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
If you want plug-and-play wired listening with a mic on almost any older laptop, tablet or handheld, choose AIAUXAI Earbuds Headphones; if you need to listen over USB-C and charge your phone at the same time, choose Jadebones USB C Splitter. These two products sit in completely different categories — one is a pair of 3.5mm earbuds, the other is a USB-C audio-and-charging adapter — so the real question isn't which is "better," it's which problem you actually have. In my opinion, the AIAUXAI pair is the safer pick for most people because it works the moment you unbox it, while the Jadebones splitter is a clever fix for one specific annoyance.
• AIAUXAI Earbuds Headphones — biggest strength: a wired 3.5mm connection with an in-line controller and microphone, so calls, volume and track control all live on the cable. No pairing, no battery.
• AIAUXAI Earbuds Headphones — biggest trade-off: it only works where there's a 3.5mm jack, so phones and tablets that dropped the headphone port need an adapter of their own.
• Jadebones USB C Splitter — biggest strength: it turns one USB-C port into two jobs at once — USB-C audio plus up to 100W PD charging — using a built-in DAC chip for stable, low-noise audio.
• Jadebones USB C Splitter — biggest trade-off: it's an accessory, not a listening device. Without USB-C headphones or a USB-C dongle to plug into it, it does nothing for you.
• Who each pick is for: AIAUXAI for Chromebook, ThinkPad, Kindle Fire, Switch and budget-Android users who want cheap, dependable wired sound; Jadebones for iPhone 15/16, iPad, Galaxy S22–S24 and Pixel owners who refuse to choose between music and a charge.
The AIAUXAI earbuds are a classic 3.5mm wired set, and that's the whole point. You get a 3.93 ft (1.2 m) cable, silicone ear tips in a half-in-ear shell, and dynamic drivers measured at 14.2 mm — a fairly large driver for this price bracket of wired bud, which is one reason the sound should feel fuller than the tiny drivers in many pack-in earphones. Impedance is listed at 32 ohm with 105 dB sensitivity, and the frequency range runs the standard 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, so they'll play loud enough off a laptop or handheld without any amp.
Who should buy it: anyone with a device that still has a headphone jack — ThinkPads, most Chromebooks, Kindle Fire tablets, the Nintendo Switch in handheld mode, and Samsung's A-series phones like the A14 or A15. Students, commuters and people taking calls on a laptop will get the most out of the mic-and-remote combo. Who should skip it: if your phone is a modern iPhone or a Galaxy S without a 3.5mm port, these buds won't plug in directly — you'd be stacking adapters, and at that point the Jadebones route makes more sense.
Jadebones USB C Splitter: Who It's For
The Jadebones USB C Splitter solves a very modern problem: your phone has exactly one port, and you want to use it for both audio and power. Plug the adapter into your USB-C host, and it gives you two USB-C ports — one for a USB-C headphone, flash drive or card reader, one to feed power back into the device. It supports up to 100W (20V/5A) PD charging, and Jadebones states it won't slow down your device's original charging speed. That matters if you're using a high-wattage laptop brick or a fast phone charger.
Audio quality is handled by a built-in DAC chip, which the brand describes as delivering stable, distortion-free transmission. Practically, that means a USB-C headset or dongle connected through this adapter shouldn't pick up the hiss or dropouts you sometimes get from the cheapest pass-through splitters. The body is aluminum alloy with a high-density nylon cable for flexibility, and there's nothing to install — plug and play, no drivers.
Compatibility is broad: iPhone 16 and 15 series, iPad Air and Pro, Galaxy S23/S23 Ultra/S23+, S22, S21, S20, Note 20 and Note 10 families, Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5, and Pixel 7 down to Pixel 4, plus other USB-C devices like laptops, tablets and speakers. Who should buy it: anyone with a single-port USB-C phone or tablet who wants to charge while listening, and travelers who'd rather carry one tiny adapter than juggle cables. Who should skip it: if you already have a headphone jack, or if you don't own any USB-C audio gear, this adapter has nothing to connect to and won't help you.
• Best for old-school devices with a headphone jack → AIAUXAI Earbuds Headphones. Chromebooks, ThinkPads, Kindle Fire, Switch and Samsung A-series all plug straight in.
• Best for single-port USB-C phones → Jadebones USB C Splitter. iPhone 15/16, recent Galaxy and Pixel owners get audio and charging simultaneously.
• Best for taking calls and controlling music without touching your phone → AIAUXAI. The in-line remote and mic handle answer/end, play/pause and track skipping.
• Best for long charging sessions with audio playing → Jadebones. Up to 100W PD passthrough keeps your device topped up while sound runs through the DAC.
• Best for a no-setup, no-battery solution → AIAUXAI. Wired means no pairing, no charging case, no firmware to worry about.
• Best for traveling light with modern gear → Jadebones. One small aluminum adapter replaces a tangle of separate dongles.
• Best for sound quality on a tight budget wired setup → AIAUXAI's 14.2 mm dynamic drivers give you real hardware for the money; the splitter only passes audio through, it doesn't create it.
• Best if you own neither USB-C headphones nor a 3.5mm jack → Honestly, buy the Jadebones splitter and a USB-C headset, because the AIAUXAI buds can't connect to your phone at all.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the AIAUXAI Earbuds Headphones. They're a complete product — drivers, mic, remote, cable, case — that works out of the box on the laptops, tablets and handhelds most people still own, and the reinforced cable joint and 35-degree fit suggest they're built to survive daily pocket life. I'd only steer you to the Jadebones USB C Splitter if your device has a single USB-C port and you've genuinely felt the pain of choosing between listening and charging. It's an excellent fix for that exact problem, but it's still an accessory that needs USB-C audio gear you may not own. Decide based on your port, not the spec sheet. If you're unsure, check the current price on Amazon before committing, since both sit in very different budget brackets.
FAQ
Jadebones lists the iPhone 15 and 16 series as compatible. You'd plug a USB-C headset into one port and your charger into the other, and it supports up to 100W PD passthrough.
Not directly. They're a 3.5mm wired set, so a USB-C-only phone would need its own adapter — at which point the Jadebones splitter plus a USB-C headset is the simpler path.
The Jadebones USB C Splitter, without question. The AIAUXAI earbuds don't charge anything; they're purely a listening device, and charging isn't part of their design.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.