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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-04 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• RR SPORTS IP68 — biggest strength: IP68 waterproofing rated for submersion up to 2 meters, plus a built-in 32GB MP3 player so you don't need a phone poolside.
• RR SPORTS IP68 — biggest trade-off: Open-ear bone conduction means no active noise cancelling and no earplug-style isolation; you stay aware of everything around you.
• MINISO MS217 — biggest strength: Ultra-light 3g in-ear buds with active noise cancelling and a slim, flush profile designed to vanish inside the ear for side sleepers.
• MINISO MS217 — biggest trade-off: These are sleep buds, not sport buds — no waterproofing claim, no built-in memory, and translation only works online through the app.
• Who each is for: RR SPORTS IP68 for swimmers, runners and cyclists who wear glasses and want sound without blocking the world; MINISO MS217 for side sleepers, light sleepers and anyone fighting snoring or noise at night.
The RR SPORTS IP68 is a bone conduction headphone first and a music player second, and that combination is the whole point. It uses a bone conduction driver that sits against your cheekbone instead of inside your ear canal, so your ears stay completely open. For anyone who wears glasses, that matters more than it sounds: there's no bud pressed against the side of your head, no ear hook fighting your temple arms, and no pressure point building up over a long ride or swim. The flexible silicone build and lightweight design are meant to stay put during intense activity while leaving your glasses untouched.
Where it genuinely separates itself is the water rating. IP68 with submersion up to 2 meters is a serious claim for headphones, and the sealed housing plus nano-hydrophobic coating is what backs it up. The manufacturer is clear about one thing: use MP3 mode when swimming, because Bluetooth won't transmit through water. That's exactly why the built-in 32GB of memory exists — roughly 7,000 songs in MP3, WMA, WAV or FLAC, loaded over the included magnetic charging cable, no phone required. Battery life is quoted at up to 7 hours, and Bluetooth 6.0 gives you a 10-meter range for everything out of the water.
I'd point a glasses-wearing swimmer, marathon runner or cyclist straight at this. It's also the safer pick if you train on roads, because open-ear design keeps traffic and voices audible. Skip it if you want to shut the world out, if you need active noise cancelling for flights or an open office, or if you mainly want something to sleep in — bone conduction is the wrong tool for all three.
The MINISO MS217 goes the opposite direction entirely. Each earbud is only 3g and shaped to sit flush inside your ear without sticking out, which is the specific problem with normal earbuds for side sleepers: anything that protrudes digs into the pillow. The skin-friendly silicone and low-profile shell are designed for all-night wear without soreness, and that's the use case the whole product is built around. If you roll onto your side and wake up with aching ears, this is the design that addresses it.
Active noise cancelling handles the other half of the sleep problem — ambient hum, traffic, dorm noise and snoring — and combined with the in-ear seal it's aimed at creating a quiet pocket around you. Bluetooth 6.0 covers pairing and connection stability, there's an HD call microphone for hands-free voice, and the charging case stretches total playtime to 26 hours. The app-based translation feature covers 165 languages with no subscription, but be clear on the limits: it needs the SayMi app, a phone and an internet connection, and there's no offline mode, so it's a casual convenience rather than a travel translator you can rely on in a dead zone.
Buy these if you sleep on your side, share a room with a snorer, or want a near-invisible earbud for napping, meditation and office focus. Skip them if you need headphones for swimming or heavy sweat — nothing in the spec sheet claims water protection — and skip them if you want a dedicated fitness headphone that anchors firmly during sprinting or cycling.
• Best for swimming → RR SPORTS IP68. IP68 with 2-meter submersion and a 32GB MP3 mode that works without a phone underwater.
• Best for side sleeping → MINISO MS217. 3g per bud, flush in-ear fit, designed so nothing presses into the pillow.
• Best for glasses wearers who train → RR SPORTS IP68. Open-ear bone conduction leaves your temples and ear canals completely clear.
• Best for blocking snoring and noise → MINISO MS217. Active noise cancelling plus the in-ear seal does what open-ear design deliberately doesn't.
• Best for phone-free workouts → RR SPORTS IP68. 32GB of internal storage plays MP3, WMA, WAV and FLAC with no device connected.
• Best for all-night battery → MINISO MS217. Up to 26 hours total with the charging case versus 7 hours on the RR SPORTS.
• Best for situational awareness → RR SPORTS IP68. Open-ear design keeps ambient sound audible for road running and cycling.
• Best for travel and commuting → MINISO MS217. Pocket-sized case, lightweight fit and 165-language app translation for casual use.
If you wear glasses and your priority is moving — swimming, running, cycling — I'd buy the RR SPORTS IP68. IP68 waterproofing, a 32GB player that works without a phone, and an open-ear fit that never collides with your frames is a combination the MINISO simply doesn't attempt. The MINISO MS217 is the better product for a different person: the side sleeper who wants 3g buds, active noise cancelling and 26 hours of runtime. In my opinion, for glasses wearers who train, the RR SPORTS IP68 is the one to check the current price on Amazon for.
Yes — it's rated IP68 with submersion up to 2 meters, and the sealed housing and nano-hydrophobic coating protect the internals. Just switch to MP3 mode before you get in, since Bluetooth won't work underwater.
That's the design intent: each bud is only 3g with a slim, flush in-ear shape and soft silicone, so nothing protrudes into the pillow. If standard earbuds hurt when you lie on your side, this is the shape to look for.
For activity, the RR SPORTS IP68 — bone conduction sits outside the ear canal and leaves your glasses arms and temples free. The MINISO MS217 is in-ear, which is fine for sleeping but less suited to sweaty sports.
No. Translation runs through the SayMi app and needs a WiFi or cellular connection — offline translation isn't supported, and it's meant for casual conversation rather than precise professional use.
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