The 9 Best Waterproof Earbuds in 2024

First, allow us to discuss briefly about some somewhat technical, albeit very important, audio specs. Waterproof headphones, like waterproof audio system, have IP scores that point out what sort of contact with water the {hardware} can deal with. These are formatted as “IPXX,” and the second X is the necessary one: It signifies precisely how waterproof a pair of headphones is on a scale of zero to eight. The nearer to eight, the higher for swimmers and sweaters.

Subsequent, we’ll get into the nitty-gritty of the second X with some examples. A pair of IPX7 headphones may be submerged in as much as one meter of water for thirty minutes, whereas a set of IPX8 headphones can transcend a meter for longer. The producer will normally make clear when you can take it into saltwater. However a pair of earbuds rated IPX4, for instance, is immune to splashes of water and sweat solely—no submersion. The primary X charges how properly the headphones shield in opposition to particles like sand and dirt, on a scale of zero to 6. (If an IP score has an X as a substitute of a quantity in it, like IPX4, meaning it has not been formally examined for mud safety.)

As soon as a pair of headphones is waterproof to the extent your exercise calls for, take into account whether or not you’d like them to function inside MP3 storage for underwater stuff or wi-fi connectivity for above-ground actions. When you’re a swimmer, you’ll want inside MP3 storage for listening to music below the floor; Bluetooth gained’t transmit in water, so that you gained’t have the ability to hear your Spotify playlist out of your smartphone. It’s old-school however efficient.

Lastly, a 3rd kind of waterproof headphones has an open-ear design and broadcasts audio by means of bone conduction, which accurately means blasting music by means of your cranium. Cool! You set them up round your cheekbones, and the sound will vibrate alongside your bones to be picked up by your ear organs. It may appear scary, however it’s truly somewhat neat for many who detest in-ear discomfort whereas underwater.