[2023]7 Bone Conduction Headphones Popular List [All-round Comparison]
Bone conduction headphones use bone vibrations instead of the eardrum vibrations to transmit sound. Because it doesn’t block your ears, and it’s suitable for running or telecommuting use. However, they are available in a variety of wearing ways, such as Ear-hanging wear,Clip-ear wear, all-wireless, wired,etc.Moreover, there are products from multiple manufacturers such as Wissonly, AfterShokz, Philips, and BoCo on the market. This has led many people to be confused about which bone conduction headphone to choose.
This time, we’ll compare seven of the best-selling bone conduction headphones and decide which ones are best to buy.
This product review, we mainly focus on the following three points for comparison and verification.
Sound quality Comfort level Functionality
What do we verify?
We rounded up all 10 best-selling bone conduction headphones and thoroughly compared and validated them.
Verification① : Sound Quality
First, we evaluated the “sound quality” of bone conduction headphones. There are various factors that constitute the sound quality, so we summarize the essential factors to judge the quality of bone conduction earphones into six categories: treble, alto, bass, stereo effect, power and resolution. Evaluate on a 5-point scale.
Player devices, player tools, and demo songs for verification are as follows:
To evaluate the sound quality of bone conduction headphones from multiple angles, we selected four different types of songs that had all the elements needed for comparison and verification.
Playback device: iPhone 8 / iPhone XS
Playback tool: Spotify/YouTube
Demo song:
Kenshi Yonezu-Lemon
Utada Hikaru — You
Diana Krall — California Dreamin’ < Jazz, melodious songs and instrumental harmony (Check natural tones without distortion) >
Vivaldi — Four Seasons < Classical, live instrument brilliance (Make sure you can hear the detailed tone of the instrument) >
Verification②: Comfort
We verified the comfort of bone conduction headphones. They were divided into two items, “lateral pressure” and “Fit” ,each assessed on a 5-point scale too.
Most bone conduction headphones create side pressure, and the fit around the ear and at the back of the head is also important, which can affect the comfort of wearing.
In this verification, we evaluated in terms of the actual use experience. We thoroughly tested whether it is uncomfortable to wear and whether it is stable even if the head moves up and down slightly on the premise of walking and jogging.
Verification③:Functionality
Finally, we evaluated the “functionality” of the bone conduction headphones.In terms of function, we mainly tested two items: “continuous playing time” and “charging time”. We compared the specifications in the instruction manual to the product information on the official website and verified which product was the best.
During the evaluation, we calculated the average value of the 7 kinds of products. The average continuous playback time was 6.5 hours and the average charging time was 1.8 hours.
** What are bone conduction headphones? Does it have Sound leakage?** Bone conduction headphones are headphones that transmit sound to the auditory nerve by vibrating the bone instead of the eardrum vibrating. You can enjoy music without blocking your ears, so you won’t get tired even if you use it for a long time.
However, due to their structure that doesn’t cover our ears, it is easy to have sound leakage, so it is difficult to expect perfect reproduction of precise sound quality. When it comes to sound quality, we must choose carefully, as long as you can hear the radio and other sounds clearly and still enjoy listening to music.
How to choose bone conduction earphones?
Here are six tips for choosing bone conduction headphones.
(1) Choose an easy-to-use headphones with a wireless connection
Bone conduction headphones have two types: One is that wirelessly connected via Bluetooth like regular headphones, the other is wired types that connect to the headphone jack for using. The advantages of wired connection type are that there is no need to pairing, no charging, and the sound is not prone to delay, but there are also problems such as the inconvenient use and cable ringing.
Bone conduction earphones are specially designed for sports, so it is suitable to use Bluetooth wireless connection during sports.When using it, you don’t have to worry about the cable tangling or touching your body. Although charging takes time, comparing the product parameters and price of wireless bone conduction, you will find that they are more cost-effective than wired headphones.
(2) Choose a more comfortable way to wear
Bone conduction headphones are usually ear-hanging style, which means the head is held in place by pinching it from the back of the head to either side of the ear. In addition, there are clip-ear bone conduction earphones, the comfort of wearing is a very important point to determine the usability of bone conduction earphones.
Ear-hanging wear is the most common way to wear bone conduction headphones. For the most part, bone conduction headphones use elastic and pliable materials and generally comfortable to wear. But we must pay attention to the intensity of “side pressure” when wearing. The stronger the side pressure of headphones, the larger the pressure on the temple , and led to the uncomfortable wearing
Another way to wear it is the ear-clip type, which is composed of two independent earphones on the left and right, which can be worn like earbuds.Its advantage is that it is not easy to feel side pressure when worn, while its disadvantage is that the wearing ear feels a bit heavy as if it is clamped, which makes it uncomfortable. And it lacks a sense of stability, which may be a bit inconvenient when accompanied by intense exercise.
There is also a way to wear, which is no need to connect, no delay, no need to charge the wired headphones, this way of wearing is the same way as the general wired headphones. The advantage is that it’s less sound leakage than other bone conduction headphones because it’s worn to cover your ears. On the other hand, since it is an inner ear case, some people may experience pain when wearing it.
