We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-29 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a secure behind-the-head sports fit with the longest battery life and active noise cancellation, choose CHUYI Earphone Over Ear; if you need an open-ear design that lets ambient sound in for all-day comfort and awareness, choose WAINING Open-Ear Headphones.
• CHUYI Earphone Over Ear — biggest strength: a wrap-around behind-the-head hook design with a foldable titanium alloy steel wire frame, 23 hours of playtime, and active noise cancellation for workouts and noisy environments.
• CHUYI Earphone Over Ear — biggest trade-off: the on-ear cups sit against your ears and the headset blocks outside sound, so you lose awareness of traffic and surroundings; it also uses Bluetooth 4 rather than a newer version.
• WAINING Open-Ear Headphones — biggest strength: an unblocked open-ear fit with soft breathable cushions and an adjustable lightweight headband that keeps you aware of traffic, announcements and nearby voices during playback.
• WAINING Open-Ear Headphones — biggest trade-off: no noise cancellation and no isolating seal, so loud surroundings will compete with your audio, and its 20-hour battery trails the CHUYI slightly.
• Who each pick is for: CHUYI is for runners, riders and gym users who want a locked-in fit and quiet; WAINING is for students, commuters and desk workers who want to hear the world while they listen.
The CHUYI Earphone Over Ear is built around one idea: staying put. Its ear-hook, behind-the-head design wraps around your head instead of relying on a tight seal, and the titanium alloy steel wire frame adapts to different head shapes and survives being twisted and folded without deforming. If you have ever had a bud pop out mid-sprint, that's the problem this shape solves. When you run or ride outdoors, the fit is meant to hold. The 27mm full audio unit pushes what CHUYI calls mega bass, with a 20Hz–20,000Hz frequency range and a dynamic driver, plus a high-sensitivity microphone that filters background noise for calls. Active noise cancellation is listed as the noise-control method, which is unusual for this style and genuinely useful in a gym or on a train.
Who should buy it: runners, cyclists, gym-goers and anyone who wants their audio sealed off from a noisy room. Who should skip it: if you need to hear traffic, coworkers or announcements while you listen, this is the wrong tool — the on-ear seal and noise cancellation work against you. Note that Bluetooth 4 is an older generation, so pairing is straightforward but not the newest standard. It carries a 1-year warranty and weighs 46g.
WAINING Open-Ear Headphones: Who It's For
The WAINING Open-Ear Headphones take the opposite approach. The earpiece sits as a circle against the ear rather than inside or over it, so nothing blocks the ear canal. You keep awareness of nearby traffic, announcements and surrounding sound while music, podcasts or calls keep playing. For a daily walk, a commute, or a study session where someone might call your name, that's the whole point. The soft, breathable ear cushions and adjustable lightweight headband are designed to stay pressure-free for hours, and the open structure avoids the stuffiness that closed headsets create over a long day.
Audio comes from high-quality dynamic drivers tuned for crisp, balanced sound with rich vocals and clear treble, and a built-in microphone handles low-noise hands-free calls — so you can take a work call without pulling anything off your head. Battery is rated at up to 20 hours of continuous playback with a 2-hour full charge, which is plenty for a school day or a work shift. There's no noise cancellation and no isolating seal, so in a loud café or on a busy street the outside world will mix into your audio — that's the trade-off you accept for awareness. There's also no headphone jack; it's wireless Bluetooth only.
The design leans casual and trendy: a matte black finish with silver accents, foldable for storage in a backpack or purse. WAINING positions it for teens, girls and casual users, and it makes a sensible gift. It's backed by a 180-day warranty, which is shorter than the CHUYI's year. Who should buy it: students, commuters, office workers and anyone who wants an open, non in ear fit they can wear for hours without ear fatigue. Who should skip it: if you want to block out a noisy environment, this isn't the one.
• Best for battery life → CHUYI Earphone Over Ear (23 hours rated vs 20 hours on the WAINING).
• Best for workout and outdoor sports → CHUYI Earphone Over Ear, thanks to the ear-hook behind-the-head fit and foldable steel-wire frame that resists falling out.
• Best for hearing your surroundings → WAINING Open-Ear Headphones, since the unblocked open-ear design lets traffic, announcements and voices through.
• Best for blocking noise → CHUYI Earphone Over Ear, which lists active noise cancellation; the WAINING has none.
• Best for all-day comfort without ear fatigue → WAINING Open-Ear Headphones, with breathable cushions and a lightweight adjustable headband.
• Best for hands-free calls in a quiet setting → WAINING Open-Ear Headphones, with its built-in low-noise mic and balanced vocal tuning.
• Best for style and portability → WAINING Open-Ear Headphones, with its matte-and-silver look and foldable frame.
• Best for longer warranty coverage → CHUYI Earphone Over Ear (1 year vs 180 days).
In my opinion, the right pick comes down to one question: do you want the world in or out? If you want it out — for running, cycling, the gym, or noisy commutes — I'd buy the CHUYI Earphone Over Ear. The locked-in behind-the-head fit, 23-hour battery and active noise cancellation make it the more capable headphone for active use. If you want the world in, for studying, working, walking or wearing for hours without ear fatigue, I'd buy the WAINING Open-Ear Headphones. For a pure non in ear, awareness-first experience, that's the one I'd recommend.
FAQ
how do non ear headphones work
how to wear in ear headphones
For a behind-the-head design like the CHUYI, you hook the earpieces over your ears and let the band wrap around the back of your head, then adjust the titanium alloy steel wire frame to your head shape. The on-ear cushions should sit comfortably against your ears without pressing hard, and the foldable frame lets you store it flat when done.
what are non in ear headphones called
They're usually called open-ear headphones, on-ear headphones, or bone-conduction style headphones depending on the design. The WAINING is explicitly an open-ear over-ear model, while the CHUYI is an on-ear, behind-the-head set — both avoid going inside the ear canal.
what are the best open ear headphones
There's no single answer, because "best" depends on your use. In my opinion, if you want maximum awareness and all-day comfort, the WAINING Open-Ear Headphones fit that brief with 20 hours of playback and an unblocked fit — but if you'd rather have noise cancellation and a 23-hour battery, the CHUYI is the stronger pick for you. Check the current price on Amazon for both before deciding.
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