How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-28 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• UPPEL Bike Phone Mount — biggest strength: a genuine 10-in-1 handlebar unit that combines a patented phone clamp, a 5W Bluetooth speaker, a double LED light and a horn in a single waterproof body.
• UPPEL Bike Phone Mount — biggest trade-off: it's a chunk of gear (0.58 kg, plastic, handlebar-mounted), so it lives on the bike, not in your pocket, and the 4–5 hr runtime drops when you run light and music together.
• Gulanxo Open Ear Headphones — biggest strength: open-ear air-conduction design with Bluetooth 5.3, IPX6 waterproofing and up to 10 hours of playback, so your ears stay open to traffic on the bike.
• Gulanxo Open Ear Headphones — biggest trade-off: they're headphones only — no mount, no light, no horn — and the open-ear fit trades bass depth for awareness.
• Who each pick is for: UPPEL if you want your phone visible, charged and your bike more visible at night; Gulanxo if you want audio on the ride without blocking your ears.
The UPPEL Bike Phone Mount is less a phone holder than a handlebar control centre. The patented clamping mechanism is width-adjustable from 3.5 to 7 inches, which covers most phones from Apple, Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi, Sony and TCL, and the point of that design is stability: the clamp is built so the phone stays put under hard riding rather than bouncing loose on rough tarmac or trail. Attach and detach is quick, so you can pocket the phone when you park.
Around that clamp, UPPEL stacks the features. There's a 5W Bluetooth speaker with a soft diaphragm aimed at clear playback, and it accepts TF card, U-DISK and AUX input alongside Bluetooth, with multi-function keys for control. There's a double LED headlight and flashlight rated to illuminate up to 50 m ahead, with a steady and flashing mode and a rotating base to change the beam range. There's a horn: the Micro B socket connects the external horn cable, giving you a bell with three ringtones and adjustable volume. All of it draws on a built-in 5000 mAh battery — roughly 6–7 hours of light alone, 12–15 hours of music alone, or 4–5 hours if you run both.
In my opinion, this is the pick for the commuter or casual rider who wants one tidy unit instead of three separate accessories, and for anyone on a road or mountain bike who rides in low light and wants to be seen. It fits most mountain, road and casual bikes, it's rated waterproof, and it carries a 1-year manufacturer warranty. Skip it if you ride with headphones anyway, if you want to keep the bike stripped down, or if you mainly need audio — a 0.58 kg handlebar unit is a lot of hardware for that.
The Gulanxo Open Ear Headphones solve a different problem: how to listen to something while cycling without sealing your ears. The design is open-ear, using air-conduction drivers rather than bone conduction, with the stated aim of preventing sound leakage and keeping the original sound quality intact. The dynamic driver covers a 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz range, so it's a normal full-range music presentation rather than a speech-only compromise.
For sports use the numbers are sensible. Bluetooth 5.3 gives a stable wireless link with a 10-metre range, and the battery is a 200 mAh cell rated for up to 10 hours of continuous playback and calls, with fast charging over USB-C. IPX6 waterproofing means rain and sweat aren't a problem, and Gulanxo lists gym, running, hiking and cycling as the intended uses. The flexible, bendable frame is built to stretch without deforming, which matters when you're pulling them on and off around a helmet strap.
Calls get their own treatment: an upgraded noise-reduction algorithm and ENC HD call handling to strip out environmental noise, with controls on the earpiece and app support. Total weight is 0.21 kg including the carrying case, so it disappears into a jersey pocket. The trade-off is honest — open-ear means you give up isolation and deep bass, and there's no jack, so it's wireless only. In my opinion, these suit the rider who wants music, podcasts or calls on the move and refuses to block out traffic, plus runners and gym users who want the same thing off the bike. Skip them if you want immersive, sealed sound or you ride somewhere loud enough that you need isolation.
• Best for carrying your phone visibly → UPPEL Bike Phone Mount. The 3.5–7 inch adjustable clamp holds most phones securely on the handlebar.
• Best for hearing traffic while you ride → Gulanxo Open Ear Headphones. Open-ear air conduction leaves your ears unobstructed.
• Best for being seen and lighting the road → UPPEL Bike Phone Mount. The double LED is rated to light up to 50 m ahead, with a flashing mode.
• Best for long music sessions → Gulanxo Open Ear Headphones. Up to 10 hours of playback on one charge.
• Best for a warning device → UPPEL Bike Phone Mount. The horn offers three ringtones with adjustable volume.
• Best for calls on the move → Gulanxo Open Ear Headphones. ENC HD call handling and noise-reduction algorithms target clear voice.
• Best for weather and sweat → both. UPPEL is waterproof; Gulanxo is IPX6 waterproof and sweatproof.
• Best for a light, packable kit → Gulanxo Open Ear Headphones. 0.21 kg total with a compact case versus a 0.58 kg handlebar unit.
• Best for one-device simplicity → UPPEL Bike Phone Mount. Mount, speaker, light and horn in a single waterproof body.
My Verdict
They solve different problems. UPPEL mounts your phone and adds light, speaker and horn on the bike. Gulanxo puts open-ear audio on you, so you hear traffic. Many riders would want both.
No, and that's the design intent. The open-ear air-conduction fit leaves the ear canal open, so you stay aware of surroundings while music plays.
The 5000 mAh battery gives roughly 6–7 hours of light, 12–15 hours of music, or 4–5 hours with light and music running together.
Yes — they carry an IPX6 waterproof and sweatproof rating, so rain and heavy sweat during running, hiking or cycling aren't a concern.
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