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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-18 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• Ulian Open Ear Sports — biggest strength: A true air-conduction, "nothing in your ear" design with IPX6 sweat resistance and a claimed 8.5 hours of music per charge off a 1.5-hour magnetic charge.
• Ulian Open Ear Sports — biggest trade-off: One-button control only, no touch surface, no battery display, and a full-size foldable frame rather than a compact charging case.
• Quiksilver Open Ear — biggest strength: Bluetooth 5.4 with auto pairing from the case, touch controls for volume and track skipping, and a smart LED battery display so you always know your remaining power.
• Quiksilver Open Ear — biggest trade-off: The listing describes it as open-ear but the spec sheet lists an in-ear earpiece shape, and there's no IP rating number given — just "sweat and water resistant."
• Who Ulian is for: Runners, cyclists and gym-goers who want a genuinely open ear, a long single-charge runtime and full sweat protection.
• Who Quiksilver is for: Commuters, travelers and casual athletes who want modern Bluetooth conveniences, touch controls and a battery readout without thinking about it.
The Ulian Open Ear Sports is the more "sports-first" of the two on paper. Its core pitch is air conduction: audio travels through the air to your ear rather than through a speaker jammed into your canal, so your ear stays open and you keep hearing traffic, gym announcements and your surroundings. The frame uses what Ulian calls a Mobius design — an open, bendable, foldable headband-style shape that rests gently on your ears rather than plugging them. If "nothing in my ear" is the whole reason you're shopping for open-ear audio, this is the one that actually delivers that.
Who should skip it? Anyone who lives on touch controls. Ulian uses a single multi-function button for power, play/pause, voice assistant and calls — no volume or track-skip gestures. There's also no battery display, so you're judging charge by memory or by the low-battery warning. And while the whole headset is described as ultra lightweight at 160g/0.35lb, that's a headband-style frame, not a pocketable case you can slip into a jeans pocket. It ships with a charging cable and manual, and carries a one-year warranty.
Quiksilver Open Ear: Who It's For
The Quiksilver Open Ear is the more convenience-driven product. Its pitch is everyday usability: open the charging case and it auto-pairs, tap the earbud to change volume, skip tracks, take a call or fire up your voice assistant, and glance at the LED display on the case to see how much power is left. If you've ever been mid-run and had to dig your phone out of an armband just to turn the music down, that touch control set is the entire argument for this pair.
Connectivity is where Quiksilver is objectively ahead on paper: Bluetooth 5.4 versus 5.3 on the Ulian, with the same 10-meter range but a newer chip generation promising lower latency and better efficiency. The 20Hz–20,000Hz frequency range matches the Ulian's. The earhook design is explicitly built for a secure fit during running, cycling, workouts and all-day wear, and Quiksilver markets it as sweat and water resistant for intense gym sessions and long runs.
Two things to weigh honestly. First, the spec sheet lists the earpiece shape as in-ear even though the product is named and marketed as open-ear — the earhook sits over your ear and the bud rests at the opening rather than sealing deep in the canal, but if you want zero contact with your ear, that's worth knowing before you buy. Second, Quiksilver doesn't publish an IPX number, so "sweat and water resistant" is looser language than Ulian's certified IPX6. There's also no published battery-hour figure — only the LED display to tell you where you stand. On the plus side, the warranty is longer: three years manufacturer coverage versus one year on the Ulian. It's available in Navy, and the spec sheet lists it as suitable for adults, teens and kids.
• Best for battery life and long sessions → Ulian Open Ear Sports. 8.5 hours of playback, 110 hours standby, 1.5-hour magnetic recharge.
• Best for waterproofing confidence → Ulian Open Ear Sports. Certified IPX6 versus Quiksilver's unquantified "sweat and water resistant."
• Best for the newest Bluetooth → Quiksilver Open Ear. Bluetooth 5.4 with auto pairing versus 5.3.
• Best for controls → Quiksilver Open Ear. Touch controls for volume, tracks, calls and voice assistant; Ulian gives you one button.
• Best for knowing your battery level → Quiksilver Open Ear. The smart LED display beats guessing.
• Best for a truly open ear → Ulian Open Ear Sports. Air conduction with an open, foldable frame; Quiksilver's spec sheet lists an in-ear earpiece shape.
• Best for portability → Quiksilver Open Ear. A compact charging case is easier to pocket than a headband frame.
• Best for warranty peace of mind → Quiksilver Open Ear. Three-year manufacturer warranty versus Ulian's one year.
• Best for kids and shared household use → Quiksilver Open Ear. The spec sheet lists it for adults, teens and kids.
If I were buying for myself and my priority was a genuine open-ear listening experience with the longest runtime and the most defensible water protection, I'd buy the Ulian Open Ear Sports. IPX6, 8.5 hours per charge and air conduction are a coherent package for runners and cyclists, and the one-year warranty is the main thing I'd grumble about. I'd pick the Quiksilver Open Ear instead if Bluetooth 5.4, touch controls and a visible battery display matter more to me than a certified waterproof rating — it's the friendlier everyday pair. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since that's the one variable that can flip this call.
FAQ
Quiksilver markets it as open-ear with secure earhooks, but the spec sheet lists the earpiece shape as in-ear. In practice the hook holds the bud at your ear opening rather than sealing it deep, but if "nothing in my ear" is non-negotiable, the Ulian is the safer bet.
Ulian publishes real numbers: 8.5 hours of music or calls, 110 hours standby, 1.5-hour charge. Quiksilver publishes no runtime figure at all — just an LED display on the case. On paper, Ulian is the one you can actually plan around.
Ulian is certified IPX6, which covers sweat and rain but not swimming. Quiksilver says "sweat and water resistant" without an IP rating, so it should handle gym sweat and light rain, but Ulian's claim is the more specific one.
Both are wireless Bluetooth with a 10-meter range and no headphone jack, so they pair with any Bluetooth-enabled device. Ulian uses Bluetooth 5.3 and Quiksilver uses 5.4, which mainly means slightly newer efficiency and latency on the Quiksilver side.
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