When using, bone conduction headphones must be comfortable to wear, otherwise it is difficult to the continuous usage, not to mention sound quality. In this verification, we actually conducted a detailed evaluation of the comfort of wearing. Please refer to the verification results and choose the bone conduction earphone which is suitable for you.
(3) Choose headphones priced above $80. Cheap products have poor sound quality and are prone to have sound leakage.
It should be made clear that the quality of audio products such as earbuds, headphones and speakers depends largely on price, and the same goes for bone conduction headphones. The price is different, and the performance difference is also obvious.
when tested in practice, bone conduction headphones that cost more than $80 had high sound quality and almost no sound leakage. But cheap products which cost less than $60, basically have a strong sound leakage, like you wear a speaker near your ears.
If the sound leakage is large, it cannot be used on trains, buses, etc.,and the places where it can be used are limited. It is recommended to choose models with less sound leakage within the budget.
(4) If used outdoors, please pay attention to the waterproof level
If you plan to use a bone conduction headphone outdoors, such as when running, biking, or mountaineering, make sure it is waterproof. With this it can be easily used even when sweating, and it can avoid breakdowns even if it rains suddenly.
The waterproof performance is expressed by “IPX ○”, and the number in ○ indicates the waterproof protection level. If you choose IPX5 or higher, you don’t have to worry about breaking down even if you get wet with sweat or other droplets.
If you wish to be completely immersed in water, choose a full waterproof rating of IPX7 or higher. Even if submerged in water up to 1m deep, it can be protected from flooding for about 30 minutes.
(5) If used for online meetings or phone calls, please check whether there is a microphone
Bone conduction headphones are also suitable for online meetings and phone calls. If you have a headphone with a noise reduction microphone or a headphone with boom microphones extending to your mouth, you can cut out ambient noise and deliver a clearer sound to other person, this is better suited for online meetings.
(6) Consider the battery capacity
In the current bone conduction headphone market, the average of continuous playback time is about 6 hours. If you can use it for six hours straight, it would be enough whether you are going out or at home. Some models can be used continuously for more than 12 hours. It is recommended for people who have difficulty to charge or people who using for a long time.
However, the relationship between battery life and wear comfort is difficult to determine, and headphones with long continuous playback time tend to be too heavy to wear comfortably. So we should strike a balance between battery life and wear comfort.
7 Bone Conduction headphones Popular list
№1 :Wissonly Hi Runner Bone Conduction headphone Price: 99.99 USD
Overall score : 4.5 ★★★★✫
Sound quality 4.5 comfort 4.3 Functionality 4.8
Sound quality №1, comfort №1, powerful and cost-effective.
Wissonly bone conduction headphones adhere to technology leading products. The team consists of senior experts in bone conduction technology. They have accumulated more than 10 years of technology in the field of bone conduction, which makes Wissonly Hi Runner known as “the healthiest Bluetooth headphone” by many professionals.
In order to solve the problem of sound quality distortion of ordinary bone conduction headphones, Wissonly adopts the new generation of bone conduction technology, and invokes the world’s best acoustics laboratory to customize the exclusive sound quality output solution specifically for the unique bone conduction sound transmission mode. After 3051 hours and tens thousands times of tuning, 21 audiologists finally bring users the best sound in the field of bone conduction headphones.
As for the comfort, Wissonly Hi Runner has an ergonomic design that fits the ears well to ensure that it would not fall off during movement. Most importantly, it is very light and ensure that there is no sense of pressure or weight. Moreover, the surface of the headphone is made of skin-friendly silicone material, which makes it more comfortable to wear.
As for the product function, Wissonly Hi Runner is even more impeccable, with a Bluetooth 5.0 chip to ensure a stable connection without dropping calls, and 32g of built-in storage for 5,000 songs. Battery life is good too. You can play music for 10 hours at 50% volume. It is waterproof up to IPX8 and can be used while swimming.
№2:The earsopen PEACE TW-1 bone conduction headphones Price: 150 USD
Overall score :4.1 ★★★★✫
Sound quality 4.2 Comfort 4.2 Functionality 3.8
High resolution sound, unique way to wear
The “earsopen PEACE TW-1” is from Japanese bone conduction professional manufacturer BoCo, the manufacturer of the world’s first completely wireless bone conduction headphone. It is worn like an eardrop and transmits sound by vibrating cartilage.
As for the sound quality, the Bass and Treble are good, and the melody can be heard clearly, which can get a high score. The only disappointment was that the bass was a little bit weak, but it did a good job of actually playing the whispers and intonation of the song. It breaks down the sound of each instrument so that you can enjoy extremely high resolution sound.
As for the comfort of wearing it, I was impressed by the fact that it clips the ears and does not fall off even when shaking, and the fitting is very high. Although it is a clip-ear wearing mode, it is painless and extremely comfortable to wear for a long time. Of course, there are some people may feel tired when wearing for a long time, this may be individual differences.
