How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want all-day open-ear comfort with zero cables and a long-lasting charging case, choose Anker Soundcore V20i; if you need a wired USB-C connection that stays locked to your ear during hard workouts, choose APETOO USB C Headphones.
• Anker Soundcore V20i — biggest strength: true wireless open-ear design with adjustable ear hooks, 36 hours of total playtime via the charging case, and Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint pairing.
• Anker Soundcore V20i — biggest trade-off: it's fully wireless, so there's nothing to plug into a laptop or console, and the open-ear shape means no in-ear sound isolation.
• APETOO USB C Headphones — biggest strength: a wired USB-C connection with an over-ear hook and silicone tips that resist slipping during running or cycling, plus in-line volume and call controls.
• APETOO USB C Headphones — biggest trade-off: you're tethered to a 3.9ft cable and there's no battery at all, so the sound depends entirely on the device you plug into.
• Who each pick is for: the V20i suits someone who wants untethered, awareness-first listening all day; the APETOO suits someone who wants a dependable wired in-ear earbud for the gym, commute, or a USB-C-only phone.
The Anker Soundcore V20i is built around one idea: keep your ears open and your day uninterrupted. Instead of sealing into your ear canal, it hangs on an ear hook, and Anker gives you four adjustable positions so you can rotate the hook to find the angle that actually sits right on your ear. That's the detail I'd point to first, because open-ear fit is where most of these designs either work or don't. If your ears are fussy about in-ear tips, this is the category that tends to feel easier to live with.
The audio side is more serious than the open shape suggests. Anker uses 16mm dynamic drivers with titanium-coated domes and its BassUp technology, so you're getting a bass-forward tuning rather than the thin, tinny sound open earbuds sometimes have. There's also a light show — tune-synced, customizable LEDs — which is pure fun and totally optional. Calls run through four microphones with AI enhancement, and Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint means you can be connected to your phone and laptop at the same time and jump between them.
Battery life is the headline: about 8 hours in the buds, and the charging case carries you to roughly 36 hours total, with a 1.5-hour charge on the buds and a 2.5-hour case charge. The IP55 rating means sweat and light rain aren't a problem.
Who should buy it: someone who wears earbuds for hours — commuting, walking, working — and wants to hear traffic, coworkers, or a doorbell while music plays. Who should skip it: anyone who wants to plug directly into a laptop, gaming console, or a USB-C-only phone, because the V20i has no jack and no cable. It's wireless, period. Also skip it if you want passive noise isolation — the open design deliberately lets the world in.
The APETOO USB C Headphones are the opposite philosophy: plug in, stay put, and don't think about charging. The core of the design is an ear hook that wraps around the ear to prevent slippage during vigorous activity, paired with soft silicone ear tips. If you've had earbuds pop out mid-run, that's exactly the problem this shape is solving. The in-ear seal also keeps sound in and background noise out — APETOO lists sound isolation as a feature, and the in-ear design is what amplifies the low end and cuts leakage.
The driver is a 15mm dynamic unit, and the connector is a metal USB-C plug that APETOO says resists oxidation for better contact than a generic plug. There's a 3.9ft (1.2m) tangle-free cable, which is the right length for a phone in a pocket or a laptop on a desk — long enough to move, short enough not to snag. An in-line module handles play/pause, track skipping, volume, and calls, and there's a small clip for fixing the mic cable while you talk.
Compatibility is the real story here, and it's broad: iPhone 17/16/15 series, iPad Pro/Air/Mini in USB-C models, MacBook, a long list of Samsung Galaxy S and Z and Note models plus Galaxy tablets, Google Pixel phones and tablets and Pixelbook, HP/Dell/Acer/Lenovo laptops, Microsoft Surface USB-C models, and Chromebooks. If your device has a USB-C audio port, this is designed to plug straight in with no pairing, no app, no setup.
Who should buy it: gym-goers, runners, cyclists, kids, and travelers who want a wired in-ear earbud with a secure hook and zero battery anxiety. Who should skip it: anyone with a Lightning iPhone or a 3.5mm-only device, and anyone who wants to move around untethered — the cable is the whole point and the whole limitation.
• Best for all-day comfort → Anker Soundcore V20i. Open-ear, non-intrusive, with four adjustable hook positions.
• Best for staying put during hard workouts → APETOO USB C Headphones. The over-ear hook and silicone tips are explicitly designed to stop slippage.
• Best for battery life → Anker Soundcore V20i. Around 8 hours in the buds and up to 36 hours with the case.
• Best for plug-and-play with no charging → APETOO USB C Headphones. Wired USB-C, no battery, no pairing.
• Best for hearing your surroundings → Anker Soundcore V20i. The open-ear design is built for situational awareness.
• Best for blocking out background noise → APETOO USB C Headphones. The in-ear seal provides sound isolation and reduces leakage.
• Best for laptops, consoles and USB-C-only phones → APETOO USB C Headphones. Its compatibility list covers phones, tablets, laptops and Chromebooks.
• Best for bass-focused open listening → Anker Soundcore V20i. 16mm drivers with BassUp tuning.
• Best for kids and travel → APETOO USB C Headphones. No charging to manage, and a clip to keep the cable tidy.
In my opinion, the Anker Soundcore V20i is the one I'd buy for everyday life. The 36-hour case, multipoint Bluetooth, adjustable hooks, and open-ear awareness make it the earbud you can forget you're wearing — and forget to charge. That's a better fit for commuting, working, and walking around town.
But if your priority is a wired in-ear earbud that survives a run and plugs into anything with a USB-C port, I'd pick the APETOO USB C Headphones instead. The ear hook, silicone tips, in-line controls, and broad device compatibility are exactly what a workout or travel pair needs. Different jobs, different answers — and the specs make the split pretty clear. Check the current price on Amazon for whichever one matches your day.
how to make wired earbuds stay in ear
Start with the right tip size and seal — the APETOO set includes two pairs of extra eartips, so you can size up or down until the tip sits snugly without pressure. Then use the ear hook: it wraps around the ear specifically to prevent slippage during vigorous activity. Run the 3.9ft cable so it isn't tugging on the buds, and use the included clip to fix it.
how to put earbuds in your ear
Set the tip into your ear canal first, then rotate the hook up and over the top of your ear so it rests behind it. APETOO's earhook design is meant to wrap around the ear, and the ergonomic in-ear shape is built to reduce pressure buildup. If it feels loose, try a different eartip size before repositioning.
how to keep earbuds in ears
The two levers are tip size and hook placement. A soft silicone tip that fits properly seals the canal and holds position, and the over-ear hook stops the bud from swinging out when you move. If you're between sizes, the APETOO package gives you extra eartips to dial in the fit.
how to make apple wired earbuds stay in ear
It comes down to the same fit mechanics: a tip that seals and something holding the bud in place. If you're on a USB-C iPhone (17/16/15 series), the APETOO USB C Headphones are explicitly listed as compatible, and their ear hook does the retention work that a plain wired earbud can't.
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.
See also: Anker Soundcore vs EarFun Clip 2: Ldac Headphones, LUDOS OMNITONE USB C vs KVIDIO USB C: USB Wired Headphones, Jiunai USB C vs APETOO USB C Headphones: HIFI Stereo Earbuds