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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-07 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• KOAIEZ IP7 biggest strength: an open-ear, bone-conduction-style neckband with an IPX7 waterproof rating, a flexible wraparound fit and a quoted battery life of 40+ hours.
• KOAIEZ IP7 biggest trade-off: open-ear sound leaks in the world around you, so it's not the pick if you want to block out cabin noise.
• SUNGOOYUE Earbuds Earbuds Heavy biggest strength: true in-ear buds with heavy bass, a 200mAh charging case, four sizes of earplugs and IPX7 sweat/rain protection.
• SUNGOOYUE Earbuds Earbuds Heavy biggest trade-off: shorter single-charge playback at 5–6 hours, so the case becomes part of your daily routine.
• Choose KOAIEZ IP7 if you want all-day wear, an open ear and max water resistance for running, cycling or hiking.
• Choose SUNGOOYUE Earbuds Earbuds Heavy if you want compact buds, a snug in-ear seal and bass-forward sound for the gym or commute.
The IP7 is a sport-first design. It's a neckband headphone that loops over the tops of your ears, wrapped in soft rubber, so it hugs your head instead of relying on a sealed tip jammed into your ear canal. That's the whole point of the open-ear approach: your ears stay open to traffic, announcements and the person next to you. The skin-friendly silicone build and lightweight body are meant for long sessions — the kind where you forget you're wearing anything at all.
Battery is the headline number here. KOAIEZ quotes 6–10 hours of continuous music, calls, audiobooks or podcasts per charge, and a 2-hour charge time. Elsewhere in the specs it lists battery life as 40 hours or more, which is worth reading carefully — treat the 6–10 hour figure as your realistic single-charge window and the larger number as the overall endurance picture. Either way, this is a headphone built for people who don't want to think about charging every day.
The IPX7 rating is the reason this model belongs in a waterproof-headphones conversation. IPX7 means protection against temporary immersion in water, which is a meaningful step up from basic splash resistance. Combine that with Bluetooth 5.3, a 10m transmission range, multi-pairing support, built-in mics that reduce background noise on calls, and bilateral stereo, and you get a genuinely practical set for running, cycling, gym work, hiking and driving. The flexible body folds into a pocket.
Who should buy it: runners, cyclists, hikers and anyone who wants an open ear for safety and all-day comfort. Who should skip it: if you want passive noise isolation — say, to mute engine drone on a long flight — the open-ear design works against you. In my opinion, this is the better pick for movement-heavy days and messy weather.
This is the classic true-wireless format done around bass and fit. Two separate buds, a charging case, and a sound signature the name makes no secret of: heavy bass. The buds pair with each other straight out of the case, and Bluetooth 5.3 with a 10m range covers laptops, phones, tablets and the rest of your devices, including access to your digital assistants.
The fit story is where SUNGOOYUE makes its case for gym use. You get four pairs of replacement earplugs in the box, so you can size the seal to your ears rather than settling for whatever's pre-installed. A proper seal is what gives in-ear buds their bass and their stability during a workout — this is why the ergonomic shape and the spare tips matter more than they sound.
Power is split across two batteries: 2 × 50mAh built into the buds and a 200mAh battery in the charging case. SUNGOOYUE quotes 5–6 hours of continuous playback on a single charge, with 1–2 hours of charging time. That's a shorter window than the KOAIEZ figure, but the case is the safety net — drop the buds back in between sessions and you top them up without hunting for a cable. The IPX7 rating covers sweat and rain, and the ABS body in black is a plain, low-key look.
Who should buy it: gym-goers, commuters and anyone who prefers compact in-ear buds with a bass-forward tuning and a case they can pocket. Who should skip it: if you hate the plugged-ear feeling, or you want one charge to carry you through a very long day, the open-ear alternative is the smarter call.
• Best for water and sweat exposure → KOAIEZ IP7. Both list IPX7, but the open-ear neckband design has no sealed tip to work loose when you're soaked.
• Best for bass and in-ear punch → SUNGOOYUE Earbuds Earbuds Heavy. The heavy-bass tuning plus four earplug sizes is aimed squarely at a full, sealed low end.
• Best for long single-charge listening → KOAIEZ IP7. Its quoted 6–10 hours per charge beats the 5–6 hours of the SUNGOOYUE buds.
• Best for compact carry → SUNGOOYUE Earbuds Earbuds Heavy. Buds plus a 200mAh case slip into a pocket far easier than a neckband.
• Best for open-ear awareness → KOAIEZ IP7. You hear traffic, announcements and surroundings — the safer choice for cycling and road running.
• Best for secure gym fit → SUNGOOYUE Earbuds Earbuds Heavy. Four tip sizes let you dial in the seal for lifting, rowing or HIIT.
• Best for calls on the move → KOAIEZ IP7. Built-in mics with environmental noise reduction and multi-pairing suit people who take calls mid-activity.
• Best for device hopping → SUNGOOYUE Earbuds Earbuds Heavy. It pairs across laptops, phones and tablets, so switching between work and workout gear is straightforward.
I'd buy the KOAIEZ IP7. For the way I'd actually use these — earphones for flights where I want to hear the gate announcement, true wireless earbuds for flights as a backup in a bag, and neckband headphones for flights because there's nothing to lose between the seat cushions — the open-ear design, the IPX7 rating and the longer quoted battery life win it for me. The SUNGOOYUE Earbuds Earbuds Heavy is the right call if you want bass you can feel and a snug in-ear seal, and its charging case makes topping up effortless. If you'd rather have isolation and punch than awareness and endurance, go SUNGOOYUE. If you want to wear one pair from the security line to the trailhead, go KOAIEZ IP7.
are headphones waterproof
Not automatically — waterproofing depends on the rating, not the category. Both of these carry an IPX7 rating, which means protection against temporary immersion in water, well beyond basic splash resistance. Always check the IP rating before you trust a pair around water.
are headphones water resistant
Many are, and water resistance is a lower bar than full waterproofing. The KOAIEZ IP7 and SUNGOOYUE Earbuds Earbuds Heavy both go further than plain water resistance: IPX7 covers sweat, rain and short accidental immersion. That's the level I'd want for running, gym work or hiking.
KOAIEZ quotes 6–10 hours of continuous playback per charge with a 2-hour charge time, and its spec sheet also lists battery life of 40 hours or more. SUNGOOYUE quotes 5–6 hours per charge, backed by a 200mAh charging case, with 1–2 hours charging time.
It depends on the workout. For running, cycling and hiking, I'd take the KOAIEZ IP7 for its open ear, secure over-ear loop and longer battery. For lifting, rowing or HIIT in a gym, the SUNGOOYUE buds' four earplug sizes and heavy bass give you a tighter, more enclosed fit.
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