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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-01 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• PHILIPS TAT1108 — biggest strength: a true in-ear, pocket-sized package with a charging case that stretches total listening to 15 hours, plus Bluetooth 5.3 and an AI mic for calls.
• PHILIPS TAT1108 — biggest trade-off: IPX4 only means splash and sweat resistance, so it is not built to be submerged, and the button controls are basic.
• ANSTEN Swimming Headphones — biggest strength: IPX8 waterproofing plus an 8GB built-in MP3 mode, so you can leave your phone on the poolside and still have music underwater.
• ANSTEN Swimming Headphones — biggest trade-off: bone conduction sends sound through your cheekbones, so bass feels thinner than a sealed in-ear bud, and there is no charging case — just a magnetic cable.
• Who PHILIPS TAT1108 is for: gym-goers, commuters and casual listeners who want a normal pair of earbuds for the whole day.
• Who ANSTEN Swimming Headphones is for: swimmers, surfers and open-water athletes who need audio that survives being dunked.
The TAT1108 is a conventional true-wireless earbud, and that's exactly its appeal. You get a 6 mm dynamic driver inside a 16-ohm, 106 dB, 20 Hz–20 kHz package, which tells me Philips tuned this for a full, bass-forward sound rather than a flat studio signature. If you like a bit of thump under your running playlist, that's the profile you want. The buds sit in your ear canal with textured silicone tips and a non-slip grip pattern, and the short hockey stick stem is there to keep them stable when you're moving.
Battery life is the practical story: 5 hours in the buds, plus 10 more from the case, for 15 hours total, and a full charge takes about 2 hours. That's a realistic two-to-three day pattern for a commuter, or a week of short gym sessions. Bluetooth 5.3 with a 10-metre range covers the usual phone-in-pocket, phone-on-the-rack scenarios, and the AI microphone is aimed at filtering background noise on calls. Controls are physical push buttons rather than touch, which I actually prefer with sweaty hands — no accidental skips.
Who should skip it: anyone who swims laps. The IPX4 rating covers rain, sweat and splashes, not immersion. Passive noise cancellation is also just the seal of the tip doing the work, so if you want active noise cancelling for a loud train commute, look elsewhere. And if you need music without your phone nearby, there is no built-in memory here — this is a Bluetooth-only bud.
The ANSTEN S950 is a different animal. It's an open-ear, bone conduction headphone rated IPX8, which is the rating you need for actual swimming, surfing and diving. The housing combines ABS and silicone with a flexible titanium structure, and the whole thing weighs 26 g — light enough that the adjustable headband should sit comfortably for a long session. Bone conduction drivers fire sound through your cheekbones into the inner ear, and the 13 mm wideband driver is there to give that transmission some body.
The feature that matters most for swimmers is the dual-mode setup. Alongside Bluetooth 6.0, with multipoint pairing to two devices at once, there's 8GB of built-in MP3 memory holding up to 1,500 lossless tracks. You double-click the function key to switch modes, and — importantly — ANSTEN's own instructions say to switch to MP3 mode and turn off your phone's Bluetooth before getting in the water. That's because Bluetooth signals don't travel well through water; the built-in memory is what makes underwater listening possible at all.
Battery is 8 hours of continuous music from a 2-hour charge, and the box includes an adjustable headband, a magnetic charging cable, silicone earplugs and a manual. There's AI noise reduction with a front microphone, plus directional sound transmission to keep your audio from leaking. Active noise cancellation is listed here, but with an open-ear design the real point is the opposite: you stay aware of traffic and surroundings.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for swimming and water sports → ANSTEN Swimming Headphones. IPX8 versus IPX4 is the single biggest difference between these two.
• Best for total battery life → PHILIPS TAT1108. 15 hours with the case beats the ANSTEN's 8 hours, and the case recharges without a cable.
• Best for phone-free listening → ANSTEN Swimming Headphones. The 8GB MP3 mode holds up to 1,500 tracks; the TAT1108 has no built-in storage.
• Best for calls and everyday clarity → PHILIPS TAT1108. An AI mic, Bluetooth 5.3 and a sealed in-ear fit are the better combination for voice.
• Best for bass and immersive sound → PHILIPS TAT1108. A 6 mm dynamic driver in a sealed ear gives you low-end the open-ear design can't match.
• Best for staying aware of traffic → ANSTEN Swimming Headphones. Bone conduction leaves your ear canal open by design.
• Best for multipoint device switching → ANSTEN Swimming Headphones. Bluetooth 6.0 supports two connected devices at once.
• Best for packing light → PHILIPS TAT1108. A pocket-sized case with 10 extra hours beats a headband plus a separate charging cable.
In my opinion, the deciding question is simply whether water is involved. If you swim, surf or dive, I'd buy the ANSTEN S950 — nothing about the TAT1108's IPX4 rating is going to survive a lap session, and the MP3 mode solves the underwater Bluetooth problem outright. If your "active" means the gym, the pavement and the commute, I'd buy the PHILIPS TAT1108. It's smaller, it carries its own charging case, it sounds fuller thanks to the sealed dynamic driver, and 15 hours covers a normal week. Different tools, different jobs.
No. It carries an IPX4 rating, which covers sweat, rain and splashes. It isn't rated for immersion, so for swimming you want the ANSTEN's IPX8 housing instead.
Yes. They have 8GB of built-in MP3 memory for up to 1,500 tracks, and ANSTEN advises switching to MP3 mode and turning off your phone's Bluetooth before you get in the water.
The PHILIPS TAT1108. A 6 mm dynamic driver seated in your ear canal produces noticeably more low-end than an open-ear bone conduction design, which trades bass weight for awareness and waterproofing.
For pure running and cycling, the ANSTEN's open-ear fit keeps you aware of traffic, while the TAT1108 stays put with its textured silicone tips and won't drop out. Both work; pick the ANSTEN if you also swim, the PHILIPS if you mainly want calls and music. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding.
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