How We Research
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
• MARLALL biggest strength: A true dual-life design — Bluetooth 5.4 for land, 32GB MP3 mode for underwater, IP68 waterproofing, and an adjustable over-ear strap system that keeps the band locked to your head.
• MARLALL biggest trade-off: The brand doesn't publish a battery life figure, so if runtime is your top priority you're buying on faith rather than on a spec.
• Hostena biggest strength: Explicit 8-hour playtime and 90-hour standby, plus Bluetooth 6.0 and a full-coverage liquid silicone build tuned specifically for swimmers.
• Hostena biggest trade-off: It's swimming-first — the spec sheet leans hard into pool and open-water use, so it's a more specialized pick than an all-rounder.
• MARLALL is for: Runners, cyclists and hikers who swim on the side and want one pair for everything.
• Hostena is for: Dedicated swimmers and triathletes who want the longest published runtime and a full-coverage silicone fit.
The MARLALL S800 is built around a simple idea: one pair of open-ear headphones that handles your whole day. On land it's a Bluetooth 5.4 headset with a stable 10-meter (33-foot) range, which is plenty for leaving your phone on a poolside bench or in a gym bag while you move around. Because the drivers sit outside your ear canal and transmit sound through vibration via the cheekbones, you keep your ears open — that's the whole safety argument for biking, hiking and running near traffic.
What makes it genuinely interesting is the 32GB of built-in storage. That's roughly 8,000 songs in MP3 mode, and it's the mode you switch to when you get in the water, because Bluetooth signals simply don't travel underwater. So you load your music once, leave the phone in your bag, and swim without carrying anything. IP68 waterproofing backs that up, and the enclosure is silicone — a material that stays skin-friendly when it's wet and chlorinated.
The fit is where MARLALL differentiates itself on paper. The adjustable straps are designed to keep the headphone seated without slippage, and at 22.68 g it's light enough to forget you're wearing it — the brand markets it as 29G in its own copy, so treat the exact figure as approximate. Ear placement is listed as over-ear with an open-ear earpiece shape.
Buy it if you want one headphone for running, cycling, the gym and the pool, and you like the idea of an adjustable strap fit you can tune. Skip it if you're a serious lap swimmer who needs a guaranteed runtime number before you commit, or if you want the newest Bluetooth version available.
The Hostena X26 reads like a spec sheet written by someone who actually swims. The headline is the full-coverage liquid silicone body — the entire contact surface is soft silicone rather than a partial wrap, which is the detail that matters when you're wearing a cap and goggles and something is pressing against your temple for an hour. The brand specifically calls out that the silicone fits seamlessly with your goggles and swim cap, which is the kind of practical detail that separates a swim headphone from a headphone that happens to be waterproof.
IP68 is claimed here too, and Hostena goes further by stating you can dive up to two meters underwater without damage. Combined with the open-ear bone conduction design, that means you can be underwater with music playing and still hear what's happening around you when you surface — useful in a crowded public pool and more useful still in open water.
The battery story is the clearest advantage. Hostena publishes 8 hours of continuous use, a 2-hour charge time (1.5 hours in one of the bullets — the two figures appear in the same listing, so plan around the longer one) and up to 90 hours of standby. That's a real number you can plan a week of swims around. It also supports more audio formats than MARLALL's spec sheet mentions: MP3, WMA, WAV, APE and FLAC, so if you keep a lossless library, this one plays it.
Bluetooth 6.0 is listed, with a 33-foot range. Note the design field says ear placement is "in ear" while the earpiece shape is bone conduction — that's a listing inconsistency worth knowing about, but the product is clearly marketed as open-ear bone conduction throughout.
Buy it if you swim several times a week, want a runtime you can count on, and prefer a full silicone wrap against your head. Skip it if you mainly want a land-based headphone that occasionally gets wet — MARLALL's adjustable strap setup is a better fit for mixed sport use.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for mixed land-and-water use → MARLALL. Bluetooth 5.4 with a 10-meter range plus 32GB MP3 mode covers running, cycling and swimming in one pair.
• Best for advanced Bluetooth → Hostena. Bluetooth 6.0 versus MARLALL's 5.4.
• Best for fit adjustability → MARLALL. Adjustable straps let you tune the fit; Hostena relies on a fixed ergonomic shape.
• Best for serious swimmers → Hostena. Two-meter dive depth, full-coverage liquid silicone, and explicit goggle/cap compatibility.
• Best for audio format flexibility → Hostena. It lists MP3, WMA, WAV, APE and FLAC support.
• Best for a lighter carry → MARLALL. Listed at 22.68 g versus Hostena's 3.68 ounces (about 104 g) — a big difference if weight bothers you.
• Best for hands-free calls on the move → MARLALL. Its copy explicitly covers hands-free calling across iOS and Android, and Bluetooth 5.4 handles the connection.
• Best for all-day comfort wear → MARLALL. Lighter weight and an open over-ear shape make it easier to leave on between activities.
One shared reality check before you buy either: both require you to switch to MP3 mode in the water. Bluetooth does not transmit underwater, and both brands say so plainly. Neither has active noise cancellation, and both are wireless-only with no headphone jack. If price matters to you, check the current price on Amazon — I'm not quoting figures here because they move.
In my opinion, the Hostena Full-Coverage Liquid Silicone is the better buy for anyone whose primary reason for shopping is swimming. The published 8-hour runtime, the 90-hour standby, the two-meter dive rating, the full-coverage silicone contact surface and Bluetooth 6.0 add up to a more complete swim package, and the extra audio format support is a genuine bonus. I'd pick the MARLALL Liquid Silicone Swimming instead if you want one headphone for running, cycling and the gym that also survives the pool — the adjustable straps and much lighter build make it the more versatile daily driver. Decide which of those two people you are, and the choice makes itself.
FAQ
how to bone conduction earphones work
how to wear bone conduction earphones
You rest the transducer against the bone just in front of your ear, with the band running behind your head. MARLALL uses adjustable straps so you can tighten the fit and stop it slipping; Hostena uses a fixed ergonomic shape designed to sit under a swim cap and against goggles. Neither goes inside your ear canal.
how to use bone conduction earphones
Pair over Bluetooth for normal use, then switch to MP3 mode before you get in the water — Bluetooth won't transmit underwater on either model. Load music onto the built-in 32GB storage first by connecting the magnetic charging cable to a computer. Both store roughly 8,000 songs.
how are bone conduction earphones different from regular headphones
They leave your ear canal open, so you stay aware of traffic, other swimmers and pool hazards — a safety point both brands emphasize for cycling, hiking and open-water swimming. The trade-off is that neither model has noise cancellation, and sound quality depends on a solid contact with your cheekbone. Both are IP68 waterproof, which ordinary earbuds generally are not.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: Jxrev Earbuds vs Xmenha Smallest: In Ear Earbuds, LZYDD 3.5mm vs aginize 2, BlueParrott M300-XT vs Philips Trucker, SilisoundTek Bone Conduction Headphones vs Trakulon Ear Hooks 2