Rythflo WH04 Review: a neckband workhorse with big battery and decent ANC

I’ve been using the Rythflo WH04 neckband headphones for a couple of weeks, mainly for work calls, podcasts, and some music on the train. I wasn’t looking for anything fancy, just something with long battery life, stable Bluetooth, and half-decent noise cancelling so I wouldn’t have to charge every day. On paper, these tick a lot of boxes: Bluetooth 5.3, multipoint, ANC, 60 hours of playtime, magnetic auto on/off. The spec sheet looks a bit like it’s trying to cover every buzzword in one go.

In real life, they’re a bit more down to earth. They’re solid for the price, but not magic. There are a couple of things they do really well, a few that are just okay, and some small annoyances you only notice after actually living with them. If you’re expecting premium Sony/Bose quality, you’ll be disappointed. If you just want a reliable everyday headset with long battery and don’t care about having the fanciest sound on the planet, then they start to make sense.

I used them mostly paired to a work laptop and an Android phone at the same time, with a mix of Teams/Zoom calls, Spotify, YouTube, and a few phone calls outside. I also tried them briefly on a plane and in a noisy café to see what the ANC really does. I swapped tips a few times because I have slightly uneven ears and wanted to see how stable they felt on walks and light exercise.

Overall, I’d describe them as practical neckband headphones with strong battery life, decent sound, and ANC that helps but doesn’t fully isolate you from the world. They’re not perfect, but they get the job done for everyday use. The rest of this review goes into the details: how they’re built, how they feel, how they sound, and where they fall short.

Looking at the whole package, value for money is actually where these Rythflo WH04 make the most sense. You’re getting long battery life, ANC, multipoint, a neckband form factor, and a decent mic setup, all at a price that’s well below big-name brands. They’re not trying to compete with £200+ headphones on sound or ANC quality, but for the budget to mid-range price, they hold their own.

If your main use is work calls, Zoom/Teams meetings, podcasts, audiobooks, and some background music, these are a pretty solid deal. The battery means you’re not constantly charging, the neckband makes them harder to lose than tiny true wireless buds, and the call quality is more than good enough for professional use. One reviewer even said they wouldn’t recommend them for long music sessions but would recommend them for work calls and podcasts mostly because of the 60h runtime. I think that’s a fair summary.

On the flip side, if you’re mainly a music person and you care a lot about soundstage, detail, and top-tier ANC, you’ll hit the limits of these pretty quickly. The sound is good for the price, but it’s not on the level of more expensive over‑ear ANC headphones or higher-end in‑ear models. Also, the multipoint feature is handy but not perfect; some people, and me too in one test, noticed quirks when using two devices with navigation prompts and music at the same time. It works, but it’s not bulletproof.

So in terms of value: strong buy if you’re a practical user who prioritizes battery and calls, more of a “meh, it works but nothing special” if you’re chasing audio quality above all else. For what I paid, I’m satisfied. I don’t feel like I got a bargain of the century, but I do feel like I got a headset that does its job reliably without costing a fortune.

Design-wise, these are classic neckband headphones: a flexible band that sits around your neck with short cables going up to each earbud. The color I used is glossy black, which looks fine but does pick up fingerprints a bit. The band itself is a bit on the thicker side, which matches what some Amazon reviewers mentioned. It’s not crazy bulky, but it’s not the most low-profile neckband either. Under a hoodie or jacket you can feel it a bit, but it never dug into my skin.

The magnetic earbuds are actually one of my favorite parts of the design. When you snap them together, the headphones turn off; separate them, and they turn on and reconnect. In practice, that means no fiddling with power buttons, and you’re less likely to leave them on by mistake in your bag. I used to do that all the time with older neckbands, so this is a simple but very handy detail. The magnets are strong enough that they don’t randomly detach while walking.

The earbuds themselves are a bit larger than super minimalist in‑ear models, but not huge. They stick out a little from the ear, so if you wear a tight beanie you might feel some pressure. The supplied tips change the profile a bit: with the larger tips they sit more securely but protrude a bit more. Controls are touch-based on the cable sections, and this is where the design is a mixed bag. Taps and long presses work, but if the cable brushes against a collar or you adjust the band, you can trigger actions by accident. It’s not constant, but it happened enough that I noticed.

