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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-27 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• CYen Two Way Radio — biggest strength: a genuine wrap-around ear clip with an inline VOX/PTT switch, a lapel clip, and a pair in the box, all wired straight into a GMRS/FRS radio.
• CYen Two Way Radio — biggest trade-off: it's a wired accessory, not a standalone audio product. No radio, no music, no Bluetooth. Buy it only if you already own a compatible handheld.
• AIYIBEN Around — biggest strength: a flexible silicone neckband with 10mm drivers, Bluetooth 6.0, a 35-hour playtime claim and on-demand AI voice control — a complete wireless listening package.
• AIYIBEN Around — biggest trade-off: it's for phones, not radios. There's no PTT, no radio connector, and no jack at all — it's wireless-only.
• Who each pick is for: CYen for security staff, event crews, warehouse and site teams running GMRS radios; AIYIBEN for commuters, gym-goers and anyone who wants earbuds that won't fall out mid-run.
The CYen is a surveillance-style earpiece, and the design language says so out loud. The clear housing is meant to be discreet — you're on a radio, but it doesn't look like you're holding a walkie-talkie to your face. The earpiece itself wraps around the ear rather than plugging in like a standard bud, and CYen includes two different shapes of earplug so you can swap based on the setting. That's a small thing, but it matters over a long shift. The stated goal is comfort that holds up in long-term use rather than a tight seal for bass.
The real story here is the inline VOX/PTT switch. It puts push-to-talk or voice-activated transmit control right on the cable, and a lapel clip keeps that switch within reach. If your radio supports VOX, you flip the small switch on the microphone housing to the VOX position, enable VOX on the radio itself, and then you can talk without touching the PTT button at all. Sensitivity gets set on the radio side. For anyone whose hands are busy — checking IDs, carrying, driving, writing — that's the feature that earns the product its place.
Buy it if you run a compatible GMRS/FRS radio and want discreet, hands-free transmit with a switch you can find by touch. Skip it if you want to listen to music from your phone — this won't do that, and it isn't trying to.
AIYIBEN Around: Who It's For
The AIYIBEN A18 is the mirror image. It's a neckband: a flexible silicone strap that sits on your shoulders, with earbuds on short leads that tuck into your ears when you want them and snap magnetically together when you don't. If you've ever lost a loose bud on a treadmill, that design is the argument. The neckband carries the battery and the controls, so nothing hangs off your ears.
The spec sheet is a wireless-audio spec sheet. Bluetooth 6.0 is the headline, pitched at fewer dropouts and a more stable connection with low power draw. Ten-millimeter dynamic drivers with a titanium diaphragm, 16 ohm impedance, 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz — that's a bass-forward tuning by design, and the listing leans into it. There's active noise cancellation listed under noise control, and the earbuds come with three sizes of dual-drive tips at a 60° angle for a proper seal. Battery is the other pillar: roughly 1.5 hours of charging for up to 35 hours of continuous music or calls, with an LED battery display you can check by pressing the M button. Note the sheet also lists a 100-hour battery average life figure and a 1-hour charge time — read those as the manufacturer's own numbers, not a promise.
Then there's the AI voice control. Hold the M button, say "Xiaojie," and issue commands — play, pause, skip, volume up or down, answer, hang up. It's a genuine convenience if your phone is in a bag or your hands are occupied. It's also the sort of feature that lives or dies on how well it hears you in a noisy room, so I'd treat it as a nice-to-have rather than the reason to buy.
Buy it if you want one pair for the gym, the commute and calls, and you like the idea of earbuds that never end up in a gutter. Skip it if you need radio communication — there's no jack, no PTT, no radio compatibility to speak of.
• Best for radio communication → CYen Two Way Radio. It's the only one of the two that connects to a handheld at all.
• Best for hands-free transmit → CYen Two Way Radio. Inline VOX/PTT switch plus lapel clip is a purpose-built combination.
• Best for battery life → AIYIBEN Around. Up to 35 hours of playtime on a full charge versus a wired headset that draws nothing.
• Best for music and calls → AIYIBEN Around. Bluetooth 6.0, 10mm titanium-diaphragm drivers and voice control.
• Best for long-shift comfort → depends on the ear. CYen's wrap-around clip avoids deep insertion; AIYIBEN's neckband keeps weight off the ears entirely.
• Best for a team buying in bulk → CYen Two Way Radio. It ships as a pair, so two people are covered from one box.
• Best for the gym, running and commuting → AIYIBEN Around. Magnetic buds, flexible neck strap, no wires to snag.
• Best for discreet, low-profile work → CYen Two Way Radio. The transparent housing is designed to be understated on the ear.
In my opinion, these two shouldn't be competing at all — they solve different problems, and picking one is really about which problem you have. If you carry a GMRS/FRS radio for work and want to talk without lifting a hand, I'd buy the CYen Two Way Radio. The VOX/PTT switch, the lapel clip and the pair-packed box are exactly what that job needs, and nothing about it pretends to be a music product. If your day is phone calls, playlists and a gym bag, I'd buy the AIYIBEN Around. The neckband design, the Bluetooth 6.0 connection and that long playtime claim are the features you'll actually notice. Buy the one that matches the device in your pocket — a radio or a phone.
With the CYen, the clip hooks over the back of your ear and the speaker sits at the ear opening rather than deep inside — that's why it ships with two earplug shapes to fine-tune the fit. With the AIYIBEN, the silicone neckband rests on your shoulders and the buds angle into your ear canal at roughly 60°, with three tip sizes to get a seal.
On the CYen, plug into your compatible GMRS/FRS radio, clip the inline switch to your lapel, and either press PTT or flip to the VOX position (after enabling VOX on the radio) to talk hands-free. On the AIYIBEN, charge it, hold the power button for about two seconds, pair to "A18" over Bluetooth, and use the M button for power checks and voice commands.
Neither product needs cord-wrapping. The AIYIBEN's earbuds are magnetic and the neckband stores flat, which is the whole point of the design. The CYen's cable ends in an inline switch and lapel clip, so you clip it to clothing instead of bundling it.
Yes, in my opinion. The CYen has no Bluetooth, no jack for a phone, and no music function — it's a radio earpiece. The AIYIBEN is built for exactly the opposite job, with Bluetooth 6.0, 10mm drivers and voice control. Check the current price on Amazon before you decide, since that's the one thing that could tip the balance either way.
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