable, a wireless charging case, two replacement eartips and a manual — the spare tips matter, because fit is everything with in-ears.
Who should buy it? Anyone whose priority is water and sweat protection: heavy sweaters, outdoor runners in wet climates, gym users, and people who want a compact case that lives in a pocket. The in-ear seal also means you get passive noise blocking, which helps in loud environments.
Who should skip it? If you need to hear traffic, this design works against you — the seal that keeps water out also keeps the world out. The spec sheet also lists no warranty, which is worth weighing before you commit. And 8 hours per charge is shorter than BETAHEAR's 10, though the case closes most of that gap.
• Best for water resistance → C5G CSG True. It carries an explicit IPX7 rating; BETAHEAR only claims sweat resistance with no IP rating listed.
• Best for battery per charge → BETAHEAR Bone Conduction Headphones. 10 hours versus 8, with up to 240 hours of standby.
• Best for total listening time → C5G CSG True. The charging case adds up to 24 hours, so the pair travels further between wall outlets.
• Best for road safety and awareness → BETAHEAR Bone Conduction Headphones. The open-ear design deliberately leaves your ear canal free.
• Best for loud gyms and noisy commutes → C5G CSG True. The in-ear fit physically blocks outside sound, which open-ear models can't do.
• Best for all-day comfort without ear fatigue → BETAHEAR Bone Conduction Headphones. 29g, titanium alloy strap, silicone pads, nothing inserted in your ears.
• Best for portability → C5G CSG True. A true wireless pair plus its case is far easier to pocket than a headband.
• Best for hands-free control flexibility → C5G CSG True. Touch controls cover music, calls and voice assistant, while BETAHEAR relies on a remote media control.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the C5G CSG True. The reason is simple: IPX7 is a concrete, verifiable durability standard, and for headphones meant to survive workouts and weather, that's the spec I care about most. The charging case, spare eartips and touch controls round it out into a more complete everyday package.
That said, I'd only recommend BETAHEAR's open-ear model over it if you genuinely need to hear your surroundings — cyclists and road runners should take that seriously. In my opinion, though, the C5G is the safer buy for most people who just want sweat-proof, rain-proof earphones that fit in a pocket. Check the current price on Amazon before you decide, since that's the one thing that can flip this call.
are headphones waterproof
Not all of them. In this comparison, only the C5G CSG True carries an IPX7 waterproof rating, which covers sweat, rain and brief immersion. The BETAHEAR Bone Conduction Headphones are described as sweat resistant with no IP rating listed, so I wouldn't treat them as waterproof.
are headphones water resistant
Many are, but the level varies. BETAHEAR claims sweat resistance for daily exercise, which suits light moisture but isn't a sealed rating. C5G goes further with IPX7, the higher protection level of the two — so if water is your main worry, that rating is the one to look for.
The C5G CSG True, on specs. IPX7 is designed to handle rain and heavy sweat, while BETAHEAR's sweat-resistant claim is aimed at normal workouts rather than wet weather. If you often run in drizzle, IPX7 is the safer bet.
With the C5G CSG True, yes — the in-ear seal blocks outside noise. The BETAHEAR open-ear design keeps your ear canal free specifically so you can hear cars and other people. For road running and cycling, that awareness is the main reason to choose open-ear.
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