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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want active noise cancelling with an in-ear seal and app-based control, choose Generic MZYMI; if you need an open-ear, bone-conduction design that keeps you aware of traffic and stays put through hard workouts, choose TANFESO Open Ear Bone. These two earbuds solve completely different problems, and picking the wrong one is the fastest way to be disappointed — so let's break down exactly where each one wins.
• Generic MZYMI — biggest strength: Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) plus ENC call noise reduction in a sealed in-ear bud, with app control and a claimed 60-hour playtime with the charging case. Great for blocking out trains, buses and offices.
• Generic MZYMI — biggest trade-off: The seal that gives you noise cancelling also means you can't hear your surroundings, and the buds themselves are rated for about 5 hours of average life per charge (the case extends that).
• TANFESO Open Ear Bone — biggest strength: A true open-ear, bone-conduction driver that leaves your ear canal completely open, so you stay aware of cars and hazards while running or cycling. Ultra-light at 0.18 oz and IPX7 rated.
• TANFESO Open Ear Bone — biggest trade-off: Open-ear means no noise cancelling at all and much less bass isolation; the warranty is also shorter than Generic MZYMI's.
• Who Generic MZYMI is for: commuters, office workers, and anyone who wants to shut the world out and take calls in noisy places.
• Who TANFESO Open Ear Bone is for: runners, cyclists, gym-goers, and glasses-wearers who want music without plugging their ears or losing awareness.
Generic MZYMI is the "shut out the world" pair. The headline feature is ANC — it uses reverse sound waves to cancel ambient noise, which the spec sheet specifically calls out for noisy environments like trains and buses. That's a fundamentally different goal from the TANFESO. It's also paired with ENC on the microphone side, so your voice comes through more clearly on calls even when there's background chatter around you. If you take a lot of calls on a busy street or in a shared office, this is the design that actually helps you.
On the audio side, the MZYMI uses dynamic drivers with triple-layer composite diaphragms and a 20 Hz–20 kHz range, tuned for deep bass. The 80-ohm impedance is on the higher side for a wireless bud, which suggests it's happiest with a strong, stable signal — and Bluetooth 5.4 with up to 12 m of range delivers that. You also get an app for customizing the "Be Aware" setting, touch controls, EQ, and a safe-hearing volume limit. That's a genuinely useful feature set for someone who wants to fine-tune how the buds sound.
Who should buy it: commuters, frequent flyers, open-plan office workers, students in libraries, and anyone who wants ANC, app control and a secure in-ear fit. Who should skip it: if you run or cycle on roads, the in-ear seal is a safety downside — you simply won't hear what's coming. It's also not the pick if you hate things sitting inside your ear canal, or if you want a single-charge battery that lasts all day without the case.
TANFESO Open Ear Bone is built around one idea: never block your ears. The M100 uses a bone-conduction driver and a clip-on open-ear design, so nothing ever plugs your canal. The spec sheet is explicit about why that matters — you can hear approaching cars and other hazards while running or cycling, which is the whole point of this category. If your workout happens on public roads or busy trails, that awareness isn't a nice-to-have, it's the reason to buy.
The fit story is where this one really shines. It weighs just 0.18 oz and uses soft silicone ear hooks with an ergonomic "surround" shape that's specifically designed to stay put through running, dancing, and even while wearing glasses. That last point matters more than it sounds — a lot of over-ear and in-ear designs fight with eyeglass temples, and this one is engineered around them. It's also IPX7 waterproof, so sweat and rain are not a concern.
Control-wise, the TANFESO leans on an intelligent touch screen and a charging case with a digital display, plus smart auto on-and-connect when you pull the buds out. Bluetooth 5.4 gives you a low-latency connection up to 33 feet. The frequency range is a full 20 Hz–20 kHz, but keep expectations realistic: bone conduction trades deep, thumping bass and total noise isolation for safety and comfort. Who should buy it: runners, cyclists, gym-goers, glasses-wearers, and anyone who wants to stay situationally aware. Who should skip it: if you want to cancel out a noisy commute or need punchy bass that blocks the world out, the open-ear design works against you.
• Best for noise cancelling → Generic MZYMI. It's the only one of the two with ANC and ENC; the TANFESO has no noise control at all.
• Best for running and cycling safety → TANFESO Open Ear Bone. The open-ear, bone-conduction design keeps your canal clear so you hear traffic and hazards.
• Best for glasses-wearers → TANFESO Open Ear Bone. Its silicone hooks and streamlined shape are explicitly designed to work with eyeglasses.
• Best for all-day battery claims → a split. Generic MZYMI advertises 60 hours with the case (about 5 hours per charge), while TANFESO lists 60 hours average life — but note the TANFESO figure is a single "battery average life" number, not a per-charge/case breakdown, so read it as the total claim, not per-session.
• Best for long calls in noisy places → Generic MZYMI. ENC microphone noise reduction is built for exactly that.
• Best for comfort over long sessions → TANFESO Open Ear Bone. At 0.18 oz with no in-ear pressure, it's the gentler wear for hours on end.
• Best waterproofing → TANFESO Open Ear Bone. IPX7 beats the MZYMI's IPX8 rating on paper for submersion protection, though both handle sweat and rain for workouts.
• Best for app-based customization → Generic MZYMI. EQ, touch controls, Be Aware mode and a safe-hearing volume limit all live in the companion app.
• Best for a low-maintenance, no-app experience → TANFESO Open Ear Bone. Touch screen and auto-connect, no app required.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the TANFESO Open Ear Bone — but only if your life happens outdoors. In my opinion, the open-ear bone-conduction design, the 0.18 oz weight, the glasses-friendly fit and IPX7 waterproofing make it the more honest tool for runners, cyclists and gym-goers, and the 60-hour battery claim covers a lot of sessions. That said, if you commute, take calls in loud places, or just want to block the world out, I'd go Generic MZYMI without hesitation — ANC and ENC are things the TANFESO simply doesn't offer, and no amount of comfort makes up for that. Buy for your environment, not the spec sheet.
Yes — it's designed for it. The open-ear clip-on shape with silicone hooks is built to stay on through running and dancing, it weighs only 0.18 oz, and the open design lets you hear traffic while IPX7 waterproofing handles sweat and rain.
Yes. It uses ANC to cancel ambient noise with reverse sound waves, plus ENC on the mic to reduce background noise on calls. The TANFESO Open Ear Bone has no noise control, which is expected for an open-ear design.
Both advertise 60 hours, but they mean different things. Generic MZYMI lists about 5 hours of average life per charge, extended to 60 hours with the charging case. TANFESO lists 60 hours as its average life figure. Check the current price and full battery details on Amazon before deciding.
In my opinion the TANFESO Open Ear Bone, since it never enters your ear canal and weighs just 0.18 oz. The Generic MZYMI is a sealed in-ear bud, which some people find tiring over long stretches — but that seal is exactly what enables its noise cancelling.
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