SANOTO S710

The SANOTO S710 is a budget swim headphone with IPX8 waterproofing and 8GB of internal storage for MP3 playback. Sound is average, battery life is weak, and the mic is bad, but it works well for swimming laps. At $60, it's a solid niche buy for pool rats.

The S710's party trick is the 8GB internal storage, which holds roughly 1500 lossless tracks and supports MP3, FLAC, WMA, WAV, and APE. That's the mode you'll actually use in the pool, and it works. Sound quality is middle of the pack for this category, nothing that'll impress an audiophile but clear enough for laps. The 360° closed sound cavity and anti-leak acoustics do help keep things focused underwater. Battery life is a weak spot though, 8 hours in Bluetooth mode and up to 12 in MP3 mode, which lands it near the bottom of our database. ANC exists but sits at 74th percentile, so it's fine, not fantastic. The mic is rough, 11th percentile, so don't plan on taking calls from the hot tub.

Stacked against the JLab JBuds Pods ANC or Sony WF-C710N, the S710 loses on sound quality, battery, and mic performance. The Sony and JLab are better all-around earbuds, but neither is built for swimming. The Technics EAH-AZ80 and Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro are in a different league for audio, but they'd die in the pool. The Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Gen has better ANC and sound, but again, not waterproof for swimming. The S710's only real competition in this niche is other dedicated swim headphones, and at this price, it holds its own.

At $60 USD, the S710 is a budget play for swimmers who don't want to shell out for premium waterproof audio. You're getting a functional MP3 player, decent waterproofing, and a comfortable fit for less than a nice dinner. The trade-off is battery life and mic quality, both of which are mediocre. If you swim regularly and just want podcasts or music without your phone, this is a reasonable buy. If you're expecting AirPods Pro sound or battery, you'll be disappointed.

The SANOTO S710 is a niche product that knows exactly what it is: a cheap way to get music in your ears while you swim. It's an in-ear bone conduction hybrid with IPX8 waterproofing, an 8GB MP3 player built in, and Bluetooth 5.4 for when you're on dry land. At around $60 USD, it's not trying to compete with your AirPods, and that's fine.

The pitch is simple. Load up some FLAC files, switch to MP3 mode, and swim laps without your phone. Bluetooth won't work underwater, and SANOTO is upfront about that. The real question is whether the sound and build hold up when wet, and the answer is mostly yes, with a few soggy caveats.

Skip the S710 if you need earbuds for daily use, calls, or commuting. The mic is bad, battery life is short, and the sound quality is just average. If you want one pair of earbuds for everything, get the Sony WF-C710N or AirPods Pro instead. This is a pool-only device.

Buy the SANOTO S710 if you swim laps regularly and want a cheap, reliable way to listen to music or audiobooks without your phone. The MP3 mode is the star here, and it works well enough. Skip it if you need great battery life, clear calls, or premium sound. This is a single-purpose tool, and for that purpose, it's decent.