Updated September 11, 2024.
While swimming is the most worthwhile, rewarding sport to get into — at some point, paddling back and forth as fast as you can gets a little boring — unless you have something to keep your mind as busy as your muscles. Luckily, we’ve got just the worthwhile investment every swimmer needs to transform time in the pool from laps of drudgery to glorious “me time” gliding through the water listening to your favorite songs or audiobooks — waterproof MP3 players.
Think about it: everyone else at the gym gets to enjoy the luxuries of audio entertainment, so why shouldn’t swimmers?
Regardless of what you listen to, waterproof music players are a game-changer for keeping your mind and motivation at an all-time high. The extra lap becomes reachable, the impossible becomes possible, or sometimes you just want another five minutes to finish up the really interesting part of the podcast.
Luckily, we’ve transcended the challenge of transmitting clear-cut sound quality through a giant body of water by creating waterproof MP3 players. Hooray! There’s only one problem: most of your options are shoddily made, not fully waterproof, or have a whole plethora of other problems. Don’t worry! We took the liberty of sorting and ranking them out for you.
Our 2024 Top 9 Best Waterproof MP3 Players for Swimmers
- Underwater Audio Delphin 2.0 Waterproof Audio Player
- Swimbuds Bone Conduction 2
- Waterproof SYRYN 2 Bundle for Swimming
- Tayogo Waterproof Mp3 Player (2nd Generation)
- Sewobye Waterproof MP3 Player for Swimming
- Swimbuds Bone Conduction for Swimming
- H2O Audio Stream 3 PRO and Surge S+ Earbuds
- Pyle Waterproof MP3 Player
- AGPTEK IPX8 Waterproof in-Ear Earphones
16 Other Waterproof MP3 Players to Consider
Underwater Audio Delphin 2.0 Waterproof Audio Player
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Audio technology designed with swimmers in mind.
The Underwater Audio Delphin 2.0 Waterproof Audio Player is a state-of-the-art music player with all the bells and whistles. Not only is it compatible with most music and audio apps, like Spotify and Apple Music — it’s also the only waterproof MP3 player that has apps for Audible, Libby, and Amazon Music. On top of that, there are many extra built-in features such counting your laps and audibly reminding you of your most recent lap count and times. The best part? One charge will last 12 hours. Most swimmers report they use the Delphin for 3-8 swims before needing another charge.
Nervous about learning to navigate the screen? Not to worry — the Delphin 2.0 has a keyboard designed specifically for its small screen to enable users to type in their usernames and passwords. You’ll be right at home with all your favorite music and audiobooks before you know it! If you’re looking for the best in swimming audio technology, the Delphin 2.0 is your one-stop shop.
It’s also durable, designed with shock-proof manufacturing and includes a 1-year warranty with free replacements. While many devices only include one set of earbuds that either fit your ears or don’t, the Delphin 2.0 arrives bundled with Swimbuds Sport that include 11 different sizes and shapes of earbuds to ensure a comfortable, watertight seal. Alternately, swimmers can choose the Delphin 2.0 bundle that includes Swimbuds Bone Conduction 2. With Bone Conduction technology, swimmers simply rest the headphones on their temples and the sound transmits through their cheekbones instead of their ears.
Some devices rely on streaming audio from FM Radio or Bluetooth phone connections, which can suffer from static noise, distortion or lost signal — especially underwater where the signal can barely penetrate. That’s not a problem for the Delphin 2.0 since the audio is stored on the device resulting in ZERO interruptions. No static noise, and no lag. With 8-to-32 GB of storage options available, the Delphin 2.0 is among top of the class for storage capacity. That’s more than 2,000 to 8,000 songs!
Retail Price: $ 220.00 USD
Swimbuds Bone Conduction 2 for Swimming
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One of the most common complaints about waterproof headphones observed over decades has finally resolved with Bone Conduction technology. While earbuds work well for most swimmers to create a watertight fit, everyone's ears have different shapes. While many different earbud shapes and styles can help a user find the fit that work for them, ultimately, not everyone's ears can find a watertight fit for swimming with earbuds.
While Bone Conduction technology has taken a long time to mature, Swimbuds Bone Conduction 2 have cracked the glass ceiling. While the physics of the method for bone technology to transmit sound prevent the audio quality from approaching the level of earbud headphones, Swimbuds Bone Conduction 2 have come devilishly close. For a typical user, they won't notice a difference between listening to these headphones and in-ear earbuds.
