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Updated: 2026-10-03 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a true pair of wireless earbuds for workouts, calls and gaming, choose Generic Earbuds; if you need a single open-ear earpiece that keeps your other ear free and never sits inside the canal, choose LICAEVEY GD28. That is the whole decision in one line, and everything below is me showing my reasoning.
• Generic Earbuds biggest strength: a proper two-earbud setup with Bluetooth 5.4, ENC noise cancelling across 4 mics, and 30H of total playtime with the case.
• Generic Earbuds biggest trade-off: it is a traditional in-ear design, so it seals your ear canal — some people find that uncomfortable over long sessions.
• LICAEVEY GD28 biggest strength: an open-ear clip design that leaves the ear canal open, plus a magnetic earhook and one-button control for running and cycling.
• LICAEVEY GD28 biggest trade-off: it is a single earpiece with 7 hours of working time and no charging case, so it is not a stereo pair for both ears.
• Who Generic Earbuds is for: buyers who want two earbuds, longer battery life and call clarity.
• Who LICAEVEY GD28 is for: buyers who want one ear open to traffic and surroundings, and dislike things sitting inside their ear.
The Generic Earbuds are built around the classic true-wireless formula, and the spec sheet shows it. Bluetooth 5.4 is the newest version here between the two, which matters if you want fast pairing and a stable link for gaming and streaming. The ENC system uses 4 microphones to cut background noise, which is the part that actually affects how you sound on calls — a headset with more mics generally does a better job separating your voice from street noise, gym clatter or a fan humming in the background.
Battery is the other headline. You get 8 hours on a single charge and 30 hours total once you count the 300mAh charging case. Each earbud carries a 35mAh cell, and a full charge takes about 1.5 hours. For anyone who commutes, travels or trains several times a week, that case is the difference between charging every night and charging once a week. Sound sensitivity is rated at 109dB with 32 ohm impedance, which points to an easy-to-drive, loud, bass-forward tuning rather than a flat studio curve.
LICAEVEY GD28: Who It's For
The LICAEVEY GD28 is a completely different animal, and that is exactly why it deserves its own look. This is a single earpiece, not a pair. It clips onto the ear rather than sitting inside it, so your ear canal stays open. That one design choice answers a very specific complaint: in-ear buds that feel fine for twenty minutes but start to ache after two hours. LICAEVEY's own framing of the not-in-the-ear design is that it avoids that swelling and soreness entirely.
The rest of the spec sheet supports the sports angle. There is a magnetic earhook to hold it in place, a 13mm dynamic driver with a real copper ring for the HiFi stereo tuning, and a micro air hole that LICAEVEY says reduces noise. There is also a leakproof earhole so the sound stays pointed at you rather than broadcasting to everyone nearby. Controls run through a single multifunction button: one press to play or pause, a long press to reject a call, a double click for the next track, and a triple click to redial. No app, no touch surface, just a button you can find by feel with gloves on.
Battery is where it makes its compromise. The built-in 50mAh polymer cell gives roughly 7 hours of working time, about 800 hours of standby, and recharges in around an hour over USB. There is no case, so when it dies you plug it in. Bluetooth is 5.3 with a stated 10-metre range. Buy this if you cycle, run or work in an environment where hearing what is around you matters, or if in-ear buds genuinely hurt your ears. Skip it if you want stereo sound in both ears, long total battery life, or a charging case to top it up on the go. It also carries a shorter 90-day manufacturer warranty than the Generic pair.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for all-day battery → Generic Earbuds. 8 hours per charge plus 30 hours total with the case beats 7 hours with no case.
• Best for gaming → Generic Earbuds. Bluetooth 5.4 and the low-latency pairing pitch suit lag-free play better than 5.3.
• Best for running and cycling with awareness → LICAEVEY GD28. The open-ear clip keeps your canal clear so you still hear traffic.
• Best for long-wear comfort → LICAEVEY GD28. Nothing sits inside the ear, which is the whole point of the design.
• Best for stereo music in both ears → Generic Earbuds. GD28 is a single earpiece, so it cannot give you a left-right pair.
• Best for glove-friendly controls → LICAEVEY GD28. A physical push button beats touch controls when your hands are cold or wet.
• Best for a two-earbud workout kit → Generic Earbuds. Two buds, a case, and IPX4 sweat and rain protection.
If I had to pick one, I would buy the Generic Earbuds — for most people it simply does more. In my opinion, two earbuds, 30 hours of total playtime, 4-mic ENC and Bluetooth 5.4 is the more complete package for workouts, calls and gaming, and the 1-year warranty is the longer of the two. That said, I would genuinely recommend the LICAEVEY GD28 to a specific buyer: someone who cycles or runs near traffic, or who has given up on in-ear buds because they ache. For that person, the open-ear fit is not a compromise — it is the reason to buy.
can i wear waterproof headphones in the shower
IPX4 — which both of these carry — is rated for sweat and rain, not for being submerged or sprayed directly. Steam and heavy splashing are a different level of exposure than a run in the rain. I would not plan on showering in either one.
are headphones waterproof
No — IPX4 means water resistant, not waterproof. On both the Generic Earbuds and the LICAEVEY GD28, the rating is specifically about sweat and rain protection during sport. Neither is designed to survive a swim or a drop in the sink.
what is the difference between in-ear and open-ear earbuds
In-ear buds like the Generic pair seal into the canal, which usually means stronger bass isolation and a tighter fit. Open-ear designs like the LICAEVEY GD28 clip outside the canal, leaving it open so you still hear your surroundings. The trade-off is isolation versus awareness.
do i need two earbuds or is one enough
That depends on what you do. For music, gaming and calls, two earbuds give you stereo sound and a mic setup built for voice — the Generic pair. For running and cycling where you want one ear open to traffic, a single earpiece like the GD28 is the more sensible choice.
If price is the deciding factor for you, check the current price on Amazon using the button on this page before you commit — I deliberately do not quote figures here because they change.
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