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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-26 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want an open-ear clip design that keeps you aware of your surroundings and can even double as a standalone MP3 player, choose LOBKIN Open Ear Earbuds; if you need a traditional in-ear fit with a wireless charging case and a huge total battery figure, choose Groovz Plus True.
• LOBKIN's biggest trade-off: The clip-on shape means less passive noise isolation by design, and the ear-hook fit isn't for everyone.
• Groovz Plus's biggest strength: An in-ear seal with three ear tip sizes, dual microphones for calls, and a charging case you can top up on a Qi pad.
• Groovz Plus's biggest trade-off: It's a conventional in-ear bud, so you're back to blocking your ears and there's no built-in storage trick.
• Buy LOBKIN if you run, cycle or train outdoors and want to hear traffic and your surroundings.
• Buy Groovz Plus if you mainly take calls, commute, and want a snug sealed fit with a case that charges wirelessly.
The LOBKIN set is built around one idea: keep your ears open. The earpieces are clip-on, open-ear units that sit outside the ear canal instead of inside it, so ambient sound comes through while your music plays. The clip itself is made from skin-friendly, highly flexible silicone with an adjustable hook, which LOBKIN says is aimed at smaller ears and designed to sit without pressure. If you've ever given up on earbuds because they ache after an hour, that open, non-sealing approach is the whole point here.
Then there's the feature that separates it from almost everything else in this category: 4GB of built-in memory. That's roughly 1,000 songs stored on the buds themselves, playable in a standalone MP3 mode with no phone and no network. For a runner who wants to leave the phone at home, or someone who works out in a gym with spotty signal, that's a genuinely useful trick rather than a spec-sheet gimmick. Add IPX5 water and sweat resistance, ENC noise cancelling for calls, and Bluetooth 5.4 with a claimed 10-metre range, and it covers outdoor training well.
Battery is straightforward: about 6 hours per charge, with a 600mAh case pushing total playback to around 36 hours, and a full recharge in roughly 1.5 hours. The case is the other headline — a full-colour LED touchscreen that handles playback, track skipping and volume, and adds extras like an alarm clock, a camera shutter, a headphone-finder and lock-screen wallpapers. It's a fun, slightly gadgety touch.
Who should skip it? Anyone who wants maximum isolation on a noisy train or plane. Open-ear design lets the world in, which is the point outdoors and a drawback in a loud cabin. If you want a sealed, immersive listen, this isn't that product.
Groovz takes the opposite approach. The Plus True is a true wireless in-ear bud, and it ships with three ear tip sizes — small, medium and large — so you can actually dial in a seal. That seal is what gives you the isolation the LOBKIN set deliberately avoids, and it's why these suit commuting, office work and long listening sessions where you want the outside world turned down. The buds are rated IPX4, so sweat and light rain are fine, though that's a step below the LOBKIN's IPX5.
Calls are clearly a priority. Groovz uses dual microphones with noise reduction to keep your voice clear on both ends, which matters if you spend your day on work calls or take meetings from home. Controls are touch-based, and the connection runs on Bluetooth 5.4 as well, so pairing speed and stability should feel comparable between the two.
The battery story is where Groovz plays its strongest card. Groovz quotes 6.45 hours in the buds and up to 46 hours of total playtime with the case. There's also a real-time LED battery display right on the case, so you can see your charge at a glance instead of guessing. And the case supports wireless charging on any Qi-certified pad — you drop it on the pad rather than hunting for a cable. Note that the pad itself isn't included.
One spec worth reading carefully: the battery charge time field lists 46 hours, which appears to describe the case's total capacity rather than a recharge time — so treat charging speed as something to verify rather than assume. The finish is an "Oil Slick" colourway, and the brand notes the product is designed and engineered in the USA, with multiple colours available.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for hearing your surroundings → LOBKIN Open Ear Earbuds. The open-ear clip design never seals the canal.
• Best for blocking out the world → Groovz Plus True. The in-ear seal plus three tip sizes gives real isolation.
• Best for phone-free listening → LOBKIN Open Ear Earbuds. 4GB of built-in storage holds roughly 1,000 songs.
• Best for total battery life → Groovz Plus True. Up to 46 hours with the case versus LOBKIN's 36 hours.
• Best for calls → Groovz Plus True. Dual microphones with noise reduction are purpose-built for voice.
• Best for the sweatiest workouts → LOBKIN Open Ear Earbuds. IPX5 beats Groovz's IPX4 on water and dust resistance.
• Best for charging convenience → Groovz Plus True. Qi wireless charging on the case, no cable required.
• Best for a gadget-forward case → LOBKIN Open Ear Earbuds. The touchscreen adds playback control, alarm, camera shutter and find-my-buds.
In my opinion, this comes down to where you'll wear them most. If your listening happens outdoors — running, cycling, trail work, gym sessions where you want an ear free — I'd buy the LOBKIN Open Ear Earbuds. The open clip, IPX5 rating and 4GB phone-free mode line up perfectly with that life, and the touchscreen case is a nice bonus. If your listening happens indoors and on the move — commutes, calls, focused work — I'd take the Groovz Plus True for its sealed fit, dual mics and longer total battery. Two different jobs, two different answers.
FAQ
On total playtime, yes. Groovz quotes up to 46 hours with the case versus LOBKIN's 36 hours, though per-charge figures are close — 6.45 hours versus 6 hours. LOBKIN charges faster on paper, around 1.5 hours.
Yes. The LOBKIN set has 4GB of built-in memory, enough for roughly 1,000 songs, and switches into a standalone MP3 mode with no phone or network. The Groovz Plus True has no such mode.
That depends on what you need, so check the current price on Amazon before deciding. If you want the open-ear design, built-in storage and IPX5, LOBKIN is the fit. If you want the sealed in-ear sound, dual mics and wireless charging case, Groovz Plus True is the fit.
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