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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-20 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• PHILIPS TAT1108 — biggest strength: A true wireless in-ear design with 6 mm dynamic drivers tuned for powerful bass, an AI microphone for clearer calls, and 15 hours of total playback thanks to the charging case.
• PHILIPS TAT1108 — biggest trade-off: The buds themselves run about 5 hours per charge, and the IPX4 rating handles sweat and rain but not heavy water exposure.
• LOBKIN Bone Conduction Headphones — biggest strength: An open-ear bone conduction design with a 24 g titanium alloy frame and IPX6 waterproofing, so you stay aware of traffic and surroundings while getting a full 10 hours from one charge.
• LOBKIN Bone Conduction Headphones — biggest trade-off: Bone conduction sound sends vibrations through your cheekbones rather than sealing your ear canal, so deep bass and passive noise blocking aren't part of the deal.
• Who each pick is for: PHILIPS TAT1108 suits commuters, office users and casual listeners who want sealed, bass-forward sound; LOBKIN suits runners, cyclists and outdoor athletes who want to hear the world around them.
The PHILIPS TAT1108 is a classic true wireless in-ear bud, and it plays to the strengths of that format. The 6 mm dynamic drivers are built for a bass-forward, energetic sound signature, and the in-ear seal means the audio lands directly in your ear canal instead of leaking outward. For someone who listens to music on a train, in a café or at a desk, that's exactly the point — you get the fuller low end that open designs simply can't produce. Philips pairs that with an AI microphone that filters out background noise on calls, which is the kind of feature that matters most when you're taking a work call from a busy street.
Battery life is a two-part story here. Each bud gives roughly 5 hours of playback, and the compact charging case adds another 10, bringing the total to about 15 hours — enough for over 300 songs in Philips' own framing. A full charge takes about 2 hours. Bluetooth 5.3 handles the connection with a 10-meter range and low enough latency that Philips explicitly calls out movie watching and gaming as smooth experiences. Controls are physical push buttons rather than touch, which some people prefer because it means no accidental taps. The IPX4 rating covers splashes and sweat, and the short "hockey stick" stem plus textured silicone tips are designed to stay put during movement.
Buy the PHILIPS TAT1108 if you want sealed in-ear sound with real bass, clearer voice calls, and the convenience of a charging case that tops you up between sessions. Skip it if you need to hear your surroundings for safety, want a single long uninterrupted charge, or regularly get caught in heavy rain — IPX4 is splash resistance, not immersion.
The LOBKIN Bone Conduction Headphones take the opposite approach. Instead of plugging your ears, they sit on your cheekbones and transmit sound through bone vibration, leaving your ear canals completely open. That single design decision drives everything else. You can hear cars, other runners, your cycling group, or a colleague walking up behind you while your audio plays. For outdoor athletes, that's not a nice-to-have — it's the reason to buy this category at all. LOBKIN backs it with a 24 g titanium alloy frame wrapped in soft silicone, which is genuinely light for a headband-style design and speaks to long-session comfort.
The audio hardware is a 16 mm bone conduction driver, tuned for what LOBKIN describes as crisp highs and deep mids. Bone conduction inherently delivers less low-end punch than a sealed in-ear driver, so if you're chasing thumping bass, this isn't the tool. What you get instead is natural, balanced sound without the pressure of an in-ear seal — which is exactly what makes 10 straight hours of listening tolerable. And 10 hours is the real headline: one charge, no case, all-day power for a long ride, a hike, or a workday. A full charge takes about 2 hours.
Bluetooth 6.0 handles pairing with a 10-meter range and low-latency performance for calls, music and video. The IPX6 rating is a step above splash resistance — it's built to shrug off sweat, rain and heavy spray, which fits the running, cycling and hiking use case directly. Controls are physical buttons, and there's no active noise cancellation, which is consistent with the open-ear philosophy.
Buy the LOBKIN if you run, ride or hike outdoors and want situational awareness, a rugged waterproof build, and one long charge. Skip it if you want deep bass, need to block out office or commute noise, or prefer the tiny footprint of buds that disappear into a pocket.
• Best for situational awareness → LOBKIN. Open-ear bone conduction keeps your ears free to hear traffic, training partners and surroundings.
• Best for bass and sealed sound → PHILIPS TAT1108. The 6 mm dynamic drivers and in-ear fit deliver the low-end that bone conduction can't match.
• Best for a single long charge → LOBKIN. 10 hours continuous, no case needed, versus roughly 5 hours per bud on the Philips.
• Best for total playback with a case → PHILIPS TAT1108. 15 hours combined, with the case recharging the buds between sessions.
• Best for clearer voice calls → PHILIPS TAT1108. The AI microphone is specifically designed to filter background noise on calls.
• Best for heavy sweat and rain → LOBKIN. IPX6 waterproofing outranks the Philips IPX4 splash rating for wet outdoor conditions.
• Best for portability → PHILIPS TAT1108. Pocket-sized buds and a compact case versus a lightweight but full headband at 24 g.
• Best for workout-friendly stability in a headband → LOBKIN. Titanium alloy frame and silicone coating are built to stay put on long runs.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the LOBKIN Bone Conduction Headphones for anyone whose listening happens outdoors and on the move. In my opinion, the combination of open-ear awareness, IPX6 waterproofing and 10 hours of uninterrupted playback is a stronger, more coherent package for running, cycling and hiking than anything a sealed in-ear bud can offer in those conditions. The PHILIPS TAT1108 is the better choice the moment your priority shifts to bass, call clarity and commuting — but for the outdoor athlete, LOBKIN's design simply fits the job better.
FAQ
Neither is universally better — they're built for different jobs. Bone conduction keeps your ears open so you can hear your surroundings, which matters outdoors. In-ear buds like the PHILIPS TAT1108 seal your canal for fuller bass and passive noise blocking. Pick based on whether you need awareness or immersion.
It carries an IPX4 rating, which covers splashes, sweat and light rain. It isn't rated for immersion or heavy downpours. If you need something for serious wet weather or intense sweat, the LOBKIN's IPX6 waterproofing is the more protective option.
Check the current price on Amazon for both, since that's what decides value here. The PHILIPS TAT1108 gives you in-ear bass, an AI mic and a charging case; the LOBKIN gives you open-ear awareness, IPX6 durability and double the single-charge battery. Value depends entirely on which of those you actually need.
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