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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
• Philips A1105 — biggest strength: a genuinely slim, lightweight build (19.87 g) with contoured ear hooks, 15 mm dynamic drivers and IPX2 sweat resistance, so it disappears on your head during runs and workouts.
• Philips A1105 — biggest trade-off: it's wired, has no active noise cancellation, and the open-acoustics hook design channels almost no isolation — you'll hear the world around you.
• QUMIIRITY Noise Reduction Gaming — biggest strength: a full over-ear gaming package — large earmuffs, a flexible retractable headband, a noise-reduction chip microphone and inline mic/volume control, folding flat for storage.
• QUMIIRITY Noise Reduction Gaming — biggest trade-off: it's a plastic over-ear headset (8.8 oz) with no stated audio specs, so it's built for voice chat and gaming rather than critical music listening — and it's far bulkier than the Philips.
• Pick Philips A1105 if you want slim-on-ear, sweat-friendly, phone-first listening on the move.
• Pick QUMIIRITY if you want a dedicated desk/console headset with a mic you can control without leaving the game.
The A1105 is best understood as a slim-on-ear sports headphone. Philips uses a hook-with-in-ear-tip shape — a flexible contoured ear hook wraps behind your ear while a soft rubber tip sits at the opening of the canal. That's the "open acoustics" idea: the driver isn't jammed deep into your ear, so you get a lighter, airier feel and you keep some awareness of traffic, treadmills and training partners. If you've ever had earbuds pop out mid-jog, the hook is the whole point.
The numbers back up the lightweight feel: 19.87 g total, a 16 ohm impedance and 15 mm dynamic drivers running 20–20,000 Hz. Low impedance means it's easy to drive from a phone's 3.5 mm jack — no amp, no dongle gymnastics (though you'll need an adapter on phones that dropped the headphone jack). The 3.9-foot (1.2 m) cord with an inline remote lets you pause tracks, take calls and wake your voice assistant without pulling the phone out of your pocket. IPX2 sweat resistance covers light splashes and perspiration — it is not a swim or heavy-rain rating.
Who should buy it: runners, gym-goers, cyclists and commuters who want slim, stable, phone-first headphones for music and calls, and who value hearing their surroundings. Who should skip it: anyone who wants wireless freedom, deep noise isolation for a loud train or plane, or a boom mic for multiplayer chat. There's no noise control here at all, and the wired tether is a dealbreaker for some. In my opinion it's a focused tool — brilliant at one job, indifferent at everything else.
The QUMIIRITY headset is a different animal entirely. This is a slim over-ear gaming headset in blue plastic with large earmuffs that cup around your ears rather than sitting in them. The flexible, retractable headband is there to fit a range of head sizes, and the whole thing folds bi-fold so it travels reasonably flat. At 8.8 oz it's meaningfully heavier than the Philips, which is the normal trade-off for over-ear cups and a headband.
The functional core is communication. There's a noise-reduction chip microphone for clearer voice pickup, plus inline control for microphone mute and volume — you can adjust mid-match without alt-tabbing or diving into a console menu. The 3.5 mm connection is listed as compatible with PS4 Pro, Xbox One, PC, laptop and phone, which makes it a genuinely plug-and-play headset for anyone who doesn't want to fuss with wireless pairing or charging. Large earmuffs are the comfort story for long sessions.
Be clear-eyed about what you're buying: the sheet lists no driver size, no frequency range and no impedance, so I'd treat this as a chat-and-gaming headset first and a music headphone second. The beige copy on the listing ("professional," "sturdy, trustworthy tool") is marketing padding — the real value is the mic, the volume/mute control and the over-ear fit.
Who should buy it: console and PC gamers who want a cheap-to-replace wired headset with a controllable mic, kids and teens (the listing even tags a younger age range), and anyone who wants one headset that works across PS4 Pro, Xbox One, PC and laptop. Who should skip it: audiophiles, people who need wireless, and anyone who wants a slim, featherweight set for running — this is the opposite of that.
• Best for workouts, running and sweat → Philips A1105. IPX2 rating, 19.87 g weight and secure ear hooks are purpose-built for movement.
• Best for voice chat and multiplayer gaming → QUMIIRITY. The noise-reduction mic plus inline mute/volume control is the entire reason to buy it.
• Best for all-day comfort on a desk or couch → QUMIIRITY. Large over-ear earmuffs and a retractable headband spread pressure better than in-ear tips over long sessions.
• Best for slim, barely-there fit → Philips A1105. Hook-and-tip designs sit almost flush against the ear; over-ear cups simply can't compete on slimness.
• Best for hearing your surroundings → Philips A1105. Open acoustics let ambient sound in — good for street running, bad for a noisy train.
• Best for cross-device plug-and-play → both, with a caveat. Both terminate in 3.5 mm, but the QUMIIRITY explicitly lists PS4 Pro, Xbox One, PC and laptop, while the Philips is aimed at phones and any 3.5 mm device.
• Best for storage and travel → QUMIIRITY. The bi-fold design packs flatter than a fixed headband.
• Best for music-first listening → Philips A1105. It's the only one of the two with published audio specs (15 mm dynamic drivers, 16 ohm, 20–20,000 Hz).
For most people reading a "slim on ear" comparison, I'd buy the Philips A1105. It does one thing exceptionally well: it stays on your head, weighs almost nothing, and sounds like a proper headphone thanks to real driver and impedance specs. It's the one I'd grab for a run, a commute or a call on the move. I'd only switch to the QUMIIRITY if gaming voice chat is the priority — then the mic, mute control and over-ear cups earn their place. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since both sit in very different budget brackets.
are on ear headphones good
They're a solid choice for specific jobs. The QUMIIRITY's over-ear cups give long-session comfort and a mic for gaming, while the Philips A1105 uses a hook-and-tip design that's slimmer and more secure for sport. "Good" depends on whether you want isolation and chat, or slimness and movement.
are on ear headphones comfortable
Generally yes, if the fit is right. The QUMIIRITY uses large earmuffs and a flexible retractable headband to fit different head sizes, which helps over long sessions. The Philips A1105 relies on contoured ear hooks and soft rubber tips, and at 19.87 g it's light enough that most people forget it's there.
are headphones less harmful than earphones
There's no spec either way in these data sheets, so treat it as a fit-and-volume question. Over-ear designs like the QUMIIRITY rest outside the canal, while the Philips A1105 sits at the ear opening with open acoustics. Either way, keeping volume moderate matters more than the shape.
what are the best open ear headphones
In my opinion the Philips A1105 is a strong pick in this bracket because it pairs an open-acoustics hook design with IPX2 sweat resistance and real audio specs (15 mm drivers, 16 ohm, 20–20,000 Hz). If you need a mic and over-ear cups instead, the QUMIIRITY fits a different use case.
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