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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a lighter, sport-focused earbud with a compact case and a clear LED battery readout, choose Donerton Earbuds; if you need the longest total battery life and a higher waterproof rating for sweaty workouts and rainy commutes, choose XIAOWTEK Earbuds.
Both are budget true-wireless earbuds running Bluetooth 5.4, both use 13mm-class dynamic drivers, both have touch controls and a charging case with a digital display. On paper they look like twins. They aren't. The differences sit in endurance, water resistance, weight, and how each brand handles the fit-and-finish details. Here's how I'd split them.
• Donerton Earbuds — biggest strength: A genuinely featherweight build. Each bud is listed at just 3.9g, and the whole package is tuned for a low-profile, in-ear fit that doesn't stick out — helpful if you wear a helmet, cap, or glasses.
• Donerton Earbuds — biggest trade-off: Total battery is rated at 40 hours with the case (8 hours per charge plus roughly 37 in the case). That's plenty for most people, but it trails the XIAOWTEK on paper.
• XIAOWTEK Earbuds — biggest strength: Endurance. It's rated up to 50 hours of total playback with the case, plus IP7 water and sweat resistance — the highest rating in this comparison.
• XIAOWTEK Earbuds — biggest trade-off: The buds themselves are listed at 4.5g, slightly heavier than the Donerton pair, and the noise handling is passive cancellation rather than anything deeper.
• Who each pick is for: Donerton for all-day comfort, glasses wearers, and listeners who want a light, unobtrusive bud for commuting and desk work. XIAOWTEK for runners, gym-goers, and travelers who want to charge less often and not worry about sweat or rain.
The Donerton W90 is built around one idea: get out of the way. At 3.9g per bud, it's the lighter of the two, and the shell is shaped so it sits flush in the ear rather than protruding. If you've ever had a bud catch on a bike helmet strap or press against the arm of your glasses, you know why that matters. The case is described as compact and pocketable, and the whole kit ships with four replacement ear caps, so you can dial in the seal instead of settling for whatever's in the box.
Audio-wise, Donerton pairs 13mm dynamic drivers with polymer diaphragms and a frequency range of 20Hz to 20,000Hz — full-range coverage, described as a balanced three-channel presentation rather than a bass-forward one. For calls, there's a built-in mic array with a CVC noise-reduction algorithm, which is aimed at filtering surrounding noise so your voice comes through on the other end. Bluetooth is version 5.4 with a stated range of 15 meters, and pairing is automatic once you've connected the first time.
Battery is 8 hours per charge with roughly 37 more in the case, for a 40-hour total. The case charges over USB-C in about 1.5 hours, and there's a dual LED display showing the remaining power for both the buds and the case — a small thing that saves you from the classic "dead bud at the worst moment" problem.
Buy it if: you want the lightest possible in-ear fit, you wear glasses or headgear, you mostly listen at a desk, on transit, or on walks, and you value a low-profile look. Skip it if: you're a heavy sweater, you train outdoors in the rain, or you want the maximum possible time between charges — the XIAOWTEK wins both of those.
The XIAOWTEK S66 makes its case on two numbers: 50 hours and IP7. The buds deliver up to 8 hours per charge, and the case takes that to a 50-hour total, with the same 1.5-hour recharge time. If you're the kind of person who forgets to plug things in, that headroom translates into days or even weeks of normal use between top-ups. The LED display shows the battery level of both the buds and the case, so you always know where you stand.
The second number matters more for active users. IP7 water and sweat resistance is a step up from a general "waterproof" claim, and XIAOWTEK explicitly positions these for sports and gym work. Combined with an ergonomic in-ear shape designed for stability, that's a sensible pairing: the buds are meant to stay put and survive moisture.
Sound comes from a 13.4mm graphene diaphragm driver, tuned for powerful bass, clear mids, and bright highs — a more bass-leaning signature than the Donerton's balanced framing. For calls, there are dual hybrid ENC microphones, with the brand claiming passive elimination of around 85% of background noise. Note the wording: this is passive cancellation, not active noise cancellation, so it reduces noise rather than digitally erasing it. Touch controls cover volume, track skipping, play/pause, call answering, and voice assistant — and they work binaurally.
Buy it if: you run, lift, cycle, or commute in bad weather, you hate charging, or you want a punchier low end. Skip it if: you're chasing the absolute lightest bud, or you want the flush, tucked-in profile the Donerton offers.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best water and sweat resistance → XIAOWTEK Earbuds. IP7 is the stronger rating here and the one I'd want for outdoor training.
• Lightest, most unobtrusive fit → Donerton Earbuds. 3.9g per bud and a low-profile shell.
• Best for glasses wearers and helmet users → Donerton Earbuds. The flush shape is less likely to be nudged out of place.
• Most balanced, neutral-leaning sound → Donerton Earbuds. 13mm dynamic drivers with a 20Hz–20,000Hz range and a described three-channel balance.
• Most bass-forward sound → XIAOWTEK Earbuds. The graphene diaphragm is explicitly tuned for powerful bass.
• Best for calls in noisy places → XIAOWTEK Earbuds. Dual hybrid ENC mics with passive cancellation of most background noise; Donerton counters with a CVC algorithm and mic array, so it's close, but the XIAOWTEK spec is more specific.
• Best for gym and outdoor sport → XIAOWTEK Earbuds. IP7 plus a stability-focused ergonomic design.
• Best for desk work, commuting, and long wear sessions → Donerton Earbuds. Lower weight wins over hours.
Both support Bluetooth 5.4, both auto-pair after the first connection, both use touch controls, both work with Android, iOS, tablets, laptops, and PCs, and both charge in about 1.5 hours over USB-C. Neither has a headphone jack, and neither is a wired option.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the XIAOWTEK Earbuds. In my opinion, the combination of a 50-hour total runtime and IP7 water resistance covers more real-world scenarios — travel, gym, rain, forgetting to charge — than the Donerton's lighter build does. Battery and moisture protection are the two specs you can't work around once you own a pair; weight is something you adapt to. That said, if you wear glasses all day, use a helmet, or simply hate the feeling of anything in your ears, I'd go the other way and take the Donerton W90 — at 3.9g it's the more comfortable long-session bud. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since these two are close enough on features that value often decides it.
Not across the board. XIAOWTEK wins on total battery life (50 hours vs 40) and water resistance (IP7). Donerton wins on weight (3.9g vs 4.5g per bud) and a more balanced sound signature. "Better" depends on whether you prioritize endurance or comfort.
XIAOWTEK, on paper. Both give up to 8 hours per charge, but the XIAOWTEK case extends that to about 50 hours total, while the Donerton case adds roughly 37 hours for a 40-hour total. Both cases recharge in about 1.5 hours.
Yes — they carry an IP7 water and sweat resistance rating and are marketed for sports and gym use. The Donerton pair is described as waterproof for sports too, but no specific IP number is given, so the XIAOWTEK rating is the more clearly defined one.
Both handle calls well. XIAOWTEK uses dual hybrid ENC microphones with passive cancellation of most background noise. Donerton uses built-in mics with a CVC noise-reduction algorithm. On specs alone, XIAOWTEK's dual-mic setup is the more specific claim, so I'd lean that way for noisy environments.
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