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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 single pair of on-ear headphones built for everyday school, travel and call use with a mic and inline media control, choose ELECDER i45; if you need two retro-styled wired headphones to share or keep as a backup, choose NexusPulse 2.
• ELECDER i45 — biggest strength: A 40mm dynamic driver paired with in-line mic and media controls, plus a foldable, adjustable frame and a nylon-braided no-tangle 1.5M cord. It's the more "daily driver" of the two.
• ELECDER i45 — biggest trade-off: It's a single headphone, so there's no spare in the box, and the sound-isolation design is about blocking background noise, not active noise cancellation.
• NexusPulse 2 — biggest strength: You get two headphones (orange and black) in one box, with a lightweight adjustable headband and a retro cassette-player look that's genuinely fun.
• NexusPulse 2 — biggest trade-off: The spec sheet is thin on audio detail, there's no mic described, and the "retro" build leans on looks rather than premium materials.
• Who each is for: Pick ELECDER i45 if you want one reliable wired headphone for calls, classes and travel. Pick NexusPulse 2 if you want a pair to share, a backup, or a vintage aesthetic.
The ELECDER i45 is the more purpose-built of the two. Its headline feature is a 40mm dynamic driver, which is the kind of size that generally gives you fuller low-end and a warmer overall tone than tiny drivers can manage. The listing frames it around "Hi-Fi stereo bass" with crisp midrange, and the sound-isolation design aims to cut down background noise — useful on a plane, in a busy library, or on a commute where you just want to hear your own audio.
What separates it from a plain pair of wired headphones is the practical stuff. There's a built-in microphone with in-line control, so you can take calls and skip tracks without pulling out your phone. The cord is a 1.5M nylon-braided cable that's designed to resist tangling — a small thing that matters a lot if you've ever spent five minutes untangling a cheap wire. The frame is lightweight and foldable with an adjustable size slider, so it collapses down for a backpack or carry-on.
Comfort is clearly a design priority here. The ear cushions and headband are padded with ultra-soft foam, which is meant to make longer listening sessions bearable and to protect younger ears — the description notes a volume ceiling around 85 dB. Combined with the "school/kids/teen" framing, this reads like a headphone aimed at students and casual listeners rather than critical audiophiles.
Who should buy it: Anyone who wants one dependable wired headphone for online classes, music, movies, flights and calls. The mic, inline controls, folding design and braided cord all point to a daily-use tool. It's also a sensible pick for a teen or student who needs something that survives being shoved in a bag.
Who should skip it: If you specifically want two headphones, or you're chasing a retro cassette-player vibe, this isn't that. And if you hate wires entirely, both of these are the wrong category.
The NexusPulse 2 is a different kind of product. It's sold as a two-pack of retro on-ear headphones in orange and black, and the whole pitch is nostalgia plus value-in-numbers. The vintage styling is meant to pair with cassette players and still work with modern phones, tablets and laptops via a standard 3.5mm jack.
The spec sheet gives you a 32-ohm impedance and a 20Hz frequency response figure, which suggests it's designed to be easy to drive — the kind of headphone that'll get loud enough off a phone or a cheap player without needing an amp. There's passive noise cancellation, which is really just the physical seal of the on-ear pads rather than any electronics, and an inline push-button control. Note that no microphone is described, so this is primarily a listening headphone, not a calling one.
The design is deliberately lightweight — the item weight is listed at just over 9 grams — with an adjustable headband for a customized fit. The materials are foam, metal and plastic, and there's no carrying case included. Two headphones in the box means you can share with a friend, keep one at home and one in a bag, or just have a backup when one gets lost.
Who should buy it: Someone who wants two headphones for the price of one purchase, or who loves the retro look and wants a lightweight, no-fuss wired pair. It's a natural fit for a household with two listeners, a cassette-player hobbyist, or anyone who wants a spare set without overthinking it.
Who should skip it: If you need a microphone for calls, or you want the audio specs and build details of a more feature-complete headphone, the i45 is the better match. The NexusPulse 2 is about style and quantity more than call-ready utility.
• Best for calls and online meetings → ELECDER i45. The built-in mic and in-line media control make it the only one of the two that's clearly set up for two-way audio.
• Best for sharing or a spare pair → NexusPulse 2. Two headphones ship in the box, so there's no arguing over whose turn it is.
• Best for bigger drivers and fuller bass → ELECDER i45. A 40mm dynamic driver is the more substantial audio spec on paper.
• Best for retro style → NexusPulse 2. The vintage cassette-player aesthetic is the entire point of this product.
• Best for portability and packing → ELECDER i45. The foldable frame and braided no-tangle cord are built for travel and backpacks.
• Best for lightweight wear → NexusPulse 2. At roughly 9 grams, it's about as light as on-ear headphones get, which helps over long sessions.
• Best for easy-to-drive listening on basic devices → NexusPulse 2. The 32-ohm impedance suits phones and simple players without extra gear.
• Best for a student or teen's first headphone → ELECDER i45. The school/kids framing and padded, ear-protecting design fit that use case directly.
If I were buying one of these for myself, I'd take the ELECDER i45. In my opinion, the combination of a 40mm driver, a built-in mic with inline controls, a foldable frame and a tangle-resistant braided cord simply covers more of what I actually do with headphones — take calls, listen on the go, and toss them in a bag without a second thought. The NexusPulse 2 is the more charming pick and the smarter buy if you specifically want two pairs or a retro look, but as a single everyday headphone I think the i45 is the more complete package. If your priority is sharing or style over call utility, flip that recommendation.
The ELECDER i45 is the one to pick for calls. It's described as having a built-in microphone with in-line control, while the NexusPulse 2 lists an inline push-button control but no microphone. If two-way audio matters, that difference decides it.
Yes. The NexusPulse 2 is sold as a two-pack with one orange and one black headphone, which is its main selling point over the single-headphone ELECDER i45. The i45 includes one pair plus a user guide.
Both are designed with comfort in mind, but in different ways. The ELECDER i45 leans on padded ultra-soft ear cushions and an adjustable slider. The NexusPulse 2 goes for an extremely lightweight build and an adjustable headband. If weight is your main concern, the NexusPulse 2 is the lighter option on paper.
Then the NexusPulse 2 becomes a lot more appealing, especially if you want a spare pair or a retro look. The ELECDER i45 still wins on audio spec with its 40mm driver and braided cord, so it comes down to whether you value the extras or the two-for-one convenience. Either way, check the current price on Amazon before you decide.
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