How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-17 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• Skullcandy Icon ANC Noise — biggest strength: Active Noise Cancelling plus up to 60 hours of battery with ANC off, a 3.5mm AUX cable for wired listening, and a flat-folding travel design.
• Skullcandy Icon ANC Noise — biggest trade-off: It's an on-ear, over-the-head design, so it's bulkier than earbuds and physically blocks your ear canal — you give up natural awareness unless you switch on Stay-Aware mode.
• Conyat Open-Ear Headphones — biggest strength: An open-ear hook design at roughly 6.7g per earpiece with IP7 water resistance and Bluetooth 6.0 — built for movement and staying aware of traffic.
• Conyat Open-Ear Headphones — biggest trade-off: No active noise cancellation, and total playtime tops out at 40 hours with the charging case — less than the Skullcandy's single-charge figure.
• Who each pick is for: Skullcandy Icon ANC Noise is for travelers, commuters and anyone who wants to shut the world out; Conyat Open-Ear Headphones is for runners, gym-goers and cyclists who need to hear the world while they listen.
The Icon ANC is a traditional over-the-head headphone built around one clear idea: quiet. Active Noise Cancelling is the headline feature, and it's the reason most people will look at this model. If you fly, take noisy trains, or work in an open office and want the background to drop away, this is the design that actually does that job. The on-ear cups sit over your ears and seal you in — the opposite approach to an open-ear bud.
Battery is the other standout. Skullcandy rates it at up to 60 hours with ANC off, and the spec sheet lists an average battery life of 50 hours. Either way, that's a multi-day, possibly multi-week figure for most people. Rapid Charge adds 4 hours of listening from a 10-minute top-up, which is genuinely useful when you're rushing out the door. Charging from empty takes about an hour.
The practical details round it out well. IPX4 sweat and water resistance means rain and gym sweat won't kill it, though it isn't built for swimming or heavy soaking. The adjustable Stay-Aware mode lets you dial in how much outside sound you let through using the Skullcandy App — handy for crossing a street or hearing a gate announcement without removing the headphones. There's also Personal Sound by Mimi and EQ tuning in the app, plus a 3.5mm AUX cable so you can plug in on a plane or when the battery finally dies. The flat-folding, collapsible frame is designed for packing.
Who should skip it? Anyone who wants to hear traffic while running, anyone who dislikes the pressure and warmth of on-ear cups, and anyone who wants the smallest possible thing in their ears. This is a headphone you carry, not one you forget you're wearing.
The Conyat X5S takes the opposite approach entirely. Instead of sealing your ears, it sits on hooks around them, leaving the ear canal completely unobstructed. At roughly 6.7g per earpiece, it's designed to be barely noticeable — the kind of thing you can wear for a long run or a full workday without pressure building up. If on-ear cups bother you, this is the fix.
The core appeal is situational awareness. Because nothing blocks your ears, you hear cars, other runners, cyclists and announcements while your music plays. That's why the design targets running, cycling, walking, workouts and driving. It's a safety feature as much as a comfort feature, and it's the single biggest reason to pick these over the Skullcandy.
On the audio side, Conyat uses a 14.2mm dynamic driver and directional sound transmission intended to keep sound in and leakage out. There's also an ENC microphone that filters background noise on calls — worth noting, since that's for your voice on calls, not for cancelling noise around you. That distinction matters: these are not noise-cancelling headphones.
Battery runs 8–10 hours per charge depending on volume, extending to 40 hours total with the charging case. USB-C fast charging refills the case in about 1.5 hours, and an LED display shows the case's battery status. IP7 water resistance is a step above the Skullcandy's IPX4 — it handles sweat and rain, including heavy workouts. Bluetooth 6.0 handles pairing, with auto-pairing when you lift the buds from the case. Touch controls cover play/pause, track skipping, calls and volume. Conyat backs it with a 30-day refund window and a 2-year warranty.
Who should skip it? Anyone who wants to block out airplane noise, loud offices or train rumble. Open-ear means you hear all of it.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for battery life → Skullcandy Icon ANC Noise. Up to 60 hours with ANC off versus 40 hours total on the Conyat, and the Skullcandy doesn't need a case to reach it.
• Best for running and workouts → Conyat Open-Ear Headphones. Open-ear awareness, 6.7g per bud and IP7 water resistance are purpose-built for movement.
• Best for hearing traffic and your surroundings → Conyat Open-Ear Headphones. The open design keeps your ear canal clear; the Skullcandy needs Stay-Aware mode to approximate that.
• Best for flights and long commutes → Skullcandy Icon ANC Noise. ANC, a folding frame and an AUX cable for wired use make it the travel pick.
• Best for call clarity in noisy places → Conyat Open-Ear Headphones. The ENC microphone is designed to filter background noise from your voice.
• Best for wired listening when the battery dies → Skullcandy Icon ANC Noise. The included 3.5mm cable means you're never fully out of options.
• Best for all-day wear comfort in your ears → Conyat Open-Ear Headphones. No cups, no pressure, no ear-canal blockage.
In my opinion, the right pick comes down to one question: do you want to shut the world out, or stay tuned into it? If it's the first, I'd buy the Skullcandy Icon ANC Noise. Active Noise Cancelling, up to 60 hours of battery, app-tuned sound and a folding travel frame make it the more capable headphone for commuting, flying and focused work.
If you run, ride or train and need to hear what's around you, I'd buy the Conyat Open-Ear Headphones instead. The open-ear design, 6.7g weight and IP7 rating are built for exactly that, and no amount of noise cancellation replaces awareness on a road.
One thing to sort out before you commit: check the current price on Amazon for both, since they sit in different segments and the gap may decide it for you.
FAQ
Yes. The Skullcandy has Active Noise Cancelling; the Conyat has none. The Conyat's ENC microphone only reduces background noise on your calls — it doesn't cancel sound around you.
Yes. They carry IP7 water resistance, which covers sweat and rain. The Skullcandy Icon ANC is rated IPX4, which handles sweat and light splashes but is less protected.
The Skullcandy Icon ANC runs up to 60 hours with ANC off, with a 10-minute Rapid Charge giving 4 hours of listening. The Conyat gives 8–10 hours per charge, up to 40 hours total with the charging case.
No, and that's by design. The open-ear fit leaves your ear canal unobstructed so you stay aware of traffic, people and surroundings — great for safety, less useful in a loud office or on a plane.
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