How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a swim-first headphone that doubles as a phone-free MP3 player with a fast-charge habit built in, choose Plufunex Swim Open-Ear Headphones; if you need maximum onboard storage, a lighter build and a wider Bluetooth working range for road riding, choose SAMVEK IP68.
• Plufunex biggest strength: 8 GB of built-in memory plus a 10-hour battery with a 10-minute fast charge that returns roughly 120 minutes of playback — a strong fit for long, phone-free sessions.
• Plufunex biggest trade-off: Smaller onboard storage than the SAMVEK, older Bluetooth generation, and a heavier 1.12-ounce build.
• SAMVEK biggest strength: 32 GB of storage (the sheet claims up to 8,000 songs), a 32 g body, and Bluetooth 5.4 with a 33 ft working range.
• SAMVEK biggest trade-off: Shorter 8-hour playback and no listed fast-charge claim, so you plan charging around workouts rather than topping up in ten minutes.
• Who Plufunex is for: swimmers, triathletes and multi-sport athletes who want one headset for water, road and gym.
• Who SAMVEK is for: cyclists and riders who want a light, low-latency bone-conduction set with a huge offline library.
The Plufunex is a bone-conduction, open-ear headset built around one idea: you shouldn't need your phone to train. It carries 8 GB of internal memory, so you load tracks once and then leave the phone at home — genuinely useful for pool laps, open-water swims and gym sessions where a phone is a nuisance. The open-ear hook design means your ear canal stays clear, which matters when you're sharing a lane or riding near traffic. The manufacturer explicitly notes you should use MP3 mode while swimming, because water interferes with Bluetooth signals.
Who should skip it? If you want to carry an enormous music library offline, 8 GB will feel limiting next to the SAMVEK. And if you're mainly a road cyclist who never swims, you're paying in weight and complexity for water features you won't use. It's rated for ages 8+, comes with a 1-year manufacturer warranty, and requires a computer with a USB port to load songs.
SAMVEK IP68: Who It's For
The SAMVEK IP68 is the capacity-and-comfort play. It lists 32 GB of built-in storage — up to 8,000 songs per the manufacturer — which is a serious amount of offline music for anyone who likes to ride without a phone. It runs standalone in MP3 mode with no Bluetooth required, and the sheet gives a specific waterproof figure: operation up to 2 hours at a 2-meter depth. That's a concrete, testable-sounding spec rather than a vague "waterproof" label.
For cycling specifically, two numbers stand out. First, Bluetooth 5.4 with a 33 ft (10 m) working range — the newer protocol and slightly longer reach than the Plufunex. Second, reduced audio latency is called out, which matters when you're watching for cars and want audio that keeps up. The open-ear bone-conduction design keeps your ears open to surroundings, and the silicone is described as skin-friendly and non-inserting, so there's no ear-canal pressure on long rides.
The trade-offs are real. Playback tops out at 8 hours, two hours less than the Plufunex, and there's no fast-charge claim to fall back on — a 200 mAh battery charged magnetically in about 2 hours, then you ride. It's also notably light at 32 g, which is the flip side of its plastic-heavy ABS/PC build versus the Plufunex's titanium and silicone. Noise control is listed as none, so don't expect any isolation beyond the open-ear design's natural pass-through. It's listed for adults, with a 1-year warranty.
• Best for battery life → Plufunex Swim Open-Ear Headphones: 10 hours listed versus 8 hours.
• Best for topping up mid-day → Plufunex Swim Open-Ear Headphones: 10 minutes of charging is stated to give about 120 minutes of playback.
• Best for a huge offline library → SAMVEK IP68: 32 GB versus 8 GB.
• Best for the lightest ride → SAMVEK IP68: 32 g versus 1.12 oz on the Plufunex.
• Best for newer wireless and range → SAMVEK IP68: Bluetooth 5.4 with a 33 ft range, versus Bluetooth 6.0 at 32 ft.
• Best for lower latency while cycling → SAMVEK IP68: reduced audio latency is an explicit feature.
• Best for a true multi-sport, pool-to-road setup → Plufunex Swim Open-Ear Headphones: swimming earplugs, mic plugs and an adjustable strap are included.
• Best for a rider who wants a phone-free commute on one charge → SAMVEK IP68: standalone MP3 playback plus a 2-hour charge cycle.
In my opinion, if cycling is your main sport and you want the lightest, most connected option with a massive offline library, I'd buy the SAMVEK IP68. Bluetooth 5.4, a 33 ft range, reduced latency and 32 g make it the more natural riding companion, and 8 hours covers most rides.
But if your training mixes swimming with cycling — or you're the type who forgets to charge — I'd take the Plufunex. Ten hours plus a fast charge that returns roughly two hours in ten minutes is the more forgiving ownership experience, and the included swim accessories make it a genuine one-headset solution.
FAQ
There's no single answer, but the specs point in two directions. The SAMVEK IP68 lists Bluetooth 5.4, a 33 ft range, reduced latency and a 32 g build — strong for road riding. The Plufunex lists 10 hours of battery with a 10-minute fast charge, which suits long or multi-sport days.
Physically, yes — both are wireless, hook-style, open-ear sets with no jack. Whether you should depends on local rules and your own risk judgment, since open-ear designs don't block traffic noise but they also don't remove the need to stay alert.
how to bike with headphones
Load your music first: the Plufunex needs a computer with a USB port, and the SAMVEK uses its 32 GB in MP3 mode. Then ride in open-ear mode, keep volume low enough to hear cars, and use the button controls instead of pulling out a phone. Charge fully beforehand — 2 hours for both.
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