If you want a compact, call-focused Bluetooth earbud for Switch, choose Nokia Solo Bud 2; if you need open-ear stereo listening and longer stated playback for Switch, choose KIM HOST OBT-020. I’d choose between them by deciding whether hands-free calling and multipoint matter more than an open fit, stereo sound, and awareness of nearby sounds.
If you want a compact, call-focused Bluetooth earbud for Switch, choose Nokia Solo Bud 2; if you need open-ear stereo listening and longer stated playback for Switch, choose KIM HOST OBT-020. I’d choose between them by deciding whether hands-free calling and multipoint matter more than an open fit, stereo sound, and awareness of nearby sounds.
Neither is presented as a dedicated gaming headset, so the practical choice is about the way you listen, not a promise of gaming-specific features. The Nokia is a single mono earbud; the KIM HOST is an open-ear stereo pair with a much longer stated total playtime.
Nokia Solo Bud 2 vs KIM HOST OBT-020 at a Glance
• Nokia Solo Bud 2’s biggest strength: a mono design with environmental noise cancellation for calls, multipoint connections to two devices, and up to 20 hours of talk time with its charging case. Trade-off: one earbud means mono listening rather than stereo.
• KIM HOST OBT-020’s biggest strength: an open-ear stereo design, up to 12 hours of continuous playtime on a charge, and a stated 55 hours of total playtime. Trade-off: its open fit lets surrounding sound in, so it does not provide the isolation of an in-ear design.
• Choose Nokia if calls, switching between two paired devices, and a compact mono earbud are your priorities.
• Choose KIM HOST if you prefer stereo listening, an open fit, and longer stated playtime between charging sessions.
The Nokia Solo Bud 2 is the more call-oriented option. It is a wireless mono earbud with environmental noise cancellation intended to reduce background noise during calls. That feature makes its role clear: it is designed for conversations and everyday media, not for someone who wants an immersive stereo soundstage. The stated frequency range is 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, but the single-ear design is the more important fact for deciding whether it suits your listening habits.
Its multipoint connectivity can connect with and switch between two devices. That could be useful if you want to keep a phone and another compatible device connected without treating every change in use as a fresh pairing task. Fast Pair is also listed for Android devices. Bluetooth 5.3 and a stated wireless range of 33 feet round out the connectivity information, though actual connection behavior can depend on the connected device and surroundings.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-19 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
Who should skip it: Skip the Nokia if stereo sound or an open-ear fit is essential to you; this is a mono earbud.
The KIM HOST OBT-020 is the better match for someone who wants stereo sound without placing earbuds inside the ear canal. Its open-ear design rests outside the canal and allows ambient sound to pass through. That can appeal to people who want to remain more aware of surrounding activity while listening, or who find an in-ear fit uncomfortable. The trade-off is inherent in that design: outside sounds are not blocked in the way they may be with an in-ear earbud.
The product information describes 16 mm dynamic drivers and stereo sound, along with Bluetooth 5.3. It is framed for music, podcasts, calls, and gaming, but the provided specifications do not establish a Switch-specific mode or a measured latency figure. Bluetooth 5.3 is listed; claims of a particular gaming performance should not be inferred from the version number alone. If your priority is a wireless audio option for Switch, check that it works with your particular setup rather than assuming every Bluetooth device will connect in the same way.
Its battery figures are a major point of distinction. The product listing states up to 12 hours of continuous playtime on a single charge and 55 hours of total playtime. Those are different measures, so the 55-hour figure should not be read as uninterrupted playback from one charge. The OBT-020 also has an IPX5 rating, which is a higher stated water-resistance level than the Nokia’s IPX4 rating. That makes it the more suitable of these two for sweat and light rain, while neither rating should be treated as permission to submerge the headphones.
Who should skip it: Skip the KIM HOST if you want a sealed, noise-isolating fit or if your main need is a mono earbud with multipoint device switching.
• Best for mono calling and call-focused use → Nokia Solo Bud 2. It is specifically presented as a mono earbud with environmental noise cancellation for calls.
• Best for stereo listening → KIM HOST OBT-020. Its open-ear design is paired with stereo sound and 16 mm dynamic drivers.
• Best for switching between two connected devices → Nokia Solo Bud 2. Multipoint connectivity is explicitly listed for two devices.
• Best for an open fit that leaves the ear canal uncovered → KIM HOST OBT-020. Its ear placement is open ear, with ambient sound allowed through.
• Best stated talk-time figure → Nokia Solo Bud 2. The case and earbud are described as providing up to 20 hours of talk time in total.
• Best stated total playtime → KIM HOST OBT-020. Its listed total is 55 hours, including a stated 12 hours of continuous playtime on one charge.
• Best stated water-resistance rating → KIM HOST OBT-020. It is rated IPX5; the Nokia is rated IPX4.
• Better fit for a player who wants one ear left open → Nokia Solo Bud 2. A single mono earbud naturally leaves the other ear uncovered, while the KIM HOST’s open design still provides stereo listening through both earpieces.
For Switch, first consider the kind of listening you want. The Nokia’s mono format is a meaningful limitation if you expect left-right stereo sound from games. The KIM HOST is the more natural fit for stereo listening, but open-ear headphones do not isolate you from the room. That may be useful when you want to hear what is happening around you; it may be distracting in a noisy environment.
Comfort is also a question of fit preference, not just the word “wireless.” The KIM HOST is designed to sit outside the ear canal, while the Nokia is an in-ear-shaped mono earbud. If pressure inside the canal is what you hope to avoid, the open-ear KIM HOST has the clearer design advantage. If you prefer a small single earpiece and do not need stereo, the Nokia’s form may make more sense.
For activity, compare the specific protection ratings rather than treating either product as fully waterproof. IPX5 on the KIM HOST is the stronger of the two stated ratings; IPX4 on the Nokia indicates a more limited level of sweat and splash resistance. Neither spec alone tells you how either product will feel during a particular workout, and neither should be taken as support for underwater use.
Battery numbers also need context. Nokia gives a talk-time total that includes its charging case, while KIM HOST lists both a single-charge playback figure and a separate total playtime figure. They are not directly equivalent measures. If you use the headphones for long stretches, the single-charge figure may be more relevant; if you are comparing overall use between charges, the case contribution matters too. For details on current price, check the current price on Amazon rather than assuming one model is the better value based on features alone.
I would choose the KIM HOST OBT-020 for Switch if I wanted stereo listening, an open-ear fit, and its longer stated total playtime. That combination is the more flexible match for gaming and everyday listening, provided I am comfortable hearing surrounding sounds.
For a call-first buyer who wants multipoint connectivity and a compact mono earbud, I’d choose the Nokia instead. My overall pick for Switch is the KIM HOST, because stereo sound and an open fit are the more useful starting points for this use case.
The KIM HOST uses an open-ear design that sits outside the ear canal, which may suit someone who dislikes in-ear pressure. The Nokia is a single in-ear-shaped mono earbud, so the fit preference is different.
The KIM HOST is the closer match to that search because it has an open-ear stereo design. The product information does not specifically list spatial audio, so don’t assume it provides a dedicated spatial-audio feature.
The KIM HOST has an IPX5 rating, while the Nokia is rated IPX4. Both are described for sweat or water exposure, but neither rating means the headphones are suitable for submersion.
The KIM HOST lists up to 12 hours of continuous playtime and 55 hours of total playtime. Nokia lists up to 20 hours of talk time with the case, including 6.5 hours from the earbud; because these figures describe different use and charging conditions, they are not a direct like-for-like comparison.
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