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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-01 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• APETOO's biggest strength: a 7.5ft USB-A cable with in-line mute, volume and mic controls — genuinely useful for desk work, Zoom meetings and school.
• APETOO's biggest trade-off: it's USB-A only, so it won't plug into a phone or a USB-C-only laptop without an adapter.
• Sony IER-EX15C's biggest strength: a USB-C plug that works across phones, laptops and gaming consoles, plus a multi-function button that handles calls, tracks and voice assistant.
• Sony IER-EX15C's biggest trade-off: no USB-A option and no bundled case or extra ear tips beyond the three sizes included.
• Pick APETOO if your machine has a full-size USB port and you want a long cord for desk use.
• Pick Sony IER-EX15C if your daily driver is a USB-C phone, tablet or console.
The APETOO set is built around one idea: stay plugged into a computer all day and never reach for the laptop to change something. The USB-A connector carries a built-in digital DAC chip, and APETOO claims 7.1 stereo processing through it, so the sound is handled digitally rather than through a headphone jack. The dynamic drivers cover 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz at 32 ohm impedance, which is a normal, easy-to-drive spec for a wired in-ear set.
The cable is the headline. At 2.3m / 7.5ft, it lets you stand up, pace, or grab something off a shelf without unplugging. The in-line remote handles volume, microphone and mute — the mute button matters more than people expect if you're on back-to-back Zoom or Teams calls and don't want to hunt for a software toggle. The earbuds are magnetic, so they clip together around your neck instead of swinging loose, and there's a small clip to pin the cord to a shirt.
In the box you get the headphones, two extra pairs of silicone ear tips in small and large, an earphone clip and a mini zip carrying case. APETOO also lists an 8-month warranty, and the whole thing weighs about 0.05 kg, so it disappears in a bag.
Who should buy it: students, office workers, call-centre and remote-meeting people on Windows laptops and desktops — Dell, HP, Acer, Chromebook, whatever. Who should skip it: anyone whose only port is USB-C, and anyone who wants to use the same headset on a phone and a computer. This is a computer headset, full stop.
Sony takes the opposite approach. Instead of a long cable for a desk, the IER-EX15C is a compact, grab-and-go USB-C wired in-ear set designed to move between devices. It supports USB Audio Class 1.0 devices, which is the standard that lets a wired USB headset work without drivers on phones, laptops and consoles. Because it's wired, there's no battery to charge and no Bluetooth latency or dropouts to worry about.
The sound side is a dynamic driver with a high-compliance diaphragm, tuned for punchy bass and clear vocals across genres. The housings are small and contoured, with silicone earbuds and three ear tip sizes — XS, M and XL — for a secure fit. Passive noise cancellation comes from the seal itself rather than any electronics, which is exactly what you'd expect from a wired in-ear.
The cable is serrated to resist tangling, and there's a built-in slider and cable adjuster so you can take up slack while wearing it or packing it away. The in-line remote has a multi-function button plus volume controls and a microphone: one press for play/pause, track skipping, answering calls, waking your voice assistant, and muting or unmuting the mic. It comes in black, white, blue and pink, and Sony lists a 1-year warranty.
Who should buy it: anyone living in USB-C — iPhone 15-and-later owners, Android users, tablet and handheld console players, and laptop users who've moved past USB-A. Who should skip it: desktop users with only USB-A ports, and anyone who specifically wants a long cable for walking around a room.
• Best for USB-A laptops and desktops → APETOO USB Headphones. The USB-A plug is the point.
• Best for phones, tablets and USB-C laptops → Sony IER-EX15C. Cross-device USB-C is its whole reason to exist.
• Best for long-cable desk freedom → APETOO USB Headphones. 7.5ft beats a standard-length cable every time you stand up mid-call.
• Best for latency-free gaming and streaming → Sony IER-EX15C. Wired USB-C on consoles and handhelds, no battery, no pairing.
• Best for value-per-accessory → APETOO USB Headphones. Extra ear tips, a clip and a carrying case are all included.
• Best for a dedicated mute button → APETOO USB Headphones. Physical mute on the cord is a real meeting-day feature.
• Best for travel and pocket carry → Sony IER-EX15C. Compact housings, a tangle-resistant cable and a cable slider.
• Best for fit options → Sony IER-EX15C. Three tip sizes (XS, M, XL) versus APETOO's S/L extras.
If I had to pick one for myself, I'd take the Sony IER-EX15C — I move between a phone, a tablet and a laptop all day, and USB-C is the one connector that follows me everywhere. In my opinion it's the more flexible purchase for 2026. But I'd recommend the APETOO USB Headphones without hesitation to anyone whose work happens at a fixed desk with a full-size USB port, because the long cable and the mute button solve problems the Sony doesn't try to solve. Match the headset to your port, not the other way around.
how to connect usb c wired headphones
Plug the USB-C connector straight into your device's USB-C port. Because the Sony IER-EX15C supports USB Audio Class 1.0 devices, it's recognized as an audio output without installing a driver or an app. If sound still comes out of the speakers, select the headset as the output device in your sound settings.
how to use usb c wired headphones on mac
Connect the USB-C plug to your Mac's USB-C port and it should appear as a USB audio output automatically. Open System Settings, go to Sound, and choose the headset under Output and Input. The in-line multi-function button then handles play/pause, track skipping and call answering on macOS.
how to connect usb wired headphones to xbox
The Sony IER-EX15C connects through USB-C, so it suits devices with a USB-C port rather than the older USB-A-only controller layout. The APETOO set uses a USB-A plug, which fits consoles and docks that offer a full-size USB port. In both cases the headset is detected as a wired USB audio device — no pairing, no charging.
how to connect usb wired headphones to macbook
For a USB-C MacBook, plug the Sony IER-EX15C directly into the port and set it as the output in Sound settings. If you own the APETOO USB-A set and your MacBook is USB-C only, you'll need a USB-A-to-USB-C adapter, since the headset's connector is fixed. Once connected, both work as plain plug-and-play wired headsets.
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