As for the product function,, the battery offers less than five hours of playback time, which is not highly rated. But it does support fast charging, which can be fully charged in an hour and a half, this helps it get a high mark. This product can be described as a comfortable earphone that does not shock the eardrum and does not cause auditory or wear fatigue.
№3:Shokz OpenRun Pro Bone Conduction Headphones Price: 139 USD
Overall score :4.1 ★★★★✫
Sound quality 3.9 Comfort 4.2 Functionality 4.2
The continuous playing time is long and the versatility is attractive.
Founded in 2011, Shokz is the representative manufacturer of bone conduction headphones. “OpenRun Pro” is Shokz’s high-end model with stronger bass than traditional products.
Compard with Aeropex, Shokz sound quality is better with the bass and middle voice performing, and the songs have a sense of depth. Audio resolution is also the best in bone conduction headphones, even the most subtle sound can be heard too.
It fits well when wearing without pain or discomfort. Anyone from a 150cm tall woman to a 180cm tall man can wear it without problems. If it moves gently, it is less likely to slip or fall. But unfortunately, as the bass intensifies, the headphone body vibrates more.
It can be played continuously for 10 hours at normal volume, so it won’t have problems even if it is used all the time. It also supports fast charging, which takes just 1 hour to fully charge and 1.5 hours of playback after 5 minutes of charging. But it has no built-in storage and is not highly waterproof, which is its disadvantage. From a functional point of view, it’s not very cost-effective.
№4: Philips A6606 Bone Conduction Wireless earphone
Price: 95USD
Overall score :3.9 ★★★★✫
Sound quality 3.7 Comfort 4.2 functionality 3.9
Highly dustproof and waterproof, suitable for sports.
Philips was based in the Netherlands, which makes a wide range of appliances related to health care and hair styling. The Philips A6606 bone conduction earphone has titanium alloy ear-hanging strap and IP67 rated high dustproof and waterproof.
As for sound quality, it has enough volume in all ranges without problems like “I can’t hear the music or the radio doesn’t sound good”. It’s perfect for people who want to exercise and lift their mood at the same time. However, if listen carefully, the bass is a little light and the treble is a little flat, which is not suitable for quiet songs like classical music.
The well-made ear hangers and well-fitted temples are a product that can stay in place even during exercise. Its surface material is soft and flexible, so it can be worn without pain by a wide range of head types, and suitable for those who from a 150cm woman to a 180cm man.
It has nine hours of continuous playback and uses with a battery that lasts nearly a day while telecommuting and can be fully charged in two hours. It also has a night light designed for night running. But it has no built-in storage and only supports Bluetooth mode.
№5:haylou PurFree Bone Conduction Headphones Price: 119.99USD
Overall score :3.9 ★★★★✫
Sound quality3.8 Comfort4.0 Functionality3.8
The body is light and comfortable to wear. It can continuously play music for 8 hours .
The Haylou PurFree’s overall performance is good. It weighs 28g so that it is not having weight-bearing feeling and the soft surface of the headphone makes it comfortable to wear.
As for sound quality, it also configured the Directional audio Directional technology, which is a kind of product that can make sound focus, low frequency and dive deeper, so the rhythm of songs will be more better.
Battery is good enough to play music for 8 hours.
But the level of waterproof is not high enough and the lack of built-in storage may be a drawback.
№6 Naenka Runner Chic bone conduction Headphones
Price:29.99USD
Overall score :3.5 ★★★
Sound quality 3.5 Comfort 3.9 Functionality 3.3
A stylish design for entry level of bone conduction earphone
The sound quality is mediocre, the audio resolution is not high enough and the sound restoration is not so good too. But as a normal entry level bone conduction headphones, it is still good enough. After all, as the price is low , so we really don’t need to ask too much about the sound quality. People who is not so high demand for the sound quality requirements can choose this one.
Its design uses titanium alloy rear hanging body, the weight is very light, so that it won’t have the heavy feeling. And the ear hanging design is also very convenient to wear, so that we do not worry about falling.
The whole headphone adopts seamless design, and even the headphone is wrapped with silicone, which can greatly reduce sound leakage. Because of the design of magnetic charging, after using, we only need to put the magnetic head on the earphone buckle position.
№7: Vidonn F3 bone conduction Headphones
Price: 59.99USD
Overall score :3.5 ★★★
Sound quality 3.5 Comfort 3.8 Functionality 3.2
The headphones fit well, but the sound is soft and the balance is poor
Vidonn is a professional bone conduction headphone manufacturer based in China. The Vidonn F3 with a lightweight 25g design, it is also equipped with IP65-rated waterproof and dustproof.
As for the sound quality, the music sound is lack of elasticity and the sound feels slightly dull, so the sound quality evaluation is general. Because its bones vibrating in order that the listener to hear, so when you listening to the bass, it vibrates every time you play it, but the bass is weak and it lacks impact. In addition, when music and instruments mix the sound, the sound does not feel well balanced.
Comfortable enough to wear it, the side pressure isn’t too heavy, and it feels good in the hollow near my ears without any slippage.
As for the functionality, it can run for eight hours of continuous playing, which is above the average level, and it is reasonable for charging two hours.