We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-30 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a tiny, discreet earpiece you can wear in one ear for calls and quiet listening, choose GoNovate G11; if you need open-ear sport headphones that keep you aware of traffic and surroundings while you run or ride, choose BASN AirS1.
• GoNovate G11 biggest strength: a genuinely tiny, skin-color mono earbud with magnetic charging and Multipoint so it can hold two phones at once.
• GoNovate G11 biggest trade-off: it is a single earbud, not a pair, and two of them cannot connect to one device together.
• BASN AirS1 biggest strength: open-ear air-conduction design with a 16.2mm driver, Bluetooth 5.3 and IPX5 sweat/rain resistance for outdoor training.
• BASN AirS1 biggest trade-off: it is a full headband-style set that sits around your ears, so it is far more visible and bulkier than a hidden earbud.
• GoNovate G11 is for someone who wants discreet, near-invisible audio and call handling from one ear.
• BASN AirS1 is for runners, cyclists and gym-goers who want to hear their music and the world around them at the same time.
The GoNovate G11 is built around one idea: getting out of the way. It is a single in-ear earbud in a beige, skin-tone finish, described as the smallest and most unnoticeable option in its class, with no blinking light to draw attention. That combination is the whole pitch — you pop it in when a call or a podcast moment arrives, and it disappears into your routine rather than announcing itself.
In practical terms, the specs back that up. It weighs just 4.54 grams, uses a balanced armature driver with a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz range, and relies on a rounded-tip patent shape plus S/L eartips for a secure fit. Charging is magnetic and cord-free: you line the earbud up with the charger and it snaps into place, then you plug the charger into any USB port. It takes about 1.5 hours to charge and delivers roughly 5–6 hours of playtime at 30–40% volume. GoNovate is upfront that bigger numbers are not realistic at this size, which I appreciate — it tells you the company knows the physical limits of a bud this small.
The feature I would actually buy it for is Multipoint. It can stay connected to two smartphones at once and let you answer calls from either one, with a wireless range up to 33 feet and Bluetooth 4.1. If you carry a work phone and a personal phone, that is a genuinely useful trick in something this small.
Who should buy it: anyone who wants discreet, single-ear audio for calls, audiobooks, podcasts, or falling asleep to Pandora without a big headset on their head. Who should skip it: anyone expecting stereo sound, a pair of earbuds, or a device for workouts where sweat and movement matter. Note the sizing reality — it is one earbud only, and two G11 units will not pair to the same device at the same time. If you want two-ear listening, this is not the product.
The BASN AirS1 takes the opposite approach. Instead of hiding in your ear canal, it sits outside it. This is an open-ear, air-conduction design: sound travels through air vibration rather than being pushed directly into your eardrum, and because nothing plugs your canal, you stay aware of your surroundings. BASN frames this around safety for outdoor sports, and that framing makes sense — hearing a car or a bike bell while you run matters more than perfect isolation.
The AirS1 also gives you a choice. You can wear it open-ear for that "nothing in your ear" feeling, or add the included ear tips for private listening and better noise isolation. That flexibility is unusual and genuinely useful: open mode for the street, tipped mode for the gym or a noisy commute. A 16.2mm dynamic driver (listed as 15.4mm in the spec sheet) drives the sound, and the frequency range matches the G11 at 20 Hz–20,000 Hz.
On the tech side, it runs Bluetooth 5.3 for stable wireless connectivity with a range up to 12 meters. Environmental Noise Cancellation is tuned for calls — it suppresses surrounding noise and focuses on capturing your voice. Battery is a 70mAh cell rated for up to 8 hours on a one-hour magnetic charge, and a 10-minute quick charge buys you about an hour of listening. IPX5 means sweat and rain are not a problem.
The build suits movement. It weighs 20 grams, uses super-elastic memory steel wire that bends up to 360° without deforming, and pairs that with wire ear hooks and an ergonomic shape so it stays put. Controls are push-button and touch-integrated. A 12-month warranty is included, along with the headphones, magnetic charging cable, a pair of ear tips and a manual.
Who should buy it: runners, cyclists, hikers and gym users who want music plus situational awareness, and anyone who dislikes things stuffed in their ears. Who should skip it: anyone who wants a hidden, single-ear earpiece for quiet calls — this is visible, sporty and built for motion.
• Best for total discretion → GoNovate G11. Skin-tone, 4.54 g, no flashing light, essentially invisible.
• Best for outdoor safety → BASN AirS1. Open-ear air conduction keeps traffic and surroundings audible.
• Best for calls across two phones → GoNovate G11. Multipoint connects two smartphones and answers from either.
• Best for battery life → BASN AirS1. Up to 8 hours versus roughly 5–6 hours on the G11.
• Best for workouts and weather → BASN AirS1. IPX5 water resistance and a secure memory-wire hook.
• Best for sleep and quiet listening → GoNovate G11. Light enough to forget, comfortable for bedtime audio.
• Best for stereo, two-ear listening → BASN AirS1. The G11 is a single mono earbud and cannot pair two units to one device.
• Best for modern connectivity → BASN AirS1. Bluetooth 5.3 versus Bluetooth 4.1 on the G11.
If price is the deciding factor for you, check the current price on Amazon before you commit — both sit in very different product categories, so the numbers are worth comparing directly rather than guessing.
If I had to pick one, I would buy the BASN AirS1. In my opinion it covers more ground: 8 hours of playtime, IPX5, Bluetooth 5.3, a convertible open-ear/ear-tip design, and a secure fit for actual movement. The GoNovate G11 is excellent at one narrow job — discreet single-ear calls and quiet listening — and if that is exactly your need, it does it better than almost anything its size. But for most people buying once and wanting the most usable product, the AirS1 is the safer bet. Choose the G11 only if invisibility is non-negotiable.
FAQ
No. It is a single mono earbud, and two G11 units cannot connect to the same device at once. If you want two-ear stereo sound, the BASN AirS1 is the right choice.
The BASN AirS1 lasts longer, rated up to 8 hours on a one-hour charge, plus a 10-minute quick charge for about an hour of use. The GoNovate G11 delivers roughly 5–6 hours at 30–40% volume.
Yes. It carries an IPX5 waterproof rating, so sweat and rain are fine, and the memory steel wire and ear hooks are designed to keep it secure during movement.
Both handle calls, but differently. The G11 wins on discretion and connecting two phones via Multipoint, while the AirS1 uses Environmental Noise Cancellation to keep your voice clear in noisy places.
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