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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a volume-limited, over-ear pair built specifically to protect young children's ears and to let two kids share one device, choose NENOS Kids Headphones Children's; if you need a wired headset with an inline microphone for school, Chromebooks and video calls, choose rockpapa L22. That single split — protection and sharing versus a built-in mic for talking — is the whole decision. Both are foldable wired headphones made for kids, and both are on-ear/over-ear designs you can toss in a bag. Since you're reading this, you're probably deciding between them for video calls, remote class, or a first pair of headphones. Let's break it down.
• NENOS Kids Headphones Children's — biggest strength: volume is automatically limited to protect a child's ears, and a second pair of headphones can plug straight into it to share audio without a splitter.
• NENOS Kids Headphones Children's — biggest trade-off: no microphone and no call controls, so it's a listening-first headphone, not a talking headset.
• rockpapa L22 — biggest strength: an inline microphone with call control on the cord, plus a 40mm driver tuned for fuller sound — it's the one that actually talks back.
• rockpapa L22 — biggest trade-off: no stated volume limit, so it's aimed at kids over 4 who can handle a normal, unclamped volume.
• Pick NENOS Kids Headphones Children's if you want ear protection and easy audio sharing for a younger child (the maker recommends ages 3–8).
• Pick rockpapa L22 if you need a wired mic for school, Chromebooks, laptops and computer video calls.
The NENOS is a wired, over-ear kids headphone in a mint finish, and its whole design centers on two things: protecting small ears and letting kids share. The volume is automatically limited so a child can't crank it into unsafe territory — that's the headline feature, and it's the reason this pair exists. The earpads are soft and the fit is lightweight, with a fully adjustable headband, and the whole thing folds down for carrying around. The maker recommends it for children ages 3–8, which tells you the intended head size and the intended stage of life.
The sharing trick is genuinely useful. Instead of digging out a splitter, a second pair of headphones plugs directly into the NENOS so two kids can listen to the same tablet, phone or in-flight entertainment. For siblings on a road trip or a long flight, that's a real, practical win. It's also a 3.5mm wired connection, so it works with anything that has a standard headphone jack — no pairing, no charging, no drama.
rockpapa L22: Who It's For
The rockpapa L22 is a wired, foldable kids headphone in a gradient purple finish, and its identity is built around talking and sound quality. There's a built-in microphone on the cord with call control, so it's a headset, not just a headphone. That single feature changes what it's for: school, classroom use, Chromebooks, laptops, computers and phones. If a kid needs to be heard — on a class call, a video call with grandparents, or a read-aloud assignment — this is the one with the mic.
The audio side is more ambitious than the NENOS. A 40mm dynamic driver, 32 ohm impedance and 102 dB sensitivity give it a fuller, bass-forward signature the brand describes as clear with rich bass and crisp midrange. In practice, a bigger driver and higher sensitivity generally mean it plays louder and fuller from the same weak source — which is exactly why it pairs well with laptops and tablets. The ear cushions are ultra-soft, the headband adjusts, and the foldable design keeps it space-saving for a backpack.
The trade-off is the flip side of that: there's no stated volume limit here, and the recommended age is over 4. So it suits a slightly older kid who can be trusted with normal volume, or a parent willing to manage it. Ear placement is listed as on-ear with an over-ear earpiece shape, enclosure is plastic, and it's wired only — no Bluetooth on this model. For a talking device at school or on a computer, though, the mic plus the fuller driver is the whole point.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for ear protection → NENOS Kids Headphones Children's. The automatic volume limit is the single feature the L22 doesn't offer.
• Best for video calls → rockpapa L22. The inline mic and call control are what make it usable for talking, not just listening.
• Best for younger kids (3–8) → NENOS Kids Headphones Children's. The maker's recommended age range and the limited volume fit that stage.
• Best for school, Chromebooks and laptops → rockpapa L22. Wired 3.5mm plus a mic is the standard classroom-computer combo.
• Best for fuller sound → rockpapa L22. Its 40mm driver, 32 ohm impedance and 102 dB sensitivity point to a louder, bassier output than the NENOS can promise.
• Best for a simple listening-only pair → NENOS Kids Headphones Children's. No mic, no call controls, fewer things to confuse a small child.
• Best for older kids who can manage volume → rockpapa L22. Recommended over age 4, with no volume clamp in the way.
For video calls, I'd buy the rockpapa L22. The microphone and call control are non-negotiable for actually being heard, and the 40mm driver gives it more headroom for school and laptop use. In my opinion, if your child's main job is to talk and listen on a computer, the L22 is the more capable tool. I'd only switch to the NENOS Kids Headphones Children's if ear protection and sibling audio-sharing matter more than a mic — which, for a 3-to-5-year-old on a tablet, is a very reasonable trade. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since that gap can move the math.
are on ear headphones good
Yes, for kids they're a sensible middle ground — lighter and smaller than full over-ear cups, but still covering the ear enough for everyday listening. Both the NENOS (over-ear placement) and the rockpapa L22 (on-ear placement) fit that mold, and both fold for travel, which makes them easy to live with.
what are the best open ear headphones
Neither of these is an open-ear design — both are closed, sound-isolating headphones, so they block outside noise rather than letting it in. If open-ear is your priority, you'd be looking at a different category entirely. Between these two, the NENOS leans on sound isolation and the L22 relies on its padded cups and fuller driver.
which are the best over the ear headphones
For a young child, the NENOS is the safer over-ear pick because its volume is automatically limited and it supports audio sharing without a splitter. For an older kid who needs a mic, the rockpapa L22 is the more versatile over-ear/on-ear option. The right answer depends on whether you value protection or two-way audio more.
what are the best over the ear headphones to buy
Buy the NENOS if you want ear protection and easy sharing for ages 3–8, and the rockpapa L22 if you want a wired mic for school, Chromebooks and computer video calls. Both are foldable, wired 3.5mm sets, so the deciding factor is really the mic and the volume limit — not the shape.
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