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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-02 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• APETOO USB C Headphones — biggest strength: a full plug-and-play USB-C headset with a built-in digital DAC, inline volume control, a microphone, silicone noise-isolating tips and a carrying case included.
• APETOO USB C Headphones — biggest trade-off: it is wired, so you are tethered to the device, and on a Mac you may need to pick "USB" as the output/input in Sound settings before audio routes correctly.
• TechMatte Female Lightning — biggest strength: a tiny Female Lightning to Male USB-C adapter that carries audio, data and PD charging, with dual-sided reversible connectors and no drivers required.
• TechMatte Female Lightning — biggest trade-off: it is an adapter, not headphones — it does not work for CarPlay, OTG, card readers, flash drives, keyboards, mice, hubs, microphones, HDMI or speakers, and it will not work with iPhone 14/13/12/11/XS/SE.
• Who APETOO is for: anyone who wants one cable and done — MacBook, iPad, Galaxy, Pixel or iPhone 15/16/17 owners who need a mic and volume control.
• Who TechMatte is for: someone who already owns a Lightning headset and wants to keep using it on a USB-C port, or who wants Lightning/USB-C audio passthrough plus charging on supported devices.
The APETOO USB C Headphones are the "everything in one bag" option. Instead of an adapter plus a separate pair of earbuds, you get a single USB-C terminated headset. The connector is a native USB-C plug, and inside it sits a digital DAC chip that converts the signal rather than relying on a passive analog passthrough. That matters on a MacBook, because MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models have dropped analog headphone jacks on many configurations — a USB-C earbud like this is the simplest way to get audio without a dongle chain.
In the box you get the headphones themselves, a mini storage case and two extra pairs of ear tips (small and large), on top of the mediums fitted out of the box. The housing is white, the ear tips are silicone, and the earpieces are an oval in-ear shape. Weight is listed at 20 g, which is light enough that the cable, not the buds, is what you notice. The cable is a 4FT flexible TPE wire with a remote control pod: buttons for volume plus a microphone for calls, meetings and voice notes.
Sound-wise, the spec sheet lists a dynamic driver, 32 ohm impedance and a 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz frequency range. That is a standard full-range consumer tuning, and APETOO pairs it with noise-isolating silicone tips rather than active noise cancellation — the seal does the blocking, which is genuinely effective on a train, a plane or a noisy open office.
One practical note straight from the manufacturer: on a Mac, go to Settings → Sound → Output (Input) and choose "USB" to make the earbuds work. That is a one-time routing step, not a defect.
TechMatte Female Lightning: Who It's For
The TechMatte Female Lightning is a different kind of product entirely — it is a short adapter cable, Female Lightning on one end and Male USB-C on the other. It exists for one reason: to let a Lightning-plugged pair of earphones or a Lightning audio accessory talk to a USB-C port. Inside is a high-performance audio chip that TechMatte says delivers clean, distortion-free sound, and the adapter also handles USB 3.0 data transfer and PD fast charging. Input is rated at 5 volts, 1.7 A.
Both ends are reversible — the USB-C side and the Lightning side insert either way — and there are no drivers or software to install. That is the whole appeal: plug the Lightning headset into the adapter, plug the adapter into a USB-C device, done. It carries a 2-year warranty and weighs essentially nothing (0.01 kg), so it lives in a bag pocket without being noticed.
Compatibility is where you need to read carefully. Supported: iPhone 17 Pro Max/Air, 16/16e/16 Pro/16 Pro Max, 15/15 Pro/15 Pro Max, earphones, iPads and AirPods with USB-C interfaces, and Samsung Galaxy S25/S24/S23/S22/S21 series. It is explicitly not for iPhone 14/13/12/11/XS/SE, not for CarPlay, not for OTG, not for card readers, USB flash drives, HDMI, keyboards, mice, U disks, hubs or microphones, and not for sending audio to speakers. TechMatte also states plainly there is no need to buy wireless earbuds if this adapter solves your problem.
Who should buy it: someone with a favourite Lightning headset who has moved to a USB-C phone or laptop and does not want to replace the headphones; travellers who want one adapter that also passes PD charging and data; and anyone who wants a reversible, driver-free fix. Who should skip it: anyone expecting it to be headphones (it is not), anyone with an iPhone 14 or older, and anyone wanting to route audio to a speaker, dock or OTG peripheral.
• Best for a complete headset out of the box → APETOO USB C Headphones (buds, mic, volume control, case, extra tips).
• Best for keeping headphones you already own → TechMatte Female Lightning (Lightning headset to USB-C host).
• Best for MacBook Air / MacBook Pro → APETOO USB C Headphones, since it terminates in USB-C natively and MacBook Air/Pro are named in its compatibility list; the TechMatte adapter works too, but only as a bridge for a Lightning headset.
• Best for microphone use and calls → APETOO USB C Headphones, which has a built-in mic and remote buttons; the TechMatte adapter is not a microphone and is explicitly not for microphones.
• Best for charging while connected → TechMatte Female Lightning, which supports PD fast charging and USB 3.0 data alongside audio.
• Best for commuting and noisy rooms → APETOO USB C Headphones, thanks to silicone tips and a sound-isolation design.
• Best for travel-bag minimalism → TechMatte Female Lightning, at 0.01 kg with reversible connectors and no drivers.
• Best for iPhone 15/16/17 and Galaxy S25/S24/S23/S22/S21 owners → either, but only APETOO gives you the actual earbuds.
• Best for iPhone 14/13/12/11/XS/SE owners → neither as listed; the adapter explicitly excludes those models, and APETOO needs a USB-C port.
In my opinion, most people shopping this comparison should buy the APETOO USB C Headphones. It is a finished product — DAC, mic, volume buttons, isolating tips, case and spare ear tips — and it plugs straight into a MacBook or a modern USB-C phone without a second purchase. The TechMatte Female Lightning is genuinely useful, but it is a one-job accessory: it only makes sense if you already love a Lightning headset and refuse to replace it. If that is you, buy the adapter. If you just want to hear your Mac, buy the APETOO.
how to use headphones for macbook
Plug the USB-C connector into a USB-C port on your MacBook. Then open System Settings → Sound → Output (Input) and select "USB" as the device — APETOO lists this exact step for Mac. Once selected, audio and the microphone route through the earbuds, and the inline buttons control volume.
how to connect headphones macbook
For a wired USB-C headset like the APETOO, connection is physical: insert the plug, then confirm "USB" in Sound settings. If you are using a Lightning headset on a USB-C Mac, insert the Lightning plug into the TechMatte Female Lightning adapter and the adapter's USB-C male end into the Mac — no drivers required on either path.
how to connect headphones macbook air
MacBook Air models are named in the APETOO compatibility list, so the same process applies: plug in, then choose "USB" under Sound. Remember that many MacBook Air configurations have no analog headphone jack, which is exactly why a USB-C terminated headset is the straightforward choice rather than a dongle stack.
how to use headphones macbook pro
MacBook Pro is likewise listed as compatible with the APETOO USB-C earbuds. Insert the plug into any USB-C port, set Sound output and input to "USB", and use the remote for volume and calls. The TechMatte adapter will also pass audio on supported USB-C devices, but it is built for Lightning earphones, not for speakers, OTG or microphones.
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