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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want true IPX8 waterproofing plus built-in 32GB of offline music storage for swimming, choose GZCRDZ IPX8; if you need a lighter, everyday neckband headset with noise-reduction calling and longer battery life for land workouts, choose Keenso Neckband Headset.
• GZCRDZ IPX8 — biggest strength: IPX8 waterproofing and bone-conduction audio with a built-in 32GB MP3 player, so you can swim or train without a phone or earbuds.
• GZCRDZ IPX8 — biggest trade-off: It's a bone-conduction design, so it sits outside the ear canal and won't feel like traditional sealed earbuds; the manufacturer also warns the magnetic charging contacts need rinsing and drying after salt-water use.
• Keenso Neckband Headset — biggest strength: A flexible neckband design with noise-reduction mic, up to 13 hours of playtime, and IPX7 protection in a lighter everyday package.
• Keenso Neckband Headset — biggest trade-off: IPX7 is rated for sweat and rain, not submersion, and there's no built-in memory, so it relies entirely on a paired Bluetooth device.
• Pick GZCRDZ IPX8 if swimming or pool training is your priority.
• Pick Keenso Neckband Headset if you want a comfy all-day neckband for running, gym, and calls.
The GZCRDZ IPX8 is built around one idea: keeping music going where most headphones can't. The IPX8 rating is the highest water-protection tier in the IPX scale, meaning it's designed to handle submersion rather than just splashes. Combined with bone-conduction drivers, which transmit sound through the cheekbone instead of sealing an earbud in your ear canal, this is a headphone aimed squarely at swimmers and anyone who wants to hear their surroundings while training. It weighs about 30g, which is light enough to forget you're wearing it.
The dual-mode setup is the part I find genuinely useful. You can run it as a normal Bluetooth 5.3 headphone with a 10-meter wireless range, or switch to MP3 mode and play straight from the built-in 32GB of memory. That matters for swimming specifically, because Bluetooth signals don't travel through water, so the onboard MP3 player is what actually keeps the music playing during laps. Charging is magnetic and takes 1–2 hours, and the 200mAh battery is rated for roughly 10 hours of music or talk time with up to 300 hours of standby.
Who should skip it? If you mostly want a phone-call headset for the office or you prefer the feel of traditional in-ear buds, this isn't the natural pick. It's also worth noting the manufacturer's care notes: don't soak it in salt water long-term, rinse it with fresh water after use, and clean the magnetic charging contacts so sweat and salt don't corrode them. That's normal maintenance for a swim-rated device, but it's real maintenance. If you'd rather not think about that, a lighter sweat-resistant headset may suit you better.
The Keenso Neckband Headset takes the opposite approach. Instead of chasing maximum water protection, it leans into comfort and battery life for land-based activity. The IPX7 rating means it's built to shrug off sweat and rain — ideal for running, hiking, cycling, and hard gym sessions — but it isn't intended for swimming or submersion. The flexible neckband with soft ear tips is designed to stay put through movement and remain comfortable over long sessions.
Battery is where it pulls ahead on paper: a 150mAh battery rated for up to 13 hours of talk or music time. For a long training block, a commute, or a full workday of calls, that's a meaningful edge over a 10-hour rating. The noise-reduction microphone is the other headline feature — it's aimed at clear voice calls and deep bass, so if you take a lot of calls while moving, that's the selling point. Bluetooth 5.1 handles pairing with phones, tablets, laptops, and TVs, with a rated range of about 32.8 feet.
On-ear push-button controls let you change volume, skip tracks, and answer calls without pulling out your phone, and the charging port is Micro USB. The included warranty is 90 days, shorter than the GZCRDZ's 1-year coverage, so factor that into how you weigh the two.
Who should skip it? Swimmers, and anyone who wants to leave their phone behind — there's no onboard storage here, so it's Bluetooth-only. If you need music in the pool, that's a dealbreaker by design, not a flaw.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for swimming → GZCRDZ IPX8. IPX8 submersion protection plus a built-in MP3 player means it works where Bluetooth can't reach.
• Best for phone calls → Keenso Neckband Headset. Its noise-reduction microphone is purpose-built for clear voice calls.
• Best for leaving your phone at home → GZCRDZ IPX8. 32GB of onboard memory holds thousands of songs with no pairing required.
• Best for long gym or running sessions → Keenso Neckband Headset. IPX7 sweat and rain protection with a flexible, comfort-focused neckband.
• Best for situational awareness → GZCRDZ IPX8. Bone conduction leaves your ears open, so you hear traffic and surroundings.
• Best for hassle-free charging → GZCRDZ IPX8. Magnetic charging tops up in 1–2 hours, though the contacts need regular cleaning.
• Best for a longer warranty → GZCRDZ IPX8. It carries a 1-year warranty versus 90 days on the Keenso.
In my opinion, the GZCRDZ IPX8 is the more capable and more specialized of the two, and it's the one I'd buy if water is anywhere in your routine. The combination of IPX8 protection, bone-conduction audio, and a 32GB MP3 player solves a genuine problem — music while swimming — that a Bluetooth-only headset simply can't. The Keenso Neckband Headset is the better pick if your workouts stay dry and you value longer battery life and clearer calls. If you're still deciding, check the current price on Amazon using the button on this page, then match it against which of those two problems you actually need solved.
are headphones waterproof
Not all of them. Waterproofing depends on the specific IPX rating. The GZCRDZ IPX8 is rated IPX8, the highest tier, meaning it's designed to handle submersion. The Keenso Neckband Headset is rated IPX7, which covers sweat and rain but isn't intended for swimming. Always check the rating before assuming.
are headphones water resistant
Many are, and water resistance is a lower bar than waterproofing. Both headsets here exceed basic splash resistance: IPX7 (Keenso) handles sweat and rain, while IPX8 (GZCRDZ) goes further and tolerates being submerged. If you only need sweat protection for the gym, IPX7 is sufficient.
Only with the Keenso Neckband Headset, which is Bluetooth-only and has no built-in memory. The GZCRDZ IPX8 can play from its built-in 32GB MP3 storage without any paired device, which is why it works for swimming where Bluetooth signals can't travel through water.
By the numbers, the Keenso Neckband Headset, with up to 13 hours of talk and music time versus roughly 10 hours on the GZCRDZ IPX8. If your long sessions are dry — running, cycling, gym work — the Keenso's extra runtime and lighter neckband design are the better fit.
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