If you want open-ear listening with up to 30 hours of combined playback for side sleepers, choose XKDUN Open Ear Headphones; if you need a flexible neckband with retractable in-ear tips and call alerts, choose Tyxmere 5.3. For most people comparing these two, XKDUN is the stronger fit when avoiding an ear-canal earpiece matters, while Tyxmere suits listeners who prefer earbuds they can tuck away between calls or songs.
XKDUN Open Ear Headphones vs Tyxmere 5.3 at a Glance
• Tyxmere 5.3: A flexible neckband keeps retractable in-ear tips attached and offers up to 20 hours of music time; the trade-off is that the tips do go into the ears, and its listed water resistance is IPX5 rather than XKDUN’s IPX6.
• Choose XKDUN if you want open-ear listening, ear hooks, and longer stated total playback with a charging case.
• Choose Tyxmere if you want a neckband, retractable tips, vibration call alerts, and a stated 20 hours of music time.
XKDUN’s defining feature is its open-ear, air-conduction design. Its hooked earpieces rest at the ears rather than entering the ear canals, so the design keeps the canals unobstructed while you listen. That can be useful for walks, workouts, and other situations where you would rather not have an in-ear tip sitting inside your ear. The ear hooks are described as soft and designed to help keep the headphones in place.
The listed 16.2 mm titanium-coated diaphragm and LDAC support give XKDUN a more specific audio pitch than a generic open-ear pair: it is built around directional audio and bass-focused playback. Bluetooth 5.3, touch controls, and microphones for calls round out the main features. The sheet states up to 8 hours of playback per charge, with up to 30 hours total when the charging case is included. Its case has an LED battery display, which is a practical way to check remaining charge without relying only on a phone.
I’d consider XKDUN if open ears are the priority, especially for walking, cycling, or exercise where awareness of nearby sounds matters. It is also the more natural starting point for someone searching for the best lightweight wireless headphones for side sleepers: its earpieces do not use in-ear tips, and the listed earpiece weight is 9.66 g. That specification alone does not establish how comfortable it will be against a pillow, though; the ear hooks still sit around the ears, so side-sleeping comfort will depend on how that shape meets your pillow. Skip it if you specifically want sound isolation from an in-ear fit, or if you prefer a neckband that keeps the two earbuds connected when not in use.
Tyxmere takes the neckband route. The flexible band rests around the neck, while the earbuds extend on retractable wires and fit inside the ears. When you remove the tips, they can be pulled back toward the band rather than left loose in a pocket. The product description says the retracting wires are designed for more than 5,000 retractions, and its listed weight is 1.5 oz. This setup makes sense for someone who alternates between listening and taking the earbuds out during a commute, workday, or workout.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-18 · 11 min read · Independent comparison
I’d look at Tyxmere if an in-ear fit is comfortable for you and you want a neckband that keeps the earbuds attached when they are out of your ears. The vibration alert is a concrete convenience if you often wear the band while moving and do not want to rely solely on hearing a ringtone. Its IPX5 sweat resistance is specified for exercise, but the sheet does not describe it as suitable for swimming or immersion. If you want an open-ear design, or the longest stated combined playback with a case, XKDUN is the clearer match.
• Best for keeping ear canals unobstructed → XKDUN Open Ear Headphones. Its earpieces sit at the ears rather than using in-ear tips, and its open design is intended to leave you aware of surrounding sounds.
• Best for a neckband and retractable earbuds → Tyxmere 5.3. The flexible band stays around your neck, and the wired tips retract when you take them out.
• Best stated total playback figure → XKDUN Open Ear Headphones. It lists up to 30 hours with the charging case, including up to 8 hours on a single charge.
• Best stated music time without a case in the figure → Tyxmere 5.3. Its listed music playback is up to 20 hours; compare that with XKDUN’s 8-hour single-charge figure, rather than its case-inclusive total.
• Best for call vibration alerts → Tyxmere 5.3. The neckband is described as vibrating when a call comes in.
• Best for a charging-case battery display → XKDUN Open Ear Headphones. Its case includes an LED display for remaining battery life.
• Best for a stated higher water-resistance rating → XKDUN Open Ear Headphones. It is rated IPX6, while Tyxmere is rated IPX5; neither sheet supports treating these as swimming headphones.
• Best fit for someone seeking the best rechargeable open ear earbuds for side sleepers → XKDUN Open Ear Headphones, with a caveat. It has the open-ear form and a charging case, but the available facts do not establish pillow comfort for either model.
I’d choose XKDUN Open Ear Headphones for the open-ear design, ear hooks, and up to 30 hours of playback with its case. Those features make it my pick for listeners who want to keep their ear canals clear and are comparing headphones for side sleepers, though the hook shape may still press against a pillow. Tyxmere 5.3 is the better alternative if you prefer in-ear tips attached to a neckband and value retractable earbuds and call vibration alerts.
XKDUN avoids in-ear tips, but its ear hooks still sit around the ears. Tyxmere has in-ear tips and a neckband. Neither product sheet specifies pillow comfort, so the design you find less intrusive is the key distinction.
XKDUN lists up to 8 hours per charge and up to 30 hours total with its charging case. Tyxmere lists up to 20 hours of music playback. The figures describe different setups, so distinguish single-charge use from case-inclusive total time.
Do either of these headphones block outside noise?