Overall, the design is practical rather than stylish. It looks like a work tool, not a fashion accessory. If you’re okay with the slightly thick neckband and you like the idea of magnetic auto on/off, you’ll probably be happy. If you want super sleek, almost invisible buds, this isn’t that. But everything feels reasonably put together, and after a few days I stopped thinking about how they looked and just used them.

The battery life is honestly the main reason to buy these. Rythflo claims 40 hours with ANC on and 60 hours with ANC off, and that doesn’t feel inflated. I used them mostly with ANC on during workdays, around 5–6 hours a day, and I easily got through the whole week on a single charge. That lines up with one Amazon review saying they charge them once a week for work and never worry about running out mid‑call. My experience was basically the same.

Charging is via USB‑C, which is standard now and convenient. From empty to full took me roughly the advertised 1.5 hours on a regular phone charger. There’s no wireless charging or anything fancy, but honestly for a neckband like this, I don’t miss it. As long as I can plug it into the same cable I use for my phone or laptop, I’m good. There’s also some sort of quick charge effect just from the big battery: even a short top‑up during lunch gives you plenty of hours back.

The magnetic auto on/off also helps stretch the battery because you’re not accidentally leaving them powered on in your bag or on your desk. I tested this a few times: snap the buds together, they power down and disconnect; pull them apart, they reconnect in a couple of seconds. That small detail means the 40–60 hour rating actually translates into days of real-world use, not just a lab number you never hit because you forget to switch them off.

Compared to true wireless buds that need to go into a case every few hours, these feel almost boring in a good way: you just don’t think about battery anymore. If your main use is work calls and podcasts, this is a big deal. The flip side is the neckband form factor, which not everyone likes, but if you can live with that, the battery life is frankly one of the strongest points of the WH04.

Comfort was one of my big concerns because I tend to get sore ears pretty quickly with in‑ear stuff. The WH04 actually did better than I expected. The neckband spreads the weight, so you don’t have this heavy feeling directly in your ears like with some true wireless buds. I wore them for full workdays (6–8 hours with breaks) and only started to feel a bit of fatigue towards the end, mostly from having something in my ear canals for that long, not from the weight itself.

The pile of ear tips they include really helps. I ended up with a medium tip in one ear and a small in the other to get a proper seal. Once I found the right combo, they stayed in place pretty well while walking and doing light exercise. I wouldn’t trust them for intense running or anything super bouncy, but for normal day‑to‑day movement they stayed put. One thing to note, which matches a review I read: the silicone tips can come off a bit too easily when you pull the buds out of your ears. I had one tip stay in my ear once, which is annoying. It only happened a couple of times, but I can see how someone could lose a tip if they’re not paying attention.

Around the neck, the band is noticeable but not painful. You feel it when you turn your head or if you’re wearing a shirt with a higher collar. One reviewer said the cable was thicker than their Beats Flex; I’d agree. It feels sturdier, but you lose a bit of that “I forgot I’m wearing this” feeling. On the plus side, because it’s a neckband, you can just pop the buds out and let them hang when you’re talking to someone, instead of stuffing them in a pocket.

For long listening or call marathons, I’d rate comfort as good but not perfect. If you’re very sensitive to in‑ear pressure, you might still feel some fatigue by the end of the day. But compared to cheap true wireless buds that constantly need to be pushed back in or fall out, these are a lot less stressful to wear. They’re more in the “I can live with them all day” category than the “I forget they exist” one.

In terms of build quality, the WH04 feel decent for the price, without feeling premium. The neckband material is flexible and doesn’t crack when you bend it a bit. The cables to the earbuds feel slightly thicker than average, which matches another buyer saying the cable is a little thick but has lasted longer than their Beats Flex. I tossed them in a backpack a few times and wore them under a jacket, and I didn’t see any obvious stress points or fraying after a couple of weeks.

They’re advertised as water resistant / waterproof, though there’s no clear IP rating in the data provided. I used them in light rain and during sweaty walks, and they held up fine. I wouldn’t go swimming with them or shower in them, but for typical outdoor use and workouts, they seem okay. The glossy finish on the plastic parts will probably pick up some scratches over time, but that’s cosmetic, not structural.

