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 marathon-grade battery life and a quick-charge rescue before you walk out the door, choose MINISO MS219; if you need an open-ear design that keeps you aware of traffic and lets in the world around you, choose Monster Open Ear AC390. Both carry an IPX5 water resistance rating, so sweat and light rain aren't the deciding factor here. What separates them is how they sit on your head, how long they run, and what kind of listener each one is built for.
• MINISO MS219 — biggest strength: A 48-hour total runtime with a 10-minute fast charge that buys you 3 hours of playback, plus Bluetooth 6.0 with 0.06-second low latency and dual-device connection.
• MINISO MS219 — biggest trade-off: It's a sealed in-ear-style bud with a hook, so it blocks your ear canal and you lose some awareness of your surroundings.
• Monster Open Ear AC390 — biggest strength: True open-ear fit at just 5g per bud, so your ears stay open to traffic, coworkers and ambient sound while you listen.
• Monster Open Ear AC390 — biggest trade-off: 24 hours total playtime is half of what the MINISO offers, and the buds charge slowly — 8 hours to full.
• Pick the MINISO MS219 if battery life, call clarity in noisy places and low-latency video sync matter most to you.
• Pick the Monster Open Ear AC390 if comfort, environmental awareness and an ultra-light open-ear fit are your priorities.
The MS219 is built around endurance. Each earbud runs 8 hours on its own, and the charging case stretches that to 48 hours total — enough that a week of commutes and workouts can pass without you hunting for a cable. When you do run low, a 10-minute top-up gives you 3 hours, which is the kind of detail that matters when you're already late and your buds are dead in your bag. The case also carries an LED power display, so you can see where you stand before you leave.
The fit is the part to think about. These are on-ear hook buds — not open-ear — with memory titanium ear hooks and a three-point support system holding them in place. That means a secure, pressure-point-free hold during running and gym work, but also that your ear canal is covered, so you'll hear less of the world around you. If you run on roads or need to hear announcements, that's a genuine downside. For the gym, the treadmill, the office or a flight, it's a plus. The IPX5 rating covers sweat and light rain, so workouts and drizzly commutes are fine — just don't submerge them.
Who should buy it: Anyone who wants to charge rarely, take clear calls in noisy places, and keep audio synced to video. Who should skip it: Runners and cyclists who want their ears open to traffic, and anyone who dislikes the feel of a sealed bud.
Monster Open Ear AC390: Who It's For
The AC390 takes the opposite approach: it doesn't go in your ear at all. Each bud weighs just 5g — the sheet compares it to a sheet of paper — and hangs on a soft silicone ear hook. Nothing plugs your canal, so you hear your music and the world at the same time. For outdoor runners, cyclists and anyone working in a shared space, that's the whole point. It's also the reason people who find sealed buds itchy or uncomfortable tend to prefer this style.
Sound comes from a 13mm PU titanium diaphragm driver, and Monster leans on its "Pure Monster Sound" tuning — crisp highs, full mids and deep bass. There's also Dynamic Noise Cancellation for calls, which reduces background interference so your voice comes through in busy surroundings. Bluetooth 6.0 handles pairing and connection stability, and you can switch between a phone, tablet or laptop. Controls cover touch and voice, including Siri.
The weak spot is stamina. You get 8 hours per charge and 16 more from the rotating charging case, for 24 hours total — perfectly usable, but half the MINISO's figure. Charging is also slow: the sheet lists 8 hours to full charge, so there's no fast-charge trick here. The rotating case with a lanyard is a neat design touch and easy to clip on, but it won't rescue you in ten minutes the way the MINISO will. Like the MINISO, it's IPX5 — sweat and light rain only.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for battery life → MINISO MS219. 48 hours total versus 24 hours on the Monster.
• Best for fast top-ups → MINISO MS219. A 10-minute charge yields 3 hours; the AC390 lists an 8-hour charge time.
• Best for environmental awareness → Monster Open Ear AC390. Open-ear design means nothing blocks your canal.
• Best for all-day comfort and light weight → Monster Open Ear AC390. 5g per bud on a silicone hook.
• Best for video and gaming sync → MINISO MS219. 0.06-second low latency keeps audio matched to picture.
• Best for call clarity in noisy places → MINISO MS219. It pairs noise filtering with directional sound transmission to reduce leakage; the Monster counters with Dynamic Noise Cancellation.
• Best for multi-device juggling → MINISO MS219. It connects to two devices at once and switches with one click.
• Best for sweat and light rain → a tie. Both are IPX5, so neither is fully waterproof.
In my opinion, the MINISO MS219 is the better buy for most people, and it's the one I'd pick. The 48-hour runtime and the 10-minute fast charge solve the two problems that actually annoy me with wireless earbuds — running out of power and waiting around to recharge — and the dual-device connection plus low-latency mode make it a genuinely useful everyday pair. The Monster Open Ear AC390 is the smarter choice only if open-ear awareness or extreme lightness is your non-negotiable. If that's you, it's a great fit. If it isn't, the MINISO simply does more for longer.
FAQ
are headphones waterproof
are headphones water resistant
Yes, these two are. IPX5 covers sweat during workouts and light rain on a commute, so normal gym and outdoor use is fine. Just wipe them dry and keep them out of standing water and heavy downpours.
They're equal per charge at 8 hours each. The difference is the case: the MINISO MS219 reaches 48 hours total, while the Monster Open Ear AC390 reaches 24 hours total.
The Monster Open Ear AC390, because its open-ear design leaves your ears unblocked so you can hear traffic and surroundings. The MINISO MS219 is the better pick for indoor gym work and treadmill sessions, where its secure hook fit and longer battery shine.
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See also: WIVTAK Clip-On Earbuds Open vs MINISO MS219: Ipx5 Waterproof, Qozybuds 6.0 vs Monster Open Ear AC336, xzqioue Open Ear vs MINISO X15: Small Earbuds for Small Ears