If you want open-ear headphones for swimming, choose WALLA SOUND Beat Bone Conduction; if you need over-ear listening with active noise cancellation, choose UGREEN HiTune Max5s. The key difference is how and where you listen: WALLA SOUND is designed for open-ear use and has an IPX8 waterproof rating, while UGREEN offers an over-ear fit, hybrid noise cancellation, and a much longer stated playtime.
WALLA SOUND Beat Bone Conduction vs UGREEN HiTune Max5s at a Glance
• UGREEN HiTune Max5s: Its over-ear design combines hybrid noise cancellation, 40 mm dynamic drivers, and up to 112 hours of stated playtime. It is not described as waterproof, so it is not the fit for swimming.
• Choose WALLA SOUND if water use, open ears, and stored music matter more than noise cancellation or extended battery life.
• Choose UGREEN if you want an over-ear headphone for listening in noisy surroundings and value long playtime over a swim-ready design.
WALLA SOUND is the more relevant choice for someone looking for head phones for swimming. Its IPX8 waterproof rating is the clearest reason to consider it for that activity. It also has 32GB of built-in MP3 storage, so you can listen without carrying a phone during a workout or other activity. That phone-free option is especially useful when keeping a phone close is inconvenient.
The design is open-ear, with sound transmitted through bone conduction rather than through an earbud placed in the ear canal. That leaves the ears uncovered, which can help you remain more aware of surrounding sounds during outdoor exercise. A flexible silicone neckband and a stated weight of 30 grams point to a lightweight, secure-wearing design. Button controls and a built-in microphone add practical functions for everyday listening and calls.
There are trade-offs. The stated battery life is five hours, with a two-hour charging time, so frequent or extended use may require regular charging. The headphones have no noise-control feature, and an open-ear design is not intended to isolate you from your surroundings. Buyers seeking the enclosed feel or noise reduction of conventional over-ear headphones should look elsewhere.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-19 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
Who should skip it: Skip WALLA SOUND if you need active noise cancellation, a long stated battery runtime, or a closed-over-ear listening experience.
UGREEN HiTune Max5s: Who It's For
UGREEN HiTune Max5s takes the opposite approach. It is an over-ear wireless headphone with hybrid noise cancellation, which makes it the more appropriate option for listening when reducing outside noise is a priority. The product information also specifies 40 mm dynamic drivers and app and button controls. That feature mix suits someone who wants a conventional around-the-head headphone for focused listening, rather than an open design for active awareness.
The main limitation in this comparison is straightforward: the listed features do not identify UGREEN as waterproof. That makes it a poor match for swimming, especially beside a model specifically described as IPX8 waterproof. Its over-ear design also covers the ears rather than leaving them open, so it will not offer the same ambient awareness as WALLA SOUND.
Who should skip it: Skip UGREEN if swimming is the main purpose or you specifically want open-ear listening that leaves your ears uncovered.
• Best for swimming → WALLA SOUND Beat Bone Conduction. Its IPX8 waterproof rating makes it the clear fit for this use; UGREEN is not described as waterproof.
• Best for phone-free listening → WALLA SOUND. It includes 32GB of built-in MP3 storage, letting you leave your phone behind for compatible listening.
• Best for noise cancellation → UGREEN HiTune Max5s. It has hybrid noise cancellation, while WALLA SOUND lists no noise control.
• Best for long stated battery life → UGREEN. Its playtime is listed as up to 112 hours, compared with WALLA SOUND’s five-hour battery life.
• Best for open-ear awareness → WALLA SOUND. Bone conduction and open-ear placement leave the ears uncovered; UGREEN uses an over-ear fit.
• Best for a lightweight neckband style → WALLA SOUND. Its flexible silicone neckband and 30-gram weight are useful details for buyers who want a light, activity-oriented design.
• Best for dual connection → UGREEN. Dual connection is listed among its features, while no equivalent feature is specified for WALLA SOUND.
• Best fit for focused indoor listening → UGREEN. Its over-ear construction and hybrid noise cancellation better suit listening where outside noise is a distraction.
Buying Considerations
Start with where you plan to listen, not with a single headline specification. For swimming, WALLA SOUND is the only one of these two with a stated waterproof rating. Its built-in MP3 storage also addresses the practical question of how to listen without bringing a phone into the activity.
Battery figures also deserve context. UGREEN lists up to 112 hours of playtime, while WALLA SOUND lists five hours of average battery life and a two-hour charge time. Those figures make UGREEN the stronger option for long stretches between charges. WALLA SOUND counters with a feature that is more relevant to active use: stored MP3 music, so the phone does not need to be part of every listening session.
For a shopper searching for the best headband headphones for swimming, the waterproof rating and phone-free storage make WALLA SOUND the more direct match. Someone searching for the best hifi stereo in ear headphones for swimming should note that neither product is described as an in-ear model: WALLA SOUND is open-ear bone conduction, while UGREEN is over-ear. If sound isolation is the priority instead, UGREEN’s hybrid noise cancellation is the more relevant listed feature.
I would choose WALLA SOUND Beat Bone Conduction for swimming because it has the IPX8 rating, open-ear design, and 32GB of built-in MP3 storage. Those features make its purpose clearer for that use than anything listed for UGREEN. For my final recommendation, if the main goal is swimming, I’d pick WALLA SOUND; if noise cancellation and extended playtime matter more, I’d choose UGREEN instead.
It is listed with an IPX8 waterproof rating and described for swimming use. It also has 32GB of built-in MP3 storage for listening without a phone. The stated battery life is five hours.
Is UGREEN HiTune Max5s waterproof?
UGREEN is the one with hybrid noise cancellation. WALLA SOUND lists no noise-control feature and has an open-ear design, so it is the better fit if you want to hear more of your surroundings.
UGREEN lists up to 112 hours of playtime. WALLA SOUND lists five hours of average battery life and a two-hour charge time, making UGREEN the stronger choice if longer stated runtime is the priority.
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