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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-18 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• AHFYCIH's biggest strength: a complete, ready-to-use wired USB-C listening kit — inline HD mic and multifunction buttons, magnetic in-ear buds, three sizes of silicone tips, a replacement set of eartips, a warranty card and a zipper carrying case.
• AHFYCIH's biggest trade-off: it's wired, so you're tethered to your device, and it only works with USB-C (Type-C) ports — no Lightning or 3.5 mm option.
• HAWSON A2179's biggest strength: it's a purpose-built replacement part for one specific machine — the audio board with headphone jack and flex cable for the MacBook Air Retina 13" A2179 (2020).
• HAWSON A2179's biggest trade-off: it isn't a consumer gadget at all. It's a repair component that assumes you can open a laptop and swap a board, and it fits exactly one model year.
• Who each pick is for: AHFYCIH is for anyone who wants to listen, call and control audio on a USB-C phone, tablet or laptop today. HAWSON is for a technically confident owner of that specific MacBook Air who needs to restore a broken headphone jack.
The AHFYCIH USB C Earbuds are a classic in-ear wired headphone built around a Type-C plug. What stands out to me in the specs is how complete the package is for a wired set. You get an inline HD microphone with multifunction buttons that handle play, pause, track skipping, answering, ending and rejecting calls, waking Siri or another voice assistant, and volume up/down. That's the full control set you'd normally expect from a much more elaborate headphone, condensed into a small inline controller.
The design details also tell a story about daily use. The earbuds are magnetic, so you can clip them together around your neck when you pull them out mid-commute or between songs — a genuinely useful trick that keeps a wired cable from swinging around. You get S, M and L ultra-soft silicone caps for fit and sound isolation, plus a replacement set of eartips in the box. The cord is described as tangle-free, and the included zipper carrying case means you can actually store the whole thing without stuffing it in a pocket. The color is Grey Pink, which is the "cute, yet still classic" angle the brand leans into — a deliberate break from plain black or white.
On the tech side, there's a DAC chip for compatibility with USB-C devices, which matters because a plain analog USB-C headphone needs the right signal handling to work across phones, tablets and laptops. The driver is a dynamic driver with a 20–20000 Hz frequency range, 32 ohm impedance and 105 dB sensitivity. In plain terms: 32 ohm is easy to drive, so you don't need a headphone amp, and the frequency range covers the full audible band. The earbuds are aimed at exercising, movies, school, sports and gaming, and the manufacturer lists an 8-month warranty.
Who should buy it: anyone with a USB-C phone, tablet or laptop who wants reliable wired audio with a mic and physical buttons — students on calls, commuters, gym-goers, and people who simply prefer not to charge earbuds. The compatibility list is long, covering recent iPhone 15/16/17 family models, iPads, MacBook Pro, a wide spread of Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets, and Pixel devices.
Who should skip it: iPhone users on Lightning, anyone who wants wireless freedom, and anyone who needs active noise cancellation. The noise control here is sound isolation from the silicone tips, not electronic ANC — good for blocking chatter on a bus, but not the same thing as a noise-cancelling headphone.
The HAWSON A2179 is not a headphone. It's an audio board headphone jack connector with a cable, made as a replacement part for the MacBook Air Retina 13" A2179 from 2020. If the headphone jack on that specific laptop has failed — or you're doing a repair that requires pulling the audio board — this is the component that restores it.
The listing is refreshingly honest about what it is. Each board with its flex cable is tested before shipping and confirmed working, and the brand explicitly tells you to check your computer's model year against the description and pictures before ordering. That's the single most important step, because this part fits one machine, not a family of them. The color is Black, and the item weighs about 2.31 ounces, with dimensions of roughly 3.65 x 1.16 x 4.77 inches — small, light, and clearly a board-and-cable assembly rather than anything you'd use while walking around.
The other thing the manufacturer says plainly: this is not an easy job for someone without technical skills in disassembling and assembling a laptop, and you should only buy it if you know how to install it. I appreciate that framing. Too many parts listings pretend a motherboard-level swap is a five-minute job. This one tells you the truth up front.
Who should buy it: someone repairing a MacBook Air Retina 13" A2179 (2020) who has the tools and the confidence to open the machine — a repair-shop technician, an experienced hobbyist, or a careful owner who has done this kind of work before.
Who should skip it: everyone else. If you have a different MacBook model, if you're not sure of your model year, or if you've never opened a laptop, this is the wrong purchase. There's no listening experience to evaluate here — it's a fix for a broken port, nothing more.
• Best for actually listening to music → AHFYCIH USB C Earbuds. It's a finished, functioning headphone; the HAWSON part produces no sound on its own.
• Best for phone calls and voice assistants → AHFYCIH USB C Earbuds. The inline HD mic plus a button that wakes Siri or another assistant is exactly what hands-free calling needs.
• Best for physical controls → AHFYCIH USB C Earbuds. Play, pause, skip, answer, end, reject and volume all sit on the inline controller.
• Best for tidiness and storage → AHFYCIH USB C Earbuds. Magnetic buds, a tangle-free cord and a zipper case cover the whole routine.
• Best for fit tuning → AHFYCIH USB C Earbuds. Three sizes of silicone caps plus a spare set of eartips let you dial in comfort and isolation.
• Best for repairing a 2020 MacBook Air A2179 → HAWSON A2179. This is the only reason to buy it, and it does that one job.
• Best for a low-effort, no-tools purchase → AHFYCIH USB C Earbuds. The HAWSON part demands laptop disassembly skills.
• Best for a device with a Lightning port or a 3.5 mm jack → neither. AHFYCIH needs USB-C; HAWSON only fits one MacBook model year.
In my opinion, the AHFYCIH USB C Earbuds are the pick for almost everyone reading a headphone comparison. You plug them in, you get sound, a mic, buttons, magnetic buds and a case — no tools, no guesswork, and a broad USB-C compatibility list. I'd only steer you to the HAWSON A2179 if you specifically own a MacBook Air Retina 13" A2179 (2020) with a dead headphone jack and you're comfortable opening the machine. It's a solid part for a narrow job, but it isn't a listening product, and treating it as one would be a mistake. If you're torn on budget, check the current price on Amazon before deciding — the two aren't really competing for the same dollar anyway.
They don't compete. AHFYCIH is a working USB-C headphone with a mic and controls; HAWSON is a replacement audio board for one MacBook model. Buy AHFYCIH to listen, HAWSON to repair.
Yes, with USB-C iPhones — the compatibility list names the iPhone 15, 16 and 17 families plus several iPad and MacBook Pro models. They won't work with Lightning-only iPhones.
Only if it's a MacBook Air Retina 13" A2179 from 2020. The brand asks you to verify your model year against the description and pictures first, so check before ordering.
No. The noise control is sound isolation from the silicone ear tips, offered in S, M and L plus a spare set. That blocks some surrounding noise but isn't active noise cancellation.
The manufacturer states it's not an easy job for anyone without laptop disassembly and assembly skills, and to buy only if you know how to install it. If that's not you, have a technician do it.
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