How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a compact in-ear set with a huge combined battery reserve and touch controls for all-day listening, choose Hikapa X9; if you need earbuds that physically lock onto your ears for hard training and let you create music in an app, choose Boean Headphones.
• Hikapa X9 — biggest strength: Up to 6 hours on a single charge with a charging case that adds another 48 hours, plus touch controls and lightweight 4.6 g buds.
• Hikapa X9 — biggest trade-off: The buds rely on silicone tips rather than ear hooks, so fit depends entirely on your ear shape, and it uses touch rather than physical buttons.
• Boean Headphones — biggest strength: Flexible ear hooks and a claimed IPX7 rating make them the more secure, sweat-resistant pick for running, gym work and rain.
• Boean Headphones — biggest trade-off: Up to 16 hours of total playtime with no charging case mentioned in the data sheet, so they need more frequent charging than a case-backed set.
• Who each pick is for: Hikapa X9 suits long listening sessions, calls and everyday use; Boean Headphones suit runners, gym-goers and anyone who wants an app-based music-creation feature.
The Hikapa X9 is a true wireless in-ear set built around a charging case. The fundamentals are straightforward: Bluetooth 5.3, a 10-metre wireless range, no jack, and one-step pairing. The part that stands out in the data is endurance. Each bud is rated for up to 6 hours of listening, and the case is said to provide an additional 48 hours. If you're someone who charges once and forgets about it for a week, that reserve is the real selling point. The buds themselves weigh just 4.6 g each, which is light enough that the silicone tips shouldn't feel like a burden over a long session.
On the audio side, Hikapa lists a balanced armature driver, Hi-Fi stereo sound with deep bass and 3D surround, plus Environmental Noise Cancellation for calls. Noise control is listed as Active Noise Cancellation, and the ENC tech is described as lowering ambient noise so calls and video chats come through more clearly. Controls are entirely touch-based: a single tap for play, pause and answering, a double tap to skip, and a long press for volume or to reject a call. That's convenient, though touch controls tend to be a matter of taste — some people love the clean surface, others miss the certainty of a physical click.
Who should buy it? In my opinion, the Hikapa X9 fits the person who wants one set for commuting, desk work, gaming and casual sport, and who values not thinking about the charger. The ergonomic curved in-ear shape and multiple ear-tip sizes are there to help it stay put during movement, and the sweat and rain resistance is described as a nano-level coating — suitable for sport, not for swimming.
Boean Headphones: Who It's For
The Boean Headphones take a different approach: they're in-ear buds with flexible ear hooks, and that hook is the whole personality of the product. The data sheet describes a lightweight ergonomic design with silicone ear hooks that are meant to keep the buds locked in during running, jogging, hiking, biking and gym sessions. Boean also ships four sizes of soft ear tips (S/M/L plus an extra pair) and a cable clip, which is a thoughtful touch for cable management. Each bud weighs 18.5 g, so they're noticeably heavier than the Hikapa buds — that's the cost of the hook design.
Sound is handled by 11 mm dynamic drivers with a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz frequency range and sound isolation technology. That's a full-range spec, and the marketing leans on deep, powerful bass and clear calls. Noise control here is listed as sound isolation rather than active cancellation, which is an honest distinction: the seal does the work rather than electronics. Water protection is the other headline — an upgraded IPX7 rating, which is a higher water-resistance class than most everyday buds carry. Boean explicitly says they're not for swimming, which is an important limit to respect.
The unusual feature is the Boean app. It offers built-in instruments, sound effects and customizable melody templates so you can create, edit and share your own compositions. That's genuinely niche — most people will never open it — but if you make music on your phone, it's a reason to pick these over anything that doesn't offer it.
Who should buy it? Runners, gym regulars and anyone whose buds have fallen out mid-workout. The hooks plus IPX7 plus the ear-tip selection are aimed squarely at that person. Who should skip it? If you want maximum hours between charges, a charging case, or a lighter, more discreet bud, the Hikapa is the better fit.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for total battery reserve → Hikapa X9. Up to 6 hours per charge plus a case rated for an extra 48 hours beats a single 16-hour figure.
• Best for staying put during hard workouts → Boean Headphones. The flexible ear hooks are the more secure design for running, cycling and gym work.
• Best for water and sweat exposure → Boean Headphones. IPX7 is a higher water-resistance rating than the Hikapa's nano-coating description, though neither is for swimming.
• Best for calls and noise reduction → Hikapa X9. It lists Environmental Noise Cancellation and Active Noise Cancellation, while the Boean relies on passive sound isolation.
• Best for audio driver detail → Boean Headphones. A stated 11 mm dynamic driver with a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz range is more concrete than the Hikapa's balanced armature listing.
• Best for lightweight comfort → Hikapa X9. At 4.6 g per bud versus 18.5 g, the difference is noticeable over long sessions.
• Best for control preference → it depends on you. Hikapa uses touch taps; Boean uses a wireless button remote. Buttons are more predictable with sweaty hands.
• Best for extra features → Boean Headphones. The Boean app's music-creation tools have no equivalent on the Hikapa.
• Best for a one-and-done everyday set → Hikapa X9. Pairing, touch control and the charging case make it the simpler daily companion.
My Verdict
For pure running, the Boean has the edge because of its flexible ear hooks and IPX7 rating. The Hikapa X9 is still described as suitable for sport with sweat and rain protection, but its fit depends on the silicone tips rather than a hook, so it's the less secure option during fast movement.
The Hikapa X9 wins on total reserve: up to 6 hours per charge plus a charging case rated for an additional 48 hours. The Boean offers up to 16 hours of playtime, and no charging case is listed, so topping up means using the supplied USB-C cable.
No — the data sheet lists sound isolation, which is a passive seal rather than electronic cancellation. The Hikapa X9 lists Active Noise Cancellation and Environmental Noise Cancellation, so it's the better choice if reducing background noise on calls matters to you.
No. Despite the IPX7 rating, Boean explicitly states they're not recommended for swimming. IPX7 covers sweat, heavy rain and splashes, not submersion over time.
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