How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a lightweight, kid-safe open-ear headphone for everyday listening, choose iClever OWS01; if you need a wired, mic-equipped headset for clear calls at your desk, choose Kensington H950.
• iClever OWS01 — biggest strength: Open-ear, non-in-ear air conduction design with a 74/85 dBA volume limit and a feather-light 0.8 oz build that kids can wear all day without ear fatigue.
• iClever OWS01 — biggest trade-off: It's a kids' wireless headphone with no microphone for calls, no wired option, and no active noise cancellation.
• Kensington H950 — biggest strength: A plug-and-play USB-C headset with an ENC boom mic, flip-to-mute, and in-line controls built for calls and video meetings.
• Kensington H950 — biggest trade-off: It's a wired on-ear headset with a fixed 6 ft cable — no Bluetooth freedom, and it's aimed at adults in work settings rather than kids at play.
• Pick iClever OWS01 if you want safe, open-ear listening for a child on the move.
• Pick Kensington H950 if you want reliable, clear voice calls from a desk or home office.
The iClever OWS01 is built around a very specific idea: keep sound out of the ear canal. Instead of pressing a driver into or against the ear, it uses air conduction with an open-ear hook shape. That means your child stays aware of what's happening around them — traffic, a teacher, a sibling calling from the next room. For a kid riding a bike, walking to school, or moving through a busy playground, that awareness matters more than isolation.
The safety story goes beyond the shape. There's a 74/85 dBA volume limit, which caps how loud things can get and protects young ears from the kind of long-term damage that comes from cranking volume. The housing is made of soft TPE, a material chosen to be gentle on skin, and the whole thing weighs just 0.8 oz. That's light enough that a child is unlikely to complain about it after an hour. The three-point pressure dispersion system spreads contact across the ear so there's no single squeeze point.
Who should skip it? Anyone who needs to make calls. There's no microphone here, and no 3.5mm jack, so it's purely a wireless listening device. Adults who want a serious hi-fi experience or noise isolation should look elsewhere too — this is a kids' product first, and the open-ear design intentionally lets the world in.
Kensington H950: Who It's For
The Kensington H950 is the opposite kind of product: a tool for talking, not just listening. It's a wired USB-C headset, and that wiring is the point. Plug-and-play connectivity means you connect it and it works — no pairing, no charging, no dropped Bluetooth mid-sentence during a client call. A USB-A adapter is included for older machines, and the 6 ft (1.8m) cable gives you room to lean back or reach for a notebook without yanking the plug out.
The microphone is where it earns its place. It's an environmental noise-cancelling (ENC) boom mic, which means it works on the input side — reducing the background noise that reaches the people on the other end of your call. If you take meetings from a kitchen table, a shared office, or anywhere with chatter and traffic, that's a real difference in how professional you sound. The flip-to-mute function is the detail I appreciate most: rotate the boom up and you're muted instantly, no fumbling for a button while someone is mid-sentence.
Controls sit on an in-line module on the cable. From there you can adjust volume, manage calls, control playback, and reach supported voice assistant features without touching your laptop. The headset is certified for Microsoft Teams and Zoom, so it slots into the two platforms most workplaces actually run on. Physically it's an on-ear design with an adjustable headband and soft on-ear cushions — built for hours at a desk rather than for movement. Materials are plastic, fabric, and foam, finished in black, and it's aimed at adults.
Who should skip it? Anyone who wants wireless freedom, portability, or a headphone for a child. There's no Bluetooth, no battery, and the cable ties you to your device. It's a desk companion, not a commute companion.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for calls and meetings → Kensington H950. The ENC boom mic, flip-to-mute, and Teams/Zoom certification are purpose-built for voice.
• Best for situational awareness → iClever OWS01. The non-in-ear air conduction design keeps the wearer aware of their surroundings.
• Best for wireless freedom → iClever OWS01. Bluetooth 5.4 connects to phones, tablets, laptops, PCs, and smartwatches with no cable.
• Best for a fixed desk setup → Kensington H950. USB-C with a USB-A adapter and a 6 ft cable means stable, uninterrupted connection.
• Best for durability around rough handling → iClever OWS01. The 360° bendable memory steel wire survives being stuffed in a bag.
• Best for long desk sessions → Kensington H950. The adjustable headband and soft on-ear cushions are designed for extended wear.
• Best for all-day light comfort → iClever OWS01. At 0.8 oz with three-point pressure dispersion, it barely registers on the head.
In my opinion, these two don't really compete — they solve different problems. If I were buying for a child, I'd choose the iClever OWS01, because the volume limit, open-ear awareness, and bendable, lightweight build are exactly what a kid needs and what most headphones don't offer. If I were equipping myself or a team for calls, I'd choose the Kensington H950, because a wired ENC mic headset with flip-to-mute simply does the job more reliably than any wireless alternative for meetings. Decide which problem you actually have, and the choice is easy.
how to fit on ear headphones
For on-ear models like the Kensington H950, extend the adjustable headband until the cushions sit flat against your ears without pressing hard, then fine-tune each side evenly. The goal is a secure fit with even pressure, not a tight clamp — the soft on-ear cushions are designed for long sessions, so a little looseness is fine.
how to clean on ear headphones
Wipe the cushions with a slightly damp, soft cloth and avoid soaking them, since on-ear cushions trap oils from skin and hair over time. Don't submerge the headset or let liquid reach the drivers, and let the cushions air-dry fully before wearing them again.
how to open ear headphones
Open-ear headphones like the iClever OWS01 rest outside the ear canal rather than inside it, so you position the hook over the top of your ear and let the driver sit just in front of the ear opening. There's nothing to insert — you simply hang them on, and the 360° bendable back wire lets you adjust the fit.
how to ear headphones
For any headphone, start by identifying left and right (usually marked on the headband or housing), then place the correct side on each ear before adjusting fit. On the iClever OWS01, the hook shape makes this obvious; on the Kensington H950, the boom mic should sit on the side you speak into, with the cushion resting on your ear.
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