Naenka has recently launched a refresh of their headphones offerings, with the Runner Neo bone conduction headphones the most budget-friendly of their high performance offerings. Retailing at $109.99 (or 15% lower with my promo code NOELLE), the Runner Neo still packs a punch with great sound, sweatproof and lightweight construction, and long-lasting battery life.
Watch my vlog review below, or scroll down to read more about the Naenka Runner Neo.
Some technical specs for the Naenka Runner Neo bone conduction headphones:
- available in green, gray, and red colorways
- weight: 30g
- full charge in 2 hours
- wireless charging
- 10 hours playback
- IP66 waterproof (sweat-proof, moisture-proof, dust-proof)
- Bluetooth 5.2
I decided to do my review of the Runner Neo in comparison to the Runner Diver.
30g vs 35g
Five grams of weight doesn’t look like much on paper, but it’s a noticeable difference when you’re wearing bone conduction headphones across your head and over your ears. I found the Runner Neo sleeker and more unobtrusive over long workout periods, versus the Runner Diver which fatigued my ears just a little more.
Bluetooth 5.2 vs Bluetooth 5.3
I didn’t really notice a difference here when it came to Bluetooth reception, but this is certainly a difference.
10 hours battery life vs 10 hours battery life
Their battery life is on par with each other on paper, although I found the Runner Neo ran down its battery faster than the Runner Diver. It might have been because I was streaming over Bluetooth with the Runner Neo, whereas with the Runner Diver I used its onboard music storage more.
no onboard music storage vs with onboard music storage
Perhaps the weight difference between the two is because the Runner Diver needed to have flash storage so you could listen to music while swimming (Bluetooth signal drops when underwater). The Runner Neo relies completely on your smartphone or smartwatch to transmit music to it via Bluetooth.
sweatproof vs swimproof
The Runner Neo is suited to activities on land, while the Runner Diver is definitely built to be in water.
wireless charging vs wired charging
The Runner Neo doesn’t have metal pins you need to make contact with so you can charge it, although as with all wireless chargers some heat is generated while charging. However, the Runner Diver uses its charging cable as a data transfer cable as well.
more flexible neckband vs sturdier neckband
The Runner Neo felt just a bit more comfortable because aside from being lighter, it also was more flexible so when you moved your head around or lay down on your back while wearing it, there was more give in the material. The Runner Diver is a bit sturdier through the neckband, so when you lay down while wearing it, it caused the headphone to change alignment or come off where it was resting on your temples.
$109.99 vs $139.99
With a 30-dollar price difference, the Runner Neo is easier on the pocket than the Runner Diver, and if you really don’t need to listen to tunes while swimming it’s definitely the more logical choice.
You can buy the Naenka Runner Neo and get an additional 15% off with my promo code NOELLE. Get free worldwide shipping and optional express shipping to the US and UK.
