How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a pair you can actually swim in and keep your ears open to traffic, choose Laoziniu Bone Conduction Headphones; if you need to block out the world on a commute and want true wireless earbuds with app control, choose Alpsnd Pro. These two are aimed at completely different buyers, and the spec sheets make that split obvious the moment you look at the waterproofing, the fit, and the way each one plays music.
• Laoziniu's biggest strength: IPX8 waterproofing plus a built-in 32GB MP3 player, so you can leave your phone behind and keep listening underwater where Bluetooth can't reach.
• Laoziniu's biggest trade-off: No noise cancelling at all, and the open-ear bone conduction design means background sound always leaks in.
• Alpsnd Pro's biggest strength: Active Noise Cancelling rated to cut noise by up to 50dB, with a 6-mic call system and a 13mm driver for deep bass.
• Alpsnd Pro's biggest trade-off: Only IPX4 water resistance, so sweat and light rain are fine but swimming is not — and battery life is rated at 4 hours per charge.
• Who Laoziniu is for: Swimmers, runners and cyclists who want awareness of their surroundings and phone-free playback.
• Who Alpsnd Pro is for: Commuters, students and office workers who want quiet, clear calls and customizable sound.
Laoziniu takes the opposite approach to almost everything the Alpsnd Pro does. Instead of sealing sound in, it sits on your cheekbones and leaves your ear canals completely open. That single design decision drives everything else. You stay aware of cars, bikes and people around you while you run or ride, and the titanium band keeps the whole thing light — the sheet lists it at 30 grams, with an ultra-light build that's meant to disappear on your head over long sessions.
The headline feature is the IPX8 rating. That's the level that makes these genuine swimming headphones rather than "sweat-resistant" ones, and it's paired with a 32GB MP3 player holding roughly 8,000 songs. This matters because Bluetooth doesn't transmit through water, so the MP3 mode is what you'll actually use in the pool. The magnetic charging connector is a smart touch too — it keeps water out of the charging port, though the sheet is clear that you need to dry the contacts completely before charging after any water use. Battery is rated at 10 hours with about 2 hours to charge, and Bluetooth 5.3 covers roughly 33 ft in open space with a built-in mic for calls.
So who should buy it? Swimmers first and foremost, then runners, cyclists and gym-goers who want open-ear awareness and don't want a phone strapped to them. Who should skip it? Anyone who wants to shut out a noisy train carriage. There's no noise control on this model at all — the spec sheet lists it as "None" — so if silence is the goal, this is the wrong tool.
Alpsnd Pro goes the other way entirely. It's a true wireless in-ear earbud built around Active Noise Cancelling that the sheet rates at up to 50dB of noise reduction, which is the whole point of the product. On a bus, in a café or at a desk in an open office, that's the difference between hearing your podcast and hearing everyone else's conversation. The noise control list actually stacks three layers — active, environmental and passive — so even without ANC engaged, the in-ear seal does some of the work.
Sound is handled by a 13mm dynamic driver, tuned for deep bass with clear vocals, and you can reshape it through the companion app's EQ. That app also handles touch settings and a smart power display, and Bluetooth 6.0 is listed for fast pairing and a stable connection. For calls, there's a 6-microphone ENC system that the description claims reduces up to 97% of background noise — useful if you take meetings from a busy place. Low latency mode keeps audio synced for gaming and video.
The fit is in-ear with soft tips in three sizes and no ear hooks, which the description frames as comfortable for extended wear. Battery is rated at 4 hours per charge with a 1-hour charge time, and the case plus LED display extends total listening to 20 hours. The critical limitation is IPX4: that's splash and sweat resistance, not swimming. The 1.52-ounce weight and plastic build also mean this is a lifestyle earbud, not a rugged sports one. Buy it if you want quiet, clear calls and app-tuned sound. Skip it if you're headed to the pool.
• Best for swimming → Laoziniu Bone Conduction Headphones. IPX8 is the only rating here that survives being submerged; Alpsnd Pro's IPX4 is not built for it.
• Best for noise blocking → Alpsnd Pro. Up to 50dB of active noise cancelling versus no noise control whatsoever on the Laoziniu.
• Best for phone-free listening → Laoziniu Bone Conduction Headphones. The built-in 32GB MP3 player holds around 8,000 songs and works where Bluetooth can't.
• Best for calls in loud places → Alpsnd Pro. The 6-mic ENC setup is designed specifically for that; Laoziniu has a basic built-in mic.
• Best for situational awareness → Laoziniu Bone Conduction Headphones. Open-ear design keeps traffic and surroundings audible.
• Best for sound customization → Alpsnd Pro. The 13mm driver plus app EQ gives you control Laoziniu simply doesn't offer.
• Best for sweat and light rain → either one. Both handle workouts; only Laoziniu crosses into full water use.
My Verdict
In my opinion, most people shopping this comparison should buy the Alpsnd Pro. The noise cancelling, app EQ, 6-mic calls and 20-hour case make it the better everyday earbud for commuting, working and studying, and IPX4 is enough for gym sweat and drizzle. I'd only steer you to the Laoziniu Bone Conduction Headphones if swimming is a real part of your routine — and if it is, nothing about the Alpsnd Pro comes close, because IPX8 plus a 32GB MP3 player is a genuinely different category of product. Decide which of those two lives you actually live, and the choice makes itself.
can i wear waterproof headphones in the shower
It depends on the rating. The Laoziniu pair is IPX8, which is designed for full water exposure including pool swimming, so showering is well within what it's built to handle. The Alpsnd Pro is only IPX4, which covers splashes and sweat — I wouldn't wear those in a shower. Whichever you use in water, dry the charging contacts completely before plugging in.
are headphones waterproof
Not all of them. Water resistance is graded, and the two products here sit at very different levels: Laoziniu is IPX8 (submersion-rated) while Alpsnd Pro is IPX4 (splash and sweat only). "Waterproof" in marketing usually means water-resistant to some degree, so check the IP number rather than the wording.
do i need a phone to listen to the Laoziniu headphones while swimming
No. The Laoziniu model has a built-in 32GB MP3 player holding roughly 8,000 songs, which is exactly why it exists — Bluetooth doesn't transmit underwater, so you switch to MP3 mode in the pool. The Alpsnd Pro has no onboard storage, so it always needs a connected device.
which one is better for the gym
For pure sweat, both work. If your workout is indoors and noisy, the Alpsnd Pro's active noise cancelling and secure in-ear fit suit it better. If you want to hear what's around you while training or you move between the gym and the pool, the Laoziniu's open-ear design and IPX8 rating are the safer bet.
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