We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-27 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want open-ear awareness, a featherlight fit and marathon battery life, choose otinsile M97; if you need adaptive noise cancellation and real-time two-way translation in 165 languages, choose JKNKCO MS106.
• otinsile M97 — biggest strength: a genuinely open-ear, 5g-per-bud hook design with 50H total battery, 10-minute quick charge and IPX5 sweat resistance. Biggest trade-off: the open design means less bass than sealed in-ear buds, and there's no active noise cancellation.
• JKNKCO MS106 — biggest strength: adaptive ANC plus an online AI translation feature covering 165 languages across 7 modes, with a 55H total battery and Type-C charging. Biggest trade-off: translation only works through the SayMi app with a live network connection — no offline mode — and the in-ear fit blocks your surroundings.
• Who otinsile M97 is for: runners, cyclists, gym-goers and glasses wearers who want to hear traffic and their surroundings.
• Who JKNKCO MS106 is for: commuters, travelers, overseas students and anyone crossing language barriers day to day.
The M97 is built around one idea: keep your ears open. Instead of sealing off your canal, it clips on with a C-shaped hook that sits over the ear. At roughly 5g per bud, it's in genuinely featherweight territory, and the hook shape is designed to stay put through running and gym sessions. If you wear glasses, that's a real advantage — there's no stem pressing into the side of your head, because there's nothing inside your ear to create pressure in the first place.
Sound comes from 12mm dynamic drivers, and otinsile pairs them with Directional Sound Technology aimed at cutting leakage and improving voice pickup on calls. The company is upfront that bass won't match sealed in-ear models — no isolated chamber means less low-end thump — but it promises clear mids and highs with a natural soundstage. That's the honest trade of any open-ear design, and for outdoor use it's usually the right one. You hear your music and the car behind you.
Battery is the other headline: 6 hours per charge, 50 hours total with the case, and a 10-minute quick charge that adds 2 hours — the kind of thing that saves you when you're heading out the door and realize you forgot to plug in. Bluetooth 6.0 handles pairing and a stable 10-meter range, and IPX5 covers sweat and rain. Controls are touch-based, and there's a 1-year warranty.
Buy it if you run, ride, lift or walk outdoors and want situational awareness plus all-day comfort. Skip it if you want deep, isolated bass or need to shut out a noisy train carriage — that's simply not what an open-ear bud does.
The MS106 goes the opposite direction. It's a traditional in-ear bud with silicone tips — four extra pairs are included in the box — and it leans hard into two features: adaptive active noise cancellation and AI translation. The ANC is tuned for exactly what a commuter faces: street chatter, subway rumble, general ambient drone. If your daily routine involves a noisy bus or a packed train, that's the point of this product.
The translation feature is the real differentiator. It supports real-time two-way online translation across 165 languages with 7 translation modes, aimed at overseas students, international travelers and casual cross-cultural conversation. The important caveats are stated plainly by JKNKCO: you must download the SayMi app, you need a stable WiFi or cellular connection, offline translation is not supported, and the company describes it as suitable for daily casual communication rather than professional, high-precision translation work. There are no subscription fees for the basic online translation function.
On the hardware side, you get up to 55 hours total playback with the case, 7–8 hours per single charge, and Type-C fast charging. Bluetooth 6.0 provides one-step pairing and a stable 10-meter connection, and the buds are IPX5 rated for sweat, light rain and splashes. A high-definition microphone handles calls, and the whole package is compatible with mainstream iOS and Android devices. Touch controls let you skip tracks, take calls and launch translation. It ships with a charging case, USB-C cable, the extra eartips and a manual, backed by a 1-year warranty.
Buy it if you commute in noise, travel internationally, or regularly need to talk across a language barrier. Skip it if you want to stay aware of your surroundings while exercising, or if you'd rather not depend on an app and a live connection for a core feature.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for noisy commutes → JKNKCO MS106. Adaptive ANC actively suppresses subway hum and street noise; the M97 has sound isolation only, not cancellation.
• Best for battery headroom → JKNKCO MS106, on paper at 55H total versus 50H. Both are strong; the gap is small.
• Best for a fast top-up → otinsile M97. A 10-minute charge adds 2 hours, which is ideal for forgetful mornings.
• Best for glasses wearers → otinsile M97. No in-ear pressure and no stem competing with your frames.
• Best for travel and cross-language conversation → JKNKCO MS106. 165 online languages, 7 modes, no subscription — but app and network required.
• Best for bass depth → JKNKCO MS106. Sealed silicone tips create the chamber an open design can't.
• Lightest on your head → otinsile M97 at roughly 5g per bud, versus 80g for the MS106 kit as listed.
In my opinion, these two barely compete — they solve different problems. If I had to pick one for most people, I'd take the JKNKCO MS106, because adaptive ANC and 55H of playtime cover the widest range of everyday scenarios, and the translation feature is something no ordinary earbud offers. But if your priority is running, cycling or working out while staying aware of traffic, I'd choose the otinsile M97 without hesitation — its 5g open-ear fit and quick charge suit that life better than any amount of noise cancellation. Check the current price on Amazon for both and let your actual routine decide.
Yes — JKNKCO states there are no subscription fees for the basic online 165-language translation function. You do need the SayMi app and a WiFi or cellular connection, and offline translation is not supported.
It's designed for that: Directional Sound Technology and enhanced voice pickup aim to keep your voice clear, and there's sound isolation. Just note it has no active noise cancellation, so loud background noise will still reach you.
By design, the MS106. Its sealed silicone tips create the isolated chamber that produces deeper low-end. otinsile is upfront that open-ear buds deliver less bass but clearer mids and highs.
Yes. Both are wireless Bluetooth 6.0 with a 10-meter range and no headphone jack, and the MS106 is explicitly listed as compatible with mainstream iOS and Android phones, tablets and other Bluetooth devices.
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