How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a low-latency Bluetooth set for the gym and everyday listening, choose XIAOMI Earbuds Redmi Buds; if you need sweatproof earbuds that survive full submersion in the pool, choose esonstyle Swimming Headphones Underwater. That's the honest split here — one is a general-purpose in-ear pair, the other is a purpose-built swimming tool.
• XIAOMI Earbuds Redmi Buds — biggest strength: Bluetooth 5.2 in-ear buds with a low-latency game mode, a 6mm dynamic driver, and up to 18 hours of total battery life with the charging case.
• XIAOMI Earbuds Redmi Buds — biggest trade-off: IP54, which covers dust and water splashes but not swimming; there is no built-in music storage.
• esonstyle Swimming Headphones Underwater — biggest strength: IP68 waterproof, submersible to 3 meters for 60+ minutes, with an 8GB built-in MP3 player so you can leave your phone on the deck.
• esonstyle Swimming Headphones Underwater — biggest trade-off: Bluetooth does not work underwater at all — you must switch to MP3 mode, and you'll need to load your own files first.
• Who each pick is for: XIAOMI for runners, gym-goers and call-takers who want wireless freedom; esonstyle for swimmers, surfers and kayakers who get wet on purpose.
The Redmi Buds 3 Lite is a classic stem-style in-ear pair. It runs Bluetooth 5.2 with a 10-meter range, uses touch controls for media, and packs a 6mm dynamic driver tuned in-house, with a 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz frequency range. The headline number for most people is battery: roughly 11.5 hours of average life per charge, and up to 18 hours total when you count the charging case. A full charge takes about 1.5 hours, and charging works over USB-C or wirelessly.
For sweat, the rating is IP54. Read that carefully — it means dust protection plus resistance to water splashes, which is genuinely fine for the treadmill, the weight room, a sweaty commute, or getting caught in light rain. It is not a swimming rating. If you're doing laps, this is the wrong tool. Xiaomi also builds in a low-latency mode aimed at gaming, which helps when audio and video need to line up, and there's a noise-reduction algorithm for calls that works to pull your voice out of background noise.
Buy it if: you want a light in-ear pair for the gym, running on dry ground, gaming, and taking calls, and you'd rather have a compact case than a separate player. Skip it if: you swim, or if you want to train without your phone nearby — there's no onboard storage here.
This is a different animal entirely. The esonstyle set is a bone conduction design — it sits open-ear and sends sound through your cheekbones, so your ear canals stay clear. That matters for two reasons: no pressure or discomfort from jamming tips in your ears, and you keep hearing traffic, other swimmers, or your surroundings while you train. The frame is titanium, weighs 28g, and the package includes an adjustable strap and earplugs.
The IP68 rating is the whole point. It's built to be fully submersible — up to 3 meters for 60+ minutes — so swimming, surfing, kayaking and heavy rain are all in scope. The 8GB built-in MP3 player holds a large library of tracks, which is what makes phone-free lap swimming realistic. Battery is rated at 8 hours, with a 2-hour charge time.
Now the catch, and it's a big one: Bluetooth does not work underwater. Water interferes with the signal, so the manufacturer's own instruction is to double-click the MFB button to switch between Bluetooth and MP3 mode, and to use MP3 mode while swimming. That means you have to load your own audio files onto the headset first, via the magnetic charging cable and a computer. If you don't want to manage files, this is not the product for you. Controls are physical push buttons rather than touch, which is actually a plus with wet hands, and there's a shuffle mode available in MP3 playback.
Buy it if: you swim laps, paddle, or train in heavy rain and want music without your phone. Skip it if: you mostly want wireless streaming, calls on the go, or you'd rather not deal with transferring MP3s.
• Best for swimming → esonstyle Swimming Headphones Underwater. IP68 and 3-meter submersion versus IP54 splash resistance. This one isn't close.
• Best for general gym and running → XIAOMI Earbuds Redmi Buds. Bluetooth 5.2 with a 10-meter range, touch controls, and a compact case that's easier to carry than an open-ear frame.
• Best battery life → XIAOMI Earbuds Redmi Buds. Up to 18 hours total with the case, versus 8 hours on a single charge for the esonstyle.
• Best for phone-free workouts → esonstyle Swimming Headphones Underwater. 8GB of built-in storage means no phone, no streaming, no signal issues in the water.
• Best for calls → XIAOMI Earbuds Redmi Buds. It has a built-in mic with a noise-reduction algorithm for voice; the esonstyle has a mic too, but only in Bluetooth mode, which you can't use underwater.
• Best for awareness of surroundings → esonstyle Swimming Headphones Underwater. Open-ear bone conduction keeps your canals clear; the Redmi Buds are in-ear and seal you off.
• Best for gaming and video sync → XIAOMI Earbuds Redmi Buds. Low-latency mode is designed exactly for that.
• Best for durability in wet, rough use → esonstyle Swimming Headphones Underwater. Titanium frame, 28g, sweatproof and shatterproof construction, with a 2-year warranty stated by the brand.
If I had to pick one, I'd pick based on where you sweat. For a pool, lake or surf session, I'd buy the esonstyle Swimming Headphones Underwater — IP68 submersion plus an 8GB player is the only combination here that actually solves the problem, and I'm willing to accept the MP3 file management in exchange. For everything else — the gym, the pavement, calls, gaming — I'd buy the XIAOMI Earbuds Redmi Buds, because Bluetooth streaming, a case, and 18 hours of total battery are simply more useful day to day, and IP54 handles ordinary sweat and splashes. Two different jobs, two different answers.
FAQ
what are sports earbuds
how to connect sports earbuds
Both of these pair over Bluetooth — 5.2 on the XIAOMI, 6.0 on the esonstyle — and both list a wireless range (10 meters and 15 meters respectively). For the esonstyle, note that pairing is only half the story: underwater you must switch to MP3 mode by double-clicking the MFB button, because Bluetooth won't hold a signal through water.
how to use sports earbuds
Use them the way the design intends. The XIAOMI buds use touch controls for media and are meant for dry-land training, commuting and calls. The esonstyle set uses physical buttons, and for swimming you load MP3 files onto its 8GB memory via the magnetic cable, then play from storage with your phone left behind. Shuffle is available in MP3 mode.
how to wear sports earbuds
The XIAOMI buds are in-ear with a stem, so they rest in the canal. The esonstyle is open-ear bone conduction — it sits outside the ear and transmits through your cheekbones, with an adjustable strap included for a secure fit during sprints or flip turns. Open-ear means you keep hearing what's around you.
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: Yunsailing 20 vs Symphonized Wooden Airtube Headphones, Sony MDR-ZX110 vs JBL Junior 320: Headphones for Small Heads, ROPASOMIC Bone Conduction Headphones vs Steellumen Nova1Star, LG Electronics Tone Infinim vs HomeSpot Work Headphones