We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-03 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a volume-limited, wired headphone that keeps a younger kid's ears protected and simply plugs into a school Chromebook, choose AILIHEN I35; if you need a wireless, long-battery, app-tunable headphone for a teen who streams from a phone, choose Sony WH-CH520.
• AILIHEN I35 biggest strength: A 93dB volume limit plus a wired 3.5mm jack — protection and zero pairing hassle for younger students.
• AILIHEN I35 biggest trade-off: It's wired only in practice, on-ear, and the cable is the whole connection — no Bluetooth freedom, no app.
• Sony WH-CH520 biggest strength: Up to 50 hours of battery, quick charging, multipoint Bluetooth 5.2, and app EQ customization from a major audio brand.
• Sony WH-CH520 biggest trade-off: No 3.5mm jack at all, so you're fully dependent on Bluetooth and a charged battery.
• Pick AILIHEN I35 if your kid is roughly 3 and up, uses school-issued devices, and you want volume safety over features.
• Pick Sony WH-CH520 if your teen manages their own phone, wants wireless freedom, and cares about color and battery life.
The I35 is built around one idea: keep the volume low and the connection simple. The headline spec is the 93dB volume limit, which is a hearing-protection ceiling rather than a "loudness" feature. For a parent shopping for a young child, that single number does more work than any EQ preset ever could. Combine it with the wired 3.5mm jack and you get a headphone that works the moment it's plugged in — no pairing screen, no charging, no "my headphones won't connect" during a lesson.
The physical design supports that same school-day role. It's an on-ear, foldable headphone with a pillow-soft headband and memory-protein ear cushions, and the adjustable headband is meant to cover a wide range of head sizes. It's lightweight for kids aged 3 and up. The braided cable carries an inline HD microphone with a single button for play/pause and calls, which is genuinely useful for classroom video calls and read-aloud apps. Compatibility is broad: anything with a standard 3.5mm jack — phones, laptops, computers, Chromebooks, MP3 players, tablets.
Who should buy it? Parents of younger kids who want a first "real" headphone, and families whose students use Chromebooks or tablets that still have a headphone port. The 93dB cap and the foldable, toss-in-a-backpack build are the whole pitch.
Who should skip it? A teenager who wants wireless music from a phone with no cable tethering. There's no Bluetooth in real use here — the connection is the 3.5mm plug — so if your kid's device is a phone with no headphone jack, this is the wrong tool. Also skip it if you want app-based sound tuning or long wireless battery life. Note the product information lists a Bluetooth field, but the design is a wired 3.5mm on-ear headphone with an inline mic, so I'd plan around the cable.
The WH-CH520 is aimed squarely at the teen-and-up crowd. It's a wireless on-ear Bluetooth 5.2 headphone, and its defining number is battery: up to 50 hours of playback, with quick charging that gives roughly 90 minutes of play from about 3 minutes on the charger. A full charge takes about 3 hours. For a teen who listens on the bus, in study hall, and at night, that means charging is a weekly chore at most, not a daily one.
The feature list is what separates it from the AILIHEN. Multipoint connection lets it hold two Bluetooth devices at once, so your teen can bounce from a laptop video to a phone call without re-pairing. The built-in microphone handles hands-free calls. DSEE upscales compressed audio files for better-sounding streaming, and the EQ Custom feature in the Sony Headphones Connect app lets you pick presets or build your own — that's a level of personalization the I35 simply doesn't offer. It also supports voice assistants and can be located by sound or last-known location through Google's Find My Device, which is a quietly great feature for a kid who loses things.
Comfort and portability are clearly priorities: lightweight build, soft ear pads, an extra head cushion, adjustable headband, and swivel earcups that fold flat for a bag. It's rated for adults, kids, and teens, comes with a USB-C cable, and the age range description explicitly includes teen — which is exactly the audience this comparison is about.
Who should buy it? A teen with a phone who wants wireless freedom, big battery, and a look they can pick from six colors. Who should skip it? Anyone whose main device is a school Chromebook with no Bluetooth and no phone of their own — there's no 3.5mm jack here, so a wired fallback isn't an option. Also skip it if you specifically want a hard volume cap for a young child; the WH-CH520 doesn't advertise one.
• Best for younger kids (3+) → AILIHEN I35. The 93dB limit and lightweight, adjustable build are designed for small heads and safe listening.
• Best for hearing protection → AILIHEN I35. A hard 93dB ceiling beats "be careful with the volume" every time.
• Best for wired school devices → AILIHEN I35. The 3.5mm jack plugs straight into Chromebooks, laptops, and tablets.
• Best for battery life → Sony WH-CH520. Up to 50 hours plus quick charging is in a different league from a wired headphone.
• Best for wireless freedom and calls → Sony WH-CH520. Bluetooth 5.2, multipoint, and a built-in mic for hands-free calling.
• Best for sound customization → Sony WH-CH520. EQ Custom and DSEE in the Sony app; the I35 has no app at all.
• Best for style and color choice → Sony WH-CH520. Six colors versus the I35's single black finish.
• Best for teens specifically → Sony WH-CH520. The age range calls out teen, and the feature set matches how teens actually listen.
For a teen, I'd buy the Sony WH-CH520. In my opinion, the combination of up to 50-hour battery, Bluetooth 5.2 with multipoint, app EQ, and six color options is exactly what a teenager wants in a daily headphone — wireless, long-lasting, and personalizable. The AILIHEN I35 is the better buy for a younger child or a wired-classroom setup, because that 93dB limit is real protection a wireless headphone doesn't offer. So: teen → Sony; young kid → AILIHEN. If you're torn on cost, check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since that often settles it.
FAQ
what are good headphones for teens
Good teen headphones are wireless, comfortable for long wear, and have enough battery to survive a school week. The Sony WH-CH520 fits that brief with Bluetooth 5.2, multipoint, up to 50 hours of battery, and app EQ. The AILIHEN I35 is a better fit for younger kids thanks to its 93dB volume limit and wired 3.5mm connection.
On-ear Bluetooth headphones from well-known audio brands tend to be what teens reach for, and the Sony WH-CH520 sits right in that lane with six colors, DSEE, and voice-assistant support. The AILIHEN I35 is more of a parent-driven pick for younger students, with a volume cap and inline mic rather than app features.
what are the best headphones for teens
There's no single answer, but the deciding factor is usually wired versus wireless. If your teen listens from a phone, the Sony WH-CH520's battery life and multipoint connection make it the stronger pick. If the priority is protecting a younger child's hearing on a school device, the AILIHEN I35's 93dB limit and 3.5mm jack win.
what headphones are cool for teens
"Cool" usually means wireless, colorful, and feature-rich. The Sony WH-CH520 checks those boxes with six color options, swivel earcups, app EQ, and multipoint switching. The AILIHEN I35 is more practical than trendy — it's a foldable wired on-ear in black aimed at younger kids and classroom use.
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