We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-04 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a pair of earbuds for swimming-style sweat and splash resistance in a super-light neckband design with a huge 8-hour battery, choose Crave Octane; if you need true wireless earbuds with active noise cancelling and a charging case for swimming, choose Konnek Stein True. That's the short version. For swimming, both are IPX4, so neither is built for full submersion — but they solve the problem in completely different ways. Here's how I'd decide.
• Crave Octane — biggest strength: 8 hours of playback on a single charge, plus magnetic powered ends that shut the buds off when you clip them together. That's a genuinely clever battery-saver for a neckband-style set.
• Crave Octane — biggest trade-off: No active noise cancelling, Bluetooth 4, and an older wireless standard. It's a simple, no-frills design.
• Konnek Stein True — biggest strength: Active noise cancelling that the brand says cuts up to 90% of background noise, plus a 500mAh slide case that recharges the buds about four times over.
• Konnek Stein True — biggest trade-off: Only about 5 hours per single charge, and no ear hooks — it relies on silicone tips and fit alone to stay put.
• Who each is for: Crave Octane for someone who wants maximum continuous play and a secure hooked fit for swimming and sweaty workouts. Konnek Stein True for someone who wants true wireless freedom plus noise cancelling for the pool deck, the commute, and the office.
The Crave Octane is a neckband-style wireless earphone, and its whole personality comes down to two things: battery and grip. Crave rates it at up to 8 hours of playback, and the charge time lines up at 8 hours too — so a full top-up overnight gets you a long session the next day. For anyone who hates stopping mid-workout to recharge, that's the headline.
The magnetic powered ends are the detail I keep coming back to. When you clip the two earbuds together, they power off; pull them apart and they wake up. It sounds gimmicky until you think about how you actually wear earbuds for swimming and the gym — you pop them out constantly between sets or laps. Auto-off when they're dangling around your neck means you're not burning battery in your bag. That's a small design decision that adds up.
Who should buy it: swimmers and gym-goers who want the longest possible single-charge playtime, a hooked fit that won't slide out, and don't care about noise cancelling. Who should skip it: anyone who wants true wireless earbuds with no wire, or who wants active noise cancelling — this model has neither.
Konnek Stein True: Who It's For
The Konnek Stein True is a true wireless set, and its pitch is almost the opposite of the Crave. There's no neckband, no hooks — just two independent buds and a sliding charging case. The case holds 500mAh and, per the brand, can recharge the earbuds roughly four times after a single full charge. Combined with about 5 hours per bud charge, that's a lot of total listening between wall outlets.
The standout feature is active noise cancelling. Each bud has an ANC mode that the brand says reduces up to 90% of background noise from reaching your ear canal. For swimming-adjacent use — the noisy pool hall, the locker room, a bus to the pool — that's a real difference from the Crave, which has no noise control at all. It also runs Bluetooth 5.1, newer than the Crave's Bluetooth 4, which the brand ties to more stable connections and lower power draw.
Fit is handled by ergonomics rather than hardware. Konnek Stein uses a 30° angled in-ear design with soft silicone tips in S, M, and L, and the brand says you can nudge the angle after inserting to seat the bud slightly deeper for better noise cancellation. That's smart, but it's still a friction fit — there are no ear hooks to lock things down.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for battery life → Crave Octane. 8 hours on one charge versus about 5 hours for a single Konnek Stein bud.
• Best for noise cancelling → Konnek Stein True. Active noise cancelling that the brand rates at up to 90% background noise reduction; the Crave has no noise control.
• Best for secure fit while swimming or sweating → Crave Octane. Ear hooks in three sizes plus three tip sizes physically anchor the bud; the Konnek Stein relies on tip fit alone.
• Best for true wireless freedom → Konnek Stein True. No band, no wire — just two buds and a sliding case.
• Best for total listening between charges → Konnek Stein True. The 500mAh case recharges the buds about four times over, so the case carries the runtime even though each bud lasts less.
• Best for easier carrying and stowing → Crave Octane. It includes a storage pouch and clips together magnetically when not in use.
• Best for newer connectivity → Konnek Stein True. Bluetooth 5.1 versus Bluetooth 4, with a rated 10-meter range.
• Best for calls on the go → Crave Octane. A built-in in-line mic keeps call controls right on the cable.
If I were buying for swimming and hard, sweaty training, I'd pick the Crave Octane. The 8-hour battery is nearly double the Konnek Stein's per-charge runtime, and the included ear hooks solve the one problem that actually ruins a swim or a run — a bud popping out. The magnetic auto-off is a nice bonus that keeps the battery honest between laps.
I'd only flip to the Konnek Stein True if noise cancelling and true wireless freedom matter more to you than raw runtime and fit security — say, you swim at a noisy pool and also want one set for the commute. In my opinion, for the specific job of swimming, the Crave wins.
Both are IPX4, so both handle splashes and sweat but neither is rated for full submersion. For swimming, I'd lean Crave Octane because the included ear hooks give a more secure hold than tip friction alone.
Yes. Each bud has an active noise cancelling mode that the brand says reduces up to 90% of background noise. The Crave Octane has no noise control, so if ANC matters, the Konnek Stein is the one.
Per the specs, Crave Octane runs up to 8 hours on a single charge. A single Konnek Stein bud lasts about 5 hours, but its 500mAh case can recharge the buds roughly four more times.
I don't quote prices here. Use the "Check latest price on Amazon" button on this page to see what each set costs right now, then weigh that against the battery, fit, and ANC differences above.
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