How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-26 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• beyerdynamic Amiron Zero — biggest strength: a C-shaped clip-on open-ear design that sits outside the ear canal, so you hear your music and the world around you at the same time, backed by IP54 splash resistance and a 2-year manufacturer warranty.
• beyerdynamic Amiron Zero — biggest trade-off: no active noise cancellation and no traditional in-ear seal, so it is the wrong tool if you want to block out a noisy commute.
• Relxhome NE20 — biggest strength: a feature stack you rarely see in one pair of earbuds — 48dB active noise cancellation, six translation modes across a large set of languages, and an LCD touchscreen built into the charging case.
• Relxhome NE20 — biggest trade-off: the translation feature only works through the brand's app and depends on a stable network and Bluetooth connection, so it is not a standalone offline interpreter.
• Who should pick the Amiron Zero: runners, cyclists, office workers and anyone who wants to stay aware of traffic, colleagues or family while listening.
• Who should pick the NE20: travelers, business users, students in loud spaces and anyone who genuinely needs face-to-face translation plus serious noise blocking.
The Amiron Zero is an open-ear clip-on. Instead of pushing a tip into your ear canal, it wraps a C-shaped earbud around the outer ear, distributing weight evenly and leaving the canal completely free. That single design decision defines everything about it: no pressure, no plugged-up feeling, and no loss of awareness. The whole unit weighs 57 g including the charging case, and the enclosure mixes plastic, silicone and TPE, which tells you this is built to be worn for hours rather than for twenty minutes at a time.
Where it earns its keep is in the details. IP54 means it shrugs off dust and splashes — a quick downpour or a dusty trail is not a problem. Battery life is quoted at 20 hours total, split across roughly 6 hours in the buds and 14 more from the case, with USB-C charging and a fast top-up that gives you around 2 hours of playback from a 10-minute charge. Bluetooth 5.4 with a 15-meter range keeps the connection stable when you leave your phone on a desk or a gym bench. Touch controls handle volume, calls and track skipping without reaching for your device, and the beyerdynamic app adds a 5-band equalizer, genre presets and firmware updates so the earbuds can improve over time.
In my opinion, this is the pair to buy if your priority is comfort and situational awareness. Runners, cyclists, walkers and people who work in shared offices will get the most out of it. Skip it if your main goal is silencing a loud train or an open-plan office — with no noise cancellation on board and an open acoustic design, the Amiron Zero is deliberately letting the world in.
The NE20 is a completely different animal: a true in-ear earbud with active noise cancellation rated at 48dB, a dynamic driver, 32-ohm impedance and a 20 Hz–20 kHz range. Noise cancellation is the headline spec here, and it is the reason this pair exists in the conversation at all — it actively fights the environment instead of coexisting with it. For commutes, open offices or study sessions in busy places, that is a meaningful difference in how much of your audio you actually hear.
Then there is the part that makes the NE20 unusual: translation. The earbuds advertise real-time, face-to-face translation across a large set of languages with six modes, including voice notes, camera translation, free-speak and a phone-paired mode. The catch — and it is a real one — is that translation runs through the brand's app and needs a stable network and Bluetooth connection. Weak connectivity can cause delays or outright failures. So treat it as a connected tool, not a pocket interpreter.
Battery life is quoted at 60 hours, with 6–8 hours per charge, which is a lot of runway for long flights and back-to-back calls. The LCD touchscreen on the case acts as a small control hub: music, calls, translation, alarms, noise modes and even stress-relief games. A six-mic array is there to keep calls clear in windy conditions, latency is listed at 45ms for gaming, Bluetooth 5.4 is on board and the range is 10 meters. The earbuds can also be used independently, which is handy if you want one ear free.
Buy the NE20 if translation, noise cancellation and battery endurance are the three things you care about most. Skip it if you want to stay aware of your surroundings — that is the exact opposite of what 48dB of cancellation does.
• Best for staying aware of your surroundings → beyerdynamic Amiron Zero. The open-ear clip design leaves your ear canal free, so traffic, announcements and conversation still reach you.
• Best for blocking out noise → Relxhome NE20. Active noise cancellation is the single biggest functional gap between these two.
• Best for translation on the go → Relxhome NE20. Six translation modes through the app, with the caveat that you need a stable connection.
• Best for all-day comfort without pressure → beyerdynamic Amiron Zero. Clip-on, outside-the-canal fit and a 57 g total weight are built for long sessions.
• Best for long trips and heavy call days → Relxhome NE20. 60 hours quoted total versus 20 hours on the Amiron Zero.
• Best for durability in dust and rain → beyerdynamic Amiron Zero. IP54 dust and splash resistance is explicitly part of the spec.
• Best for gaming and low-latency audio → Relxhome NE20. 45ms latency is listed, along with a six-mic array for calls.
• Best for sound personalization and long-term support → beyerdynamic Amiron Zero. A 5-band EQ, genre presets, app firmware updates and a 2-year manufacturer warranty.
• Best for a physical control surface → Relxhome NE20. The LCD touchscreen case handles alarms, noise modes and playback without opening an app.
I would buy the beyerdynamic Amiron Zero. In my opinion, the open-ear clip design, IP54 rating, app-based EQ and 2-year warranty make it the more dependable everyday pair for the way most people actually listen — on runs, on walks, at a desk, with one ear still on the real world. The NE20 is genuinely clever and I would recommend it without hesitation to a frequent traveler or anyone who needs translation and serious noise cancellation in one device. But if you do not specifically need those two features, the Amiron Zero's comfort-first approach is the safer long-term choice. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since that is the one factor that could tip a close call.
Is the beyerdynamic Amiron Zero better than the Relxhome NE20?
Neither is better across the board. The Amiron Zero wins on open-ear comfort, situational awareness, IP54 durability and app-based sound tuning. The NE20 wins on noise cancellation, translation, battery life and low-latency gaming. Pick based on whether you want to hear the world or shut it out.
Yes, but only through the brand's app, and they need a stable network and Bluetooth connection. The six modes include voice notes, camera translation, free-speak and a phone-paired mode. Poor connectivity can cause delays, so do not rely on them in places with weak signal.
The NE20. It has active noise cancellation rated at 48dB, while the Amiron Zero has no noise control at all — its open-ear design intentionally lets ambient sound in. That is a design choice, not a defect, but it matters if you commute on loud transit.
The NE20, by a wide margin on paper: 60 hours quoted total with 6–8 hours per charge, against 20 hours total for the Amiron Zero (about 6 hours in the buds plus 14 from the case). The Amiron Zero counters with fast charging — roughly 2 hours of playback from a 10-minute top-up.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: Friencity Trucker vs Aluratek 5.0, iJoy Over-Ear vs Wantek Headset: Headphones with Microphone, 3M Disposable Earplugs vs sunvito Sleep Earbuds, Jelanry Earbuds 3.5mm vs ASKUBSKU Headphones Earbuds