How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a pair of headphones you can actually wear into the water, choose esonstyle Swimming Headphones Underwater; if you need sweatproof earbuds for land-based workouts that double as a live translation tool, choose RCA TUNE-88. That's the whole split in one line, and everything below is me explaining why I land there.
• esonstyle's biggest strength: a genuinely submersible IP68 build with a built-in 8GB MP3 player, so it works with no phone and no Bluetooth signal — the two things that break underwater.
• esonstyle's biggest trade-off: Bluetooth doesn't work in the pool at all. You have to double-click into MP3 mode and preload your music, and there's no charging case, just a 2-hour recharge for 8 hours of play.
• RCA TUNE-88's biggest strength: open-ear clip-on comfort, 20 hours of total playtime via its 300mAh charging case, and real-time AI translation across 133 languages.
• RCA TUNE-88's biggest trade-off: it's sweatproof, not waterproof. There's no IP rating in the spec sheet and no built-in memory, so it's fully dependent on a Bluetooth 5.4 connection to your phone.
• Who esonstyle is for: swimmers, surfers, kayakers, and anyone who wants music without a phone on their body.
• Who RCA TUNE-88 is for: runners, gym-goers, cyclists, travelers, and anyone who wants open-ear awareness plus translation on the go.
This is a niche product done properly. The headline spec is IP68 — submersible to 3 meters for 60+ minutes, which covers lap swimming, surfing, kayaking, and the kind of rain run that kills normal earbuds. But the spec that actually makes it work is the 8GB of built-in memory. You load roughly 2,000 songs over the magnetic cable, double-click the MFB button to switch into MP3 mode, and then you're untethered. No phone on the pool deck. No armband. Nothing to fall out of a pocket.
The second thing I like is the bone conduction design. Sound travels through your cheekbones, so your ear canals stay completely open. For open-water swimming, cycling, and trail running, that's a safety feature, not a gimmick — you hear traffic and other people. At 28g with a titanium frame and an adjustable strap, the fit is built to survive flip turns and sprints. The spec sheet also lists a 119dB sensitivity, 8-ohm impedance, a 20Hz–20kHz range, Bluetooth 6.0 with a 15-meter range for when you're on dry land, and a 2-year warranty.
Who should buy it: swimmers first, but also anyone who wants sweatproof, phone-free audio for running and cycling. If you hate carrying a phone while you train, the 8GB player is the whole argument.
Who should skip it: if you mainly want to take calls, stream from your phone, or use voice assistants during workouts, this isn't the tool. Bluetooth is explicitly not supported underwater, the controls are push-button rather than touch, there's no noise control, and there's no charging case — just 8 hours per 2-hour charge. It's an endurance athlete's device, not an all-day commuter's.
The TUNE-88 plays a completely different game. It's an open-ear clip-on earbud built around a 3-in-1 idea: audio, hands-free calling, and real-time AI translation across 133 languages and accents. If you travel, sit in international meetings, or you're learning a language, that translation feature is the reason to look at this pair at all — nothing in the esonstyle's spec sheet competes with it.
On the audio side, RCA went with 13mm dynamic drivers and a 20Hz–20kHz frequency range, tuned for what the spec sheet calls Ultra Bass. The clip-on shape keeps your ear canal open and clean, and the design specifically addresses the falling-out problem that plagues normal in-ears during activity. Battery is the other strong point: 6 hours of continuous talk or play per charge, stretched to 20 hours total by the 300mAh charging case, topped up over Type-C. Controls are touch and voice, with one-touch access to Siri or Google Assistant. Bluetooth 5.4 with a 10-meter range. One-year warranty.
Now the honest caveats. It's marketed as sweatproof — and for sweat, that's fine — but there is no IP rating listed. I would not swim in these, and I wouldn't shower in them. There's also no built-in storage, so every minute of listening depends on a live Bluetooth link to your phone. And there's no noise control, though that's inherent to the open-ear category rather than a flaw.
Who should buy it: runners, gym users, cyclists, commuters, and travelers who want to stay aware of their surroundings and want translation in their ear. If sweat resistance, long total playtime, and hands-free control are your priorities, this fits.
Who should skip it: swimmers, and anyone who trains where there's no phone. Also skip it if you want isolation — open-ear means you hear everything around you.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for sweatproof land workouts → RCA TUNE-88. Sweatproof clip-on design with a secure fit; esonstyle also handles sweat, but RCA's clip-on shape is purpose-built for movement.
• Best for total playtime → RCA TUNE-88. 20 hours with the case versus esonstyle's 8 hours per charge.
• Best for phone-free training → esonstyle Swimming Headphones Underwater. 8GB and roughly 2,000 songs on board; the RCA has no local storage at all.
• Best for calls and voice assistants → RCA TUNE-88. Built-in mics plus one-touch Siri or Google Assistant.
• Best for staying aware of traffic → either, honestly. Both are open-ear. Esonstyle uses bone conduction; RCA uses an open clip-on.
• Best for travel and language barriers → RCA TUNE-88. 133-language real-time translation is a category of its own here.
• Best for battery convenience → RCA TUNE-88. A 300mAh case and Type-C charging beat a 2-hour cable recharge.
In my opinion, the right buy comes down to one question: will these get wet in a pool or the ocean? If yes, buy the esonstyle Swimming Headphones Underwater. IP68, an 8GB player, and bone conduction are a combination built for exactly that, and the RCA simply isn't rated for immersion. If your workouts are sweaty but dry — running, lifting, cycling, commuting — I'd take the RCA TUNE-88 for the 20-hour playtime, the clip-on fit, and the translation feature you won't find anywhere else at this tier. Buy the esonstyle to swim. Buy the RCA to sweat and travel.
what are sports earbuds
Sports earbuds are headphones designed to stay put and survive movement — typically with a secure fit, sweat resistance, and controls you can use mid-workout without pulling out your phone. Both products here qualify: the esonstyle adds IP68 waterproofing and bone conduction, while the RCA TUNE-88 uses a sweatproof open-ear clip-on shape.
how to wear sports earbuds
The esonstyle sits against your cheekbones with an open-ear fit, held by its titanium frame and adjustable strap so your ear canals stay clear. The RCA TUNE-88 clips onto your ear rather than going into the canal, which is what keeps it from falling out during activity. In both cases, the goal is a snug fit that doesn't block outside sound.
how to connect sports earbuds
Both are wireless, no-jack headphones. The RCA TUNE-88 pairs over Bluetooth 5.4 with a 10-meter range and is controlled by touch or voice. The esonstyle pairs over Bluetooth 6.0 with a 15-meter range — but note that underwater you must switch to MP3 mode by double-clicking the MFB button, because Bluetooth doesn't transmit through water.
how to use sports earbuds
For the esonstyle, load songs over the magnetic cable, switch to MP3 mode, and swim or run phone-free; press the MFB three times for shuffle. For the RCA, pair to your phone, use the touch controls for play/pause, volume, and calls, and use the case to extend playtime toward 20 hours. If price is the deciding factor, check the current price on Amazon for both before you commit.
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