Bone technology reverberates the swimmer's cheekbones to transmit audio instead of using tiny speakers to transmit sound through the ear canal. Due to this revolutionary method of sound reproduction, users don't need a watertight seal between their earbuds and their ears to maintain excellent audio quality while they swim.
Swimbuds Bone Conduction 2 do include earplugs for users to wear. While swimming, users block sound completely when they enter the water. Then, when they raise their ears above the water, their ears receive a barrage of sound from kids splashing, whistles blowing, and even stereos playing music. Earplugs block out sound whether the swimmer's ears rise above the water level or not. We recommend wearing earplugs while swimming with Swimbuds Bone Conduction 2 to maintain the best sound quality and consistency of volume possible.
Let me shatter the reasonable assumption many first-time users have about Bluetooth and water. It doesn't work. Bluetooth travels at a high frequency and only transmits a few inches through the water. This revelation certainly causes many people heartache, but there is a fantastic caveat to this fact of physics. The Delphin 2.0 and Swimbuds Bone Conduction 2 maintain a perfect connection while you swim because they rest within a few inches of each other on the back of the swimmer's head.
While an excellent option all by itself to listen to MP3 files while swimming and connecting to your phone on land, the Swimbuds Bone Conduction 2 really open up new possibilities when paired with a Delphin 2.0.
Retail Price: $ 139.99 USD
Waterproof SYRYN 2 Bundle for Swimming
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Want a simpler music management experience and own your own MP3 files? Underwater Audio’s Waterproof SYRYN 2 MP3 player is a highly recommended option for a reason.
Many swimmers struggle with the technology part of managing an audio player and often need additional help from the manufacturer to navigate the program they need to set up their music library. This audio player is known, however, for having an easy “drag and drop” approach to loading music. Simply just plug it into your computer using a USB cable, drag what you want into the folder, and you’re good to go.
It comes with earbuds designed to completely block out water, or regular sports buds in case you want to take them to the track. The waterproof headphones are crafted to work with the pressure seal of water, and the bass comes alive underwater! While water pressure can cause other headphones to sound tinny, the sound from these headphones has patent protected technology to produce excellent sound quality underwater.
It comes with a rotatable goggle clip, making the SYRYN 2 easy to attach and go. It’s lightweight, durable and easy-to-use.
Retail Price: $ 79.99 USD
Tayogo Waterproof Mp3 Player (2nd Generation)
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If you’re looking for affordable underwater tunes and more wearability options, the Tayogo Waterproof MP3 player is a good choice.
This audio device is known for its unique, comfortable shape and silicone feel, making it much easier to rely on when you’re bobbing in and out of the water. You can wear it either behind your neck or behind your head, but rest assured, your music won’t interfere with your swim cap or goggles. Tired of the usual music rotation? There are three play options: shuffle, order, and single.
Don’t wanna go through the trouble of building a music library? The Tayogo Waterproof MP3 player does not have another option. You'll have to look at other options if you want Spotify, Audible, Libby, Apple Music, or other apps while you swim.
With just 1.5 hours of charging, the Tayogo Waterproof MP3 player holds 20 hours of battery life, which should last a few days at the pool! If you’re new to exporting and building a music library, it even comes with a detailed instruction manual to guide you through the process.
Retail Price: $ 59.99 USD
Sewobye Waterproof MP3 Player for Swimming
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If you’re looking for a device that’s built for swimmers with a lower price point and simpler functionality, Sewobye’s Waterproof MP3 Player for Swimming is also a great pick.
Out of all the other waterproof MP3 players on this list, this is the one with the most compatibility to other audio formats. It can play just about any of them: MP3, WMA, APE, FLAC, WAV, AAC-LC, and ACELP. If you’re not into keeping your music around your neck, the MP3 player comes with a built-in clip, making it super simple to attach to your goggles or swim cap as well. One of the more unique features is the raised buttons: we all know the pain of trying to handle technology with wet fingers, after all.
Many users report that, even underwater, this MP3 player has powerful audio quality. “This is the only swimming MP3 player I have ever had to turn down the volume on, which is impressive,” raved one user.
Retail Price: $ 59.99 USD
Swimbuds Bone Conduction for Swimming
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Wanna skip the hassle of trying to find the perfect air-tight earbuds? Look no further than Underwater Audio’s Swimbuds Bone Conduction for Swimming.
