We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-28 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a true over-ear headphone that shuts the commute out and runs for days between charges, choose Wentronic Y04; if you need something feather-light that stays put on your ears and keeps you aware of traffic while you run or ride, choose MINISO MS220. These are two genuinely different answers to the same question — how to listen on the move — and the right pick depends on what your commute actually looks like.
• Wentronic Y04 — biggest strength: A proper over-ear design with active noise cancelling, Bluetooth 5.3, a 40 mm dynamic driver and a claimed 48 hours of playback.
• Wentronic Y04 — biggest trade-off: It's a full-size headphone in purple plastic, so it's bulkier and more visible than a pair of earbuds, and it has no water-resistance rating for sweat or rain.
• MINISO MS220 — biggest strength: Open-ear earhooks at roughly 7 g each, an IPX5 sweat-resistant shell, touch controls and a charging case with a full-color LED battery readout.
• MINISO MS220 — biggest trade-off: The open-ear shape lets outside sound in by design, so it can't isolate you the way a sealed over-ear cup can, and each bud only runs 4–6 hours before it needs the case.
• Who the Y04 is for: Commuters, office workers and long-haul travellers who want maximum quiet and long battery.
• Who the MS220 is for: Runners, cyclists, gym-goers and anyone who wants their ears left open to the world.
The Y04 is the "sit down and disappear into the music" option. It's an over-ear headphone with circular earcups and soft cushions, and the whole point of that format is coverage: the cups surround your ears rather than sitting inside them, which is what makes long listening sessions comfortable and what gives active noise cancelling a sealed space to work with. On a noisy bus or a packed train carriage, that combination of over-ear cushions plus ANC is exactly the setup you want.
The spec sheet backs up the endurance angle too. Wentronic rates the battery at 48 hours, which is the kind of number that means you can commute all week without thinking about a charger. The driver is a 40 mm dynamic unit with a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz frequency range and 32 ohm impedance — a standard, sensible configuration for a wireless headphone, covering the full audible range. Bluetooth 5.3 handles the connection, and there's a quoted audio latency of 40 ms, which is low enough that lip-sync on video should feel reasonably tight. Controls are physical push buttons, which some people prefer on a commute because you can find the right button by feel without looking.
Two things worth flagging honestly. First, the enclosure is plastic and the finish is purple — a bold look rather than a neutral one, so if you want your headphones to vanish into a work outfit, that's a consideration. Second, nothing in the spec sheet mentions water or sweat resistance, and there's no IP rating listed. That doesn't make it fragile, but it does mean I'd treat the Y04 as an indoor and dry-weather companion rather than something to wear through a downpour or a heavy gym session. There is a 3.5 mm jack on board alongside the wireless connection, which is a genuinely useful fallback. It's aimed at adults, and it ships with a user manual and a one-year warranty.
Buy it if you commute in loud environments, take calls on the move, or want one pair of headphones to cover long journeys without constant charging. Skip it if you need something sweat-proof, ultra-compact, or you want your ears left open to ambient sound for safety.
The MS220 goes the opposite direction: it's built to sit outside your ear canal entirely. Each earbud uses a three-point earhook structure and weighs only about 7 g, and MINISO's whole pitch is that an open-ear fit avoids the soreness that in-ear buds can cause after hours of wear. That's a real design trade-off rather than a gimmick — an unobstructed canal means you can hear traffic, crowds and announcements while your music plays, which is precisely what you want if you're jogging near roads or cycling.
The noise-cancelling story here is more specific than you'd expect. MINISO quotes an ANC chip delivering up to -52 dB of reduction, aimed at subway rumble, office chatter and gym noise. Because the fit is open, I'd read that as reducing low-frequency drone rather than creating a sealed, silent bubble — the Y04's over-ear cups are inherently better at blocking sound simply because they cover the ear. What the MS220 adds instead is situational awareness, which is the thing the Y04 can't offer.
On battery, the numbers are split in a way worth understanding. Each earbud runs 4–6 hours on its own, and the charging case extends that to a total of 30 hours. A full recharge takes about 1.5 hours. That's a case-based system, so your daily rhythm is: wear the buds, drop them in the case between sessions, top the case up every few days. The full-color LED display on the case shows battery percentage for the left bud, the right bud and the case itself, so you don't have to guess.
Controls are touch-based, and the IPX5 rating means sweat and light rain shouldn't be a problem — a meaningful advantage for workouts and wet-weather walks. The shell is ABS with skin-friendly silicone, and it's compatible with iOS and Android. Bluetooth range is quoted at 10 metres, and there's no headphone jack. In the box you get the earbuds, a USB-C cable and a manual, with a one-year warranty.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for blocking out commute noise → Wentronic Y04. Over-ear cups plus ANC physically cover the ear; the open-ear MS220 is designed to let sound in.
• Best for battery endurance → Wentronic Y04. 48 hours in one charge versus 4–6 hours per bud plus a 30-hour case.
• Best for running, cycling and gym work → MINISO MS220. Roughly 7 g per bud, a secure earhook fit and an IPX5 sweat-resistant shell.
• Best for staying aware of traffic → MINISO MS220. The open-ear design leaves your canal clear by design.
• Best for long-haul flights and offices → Wentronic Y04. ANC and over-ear cushions are built for sustained quiet listening.
• Best for quick battery checks → MINISO MS220. The case's LED display shows left, right and case levels at a glance.
• Best for a wired fallback → Wentronic Y04. It has a 3.5 mm jack; the MS220 has none.
• Best for people who dislike in-ear pressure → MINISO MS220. Nothing enters the ear canal.
In my opinion, if you're asking strictly about the commute — the train, the bus, the plane, the open-plan office — I'd buy the Wentronic Y04. Over-ear cushions, active noise cancelling and a 48-hour battery are the three things that make a daily journey genuinely easier, and no open-ear design can replicate the isolation of a sealed cup. I'd pick the MINISO MS220 only if my commute involves moving my body — running, cycling, training — where the 7 g earhooks, IPX5 shell and open-ear awareness matter far more than silence. Decide which of those two commutes is actually yours, and the choice makes itself.
FAQ
It carries an IPX5 water-resistance rating, which covers sweat and light rain. That's a real advantage over the Wentronic Y04, whose spec sheet lists no water or sweat resistance at all. Neither is built for full submersion.
The Wentronic Y04 is rated at 48 hours of playback, so it can cover a long trip on one charge. The MINISO MS220 gives 4–6 hours per bud and 30 hours total with the case, so you'll be docking the buds between sessions.
Pricing changes constantly, so I don't quote it here. Use the "Check latest price on Amazon" button on this page to see the live figure for whichever model you're leaning toward.
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