We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-25 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a wired, retro-styled over-ear headphone with a lightweight metal build and a long cable that stays out of your way, choose zaoalife Retro Over-Ear Headphone; if you need a wireless open-ear earbud with earhooks, 48-hour total playtime and IPX6 sweat resistance for workouts and cycling, choose CHENRUIDA Open Ear Headphones.
• zaoalife Retro — biggest strength: A genuine over-ear design with soft, sound-isolating ear cushions, a wide ergonomic headband and a sturdy metal frame that fits large, medium or small heads.
• zaoalife Retro — biggest trade-off: It's fully wired, so you're tethered to a 3.5 mm source, and there's no Bluetooth, no charging case and no water-resistance rating.
• CHENRUIDA Open Ear — biggest strength: Bluetooth 5.4, 8 hours per charge and 48 hours total with the charging case, plus IPX6 water resistance and earhooks that stay put during intense movement.
• CHENRUIDA Open Ear — biggest trade-off: The open-ear design deliberately doesn't seal your ear canal, so it won't isolate you from noise the way a cushioned over-ear cup can.
• Who each is for: zaoalife is for the listener who wants an old-school look, a wired connection and a snug over-ear fit; CHENRUIDA is for the mover who wants open, aware listening with no cable at all.
The zaoalife Retro Over-Ear Headphone is a deliberately old-fashioned piece of gear. It's an over-ear headphone with a dynamic driver covering a 20Hz–20,000Hz frequency range, which is the standard full-range window for everyday music, podcasts and video. The ear placement is over-ear with proper over-ear cups, and the headband is wide and foam-cushioned for extra comfort. What stands out in the spec sheet is the metal enclosure material and the metal headband construction — that's a sturdier feel than the all-plastic build you often see at the budget end of wired headphones.
The ear cushions are described as soft and sound-isolating, which is the single most important feature here. Because the cups sit over your ears and seal against them, they block some ambient noise passively. If you work in a shared room, commute on a bus, or just want to hear your music without the rest of the house bleeding in, that physical seal is the whole point. The wide headband plus foam cushions is there to spread pressure across the top of your head instead of digging in at one spot — helpful during longer listening sessions.
The other practical detail is the extended cable. It's long enough to route through clothing and bags, so it won't snag or pull when you move around. There's also a remote control method, which means you can manage playback without reaching for your phone. Power comes over a standard 3.5 mm jack.
Who should buy it? Someone who wants a wired connection that never needs charging, a retro 80s/90s/Y2K look, and a real over-ear seal. It's also a natural fit for older media — the built-in media field lists Cassette, and the age range is listed at 15+, so it's clearly aimed at an adult listener with a nostalgic streak. It works with any device that has a 3.5 mm output.
Who should skip it? Anyone who wants wireless freedom, a charging case, or water resistance for sweaty workouts. There's no Bluetooth here, no IPX rating, and no battery to speak of. If you need to wear headphones in the rain or during a run, this isn't the one. At 0.05 kg it's genuinely light, and the color options listed are Black and Blue — but if cord-free is a hard requirement, stop here.
The CHENRUIDA Open Ear Headphones (model M115) are built around a completely different idea: keep your ears open so you stay aware of what's around you. The earbuds weigh 0.25 ounces each, and the open-ear shape sits outside the ear canal rather than plugging it. That does two things. First, it reduces the friction and pressure you get from shoving a tip into your ear, which is why the design is pitched for 8+ hours of continuous wear. Second, and more importantly, you can still hear traffic, teammates and announcements while your audio plays.
The numbers back up the endurance claim. Each charge gives 8 hours of playback, and the charging case stretches that to a total of 48 hours. The case itself refills in about 1.5 hours, and there's an LED display on the case showing its battery status — a small thing, but it means you're not guessing whether you've got juice before a ride. Connectivity is Bluetooth 5.4, which is the current generation and is listed for quick pairing and a stable connection, with a 15-meter range and compatibility with nearly all Bluetooth-enabled devices.
For exercise, the earhook design is the headline. The hooks keep the buds locked in place even during intense workouts, and the IPX6 rating means they shrug off sweat and rain. That combination — secure fit plus water resistance — is what makes them usable for running, cycling, commuting and daily wear. Touch controls handle calls and music with taps, including double-tap to answer or end a call, so you're not fumbling for your phone mid-stride.
Who should buy it? Runners, cyclists, gym-goers, commuters and anyone who hates the plugged-up feeling of in-ear buds. The Skin colorway keeps them low-profile, and the wireless charging case plus user manual round out the package, backed by a 1-year warranty description.
Who should skip it? Anyone who wants the sealed, noise-isolating experience of a cushioned over-ear cup. Environmental Noise Cancellation is listed for calls, but an open-ear bud physically cannot block out a loud room the way an over-ear seal can. If you're trying to drown out a noisy office, this is the wrong tool.
• Best for noise isolation → zaoalife Retro Over-Ear Headphone. The soft ear cushions seal over your ears and isolate sound passively; open-ear buds by design let the room in.
• Best for workouts and sweaty use → CHENRUIDA Open Ear Headphones. IPX6 water resistance plus earhooks that stay put during intense movement.
• Best for battery life → CHENRUIDA Open Ear Headphones. 8 hours per charge, 48 hours with the case, 1.5-hour recharge.
• Best for never charging → zaoalife Retro Over-Ear Headphone. Wired 3.5 mm audio means no battery to manage at all.
• Best for staying aware of traffic → CHENRUIDA Open Ear Headphones. The open design keeps your surroundings audible, which matters on a bike or a busy street.
• Best for a retro look and feel → zaoalife Retro Over-Ear Headphone. Metal build, wide ergonomic headband and a nostalgic 80s/90s/Y2K design language.
• Best for freedom of movement → CHENRUIDA Open Ear Headphones. Bluetooth 5.4 with a 15-meter range, no cable to snag on anything.
• Best for long listening sessions at a desk → zaoalife Retro Over-Ear Headphone. Foam-cushioned over-ear cups and an extended cable routed through clothing or a bag.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the CHENRUIDA Open Ear Headphones for most people. In my opinion, the combination of Bluetooth 5.4, 48 hours of total playtime, IPX6 water resistance and a secure earhook fit covers far more of everyday life — the gym, the commute, the bike, the run — than a wired headphone can, and the open design is genuinely safer outdoors. That said, the zaoalife Retro is the better call if your priority is passive noise isolation, a true over-ear seal, zero charging, and a retro metal build you'll enjoy wearing at a desk. Two very different jobs; pick the one that matches yours.
CHENRUIDA. It has IPX6 water resistance, earhooks for a secure fit, and no cable to swing around. The zaoalife Retro is wired with no water-resistance rating, so sweat and rain are a real problem.
Not much — that's the trade-off of the open-ear design. They list Environmental Noise Cancellation for calls, but because the buds don't seal your ear canal, you'll still hear your surroundings. That's a safety feature outdoors and a drawback in a loud office.
Only the CHENRUIDA has a battery: 8 hours per charge and 48 hours total with the charging case, which refills in 1.5 hours. The zaoalife Retro is wired over a 3.5 mm jack, so it never needs charging.
The zaoalife Retro Over-Ear Headphone. Its metal enclosure, wide ergonomic headband and 80s/90s/Y2K styling are the whole point, and it comes in Black or Blue. Just accept the cable and the lack of wireless.
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