Tested Philips Bone Conduction Bluetooth Headphones

Jiving bone for crispness

Looking for some sporty buds that won’t cut you off from the world? We’re getting good vibes from these bone-conduction jobs…

Jewel-ear There’s no button to control the built-in lights; you have to use the app for that. It’s also where you pick your listening profile. Instead of piping music directly into your ears and blocking out the outside world, these ’phones sit just in front of your lugs on your temples, sending vibrations through your cheekbones. That means there’s less chance of being surprised by an oncoming bus.

The relatively slimline neckband design has been slapped with an IP67 water/dust-resistance rating, so they’re built to survive being drenched in sweat and, unlike the wearer, won’t complain if you get caught out in a sudden downpour. You can even keep them on for your post-run shower.

Philips has included LED lights to give you a visibility boost. They can be set to blink slowly or quickly, or stay constantly illuminated. It’s not the kind of light that’s going to dazzle other pedestrians, but it will help to make sure you’re seen a bit better when out after dark.

Bone-conduction headphones tend to emphasise clarity and detail but disappoint a little in the bass department. However, these have a Bass listening profile that boosts the bottom end to give you a bigger, heavier sound that fills your ears more effectively but still allows you to be aware of your surroundings.

Opting for Bass mode does seem to have an impact on battery life. Philips reckons they’ll last 9hrs before they need recharging, but an hour of running knocked about 20% off, which suggests more like 5hrs. Enable the lights and that’ll drain them even faster.

On the reach

The neckband gets a little thicker behind the ears to make room for some physical controls. You can tweak the volume or skip tracks, plus there’s a multi-function button that lets you play and pause audio or respond to calls. £130 / stuff.tv/PhilipsBone

The road to swell

The controls generally work well on the move, though the volume buttons are maybe a bit too close together. Holding them down for two seconds skips tracks, which can mean accidentally cranking the volume in the process. Techspecs

Connectivity Bluetooth 5.2, USB-C charging Water-resistance IP67 Battery life 9hrs Weight 35g

STUFF SAYS Fill your ears with sound – without actually filling your ears

Still a bit wary of bone-conduction ’phones? You’ve nothing to fear… Michael Sawh

All bone-conduction headphones require a sacrifice when it comes to sound quality, but Philips has produced a pair that sound fuller, warmer and more rewarding than the rest. You just have to forfeit a bit of battery life instead. Still, they should be good for a solid week of training – and if you like the idea of an extra bit of visibility when you’re running outside, the built-in lights are a nice touch as well.