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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-21 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• MUXUN's biggest strength: A true swim-ready design — IP68 waterproofing (submersible to two meters for two hours) paired with 32GB of onboard MP3 memory, so you don't need a phone or Bluetooth signal in the water.
• MUXUN's biggest trade-off: Battery life is quoted at up to 10 hours (with a 12-hour figure tied to the carrying case), well short of the Skullcandy's 42-hour headline — and swimming requires MP3 mode, not Bluetooth.
• Skullcandy Push 540's biggest strength: Up to 42 hours of total battery (10 in the buds plus 32 in the charging case), Rapid Charge, a detachable magnetic neckband and app-based EQ control.
• Skullcandy Push 540's biggest trade-off: IP44 only — sweat, dust and light water resistance, not swimming. No onboard music storage either, so it always needs a Bluetooth source.
• Who each pick is for: MUXUN for swimmers and open-water athletes who want music without a phone; Skullcandy for runners, gym-goers and commuters who want all-day battery and a case that keeps everything together.
The MUXUN Bone Conduction Headphones are built around one clear idea: music where Bluetooth can't go. The IP68 rating is the headline — a triple-sealed body that can sit two meters underwater for two hours, covering pools, the ocean and freshwater lakes. That's a genuinely rare claim for open-ear audio, and it's matched by 32GB of built-in memory. You load songs over the included data cable from a computer, then switch to MP3 mode with a two-second press of the M button. No phone on the pool deck, no dropped signal mid-lap.
The rest of the spec sheet backs up the training angle. Metal-and-silicone construction, an open-ear hook shape, and a slim ergonomic fit that the brand says integrates with swim caps, goggles, sunglasses and bike helmets. Controls are physical push buttons — volume, mode switching — which is the right call when your hands are wet. Bluetooth 5.4 handles the dry-land side with roughly 33 feet of range, and the frequency range runs the standard 20Hz to 20,000Hz with a 50-ohm impedance.
Who should buy it? Swimmers first, obviously. But also anyone who wants one pair for pool laps, open-water swims, runs and bike rides without carrying a phone. The 10-hour battery is plenty for a training session, and a 10-minute quick charge is quoted to give up to three hours of listening if you're heading out the door. Who should skip it? If your priority is week-long battery life, a charging case that tops the buds up automatically, or app-based sound tuning, this isn't the one. And if you mostly listen to streaming services, remember the swimming side only works in MP3 mode with files you've transferred yourself.
Skullcandy's Push 540 Open takes the opposite approach: it's an everyday, all-day pair rather than a swim tool. The battery story is the reason to look here. Up to 42 hours total — 10 in the earbuds, 32 more in the charging case — plus Rapid Charge giving two hours of playback from a 10-minute top-up. For a runner logging daily miles or someone who simply forgets to charge, that's a meaningful cushion.
The design is thoughtful in a different way. Over-ear hooks lock each bud in place for runs, rides and gym sessions, while a magnetic detachable neckband adds security and lets the buds hang around your neck between uses. The neckband also stores in the case, where it doubles as a lanyard — a small detail that makes the whole kit harder to lose. Connectivity is Bluetooth 5.3, and controls are touch-based with button options you can reconfigure in the Skullcandy App, which also handles EQ presets. Drivers are 12mm bone-conduction units with 16-ohm impedance and 114dB sensitivity — easy to drive from a phone.
The trade-off is environmental protection. IP44 means sweat, dust and water resistance, not submersion. Rain, sweat and splashes are fine; the pool is not. There's also no built-in storage, so you always need a paired device. Who should buy it? Runners, cyclists, gym-goers and commuters who want open-ear awareness with long battery and a tidy case-and-neckband system. Who should skip it? Swimmers, and anyone who wants to leave their phone behind entirely.
• Best for swimming → MUXUN Bone Conduction Headphones. IP68 submersion plus 32GB MP3 storage is a combination the Skullcandy simply doesn't offer.
• Best for battery life → Skullcandy Push 540. Up to 42 hours total versus roughly 10 hours on the MUXUN.
• Best for phone-free listening → MUXUN. Load files over USB, switch to MP3 mode, leave the phone at home.
• Best for all-day wear and commuting → Skullcandy Push 540. The charging case, detachable neckband and lanyard storage make it an easier daily carry.
• Best for app-based sound tuning → Skullcandy Push 540. The Skullcandy App offers EQ presets and customizable controls; MUXUN uses straightforward push buttons with no app layer.
• Best for wet, high-intensity workouts → MUXUN. The triple-sealed IP68 body tolerates sweat and full submersion; IP44 is a lighter-duty rating.
• Best for secure fit during runs and rides → Skullcandy Push 540. Over-ear hooks plus the magnetic neckband are purpose-built for stability.
• Best for using one pair across pool and road → MUXUN. Bluetooth 5.4 for dry land, MP3 for the water — one device covers both.
If I had to pick one, I'd take the MUXUN Bone Conduction Headphones. In my opinion, the IP68 rating and 32GB of onboard memory make it the more versatile product: it works in the pool, on the bike and on a run, and it never depends on a phone signal. The Skullcandy Push 540 is the better everyday pair if battery life and a charging case matter most to you — 42 hours is a big gap, and the neckband design is genuinely clever. But for the widest range of real-world scenarios, including the one thing most open-ear buds can't do, MUXUN wins. Check the current price on Amazon before you decide, since that's the one variable that could flip the call.
FAQ
No. It carries an IP44 rating for sweat, dust and water resistance, which covers workouts and light splashes but not submersion. For swimming you need the MUXUN's IP68 body, and you'd listen in MP3 mode rather than Bluetooth.
The Skullcandy Push 540, by a wide margin on paper: up to 42 hours total, split between 10 hours in the buds and 32 hours in the charging case. The MUXUN is quoted at up to 10 hours, with a 10-minute quick charge giving up to three hours of listening.
Both are open-ear designs, so both keep you aware of your surroundings. The Push 540 leans into training with over-ear hooks and a detachable neckband for extra security; the MUXUN counters with IP68 protection and a fit designed to work with caps, goggles and helmets. For sweaty indoor sessions, either works — for anything involving water, only the MUXUN does.
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