The main durability concern for me is the ear tips. As several users mentioned, the silicone tips can come off more easily than ideal. I had one tip pop off when removing the earbud quickly, and another time it almost stayed in my ear. Over time, if you’re not careful, you might lose a tip in a bag or pocket. The good news is that they give you eight pairs, so you’ve got backups. Still, it’s something Rythflo could improve with slightly tighter-fitting tips or a different stem design.

Overall, I’d say durability is pretty solid for everyday use. The neckband feels like it will outlast cheaper flimsy models, and one reviewer even said it has lasted longer than their Beats Flex, which is a good sign. Just be mindful of the tips and don’t yank the buds out too violently. If you treat them like a normal electronic device instead of a chew toy, they should easily survive daily commuting, office use, and occasional workouts.

On the sound quality side, these are pretty much what I’d call “budget friendly but competent”. The 13 mm drivers give a noticeable bass boost, so songs have some punch, but it’s not the super boomy, muddy mess you sometimes get at this price. A reviewer described the bass as solid but not unnecessarily punchy, and I’d agree. The mids (voices, guitars) are clear enough for podcasts and calls, and the highs don’t stab your ears unless the track itself is harsh. If you’re used to premium headphones, you’ll hear that these are less detailed and the soundstage is narrower. For Spotify, YouTube, and casual listening, it’s fine; for critical music listening, it’s just okay.

The ANC (active noise cancelling) is decent for the price but not magic. Rythflo claims -32 dB and “blocks 90% of ambient noise”; in real life, I’d say it cuts a good chunk of low, constant noise (air conditioning, bus/plane rumble, office hum) but you still hear people talking and higher-pitched sounds. On a plane, it took the edge off the engine noise but didn’t replace over‑ear ANC cans. In a café, it made the environment less distracting, but I could still hear conversations in the background. So: helps a lot, doesn’t erase the world. Transparency mode works, but as they warn, you do hear some wind noise outside since the mics boost everything.

For calls and video meetings, these are actually quite strong. The three AI mics with ENC do a decent job of keeping your voice clear while cutting down on background noise. I did a few Teams and Zoom calls and asked people how I sounded; everyone said I was clear and understandable, even when I was near a window with traffic outside. They’re not studio quality, but for work, they absolutely get the job done. I’d rate call performance above average for this price range.

Latency for video and casual gaming is fine over Bluetooth 5.3. I didn’t notice any annoying lip‑sync issues on YouTube or Netflix. For serious gaming where milliseconds matter, you’d still want wired or low latency modes, but for normal use it’s not a problem. Overall, performance is very good for calls and productivity, good enough for music, and the ANC is useful but not at the level of more expensive brands.

Out of the box, the Rythflo WH04 are pretty straightforward. You get the neckband itself, a short USB‑C charging cable, a user manual, and a frankly generous pile of ear tips: 8 pairs in total (black and grey, sizes XS, S, M, L). That’s more than most brands give at this price. I ended up using different sizes in each ear to get a decent seal, so the extra options were actually useful and not just filler.

On the feature side, the brand throws a lot of things at you: -32 dB active noise cancelling, transparency mode, 3 AI mics with ENC for calls, Bluetooth 5.3, multipoint connection (phone + laptop), magnetic earbuds that turn the headset on and off, and rated battery life of 40 hours with ANC on, 60 hours with ANC off. There’s no 3.5 mm jack, it’s Bluetooth only. Controls are touch-based, which matters if you hate accidentally pausing your music by brushing the cable.

In daily use, the headline features that really matter are: long battery, stable Bluetooth, decent mic quality, and the neckband form factor. The rest (AI buzzwords, exact dB numbers, etc.) you kind of forget after day two. The good news: the battery claim isn’t marketing nonsense, it really does last a long time. The not-so-great part: some of the fancy bits like multipoint and ANC are good but not flawless, so don’t expect flagship-level polish.

For the price bracket these sit in, I’d say the WH04 are positioned as a work/commute tool rather than an audiophile toy. They’re clearly built for people who need something they can wear all day for calls, walking around, commuting, and maybe a bit of gym use. If you’re mainly listening to high‑res music and want super detailed sound, you’ll probably want to spend more or look at over‑ear models instead.