We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-28 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want maximum battery life, lossless-grade audio and a full-size over-ear fit for long listening sessions, choose HAYLOU S40; if you need earbuds that stay locked in during hard training and can survive rain, sweat and mud, choose Skullcandy Push ANC Active.
• HAYLOU S40 biggest strength: a 90-hour battery and a dual-driver, LDAC-capable over-ear design with 50dB hybrid ANC — built for people who wear headphones all day.
• HAYLOU S40 biggest trade-off: it's a full-size over-ear headphone (0.35 kg) with a USB-only wired connection — no 3.5mm jack, and more bulk to carry than a charging case.
• Skullcandy Push ANC Active biggest strength: true wireless freedom with an IP67 waterproof rating, flexible over-ear hangers and 58 total hours with the case.
• Skullcandy Push ANC Active biggest trade-off: smaller dynamic drivers and Bluetooth 5.3 with no wired option, so you're fully dependent on the battery and the case.
• Pick HAYLOU S40 if you want one pair for flights, offices and marathon listening sessions.
• Pick Skullcandy Push ANC Active if you want buds that disappear in your ears and survive the gym, the trail and bad weather.
The HAYLOU S40 is an over-ear noise cancelling headphone built around two ideas: long battery life and detailed sound. The headline number is 90 hours of average battery life, with a 2.5-hour charge time. That's the kind of figure that changes how you use a product — you stop thinking about charging entirely, and a single charge can cover weeks of commuting if you're not running ANC constantly.
The audio side is more ambitious than most headphones in the over-ear category. The S40 uses a hybrid driver setup: a 40mm driver paired with a 20mm titanium-plated diaphragm, with a rated frequency range of 20Hz–20,000Hz, 32 ohm impedance and 97dB sensitivity. It's certified for Hi-Res wireless audio and supports LDAC, which means it can carry more data over Bluetooth than a standard codec when your phone supports it. The noise cancelling is rated at 50dB of hybrid ANC, and HAYLOU says it reduces up to 95% of ambient noise, with adaptive ANC that adjusts depth based on your surroundings — the classic use case being plane and car engines, or a subway car.
Around that core, the S40 packs practical extras: Bluetooth 6.0, multipoint connection so it can hold two devices at once, five microphones for calls, touch controls, and the Haylou Sound app for EQ presets, ANC depth control, game mode with 80ms low latency and spatial audio. It ships with a detachable microphone and a Type-C 2-in-1 cable, and it folds for storage. The enclosure is ABS, polycarbonate and faux leather.
Who should buy it: commuters, remote workers and frequent flyers who want one headphone for everything and hate charging. Also anyone who wants LDAC and a wired USB option as a fallback.
Who should skip it: anyone who wants buds for the gym. At 0.35 kg it's a real over-ear headphone, and there's no 3.5mm jack — wired listening goes through USB. If you need IP-rated sweat protection, this isn't the product; that spec isn't part of the S40's design.
The Skullcandy Push ANC Active is a true wireless earbud aimed squarely at people who move. The defining feature is the flexible over-ear hanger: instead of relying on the eartip alone, the bud hooks over your ear to stay put at the gym, on the trail, or upside down mid-air. If you've ever had a bud pop out mid-set, that design detail is the whole pitch.
Durability is the second pillar. The Push ANC Active carries an IP67 waterproof and sweatproof rating — rain, sweat, dust and a rinse under the tap are all within its comfort zone. That's the highest level of protection in this comparison by a wide margin, and it's the reason it makes sense as a training partner rather than a desk accessory.
On sound and noise, it uses adjustable 4-mic digital active noise cancelling, plus a Stay-Aware mode with adjustable levels through the Skullcandy App so you can let the outside world in without removing the buds. The app also offers Personal Sound by Mimi and EQ fine-tuning. The driver is a dynamic driver with a 20Hz–20,000Hz range, 16 ohm impedance and 99dB sensitivity — low impedance, which makes it easy to drive from a phone.
Battery is rated at 58 hours total: 12 hours in the earbuds plus 46 in the case with ANC off, dropping to 37 hours total (7 in the buds, 30 in the case) with ANC on. Rapid Charge gives 2 hours of listening from a 10-minute charge, and the case supports wireless charging. Connection is Bluetooth 5.3, controls are touch-based, and there's no headphone jack at all — it's fully wireless.
Who should buy it: runners, lifters, cyclists and anyone who works out outdoors in unpredictable weather. Also good if you prefer buds to headphones and want a case you can drop in a pocket.
Who should skip it: if you want the longest possible runtime between charges, or you want wired listening as a backup, or you want a large over-ear driver for critical listening at a desk. The Push ANC Active is a compromise in favor of mobility.
• Best for battery life → HAYLOU S40. 90 hours average life versus 58 hours total on the Skullcandy (and 37 hours with ANC on).
• Best for working out and bad weather → Skullcandy Push ANC Active. IP67 waterproof and sweatproof with secure over-ear hangers; the S40 has no IP rating listed.
• Best for sound quality ambitions → HAYLOU S40. Hybrid 40mm + 20mm titanium-plated drivers, Hi-Res certification and LDAC support versus a single dynamic driver.
• Best for strong noise cancelling → HAYLOU S40 on paper, with a 50dB hybrid ANC rating and adaptive depth; the Skullcandy uses adjustable 4-mic ANC, which is effective but less aggressively specified.
• Best for calls → HAYLOU S40. Five microphones and a detachable mic included in the box, versus the Skullcandy's 4-mic array.
• Best for portability → Skullcandy Push ANC Active. Buds plus a compact wireless charging case beat a foldable 0.35 kg over-ear headphone in a bag.
• Best for multi-device switching → HAYLOU S40. Multipoint connection lets it hold two devices; the Skullcandy pairs over Bluetooth 5.3 without a multipoint claim.
• Best for quick top-ups → Skullcandy Push ANC Active. 10 minutes of charging buys 2 hours of listening; the S40 needs 2.5 hours for a full charge.
I'd buy the HAYLOU S40. In my opinion, it's the more versatile product: it does the long-haul listening, the flights, the work calls and the desk sessions, and 90 hours of battery plus multipoint and LDAC is a genuinely useful combination for that. If your priority were training — sweat, rain, movement — I'd flip and recommend the Skullcandy Push ANC Active without hesitation, because IP67 and the over-ear hanger solve a problem the S40 isn't designed for. Buy the S40 for everything except the gym; buy the Push ANC Active for the gym and the trail. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since both sit in different budget brackets depending on the day.
FAQ
That's exactly what they're built for. The IP67 waterproof and sweatproof rating plus flexible over-ear hangers mean they're designed to stay in and survive sweat and rain. The HAYLOU S40 is an over-ear headphone with no listed IP rating, so it isn't the training pick.
The HAYLOU S40, by a clear margin: 90 hours average versus 58 hours total for the Skullcandy with ANC off, or 37 hours with ANC on. The Skullcandy does charge faster, giving 2 hours of playback from a 10-minute top-up.
They help. The Skullcandy App unlocks Stay-Aware level adjustment, Personal Sound by Mimi and EQ tuning, while the Haylou Sound App handles EQ presets, ANC depth, device renaming and game mode with 80ms low latency. Both work without the apps, but you lose the customization.
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