We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-30 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want true wireless sport earbuds with situational awareness features and a compact charging case, choose JBL Reflect Flow; if you need headphones you can actually swim with, choose Felvixanor X7.
• JBL Reflect Flow's biggest strength: true wireless in-ear design with IPX7 waterproofing, Ambient Aware and TalkThru, plus up to 30 hours total battery life with a 10-minute speed charge that adds an hour of playback.
• JBL Reflect Flow's biggest trade-off: the in-ear fit blocks your ear canal (passive noise cancellation), so you rely on the Ambient Aware mode to hear traffic — and it is not rated for swimming.
• Felvixanor X7's biggest strength: IPX8 waterproofing rated for submersion up to 3 meters for 30 minutes, plus a built-in 32GB MP3 player so you can swim or run without your phone.
• Felvixanor X7's biggest trade-off: bone conduction sound trades bass depth and isolation for safety and awareness, and the behind-the-head frame is a different fit experience than in-ear buds.
• Who each pick is for: JBL Reflect Flow for gym-goers, runners and commuters who want compact true wireless buds with voice assistant access; Felvixanor X7 for swimmers and open-ear fans who want their ears completely unobstructed.
The Reflect Flow is a true wireless in-ear sport earbud. That means two separate buds, a charging case, and a fit that sits inside your ear canal with rounded silicone tips. The package includes three ear tip sizes, a cable and the charging case, so you can dial in the seal. The enclosure mixes plastic, rubber and silicone, which is what you want on something bouncing around during a workout.
What it does best is combine waterproofing with awareness. The IPX7 rating means it handles sweat, rain and the toughest workouts in any weather. Then there's Ambient Aware, which lets outside sound in so you can hear your surroundings while music plays, and TalkThru, which drops the music volume so you can hold a conversation without removing the buds. For outdoor runners and cyclists, that pairing is genuinely useful — you get your playlist and you still hear the car behind you.
Battery is another strong point. You get up to 10 hours in the buds and another 20 in the case, so roughly a week of workouts or a full day of listening. A 10-minute rapid charge buys you an hour of playback, which matters when you're walking out the door and realize you forgot to charge. Controls are touch-based plus voice assistant support, and Bluetooth handles the wireless connection.
Felvixanor X7: Who It's For
The X7 is a different animal entirely. It's a bone conduction, open-ear headphone that transmits sound through your cheekbones and leaves your ear canals completely open. Nothing goes inside your ear. That single design choice drives everything else about it, including who it's for.
The headline feature is IPX8 waterproofing. According to the specs, these can be submerged up to 3 meters deep for 30 minutes — that's a real swimming rating, not just sweat and rain resistance. If you swim laps, this is the category of headphone you need. Combine that with the built-in 32GB of internal memory (over 8000 songs) and you can leave your phone in the locker and still have music in the pool. Bluetooth 5.3 handles the wireless side when you do want to pair, with a range around 33 feet.
The open-ear design is the safety argument: you hear music and traffic, alarms and conversations at the same time. For cycling and road running, that's a meaningful difference from sealed in-ear buds. The frame is titanium and flexible, weighs 28g, and wraps behind your head, so it adapts to head size and stays put during running, jumping and cycling. There's an ENC noise-cancelling microphone for calls, up to 10 hours of playtime per charge, a 2-hour charge time, and a 2-year manufacturer warranty. A 3.5mm jack is also listed among the connectivity options.
Who should buy it: swimmers first and foremost, plus cyclists, open-ear converts and anyone who wants to run phone-free. Who should skip it: listeners who prioritize deep bass and total sound isolation. Bone conduction can't match the low-end punch of an in-ear driver sitting in a sealed canal, and the open design means you'll always hear the world around you — which is the point, but it's not for everyone.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for gym and running with your phone → JBL Reflect Flow. True wireless, compact, hands-free calls, voice assistant access and Ambient Aware for outdoor awareness.
• Best for total battery life → JBL Reflect Flow. Up to 30 hours combined (10 in the buds plus 20 in the case) versus 10 hours on a single charge for the X7.
• Best for phone-free workouts → Felvixanor X7. The 32GB internal memory holds over 8000 songs, so the pool or trail doesn't require a phone at all.
• Best for hearing your surroundings → Felvixanor X7. The open-ear bone conduction design leaves your ear canals unobstructed; the Reflect Flow needs Ambient Aware switched on to get close to that.
• Best for a secure in-ear fit with a seal → JBL Reflect Flow. Three ear tip sizes and passive noise cancellation give you a plugged-in, isolated listen.
• Best for long calls in noisy places → Felvixanor X7. The ENC noise-cancelling microphone is designed to filter background noise for clearer calls.
• Best for a lighter carry → JBL Reflect Flow. The buds and case together weigh 1.28 ounces; the X7's carrying case alone is listed at 8 ounces.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the JBL Reflect Flow for everyday training and commuting. In my opinion, the combination of true wireless freedom, up to 30 hours of total battery, a 10-minute speed charge, and Ambient Aware plus TalkThru makes it the more versatile daily companion for gym sessions, runs and calls. I'd only steer you to the Felvixanor X7 if swimming is a real part of your routine — and if it is, IPX8 submersion plus 32GB of onboard storage is a combination the Reflect Flow simply doesn't offer. Check the current price on Amazon for both before deciding, since the value math shifts with whatever each is going for.
are headphones waterproof
Not all of them. Waterproofing depends on the IP rating. The JBL Reflect Flow carries an IPX7 rating, which covers sweat, rain and heavy workouts, while the Felvixanor X7 carries IPX8 and is rated for submersion up to 3 meters for 30 minutes. If you need to swim with headphones, look for IPX8 or a swimming-specific rating.
are headphones water resistant
Many sport headphones are water resistant to some degree, and that's what an IPX rating tells you. A higher number means more protection — IPX7 on the Reflect Flow handles rain and sweat, and IPX8 on the X7 goes further into full immersion. A water-resistant rating is not the same as a waterproof one for swimming, so match the rating to your activity.
The Felvixanor X7. Its IPX8 rating covers submersion up to 3 meters for 30 minutes, and the 32GB internal memory means you can swim without a phone. The Reflect Flow's IPX7 rating is designed for sweat and weather, not pools.
They sound different rather than simply better or worse. The Felvixanor X7 uses a 40mm dynamic driver and transmits sound through your cheekbones with an open ear canal, so you keep full awareness of your surroundings. The JBL Reflect Flow's in-ear seal with passive noise cancellation gives you more isolation and a more traditional bass-forward listen. Which you prefer depends on whether you value awareness or isolation more.
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