How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want serious active noise cancelling and full over-ear sound for music and video calls, choose Bose QuietComfort 45; if you need a waterproof, open-ear headphone you can swim and run with, choose kelankeke Bone Conduction Headphones. These two are built for completely different jobs, so the real question is which job is yours.
• Bose QuietComfort 45 — biggest strength: Active Noise Cancellation with a mic system that measures outside noise and cancels it, plus a 40 mm dynamic driver and adjustable EQ for music.
• Bose QuietComfort 45 — biggest trade-off: It is not waterproof and it is a sealed over-ear design, so you cannot hear traffic or your surroundings while wearing it.
• kelankeke — biggest strength: IPX8 waterproofing with a built-in 32GB MP3 mode, so it keeps playing music underwater where Bluetooth cannot reach.
• kelankeke — biggest trade-off: Bone conduction sound travels through your cheekbones instead of sealing over your ears, so bass depth and isolation are limited, and it relies on passive noise cancellation only.
• Bose QuietComfort 45 is for you if you mostly listen at a desk, on a plane, or on video calls and want quiet plus full-range audio.
• kelankeke is for you if you swim, run or cycle and want music without blocking your ears.
The QuietComfort 45 is an over-ear, closed-back headphone built around one idea: shut the world out. Bose uses tiny microphones to sample outside noise and cancel it with opposite signals, which is the whole point of buying this model over a cheaper pair. Around that, you get a 40 mm dynamic driver, 32 ohm impedance, a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz frequency range and volume-optimized Active EQ that keeps the balance steady whether you listen quietly or crank it up. You can also adjust bass, mid and treble yourself in the app, or pick a preset. For music, that combination of a real driver and active tuning is the difference between hearing a song and hearing a wall of treble.
Who should buy it: anyone who wants one pair for music, movies, office work and calls, and who values quiet and comfort over portability. The 15.68-ounce weight and leather-and-plastic build are made to sit on your head for hours.
Who should skip it: swimmers, and anyone who needs to hear traffic while running. It is not waterproof, and the sealed cups are designed to block sound, not let it in.
kelankeke Bone Conduction Headphones: Who It's For
The kelankeke E9 Pro is a completely different animal. It is an open-ear bone conduction headphone weighing 27.8 grams, with a silicone build and buttons you can find by feel. Nothing goes inside your ear canal, so you stay aware of your surroundings — which is exactly why runners and cyclists like this format.
Its standout feature is IPX8 waterproofing. That rating covers swimming, snorkelling, fishing and boating, and it is also sweatproof, rainproof and dustproof. The catch is that Bluetooth does not work underwater, so the headphones carry 32GB of built-in storage — roughly 8,000 songs in MP3, WMA, FLAC, APE or WAV — and you double-click the power button to switch from Bluetooth mode to MP3 mode. You copy music over by plugging the magnetic charging cable into your computer, and the headphones show up as USB storage. That is a genuinely clever design: no phone required in the pool.
Battery life is up to 10 hours of continuous playback, charging fully in about 2 hours via magnetic cable. Bluetooth 6.0 gives a stable connection up to 10 metres and works with iOS and Android for music, audiobooks and calls. Noise control is passive only — it is an open-ear design, so it does not cancel anything.
Who should buy it: swimmers, gym-goers, runners and cyclists who want music while staying aware. Who should skip it: anyone chasing deep bass, total isolation, or a headphone for long video calls in a noisy room. The 8 ohm impedance and open-ear fit are not built for that.
• Best for noise cancelling → Bose QuietComfort 45. Active Noise Cancellation with a mic array that reacts to outside sound; the kelankeke has passive isolation only.
• Best for music depth → Bose QuietComfort 45. A 40 mm dynamic driver, 20 Hz–20,000 Hz range and adjustable EQ versus an open-ear bone conduction design.
• Best for swimming → kelankeke. IPX8 waterproofing plus 32GB of MP3 storage that works when Bluetooth cannot.
• Best for video calls → Bose QuietComfort 45. The hidden mic system focuses on your voice and filters environmental noise; the kelankeke handles calls but its open-ear fit lets room noise in.
• Best for battery life → Bose QuietComfort 45. Up to 22–24 hours against up to 10 hours.
• Best for charging speed → kelankeke. A full charge in about 2 hours, and a 15-minute top-up on the Bose gives roughly 3 hours.
• Best for situational awareness → kelankeke. The open-ear design keeps you tuned in to traffic and surroundings.
• Best for commuting and travel → Bose QuietComfort 45. Bluetooth 5.1, a 2.5 mm wired option, a carrying case and a 15 ms latency figure suited to movies.
For music and video calls — the way most people actually use headphones all day — I would buy the Bose QuietComfort 45. In my opinion, its Active Noise Cancellation, 40 mm driver, adjustable EQ and voice-focused mic array make it the far more versatile pick for desk work, travel and calls, and the battery headroom means you charge it far less often. The kelankeke is the better buy only if your priority is swimming or outdoor training with your ears open. If price is the deciding factor, check the current price on Amazon for both before you commit.
FAQ
First confirm which mode you are in: the kelankeke defaults to Bluetooth and needs a double-click on the power button to enter MP3 mode, and if downloaded songs will not play, the format must be MP3, WMA, FLAC, APE or WAV. If the computer does not recognise the headphones over the magnetic cable, delete the copied songs and transfer them again. For the Bose, most connection issues are solved by re-pairing over Bluetooth 5.1 or using the 2.5 mm jack.
Play a track you know well and listen for balanced output across the range — the Bose covers 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz with volume-optimized EQ, so bass should stay consistent at low volume. Walk away from your device to check the 10-metre Bluetooth range on either pair. For the kelankeke, also test the underwater MP3 mode by switching modes and confirming playback continues once Bluetooth drops out.
Only the kelankeke is rated for it. Switch to MP3 mode with a double-click before you get in, because Bluetooth does not work underwater, and make sure your songs are already loaded via the magnetic cable. It can be worn with a swimming cap, goggles and earplugs.
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: QAZITV Bone Conduction Headphones vs Ordtop Sport, CCA KZ ZS10 vs Rulbovs Earbuds: In Ear Noise Cancelling, our APETOO USB C Headphones vs CNSZSLZ 50 pick, wireless future charger Airpod Charger vs Lanteso True