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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-02 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• JLab Go Air Pop+ biggest strength: 35+ hours of total playtime (9+ per bud, 26+ in the case) in a case smaller than a credit card, with Bluetooth 5.3, EQ3 sound tuning and IPX4 sweat resistance.
• JLab Go Air Pop+ biggest trade-off: IPX4 only covers sweat and light rain, not submersion — these are not pool headphones, and there is no built-in music storage.
• GREYOLK Swimming Headphones biggest strength: IP68 waterproofing plus 32GB of onboard memory for up to 6,000 songs, so you can swim with music and leave the phone in your bag.
• GREYOLK Swimming Headphones biggest trade-off: Bluetooth does not work underwater, so swimming means switching to MP3 mode; battery life is 8 hours per charge versus JLab's 35.
• Who JLab Go Air Pop+ is for: runners, gym-goers, commuters and anyone who wants cheap-to-own true wireless earbuds for phone-based listening.
• Who GREYOLK Swimming Headphones is for: swimmers, snorkelers and open-water athletes who need waterproof, phone-free audio.
The Go Air Pop+ is the definition of a no-drama daily driver. Each earbud runs 9+ hours, and the slim USB-C case adds another 26+ hours, so the total 35 hours is genuinely a full workweek of commutes between charges. A 10-minute top-up gets you an hour of playtime, which matters when you remember your run at the last second. For running specifically, that combination of long battery and a tiny case is the whole point: you charge it Sunday, forget about it until Friday.
On the run, the practical details are the story. The buds are 15% smaller than the previous generation, IPX4 rated for sweat and light rain, and ship with three gel tip sizes so you can tune the fit. Bluetooth 5.3 keeps the connection stable across iOS, Android and PC, and Dual Connect lets either bud work independently — useful if you like one ear open for traffic. EQ3 gives you Signature, Bass Boost and Balanced, and Be Aware Mode pipes ambient sound back in, which I'd use on any route shared with cars or bikes.
Where it falls short is anything wet beyond sweat. IPX4 is splash resistance, not swimming. There is no onboard storage, so your phone comes along. And with 6mm dynamic drivers, this is a tuning-and-convenience product, not an audiophile one. If you want to swim laps, skip it. If you want a light, cheap-to-replace pair for running, the gym and calls, it fits almost perfectly.
GREYOLK takes the opposite approach: it builds for water first. The IP68 rating means fully waterproof, sweatproof, rainproof and dustproof, which covers swimming, snorkeling, fishing and boating. Because Bluetooth signals don't travel through water, GREYOLK works around the problem with 32GB of built-in memory — roughly 6,000 songs in MP3, WMA, WAV, APE and FLAC formats. A double-click on the power button flips between Bluetooth and MP3 mode. That single feature is why these exist.
The design is open-ear bone conduction, so nothing plugs your ear canal. The wraparound titanium frame is meant to hold steady during hard training, and the whole unit weighs about 32 grams. That open fit is also a safety feature: you hear traffic, other swimmers and gym noise while your music plays. For outdoor runners who hate the sealed-in feeling of earbuds, that awareness is a real benefit, not a gimmick.
The trade-offs are honest ones. Battery is 8 hours per charge with a 1.5-hour charge time — fine for several swim sessions, but far short of JLab's 35. Bluetooth tops out around 10 meters and only works above water. And bone conduction sound simply doesn't have the bass weight of an in-ear bud. If you swim, snorkel or want phone-free music, GREYOLK is the pick. If you mostly run and want deep bass, it isn't.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for battery life → JLab Go Air Pop+. 35+ total hours versus 8 hours on a single GREYOLK charge.
• Best for swimming and water sports → GREYOLK Swimming Headphones. IP68 versus IPX4; only one is rated for submersion.
• Best for running with your phone → JLab Go Air Pop+. Bluetooth 5.3, Dual Connect and Be Aware Mode suit road running and commuting.
• Best for situational awareness → GREYOLK Swimming Headphones. The open-ear, bone-conduction fit leaves your ears uncovered.
• Best for pocketability and travel → JLab Go Air Pop+. The case is smaller than a credit card.
• Best for bass and in-ear isolation → JLab Go Air Pop+. EQ3 with Bass Boost and sealed gel tips beat an open bone-conduction design for low-end punch.
• Best for charging speed → GREYOLK Swimming Headphones. 1.5 hours to full, versus about 2.2 hours for JLab; though JLab's 10-minute quick charge partly offsets that.
If I were buying for running, I'd take the JLab Go Air Pop+. In my opinion, the 35+ hours of playtime, the pocket-sized USB-C case, the IPX4 sweat rating and the EQ3 tuning make it the more useful everyday companion for roads, trails and treadmills. I'd only switch to the GREYOLK Swimming Headphones if water were the actual priority — swimming, snorkeling or training where a phone can't come along. That 32GB of onboard memory and IP68 rating are things JLab simply doesn't offer. Decide which of those two lives is yours, and the answer is obvious.
what are the best bluetooth headphones for running
For running, I'd point to whichever product matches your environment. JLab Go Air Pop+ suits runners who carry a phone: Bluetooth 5.3, IPX4 sweat resistance, Be Aware Mode and 35+ total hours. GREYOLK Swimming Headphones suit runners who want open-ear awareness or phone-free playback via 32GB of onboard storage.
what are the best bluetooth earbuds for running
Among these two, the JLab Go Air Pop+ is the true wireless earbud option: 9+ hours per bud, 26+ hours in the case, three gel tip sizes for fit, Dual Connect for one-ear use and EQ3 sound presets. GREYOLK is an open-ear bone-conduction headset rather than an in-ear bud, so it fits a different preference.
No for GREYOLK — it has 32GB of built-in memory and an MP3 mode, so it plays without any connection. Yes for JLab Go Air Pop+, which relies on Bluetooth 5.3 and has no onboard storage.
No. JLab Go Air Pop+ is IPX4 rated, which covers sweat and light rain only. For swimming, snorkeling or boating you need an IP68 rating, which is what GREYOLK Swimming Headphones offers — and note that GREYOLK's Bluetooth doesn't work underwater, so you'd switch to MP3 mode.
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