Instead of projecting audio through an earpiece like a typical MP3 player, the Swimbuds Bone Conduction directly transmits all your favorite music through your cheekbones. Don’t be fooled — the sound quality is just as clear as a typical headset and is designed to rest comfortably on your cheek. Great for those who don’t want anything in their ear, or don’t want to block out the sounds around them. With 8GB of storage, it holds up to 2,000 songs.
This unique underwater MP3 player is compatible with iTunes files, perfect for anyone who already owns a diverse audio collection like audiobooks and podcasts. In comparison to other bone conduction audio devices, this model is known for its impressive bass, storage, and battery life.
Retail Price: $ 99.99 USD
H2O Audio Stream 3 PRO and Surge S+ Earbuds
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Another option for an underwater MP3 player that can play your favorite music through every stroke. For its claims about playing Spotify while swimming, we wanted to make sure to explain the technology fully. The H20 Audio Stream 3 PRO records audio from Spotify and stores it as MP3 files on your device. Think of recording songs from the radio using a cassette tape back in the 80's. H2O Audio has streamlined the process and enables users to play music on Spotify or other apps and record the audio onto MP3 files. We don't know about the copyright or Spotify terms and conditions surrounding this technology, but that's how it works.
Also keep in mind, Bluetooth streaming audio will cut out when the device is submerged underwater because the signal is disrupted by water.
The biggest selling point for many swimmers is the ability to listen to Spotify playlists while they’re in the pool. However, the listening experience for this MP3 player — from the way you listen to what you’re listening to — is far more customizable than what music you choose. Between the short-corded earbuds or the bone-conduction audio option, you’ll get to choose the headphones that work best for you. The device can also store a diverse collection of audio formats: M4A, MP3, WMA, FLAC, and APE.
Retail Price: $ 159.99 USD
Pyle Waterproof MP3 Player
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If you don’t mind a modest memory capacity, the Pyle Waterproof MP3 Player packs quite the punch.
Many other swimmers who have purchased this MP3 player can agree on one thing, and that’s the audio quality. It’s truly impressive, delivering a clear and immersive audio experience that leaves so many satisfied and immersed. If you feel like mixing up your usual playlist order, it comes with a reliably random “shuffle” function, but that’s about as complicated as it gets; you don’t have to be a tech expert to get around. Don’t worry about struggling with the buttons, either; it’s designed with touch controls. We all know what a pain poking at anything with wet fingers can be.
If audio quality, a comfortable fit, and ease of use are important to you, this is certainly not a bad pick!
Retail Price: $ 51.91 USD
AGPTEK IPX8 Waterproof in-Ear Earphones
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You’re looking for a simple-as-they-come option for your next, or first, underwater MP3 player, right? Although you’ll find many options on this list, if you want something dependable and affordable that just gets the job done, the AGPTEK IPX8 Waterproof MP3 player is one option.
Despite its tiny size, it still holds 8 GB of storage space. Its most unique feature is the swivel clip, designed to move with the water rather than against it if the tide gets rough, or you accidentally smack it with your arms (don’t worry, it happens). If sound quality isn’t a dealbreaker and you need something affordable, this waterproof mp3 player is a solid, dependable choice.
Retail Price: $ 45.99 USD
16 Other Waterproof MP3 Players to Consider
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H2O Audio Stream 3 and Surge S+ Earbuds - Waterproof MP3 Player for Swimming |
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$89.99 USD |
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$99.99 USD |
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$69.97 USD |
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$26.96 USD |
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$320.00 USD |
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$79.99 USD |
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$47.15 USD |
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FINIS Duo Underwater Music MP3 Player with Bone Conduction Audio |
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$109.18 USD |
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$59.71 USD |
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$43.99 USD |
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Tayogo IPX8 8GB Underwater Music Headsets for Sports (4 Pairs Earplugs) |
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$43.99 USD |
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$149.95 USD |
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$69.99 USD |
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$35.95 USD |
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$79.99 USD |
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$75.99 USD |
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The Bottom Line
From the poolside workouts, lap practice, therapy, or even some fun in the sun, these aquatic music companions are a game changer for keeping your concentration crystal clear. Whether you're looking for an afternoon of floating around on your back, or a high-intensity practice session, waterproof MP3 players have something to offer for everyone. Whether you're looking for top-notch sound quality, shockproof durability, ease of use, or advanced features, these waterproof players are guaranteed to make you smile.
We hope you’ve found your future poolside staple among our recommendations here. Grab your goggles, strap on your audio controls, queue up your favorite tunes, and dive right in! Let go of your tension and have fun swimming and grooving to the beat of your underwater playlist!
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