If you want over-ear noise cancellation and long listening sessions for travel, choose Riwbox Hybrid Active Noise; if you need a lightweight neckband for workouts, choose ZXQ Neckband Earbuds. For swimming, though, neither is a suitable pick: the ZXQ is described as IPX5 water- and sweat-resistant, while the Riwbox has no water-resistance rating listed. I’d choose between them for dry-land listening, not for wearing in a pool.
• Riwbox’s biggest strength: over-ear hybrid active noise cancellation, with up to 20 dB of noise reduction; trade-off: its over-ear design is less suited to exercise and has no stated water-resistance rating.
• ZXQ’s biggest strength: a neckband design with up to 100 hours of stated playtime and IPX5 water- and sweat-resistance; trade-off: it offers no active noise cancellation.
• Riwbox battery: up to 60 hours in standard music mode, or up to 40 hours with wireless active noise cancellation at 60% volume.
• ZXQ charging: a full charge takes about two hours, and the listing says a 15-minute charge provides up to 10 hours of use.
• Choose Riwbox for travel, office listening, and a surrounding over-ear fit with active noise cancellation.
• Choose ZXQ for workouts, calls on the move, and earbuds that stay attached to a neckband when removed.
The Riwbox AC2 is an over-ear Bluetooth headset built around isolation and extended listening. Its 40 mm dynamic drivers and hybrid active noise cancellation are the headline features. The stated reduction is up to 20 dB, with airplane noise, subway rumble, and office chatter given as the kinds of distractions it aims to reduce. That makes it the more relevant option for a commute, a flight, or a desk where surrounding sound gets in the way.
Its battery claims are substantial: up to 60 hours in standard music mode and up to 40 hours with wireless active noise cancellation enabled at 60% volume. It also folds and rotates for storage, and the supplied details include a 3.5 mm audio cable as well as a Type-C charging cable. The Bluetooth connection is listed with a range of up to 100 feet.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-19 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
The ZXQ Q20s takes a different approach. Its earbuds sit in the ears, while a flexible neckband keeps them connected and close at hand. When you take them out, the magnetic earbuds can attach together, which helps avoid having loose earpieces dangling. Multiple ear-tip options are listed, along with a carrying case.
The standout spec is up to 100 hours of playtime. The listing also describes a two-hour full charge and says a 15-minute USB-C charge can provide up to 10 hours of use. For someone who wants a headset ready for recurring workouts, housework, or travel without frequent charging, that combination is appealing. Bluetooth 5.4 is specified in the feature description, and the neckband has inline controls and a built-in microphone for calls.
The ZXQ is the more sensible of these two for sport: it is described as IPX5 water- and sweat-resistant, and the neckband keeps the earbuds together when they are not in your ears. But that does not make it a swimming headset. IPX5 protection is described for water jets and sweat, not submersion, and the product information does not claim it is safe to wear underwater. It also lacks active noise cancellation, so it won’t serve the same purpose as the Riwbox in a noisy cabin or office.
• Best for active noise cancellation → Riwbox Hybrid Active Noise. It specifies hybrid ANC with noise reduction up to 20 dB; the ZXQ lists no noise control.
• Best for the longest stated playtime → ZXQ Neckband Earbuds. Its listed maximum is 100 hours, compared with 60 hours for the Riwbox in standard music mode.
• Best for longer listening with ANC on → Riwbox Hybrid Active Noise. Its stated battery figure is up to 40 hours with wireless ANC at 60% volume.
• Best for workouts and sweat resistance → ZXQ Neckband Earbuds. The IPX5 and sweat-resistance description gives it an advantage for sport, though not for swimming.
• Best for over-ear comfort and reduced surrounding noise → Riwbox Hybrid Active Noise. Its oval, over-ear fit and cushioned pads are designed to cover the ears.
• Best for earbuds that stay together when removed → ZXQ Neckband Earbuds. The magnetic earpieces attach to each other, and the neckband keeps them connected.
• Best for a wired listening option → Riwbox Hybrid Active Noise. The included 3.5 mm analog cable offers an alternative to Bluetooth.
• Best for calls while moving → ZXQ Neckband Earbuds. It has a built-in microphone and inline controls, while the Riwbox’s main emphasis is over-ear listening and noise cancellation.
The phrase “wireless earbuds for swimming” can be tempting when a product is labeled waterproof or sweatproof. Here, it would overstate what the specifications support. The ZXQ is the only one of the pair with a stated water-resistance rating, but IPX5 is not a swimming or underwater-use claim. For swimming, look for a product whose specifications explicitly cover submersion and pool use.
The ZXQ’s microphone and Bluetooth connection may appeal if you’re searching for a “voice assistant open ear headphones for swimming,” but it is not an open-ear design: it uses in-ear earbuds. The listing describes calls, not a specific voice-assistant feature, and it does not support swimming use. If those are must-haves, neither headset matches the full request.
My Verdict
I’d choose the ZXQ Neckband Earbuds for workouts and everyday movement because the neckband, long stated battery life, and IPX5 water- and sweat-resistance fit that use better. I’d choose the Riwbox instead for travel or noisy indoor listening, where active noise cancellation and over-ear coverage matter more. For swimming, my recommendation is neither: the ZXQ’s water resistance does not establish suitability for submersion, and the Riwbox has no water-resistance rating listed.
I would not treat them as swimming earbuds. The product is described as IPX5 water- and sweat-resistant, but the provided details do not claim it is safe for submersion or underwater use.
The Riwbox is the clear choice for noise cancellation: it lists hybrid active noise cancellation with reduction up to 20 dB. The ZXQ lists no noise-control feature, so its described noise isolation should not be confused with active noise cancellation.
Which lasts longer on a charge?
The ZXQ is the more workout-oriented option in this comparison, with a neckband, IPX5 water- and sweat-resistance, inline controls, and a built-in microphone. The Riwbox is better suited to listening where over-ear coverage and active noise cancellation are priorities.
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