How We Research
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
If you want a simple, pocketable set of everyday wireless earbuds with a familiar in-ear fit, choose Philips True; if you need headphones that keep working when you swim, sweat hard or ride in traffic, choose H2O Audio TRI 2. Two very different jobs, two very different designs — and picking the wrong one is the whole problem.
• Philips True — biggest strength: a conventional true-wireless design with a very small charging case, 13 mm dynamic drivers, touch controls and up to 18 hours of playtime. It's the "throw it in your pocket and forget it" option.
• Philips True — biggest trade-off: it's only rated IPX4, so it shrugs off splashes and sweat but is not built for swimming or being submerged. No onboard memory and no MP3 mode either.
• H2O Audio TRI 2 — biggest strength: genuinely waterproof, open-ear bone conduction headphones with a dual-mode trick — Bluetooth 5.3 for land, plus an MP3 mode that plays from 8GB of built-in memory up to 12 feet underwater.
• H2O Audio TRI 2 — biggest trade-off: open-ear bone conduction leaks sound and gives you less isolation, battery life is shorter at around 8.5 hours mixed use, and the hard-shell case is bulkier than the Philips' tiny one.
• Who each pick is for: Philips True for commuters, students and casual listeners who want light, cheap-to-carry earbuds. H2O Audio TRI 2 for swimmers, runners and cyclists who need audio that survives water and stays aware of traffic.
The Philips True is a straightforward pair of true wireless earbuds. You get in-ear placement, a 13 mm dynamic driver running 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, Bluetooth 5.0, and touch-based media controls. The headline practical detail is the charging case: it's described as super-small, small enough to slide into a slim jeans pocket. For a lot of people that's the entire point of true wireless — grab, go, don't think about it.
Battery is rated at up to 18 hours of playtime, with a 2-hour charge. The earbuds carry IPX4 water protection, which covers splashes and sweat but not swimming or heavy rain. There's no headphone jack, no onboard storage, and no underwater mode. Sound isolation comes from the in-ear seal rather than active noise cancellation, so you get some passive blocking of background noise simply because the tips sit in your ear canals.
Buy the Philips True if you want a lightweight, pocket-friendly set for music, podcasts, calls and video on a phone or laptop. The AI-assisted mic is aimed at making your voice clearer on calls, and the touch controls keep things tidy. Skip it if you swim, if you need your headphones to survive being dunked, or if you want to leave your phone behind — there's no memory to play from. It's an everyday earbud, not a training tool.
The H2O Audio TRI 2 is a different animal entirely. It's an open-ear bone conduction headphone, meaning the drivers sit outside your ear canal and send sound through your cheekbones. That design has two consequences: your ears stay open to traffic, voices and surroundings, and the fit doesn't rely on a silicone tip jammed into your ear. The TRI 2 uses Bluetooth 5.3, has a 32 ohm bone conduction driver covering 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, and weighs 0.32 kg with its accessories.
The real story is the dual-mode setup. On land you stream over Bluetooth. Underwater you switch to MP3 mode, playing from 8GB of internal memory — roughly 2,000 songs, or up to 130 hours of music — with clear audio quoted up to 12 feet deep. Supported formats include M4A, MP3, WMA, FLAC and APE. Optional earplugs are included for swimming, which makes sense: bone conduction plus plugged ears is how you hear anything in a pool.
Battery is quoted at about 8.5 hours of mixed use, 9 hours over Bluetooth and 6 hours in MP3 mode, with a 2-hour charge. Controls are physical buttons rather than touch, deliberately repositioned so you can find them while moving or wet. The package includes a hard-shell protective case with a mesh pocket, and H2O Audio backs the product with a one-year "Go Beyond Promise" no-questions-asked protection policy plus a standard one-year defect warranty.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for swimming → H2O Audio TRI 2. 8GB memory, MP3 mode, waterproof to 12 feet, earplugs included. The Philips True's IPX4 rating isn't in the same category.
• Best for battery life → Philips True on paper, at up to 18 hours versus 8.5 hours mixed use on the TRI 2 — though the TRI 2's figure covers heavier-duty use.
• Best for commuting and casual listening → Philips True. Small case, in-ear seal, touch controls, nothing to configure.
• Best for running and cycling → H2O Audio TRI 2. Open-ear design keeps you aware of your surroundings, and the physical buttons work with sweaty hands.
• Best for leaving your phone behind → H2O Audio TRI 2. The 8GB of onboard storage plays without any connection at all.
• Best for private, isolating listening → Philips True. The in-ear fit blocks more outside noise; bone conduction does the opposite by design.
• Best for a rugged, protected kit → H2O Audio TRI 2. The included hard-shell case and mesh pocket are built to take knocks.
• Best for the lightest, simplest option → Philips True. One small case, one pair of buds, done.
If I had to pick one for myself, it would be the H2O Audio TRI 2 — but only because my priority is training that includes water. In my opinion, no ordinary earbud can match a headphone that stores its own music and keeps playing while you swim. If you don't swim and you just want pocketable earbuds for music and calls, the Philips True is the smarter, simpler buy. Match the tool to the job and you won't regret either one.
Yes. The TRI 2 is waterproof and plays from 8GB of internal memory in MP3 mode, quoted up to 12 feet underwater. The Philips True is rated IPX4 — splash and sweat resistant only, not submersible.
No. The spec sheet lists sound isolation, not active noise cancellation. Any noise blocking comes from the in-ear seal, so it's passive rather than electronic.
Yes. It uses Bluetooth 5.3 for streaming and calls on land, and the optimized button layout handles volume, track skipping and answering calls. MP3 mode is the extra option for when you're underwater.
It depends on what you're paying for. Check the current price on Amazon for both, then decide whether you need the TRI 2's waterproofing and onboard memory or just simple everyday earbuds. For basic listening, the Philips True covers the essentials; for multisport use, the TRI 2 earns its keep.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: Flyoukki Personal FM Radio vs iClever OWS01, Audio-Technica ATH-S120C-BK vs Kensington H950: On Ear, Yworlln NE71 vs jaddsa Earbuds, JXMOX USB Type C vs SAMZHE Headphone Splitter 3.5mm