Lenovo TC3401: New, open headphones with long battery life and IPX5

Lenovo is now offering new, completely wireless headphones in a rather unusual design. The TWS TC3401 are headphones that are not inserted directly into the ear, just like in-ear headphones, but are instead open headphones. This means that the membrane that produces the sound is located outside the ears.

These headphones are different to traditional in-ear headphones in terms of wearing comfort, as open headphones can be less restrictive. At the same time, however, the headphones do not have the usual rubber support in the ear canal and thus have to be held in place with a headband on the outer ear. Such positioning can provide a much better hold during sports, for example, even when sweating heavily.

Furthermore, the open design means that the environment can still be easily heard. When jogging in urban areas, for example, this is a safety aspect that should not be underestimated. The Lenovo TC3401 comes with a microphone system with several individual microphones, which can suppress annoying background noise during phone calls. Lenovo specifies the running time as up to 10 hours; with intermediate charging in the charging case, this can be extended to up to an impressive 30 hours. Charging is via USB Type C.

IPX5 certification is on board for protection against dust, water or sweat. In China, the headphones are available for the equivalent of around $40; information on a global launch is not yet available. Lenovo headphones tend to be relatively easy to purchase directly and unofficially as an import.

A possible alternative: Buy the BlitzMax Open Ear headphones at Amazon