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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want an open-ear, bone-conduction earpiece that keeps your ears completely uncovered for outdoor workouts and all-day wear, choose Xmenha Open Ear Headphones; if you need a full-size over-ear headphone with big bass and marathon battery life for music and calls, choose TPVision/ Philips H5205.
• Xmenha Open Ear Headphones — biggest strength: A true open-ear bone-conduction design that transmits sound through the cheekbone, so your ear canal stays open and you keep full ambient awareness.
• Xmenha Open Ear Headphones — biggest trade-off: A single-earpiece, bone-conduction build with a 20Hz–20,000Hz range means less immersive stereo and less isolation than traditional headphones.
• TPVision/ Philips H5205 — biggest strength: Powerful 40mm dynamic drivers, a bass boost button, and up to 29 hours of playtime from a 2-hour charge.
• TPVision/ Philips H5205 — biggest trade-off: It's an over-ear headphone, so it covers your ears and blocks outside sound — the opposite of what open-ear buyers want.
• Buy Xmenha Open Ear Headphones if you run, cycle, or hike and want to hear traffic and surroundings while you listen.
• Buy TPVision/ Philips H5205 if you want a lightweight, foldable over-ear for music, calls, and long listening sessions at home or on the go.
The Xmenha Open Ear Headphones are built around one idea: leave the ear canal open. Instead of pushing a speaker into your ear, this earpiece uses bone-conduction technology to transmit audio through the cheekbone, so nothing ever plugs your ear. That's the whole point of the category — you hear your music or podcast and the world around you at the same time. For jogging, cycling, or hiking, that ambient awareness is the safest way to listen on the move.
The practical details support that mission. There's an adjustable soft rubber ear hook that fits different ear shapes, and the whole thing is designed to be worn for hours without discomfort. With IPX5 waterproofing, sweat and rain during a workout aren't a concern. Battery is generous for this format: up to 15 hours of continuous talk time, up to 10 hours of listening time, and up to 240 hours of standby, with a 2-hour charge and a 15-meter Bluetooth range. A built-in microphone handles calls clearly, and a real voice reminder reports headset status in real time. Multi-function buttons let you play/pause, answer or reject calls, and summon Siri or another voice assistant without touching your phone.
Who should skip it? If you want deep, room-filling bass, full stereo imaging, or strong noise isolation for a commute or a noisy office, this isn't the tool. It's a single bone-conduction earpiece — open by design, so it lets the world in. That's a feature for an outdoor athlete and a drawback for someone chasing immersion.
TPVision/ Philips H5205: Who It's For
The TPVision/ Philips H5205 is a classic over-ear wireless headphone, and it plays a completely different game. The headline is the sound hardware: 40mm dynamic drivers paired with a dedicated bass boost button for deeper low end on demand. If your priority is how music feels, this is the design that delivers it. The over-ear cups sit around your ears rather than on or in them, and the soft ear cups are clearly marked left and right and can be angled until they sit right.
Battery is the other standout. You get up to 29 hours of playtime from a 2-hour USB-C charge, and if you're caught short, a 15-minute boost adds another 4 hours. When the battery does run down, you can plug in with the detachable cable and keep listening. The cushioned headband is designed to be light enough that you barely notice it, which matters over a long session.
It's also genuinely portable. The design folds in two directions — flat for a drawer, or inward into a compact bundle that fits in a pocket or bag. Connectivity covers Bluetooth wireless plus a 3.5mm jack, and a detachable 3.5mm stereo cable and USB-C cable are both included. A built-in microphone handles calls, and a multifunction button wakes your voice assistant. It pairs as soon as you switch it on.
Who should buy it? Anyone who wants rich, bass-forward sound for music at home, in the office, or on a flight — and who values long battery life and a foldable, travel-friendly build. Who should skip it? If your reason for shopping is to keep your ears open to traffic and surroundings while you run or ride, the H5205 is the wrong shape. It's built to cover and isolate, not to stay open.
• Best for outdoor safety and awareness → Xmenha Open Ear Headphones. Bone conduction leaves your ears open so you hear traffic and surroundings.
• Best for bass and immersive music → TPVision/ Philips H5205. 40mm drivers plus a bass boost button are made for punchy low end.
• Best for long battery life → TPVision/ Philips H5205. Up to 29 hours of playtime from a 2-hour charge, with a 15-minute boost adding 4 hours.
• Best for workout sweat and rain → Xmenha Open Ear Headphones. IPX5 waterproofing is built for sweaty sessions.
• Best for hands-free calls on the move → Xmenha Open Ear Headphones. A built-in mic, voice reminders, and multi-function buttons keep you hands-free.
• Best for travel and storage → TPVision/ Philips H5205. It folds flat or inward into a compact bundle.
• Best for wired fallback → TPVision/ Philips H5205. A 3.5mm jack and detachable cable let you keep listening when the battery runs low.
• Best for people who dislike things in their ears → Xmenha Open Ear Headphones. Nothing ever plugs the ear canal.
If I had to pick just one, it comes down to where you'll use it. For running, cycling, hiking, or any situation where hearing your surroundings keeps you safe, I'd buy the Xmenha Open Ear Headphones — the bone-conduction, open-ear design and IPX5 build are exactly right for that job. If your listening happens at a desk, on a couch, or on a plane and you want big bass and marathon battery, I'd buy the TPVision/ Philips H5205. In my opinion, the H5205 is the better all-rounder for pure music, while the Xmenha is the better choice for active outdoor use. Match the design to your routine and you'll be happy either way.
how do non ear headphones work
Open-ear, or non-in-ear, headphones don't sit inside your ear canal. The Xmenha model uses bone conduction to send sound through the cheekbone to the inner ear, leaving your ears open so you still hear what's around you.
what are non in ear headphones called
They're usually called open-ear headphones or bone-conduction headphones. The Xmenha Open Ear Headphones fits this category, while the Philips H5205 is a traditional over-ear headphone that covers the ears instead of leaving them open.
what are the best open ear headphones
For outdoor sports, look for an open-ear design with waterproofing and long battery life. The Xmenha Open Ear Headphones combines bone conduction, IPX5 waterproofing, and up to 15 hours of talk time — a strong fit for runners, cyclists, and hikers.
how to wear in ear headphones
In-ear headphones sit inside the ear canal, while open-ear models rest outside it. The Xmenha uses an adjustable soft rubber ear hook that sits on your cheekbone, and the Philips H5205 is worn over the ears with the headband over your head.
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