How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want earbuds that stay put through sweat and let you hear traffic at the same time, choose HIFI WALKER Open Ear Earbuds; if you need a full over-ear headphone that shuts out office noise and surrounds your ears in cushioned comfort, choose BYDGUMEI L90. These are two completely different answers to the same question — how do I listen all day without pain? The HIFI WALKER T20 solves it by never entering your ear canal at all. The BYDGUMEI L90 solves it by covering your ears completely and actively canceling what's around you. In my opinion, the open-ear hook design wins for training and awareness, and the over-ear ANC design wins for the office desk.
• HIFI WALKER's biggest strength: an open-ear hook design with Bluetooth 5.4, IPX7 waterproofing and up to 50 hours of total playtime — built for movement and weather.
• HIFI WALKER's biggest trade-off: because nothing seals your ear canal, it does not block outside sound at all. That's the point, but it means no isolation in a loud room.
• BYDGUMEI L90's biggest strength: hybrid active noise cancellation that the spec sheet says filters up to 90% of low-frequency ambient sound, plus memory foam ear cups and up to 50 hours in ANC mode.
• BYDGUMEI L90's biggest trade-off: it's a full over-ear headphone, so it's bulkier to carry, warmer on the ears over long sessions, and it can't give you the awareness an open-ear design gives.
• Pick HIFI WALKER if you run, cycle, or work somewhere you need to hear what's happening around you.
• Pick BYDGUMEI L90 if you sit at a desk all day and want the room to disappear.
The HIFI WALKER Open Ear Earbuds (model T20) are earhook-style earbuds that rest outside your ear canal instead of inside it. That single design decision drives everything else. There's no pressure build-up in the ear, no "plugged" feeling, and — critically — no barrier between you and your surroundings. If you've ever pulled a bud out at a crosswalk to hear traffic, you already understand who this is for. The earhooks are made from soft thermoplastic polyurethane, which is the material that gives them that flexible, lightweight feel while still holding on through sweat and movement.
Who should buy it: runners, cyclists, gym-goers, and anyone who works in a space where they need one ear on the room. It's also a reasonable fit for teens and adults who find in-ear tips uncomfortable after an hour or two. Who should skip it: anyone buying headphones specifically to escape noise. The noise control here is sound isolation only — it does not cancel anything. In a loud open-plan office or on a plane, an open-ear design will let all of that in. That's not a flaw, it's the trade you're making.
BYDGUMEI L90: Who It's For
The BYDGUMEI L90 is a traditional over-ear headphone in purple, with oval ear cups filled with memory foam and a lightweight frame meant to sit on your head for long meetings. This is the opposite philosophy from the HIFI WALKER: instead of letting the world in, it actively pushes the world out. The hybrid active noise cancellation uses dual noise-detection microphones and, per the spec sheet, filters out up to 90% of low-frequency ambient sound. You also get three selectable ANC modes — traffic, outdoor, and indoor — so you can tune the cancellation to your environment rather than flipping one switch.
Audio-wise, the L90 uses a 40 mm dynamic driver with a silk diaphragm, which is a larger driver than the HIFI WALKER's 16.2 mm and is tuned for bass response and treble clarity, with a frequency extension stated up to 40 kHz. Battery life is quoted at up to 50 hours in ANC mode, stretching to 70 hours in standard mode, and a 5-minute charge is said to give 4 hours of listening. Bluetooth version 5 is on board, and there's a 3.5 mm jack plus an included AUX cable — though note the spec sheet explicitly says ANC and AUX cable connections are incompatible, so wired listening means no noise cancellation.
Who should buy it: office workers, remote workers, students, and travelers who want a quiet bubble and long battery life. The over-ear, memory-foam fit is aimed squarely at all-day desk use, and the AI call function plus media touch controls suit meeting-heavy days. Who should skip it: anyone who needs situational awareness, wants something pocketable, or trains in the rain. At 9.28 ounces it's a real headphone you carry, not something you stuff in a pocket, and there's no water-resistance rating in the specs at all.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for blocking out a noisy office → BYDGUMEI L90. Hybrid ANC with three modes is built for exactly this.
• Best for staying aware of traffic and surroundings → HIFI WALKER Open Ear Earbuds. Open-ear design, by definition.
• Best for long, uninterrupted listening sessions → tie, with a lean to BYDGUMEI L90. Both claim up to 50 hours; the L90 extends to 70 hours in standard mode.
• Best for meeting-heavy workdays → BYDGUMEI L90. Memory foam cups, AI call function, over-ear comfort.
• Best for all-day physical comfort without ear-canal pressure → HIFI WALKER Open Ear Earbuds. Nothing enters the ear canal.
• Best for wired backup listening → BYDGUMEI L90. It has a 3.5 mm jack and an AUX cable in the box; the HIFI WALKER has no jack.
• Best for portability → HIFI WALKER Open Ear Earbuds. Earbuds plus a compact charging case beat a full headphone.
• Best for newer wireless tech → HIFI WALKER Open Ear Earbuds. Bluetooth 5.4 versus Bluetooth 5.
In my opinion, the right pick comes down to one question: do you want to hear your surroundings or not? If you're a runner, cyclist, or someone who works with one ear open, I'd buy the HIFI WALKER Open Ear Earbuds — the earhook fit, IPX7 rating, Bluetooth 5.4 and 50-hour case make it the more purpose-built tool. If you're at a desk and want the room to vanish, I'd buy the BYDGUMEI L90 — the hybrid ANC, three noise modes, memory foam cups and 3.5 mm jack make it the better office companion. For the over-ear office use case specifically, the L90 is my pick.
FAQ
how do over ear headphones work
Over-ear headphones place a padded cup around your whole ear rather than inside it, and a driver inside the cup pushes sound toward your ear. The closed cup naturally muffles outside noise, and models like the BYDGUMEI L90 add active noise cancellation — microphones pick up ambient sound and the headphone plays a counter-signal to reduce it. The L90's spec sheet says its dual-mic hybrid system filters up to 90% of low-frequency ambient sound.
That depends on battery and build, not a fixed number. Battery life is quoted at up to 50 hours for the BYDGUMEI L90 in ANC mode and 70 hours in standard mode, and up to 50 hours total for the HIFI WALKER Open Ear Earbuds with its charging case. The HIFI WALKER carries a 2-year manufacturer warranty; the BYDGUMEI L90 carries an 18-month warranty.
do over ear headphones damage hearing
Any headphone can contribute to hearing damage if you listen at high volume for long periods — that's about volume and duration, not the headphone style. Over-ear designs like the BYDGUMEI L90 seal around your ear, which can tempt you to turn volume down since less external noise leaks in. Open-ear designs like the HIFI WALKER let ambient sound in, which often means you keep the volume lower. Either way, keep levels moderate.
what are the best over ear headphones
There's no single answer — it depends on what "over ear" means for your day. For noise cancellation and desk work, the BYDGUMEI L90's hybrid ANC, three noise modes and memory foam cups make it a strong office choice. For movement, sweat and staying aware of your surroundings, the HIFI WALKER Open Ear Earbuds' IPX7 rating and earhook design fit better. Buyers should check the current price on Amazon and match the spec to their own routine.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: UMUTOO A1 vs Voopwink Kids Headphones: Portable Headphones, Bowers & Wilkins P7 vs Denon AH-D, LOVE EYE 5.4 vs DSLYSMLDBGR Throne, Xmenha Invisible Mini Earbuds vs OFFBOX Sleep Earbuds USB-C