How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-03 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• SOL REPUBLIC Shadow — biggest strength: a flexible, biomorphic neckband that weighs almost nothing (0.04 kg) and stays put while you move, plus multi-device Bluetooth switching and active noise cancellation.
• SOL REPUBLIC Shadow — biggest trade-off: it's an in-ear design aimed at adults, so it's not built for small heads or shared family use, and it has no wired jack to fall back on.
• Xmenha Purple Kids — biggest strength: a genuinely fun over-ear design with glowing cat-ear lights you can switch off, a foldable frame, and a 3.5 mm jack so it still works when the battery is empty.
• Xmenha Purple Kids — biggest trade-off: sound isolation rather than true active noise cancellation, and a playful look that teens and adults will likely find too loud.
• Pick SOL REPUBLIC Shadow if you want one light pair for the gym, commute and video calls.
• Pick Xmenha Purple Kids if you're buying for a child who wants headphones for school, tablets and airplane travel.
The Shadow is a neckband headphone, and that shape is the whole point. Instead of clamping over your ears or sitting loose in a case, it hangs around your neck on a flexible band that SOL REPUBLIC describes as biomorphic — it curves to follow your body rather than fighting it. At 0.04 kg it's genuinely light, and the in-ear tips with a rounded shape are designed to sit snugly without you having to readjust them mid-set. If you've ever had earbuds pop out during a run, this is the design that solves that problem.
The feature I'd call the real standout is dual-device Bluetooth. You can stay connected to two things at once and switch between them, which means you can be watching a video on a laptop and still catch a call on your phone without repairing anything. For anyone who works across a phone and a computer all day, that's a small convenience that becomes a big one fast. Add active noise cancellation, a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz dynamic driver, push-button media controls, and roughly 8 hours of playtime per charge with a matching 8-hour charge time, and you get a pair built for long days rather than short bursts.
Who should buy it: adults who want one pair for the gym, the commute and desk work, and anyone who hates fiddling with Bluetooth menus. Who should skip it: kids, families who need something to hand around, and anyone who wants a wired option as a safety net — the Shadow is Bluetooth only, with no headphone jack. It's also an adult-oriented, in-ear product, so it's the wrong shape for a young child.
The Xmenha Purple Kids is unapologetically a kids' product, and that's its strength. It's an over-ear model in purple with a silicone-and-sponge build, and the headline gimmick is a flowing light design around the cat ears and ear cups — lights you can turn on or off depending on whether you want the fun or the calm. There's even a clear window with a little cat figure inside, which is exactly the kind of detail that makes a five-year-old actually want to wear the thing. The folding frame makes it easy to shove into a suitcase or backpack, and the adjustable headband means it grows with your child instead of being outgrown in a year.
Practicality is where it quietly wins. It runs Bluetooth 5.1 with a 15-metre range, pairs under the name "MS-B4", and works with phones, Chromebooks, Kindle Fire tablets and iPads. Battery life is listed at 8 hours with the lights on and 20 hours with them off, and it charges in about 2.5 hours — so the light show costs you real runtime, which is worth knowing before a long flight. Best of all, if the battery dies mid-trip, you just plug in the included 3.5 mm audio cable and keep going. Sound isolation comes from those soft, breathable PU-leather earpads rather than electronics, so it's blocking background noise the old-fashioned way.
Who should buy it: parents of kids around age 2 and up who need headphones for school, tablets, flights and car journeys. Who should skip it: adults, teenagers who want a neutral look, and anyone who needs active noise cancellation rather than passive isolation.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for workouts and running → SOL REPUBLIC Shadow. The neckband stays put and you barely feel it.
• Best for long battery life → Xmenha Purple Kids. Up to 20 hours with the lights switched off, versus about 8 hours on the Shadow.
• Best for switching between phone and laptop → SOL REPUBLIC Shadow. Its multi-device Bluetooth lets you hop between two connected devices.
• Best for travel with children → Xmenha Purple Kids. It folds down, and the 3.5 mm cable keeps it alive on a dead battery.
• Best for quiet focus → SOL REPUBLIC Shadow. Active noise cancellation is the more effective tool for blocking engine drone and office chatter.
• Best for a shared family device → Xmenha Purple Kids. The adjustable headband and over-ear fit suit a range of head sizes; the Shadow is an adult in-ear design.
• Best for anyone who wants a wired fallback → Xmenha Purple Kids. The Shadow has no headphone jack at all.
In my opinion these two barely compete — they solve different problems, so the right answer depends entirely on who's wearing them. For an adult who wants one light, fuss-free pair for the gym, the commute and juggling two devices, I'd buy the SOL REPUBLIC Shadow; the neckband fit, dual-device switching and active noise cancellation are exactly what that life needs. For a child heading to school or a long flight, I'd buy the Xmenha Purple Kids without hesitation — the foldable frame, 20-hour light-off runtime and 3.5 mm backup cable are the things that actually save a parent's day. Check the current price on Amazon for whichever one fits your situation before deciding.
Yes, in my opinion. The Xmenha is designed for kids from about age 2, with an adjustable headband, over-ear padding and a foldable frame. The Shadow is an adult in-ear neckband, so it's the wrong shape and size for a young child.
Does the SOL REPUBLIC Shadow have active noise cancellation?
Yes. It ships with a 3.5 mm audio cable, so you can switch to a wired connection when the battery is empty. The SOL REPUBLIC Shadow has no headphone jack, so it's Bluetooth only.
The SOL REPUBLIC Shadow is listed at about 8 hours of playtime and 8 hours of charge time. The Xmenha Purple Kids runs about 8 hours with the lights on and up to 20 hours with them off, charging in roughly 2.5 hours.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: SIKUING 8 vs OneOdio Pro 10, AWWNUIF Open Ear Headphones vs PSIER IPX8: Air Conduction, AMPAPA A1 vs Linsoul SIMGOT EP5, BINNUNE Gaming Headset vs YOCOWOCO Adapter: Low Latency