We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-17 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a rugged, waterproof headphone you can swim with and load up with your own music, choose GZLMMY Bone Conduction Headphones; if you need all-day battery life, a pocketable charging case, and comfortable in-ear sound for workouts and commutes, choose Nequga Earbuds. That's the short version. The long version comes down to one question: are you buying for the water, or are you buying for everything else?
• GZLMMY Bone Conduction Headphones — biggest strength: IPX8 waterproofing plus a built-in 32GB MP3 mode, so you can swim with music and leave your phone on the deck.
• GZLMMY Bone Conduction Headphones — biggest trade-off: Open-ear bone conduction means less isolation and less bass punch than an in-ear design, and the charging contacts need regular rinsing and drying.
• Nequga Earbuds — biggest strength: A 500mAh case delivering up to 50 hours of total playtime, with a 14.5mm titanium driver and a 49 ft Bluetooth range.
• Nequga Earbuds — biggest trade-off: IPX7 is sweat and splash resistant, not swim-proof, and there's no built-in storage — they need a paired device to play anything.
• Choose GZLMMY if you swim laps, run outdoors and want to hear traffic, or you'd rather not carry a phone at all.
• Choose Nequga if you want long battery life, a snug in-ear fit with tips in three sizes, and a case that tracks its own power.
The GZLMMY X7S is built around one idea: audio that survives water. It carries an IPX8 waterproof rating, which is the key spec here — this is a headphone designed for swimming, not just for sweating. Because the sound travels by bone conduction through an open-ear design, nothing sits inside your ear canal. That matters in a pool. You keep your ears open, and the audio arrives without earbuds that would otherwise trap water or fall out mid-stroke.
The second half of the story is the 32GB of built-in memory. In MP3 mode, the X7S plays files stored on the headphone itself, and it supports both MP3 and WMA formats. So you can drag and drop music, podcasts, or audiobooks from a Mac or PC over the charging cable — no app, no syncing dance, no phone required. If you've ever wanted to swim laps without leaving a phone on the poolside, that's the entire appeal in one feature. Bluetooth 5.3 mode covers the rest of your day, with a rated range of over 10 meters.
The practical numbers: a 200mAh battery rated for 10 hours of music and 10 hours of talk time, 300 hours of standby, a full charge in roughly 1 to 2 hours via magnetic charging, and a weight of just 30g. The frame is ABS with an open-ear fit, controls are physical buttons, and it's covered by a 1-year manufacturer warranty.
Who should buy it: swimmers, open-water and lap swimmers, and anyone who wants situational awareness while running or cycling outdoors. Who should skip it: if you want deep, isolating bass or you mostly listen in bed or on a plane, an in-ear design will serve you better. Also worth knowing — GZLMMY's own guidance says not to soak the headphones in salt water for long periods, and to rinse with fresh water and dry them after each session, especially around the magnetic charging contacts.
The Nequga Earbuds are the opposite philosophy: squeeze as much listening time as possible out of a tiny package. The headline number is 50 hours of total playtime, delivered by a 500mAh charging case that tops the buds up between sessions. The case has an LED display showing remaining power from 0 to 100%, so you're not guessing whether you have enough left for a commute. Nequga rates the case for 500+ charge cycles.
Sound-wise, Nequga uses custom 14.5mm titanium dynamic drivers — noticeably larger than the drivers in many typical earbuds — and claims sparkling highs with punchy bass. Each bud weighs about 0.14oz (3.9g), with a semi-in-ear shape and a 45° ergonomic angle intended to spread pressure evenly. Three silicone tip sizes (X/S/L) are included, which is a genuinely useful detail for small ears or glasses-wearers. A sandblasted non-slip coating is meant to keep them seated during hard workouts.
Connectivity is Bluetooth 5.3 with a rated range up to 49 feet (15m), and the buds auto-pair with your last device when you take them out of the case. The charging contacts are magnetic and gold-plated, with a sweat-resistant design. Controls are touch-based, with an expanded touch area on each bud — triple-tap for Siri, press and hold for volume, double-tap to skip. The case measures about 1.92 x 2.59 inches, so it slips into a pocket or a small bag.
One thing to be clear about: the IPX7 rating here protects against sweat and splashes, and the earbuds are marketed for sport and gym use. That is not the same as swimming. There's also no onboard storage or noise cancellation listed.
Who should buy it: commuters, gym-goers, travelers, and anyone who hates charging things daily. Who should skip it: swimmers, and anyone who prefers an open-ear fit or wants to leave their phone behind entirely.
• Best for swimming → GZLMMY Bone Conduction Headphones. IPX8 plus a 32GB MP3 mode is the combination that makes pool laps possible without a phone.
• Best for battery life → Nequga Earbuds. Up to 50 hours of total playtime from a 500mAh case versus 10 hours of music per charge on the GZLMMY.
• Best for phone-free listening → GZLMMY Bone Conduction Headphones. The built-in MP3 player and 32GB of storage work with no pairing at all.
• Best for call clarity and everyday use → Nequga Earbuds. An in-ear fit with a dedicated mic setup and touch controls suits calls and quick skips.
• Best for situational awareness → GZLMMY Bone Conduction Headphones. The open-ear, bone conduction design leaves your ears unobstructed.
• Best for a secure fit across ear sizes → Nequga Earbuds. Three silicone tip sizes and a semi-in-ear shape give you options the GZLMMY doesn't offer.
• Best for wireless range → Nequga Earbuds. Up to 49 feet, versus a rated 10+ meters on the GZLMMY.
• Best for a low-maintenance routine → Nequga Earbuds. The GZLMMY asks for rinsing, drying, and careful cleaning of the charging contacts after every session — that's the price of taking it in the water.
In my opinion, the right pick depends entirely on where you'll wear them. If you swim, the GZLMMY Bone Conduction Headphones are the only one of these two that's actually built for it — the IPX8 rating and the 32GB MP3 mode solve a problem the Nequga simply can't. If you don't swim, I'd take the Nequga Earbuds: up to 50 hours of playtime, a bigger driver, three tip sizes, and a case that tells you exactly how much power is left make them the more useful everyday companion. Buy for the water, or buy for the week.
Yes. They carry an IPX8 waterproof rating and are marketed specifically as swimming headphones. Just follow the care notes: rinse with fresh water after use, dry them off, and keep the magnetic charging contacts clean — GZLMMY warns that salt water and sweat can corrode them over time.
Nequga rates them for up to 50 hours of total playtime using the 500mAh charging case, which tops the buds up between listens. The case itself has an LED display showing remaining power from 0 to 100%, so you can check before you head out.
Yes — that's the point of the 32GB of built-in memory. In MP3 mode the X7S plays music, audiobooks, and podcasts stored directly on the headphone, and you load files by connecting it to a Mac or PC and copying them over. It also works in Bluetooth 5.3 mode when you do want your phone.
That depends on your routine, so check the current price on Amazon before deciding. For swimmers, the GZLMMY's IPX8 rating and 32GB of storage justify the choice. For everyone else, the Nequga's 50-hour playtime and 14.5mm drivers cover more of daily life.
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