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 a wired, low-latency in-ear monitor for gaming and calls on a budget, choose Piluyaa Gaming Headphones IEM; if you need a wireless, sweat-proof pair for running and long workouts, choose HAOYUYAN Sports.
• Piluyaa's biggest strength: a wired 3.5mm connection with a 16-ohm, 11mm dynamic driver and a wrap-around ear-hook fit that keeps the buds planted while you game or take calls.
• Piluyaa's biggest trade-off: it's wired, so you're tethered to your device, and the inline remote handles calls and track skipping but not volume.
• HAOYUYAN's biggest strength: up to 15 hours per charge and 80 hours total from the case, plus IPX7 waterproofing that survives sweat, rain and even a 30-minute dunk.
• HAOYUYAN's biggest trade-off: it's wireless only with no 3.5mm jack, so latency-sensitive gaming and wired-only devices are off the table.
• Pick Piluyaa if you want a cheap wired IEM for PC, console controllers, MP3 players or any 3.5mm source.
• Pick HAOYUYAN if you want a budget wireless pair built for the gym, the trail and marathon listening sessions.
The Piluyaa set is, at heart, a budget wired in-ear monitor built around a single 11mm dynamic driver and a 16-ohm impedance. That low impedance makes it easy to drive from almost anything with a 3.5mm hole — a phone, a Windows laptop, a handheld console, an MP3 player or a music speaker. The frequency range runs the standard 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, and the design leans bright and clear with deep bass, which suits gaming, video and casual music listening where you want detail without mud.
The comfort story is the part that stands out to me. Each earpiece weighs just 2.3 grams, and the shape is a wrap-around ear design with a memory ear hook that holds its form around your ear. The ear tips are TPE — soft and smooth — and there are three sets of silicone tips in the box for different ear sizes. A short sound guide tube is meant to reduce sound loss, and a groove at the ear cap is designed to widen the stage and pull out details. The cavity itself is PC with a UV-varnish finish in white, which gives it a cleaner look than the price bracket usually suggests.
Who should skip it? If you hate wires, or you want volume buttons on the cable, this isn't it. The remote answers and ends calls and pauses, plays and skips tracks, but it does not control volume. And if you need waterproofing for heavy sweat sessions, there's no IPX rating here — that's HAOYUYAN's territory.
HAOYUYAN Sports: Who It's For
The HAOYUYAN BX17 is a wireless earbud built for movement. The spec sheet reads like a gym checklist: flexible ear hooks, three sizes of silicone tips, and an IPX7 waterproof rating that covers sweat, rain and an accidental drop into water (one meter for 30 minutes). If you run outdoors, lift in a humid gym, or ride in bad weather, that rating is the single most important line on the page.
The audio side uses 14.3mm dynamic drivers with acoustic tuning aimed at powerful bass, balanced mids and crisp highs. Passive noise isolation comes from the fit itself, and there's a built-in microphone for calls — useful, though environmental noise cancellation on earbuds like these is about reducing what you hear, not erasing background noise for the person on the other end.
Battery is the headline. Up to 15 hours per charge and 80 hours total with the case, plus dual LED screens that show the battery level in real time so you're never guessing. The case recharges in about 1.5 hours over USB-C. Controls are physical push buttons — volume, track skip, calls, voice assistant — which is a deliberate choice for sweaty or gloved hands. Bluetooth 5.3 gives stable range up to 33 feet and auto-pairs to your last device via Hall switch tech when you open the lid. It works with iOS, Android, tablets and laptops; there's no 3.5mm jack at all.
Who should buy it? Runners, cyclists, gym-goers, anyone who wants long battery life and doesn't want to think about charging every other day. Rose gold finish, plastic enclosure, adult sizing.
Who should skip it? Competitive gamers who care about audio latency, and anyone whose main device only has a headphone jack. A 90-day warranty is also worth noting if you're rough on gear.
• Best for gaming and low latency → Piluyaa Gaming Headphones IEM. Wired 3.5mm means no Bluetooth delay.
• Best for battery life → HAOYUYAN Sports. 15 hours per charge, 80 hours with the case.
• Best for workouts and sweat → HAOYUYAN Sports. IPX7 waterproofing versus no water rating on the Piluyaa.
• Best for calls on a wired setup → Piluyaa. Inline mic plus remote buttons, though no volume control.
• Best for device compatibility → Piluyaa. Any 3.5mm source works, from MP3 players to speakers.
• Best for cable-free convenience → HAOYUYAN Sports. Bluetooth 5.3 with auto-pairing and a 33-foot range.
• Best for all-day comfort at minimal weight → Piluyaa. 2.3 grams per earpiece and a memory ear hook.
• Best for hands-on control in the gym → HAOYUYAN Sports. Physical buttons beat touch controls with sweaty fingers.
In my opinion, the honest answer is that these two barely compete — they solve different problems. If I had to pick one for a general budget buyer who games, watches video and takes calls at a desk or with a handheld, I'd buy the Piluyaa Gaming Headphones IEM. The wired connection, 2.3-gram fit and 16-ohm driver make it the more versatile everyday pick for a 3.5mm world. But if your priority is running, the gym and not charging anything for days, I'd take the HAOYUYAN Sports without hesitation — IPX7 and 80 hours are simply the better tool for that job.
what budget headphones
"Budget" just means the essentials are done well without extras you don't need. Both of these fit that: the Piluyaa gives you a wired 3.5mm IEM with a 11mm dynamic driver and inline mic, while the HAOYUYAN gives you Bluetooth 5.3, IPX7 and an 80-hour case. Decide which of those two feature sets matters more, then check the current price on Amazon.
how long do cheap headphones last
There's no fixed lifespan, but materials tell you something. The Piluyaa uses a four-core 4N OFC cable and TPE tips, which are reasonable durability choices; the HAOYUYAN carries a 90-day warranty and an IPX7 rating that protects the internals from sweat and water. Treat them well and either can serve you for a long stretch. Avoid yanking cables and store the case properly.
how to make cheap headphones sound better
Start with fit — both sets include three sizes of tips, and a proper seal is the single biggest sound upgrade. The Piluyaa's short sound guide tubes and ear-cap groove are designed to reduce loss and widen the stage, so getting the tip size right matters. On the HAOYUYAN, use the push-button controls and make sure you're getting passive isolation from a good seal before blaming the drivers.
how to get cheap headphones
Buy for the job, not the buzzwords. If you need a wired monitor for gaming and calls, the Piluyaa is your lane; if you need wireless, waterproof and long battery, the HAOYUYAN is your lane. Skip features you'll never use, and check the current price on Amazon before deciding.
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