How We Research
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
• OpenComm2's biggest strength: 16 hours of talk time per charge plus a 5-minute quick charge that adds 2 hours of calls — the most work-friendly battery setup in this comparison.
• OpenComm2's biggest trade-off: IP55 splash resistance only, so sweat and rain are fine but swimming is not; it's also an office-first headset rather than a pure sports toy.
• Vonlaxi's biggest strength: IPX8 waterproofing paired with a built-in 32GB MP3 player, so music keeps playing underwater where Bluetooth can't reach.
• Vonlaxi's biggest trade-off: 8 hours of playtime and a 2-hour recharge with no quick-charge option, plus a much shorter 33-foot Bluetooth range.
• Pick OpenComm2 if you live on calls, toggle between a laptop and a phone, and want one headset that looks at home in the gym and the meeting room.
• Pick Vonlaxi if you swim, run or cycle and want open-ear audio that survives full immersion and works without a phone.
The OpenComm2 is a work headset first. Its 35g open-ear frame uses a nickel-titanium alloy, plastic and soft silicone build with an IP55 finish, so it stays light enough to forget you're wearing it through a long shift. The control scheme is the part I like most: physical buttons for volume, play/pause, and a dedicated mute/unmute for calls, plus app-based control. When you're on a standup or a client call, a real mute button beats tapping around a touch panel every time.
Battery is where it pulls ahead: up to 16 hours of talk time, 8 hours of listening, a 1-hour charge, and that 5-minute quick charge for 2 extra hours of calls. For a gym-goer who takes calls on the way in, that combination is hard to argue with.
Who should skip it? Swimmers, and anyone who wants music stored on the headphones themselves. IP55 won't survive laps, and there's no onboard MP3 storage. If your priority is underwater audio, this isn't your pick.
Vonlaxi Bone Conduction Headphones: Who It's For
The Vonlaxi X9 is built around one idea: keep the music going when Bluetooth can't. It carries a 32GB MP3 player that holds roughly 4,000 songs, and because Bluetooth signals don't travel underwater, you switch to MP3 mode before you get in the pool. That single design decision is what separates it from almost everything else in the open-ear space. If you swim laps, do water fitness or pool training, this is the feature that matters.
Around that core, the X9 is a solid sports headphone. IPX8 waterproofing is the top protection tier here, so submersion isn't a concern. The open-ear fit keeps you aware of traffic and surroundings, soft skin-friendly silicone sits comfortably for long sessions, and the included adjustable strap tightens things down for different head sizes. It's noted as compatible with most swim caps and helmets, and it plays nicely with glasses — a detail that matters more than people expect.
Sound comes from large 18 × 12 mm drivers with 18mm driver sizing, tuned for balanced mids, enhanced bass and crisp vocals. Bluetooth 6.0 brings faster pairing and lower power draw, with dual-device connection and a low-latency Game Mode for video and gaming. There's a single-mic noise-reduction setup for calls, and adaptive noise cancellation on board. Battery is 8 hours of playtime with a 2-hour magnetic charge.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for call clarity and meetings → ShenzhenShokzCo.Ltd OpenComm2 (noise-canceling mic with DSP, dedicated mute button).
• Best for swimming → Vonlaxi Bone Conduction Headphones (IPX8 plus 32GB MP3 mode for underwater listening).
• Best battery life for talk → ShenzhenShokzCo.Ltd OpenComm2 (16h talk time, 5-minute quick charge for 2h of calls).
• Best for phone-free listening → Vonlaxi Bone Conduction Headphones (32GB onboard storage, roughly 4,000 songs).
• Best for multi-device work setups → ShenzhenShokzCo.Ltd OpenComm2 (Bluetooth 5.1 multipoint, 98-foot range, app control).
• Best for low-latency gaming and video → Vonlaxi Bone Conduction Headphones (80ms audio latency, dedicated Game Mode).
• Best for heavy sweat and weather → Vonlaxi Bone Conduction Headphones (IPX8 vs IP55).
• Best all-rounder for the gym plus the office → ShenzhenShokzCo.Ltd OpenComm2 — in my opinion, it covers more of a normal weekday.
• Best value for a swim-and-run routine → Vonlaxi Bone Conduction Headphones, because the waterproofing and MP3 player together do things the OpenComm2 simply can't.
My Verdict
how to bone conduction headphones work
They sit outside your ear canal and send vibrations through your cheekbone to your inner ear, so your eardrums stay uncovered. That's why both the OpenComm2 and the Vonlaxi keep you aware of traffic and surroundings while you listen.
how to wear bone conduction headphones
Rest the transducers on your cheekbones just in front of your ears, with the band behind your head. The OpenComm2 uses a flexible 35g frame for a light fit, while the Vonlaxi includes an adjustable strap to lock things down for swimming, running and cycling.
how to use bone conduction headphones
Pair over Bluetooth as normal, then use the physical buttons for volume, playback and calls. The OpenComm2 adds app control and multipoint pairing; the Vonlaxi lets you switch to its 32GB MP3 mode so you can keep listening where Bluetooth can't reach, like underwater.
Yes — the two sit in different spots depending on features, so check the current price on Amazon before deciding. Compare what you're actually paying for: call time and multipoint on one side, IPX8 waterproofing and onboard MP3 storage on the other.
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