XKDUN’s open-ear design is intended to keep you aware of your surroundings rather than create an in-ear seal. Tyxmere uses in-ear tips and lists CVC 8.0 noise-cancellation technology for calls; the sheet does not establish that it provides active noise cancellation for music listening.
Both are described for exercise. XKDUN is rated IPX6, while Tyxmere is rated IPX5 sweatproof. Neither specification means the headphones should be soaked or used for swimming.
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If you want open-ear listening and a charging case for side sleepers, choose XKDUN Open Ear Headphones; if you need a flexible neckband with retractable in-ear tips and call alerts, choose Tyxmere 5.3. XKDUN is the better fit if keeping your ear canals unobstructed matters most. Tyxmere makes more sense if you prefer earbuds that stay attached to a neckband when you take them out.
• XKDUN Open Ear Headphones: Open-ear hooks and up to 30 hours of total playback with the case; the trade-off is that the open design does not give you an in-ear seal.
• Tyxmere 5.3: A flexible neckband, retractable in-ear tips, and up to 20 hours of music playback; the trade-off is that the tips sit inside your ears.
• Choose XKDUN for open-ear listening, awareness of your surroundings, and a charging case with a battery display.
• Choose Tyxmere for attached, retractable earbuds, a vibration alert for incoming calls, and a neckband style.
XKDUN’s main distinction is its open-ear, air-conduction design. The hooked earpieces sit at your ears rather than going into your ear canals. That can suit walks, workouts, and other situations where you want to hear some of the sounds around you while listening. The ear hooks are described as soft and designed to help keep the headphones in place.
For audio, XKDUN lists a 16.2 mm titanium-coated diaphragm and LDAC support. It also includes Bluetooth 5.3, touch controls, and microphones for calls. The stated playback is up to 8 hours on one charge, or up to 30 hours with the charging case. An LED display on the case shows remaining battery life.
I’d consider XKDUN if you want open-ear listening and don’t want an earbud tip inside your ear. It may appeal to someone looking for the best lightweight wireless headphones for side sleepers, but the listed earpiece weight of 9.66 g does not tell us whether the hooks will press against a pillow. Skip it if you want an in-ear fit or prefer a neckband that keeps the earbuds connected when you remove them.
Tyxmere uses a flexible neckband with earbuds attached by retractable wires. The band rests around your neck, and the in-ear tips can retract when you take them out. The product description says the wires are designed to retract more than 5,000 times. Its listed weight is 1.5 oz.
Tyxmere lists Bluetooth 5.3 and says it can connect to two Bluetooth devices at once. It also includes a microphone, CVC 8.0 noise-cancellation technology for calls, and vibration alerts for incoming calls. The stated music playback is up to 20 hours; the sheet separately lists up to 16 hours of talk time and around 1.5 hours for a full charge.
I’d choose Tyxmere if you find in-ear tips comfortable and want them attached to a neckband when not in use. The vibration alert could be handy if you wear the band while exercising or moving around. Tyxmere is rated IPX5 sweatproof; if you want an open-ear fit or a case-inclusive playback figure, XKDUN is the closer match.
• Best for unobstructed ear canals → XKDUN Open Ear Headphones. Its earpieces sit at the ears rather than using in-ear tips.
• Best for retractable earbuds on a neckband → Tyxmere 5.3. The tips remain attached and retract toward the band when removed.
• Best stated total playback with a case → XKDUN Open Ear Headphones. It lists up to 30 hours with the case, including up to 8 hours per charge.
• Best stated music playback without a case-inclusive total → Tyxmere 5.3. It lists up to 20 hours of music time, while XKDUN lists up to 8 hours per charge.
• Best for incoming-call vibration alerts → Tyxmere 5.3. Its neckband is described as vibrating when a call comes in.
• Best for checking remaining charge on the case → XKDUN Open Ear Headphones. Its charging case has an LED battery display.
• Best for the higher stated water-resistance rating → XKDUN Open Ear Headphones. It is rated IPX6, compared with Tyxmere’s IPX5 sweat resistance. Neither is described as suitable for swimming.
• Best for someone seeking the best rechargeable open ear earbuds for side sleepers → XKDUN Open Ear Headphones, with a caveat. Its fit is open-ear, but the available details don’t establish how either pair feels against a pillow.
I’d choose XKDUN Open Ear Headphones for its open-ear design, ear hooks, and up to 30 hours of playback with the case. For side sleepers, I prefer its lack of in-ear tips, but the hooks could still press against a pillow. Tyxmere 5.3 is the better fit if you specifically want a neckband, retractable earbuds, and call vibration alerts.
XKDUN avoids in-ear tips, but its hooks still sit around the ears. Tyxmere has in-ear tips and a neckband. Neither product’s specifications establish pillow comfort, so consider which design is less intrusive for you.
XKDUN lists up to 8 hours per charge and up to 30 hours with its charging case. Tyxmere lists up to 20 hours of music playback. Those figures describe different setups, so compare single-charge time separately from case-inclusive total time.
XKDUN’s open-ear design is intended to leave you aware of your surroundings, not seal off the ear. Tyxmere lists CVC 8.0 noise-cancellation technology for calls; its specifications do not establish active noise cancellation for music.
Both are described for exercise. XKDUN is rated IPX6, while Tyxmere is rated IPX5 sweatproof. Neither specification means the headphones should be soaked or used for swimming.
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