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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 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• ApilWave's biggest strength: a proper over-ear build — 40 mm bass drivers, protein-leather and memory-foam earcups, an adjustable headband and 90-degree swiveling cups — plus a 1.2 m tangle-free braided cable with in-line controls.
• ApilWave's biggest trade-off: it's the bulkier option at 195 grams, it isn't water resistant, and the microphone lives on the cable rather than near your mouth.
• SoFunMoky's biggest strength: genuinely pocket-sized — roughly 20 grams, a metal-and-plastic shell, a 10 mm dynamic driver, a DAC chip for digital input and sound-isolating in-ear tips.
• SoFunMoky's biggest trade-off: it's an in-ear design, so fit depends entirely on the tips, and on-ear blocking of outside noise cuts both ways.
• Pick ApilWave if you want all-day comfort, a foldable travel shape and ear cups that don't dig into your ear canals.
• Pick SoFunMoky if you want something you can forget in a jeans pocket and plug straight into a USB-C phone or tablet.
The ApilWave set is the classic "sit down and stay a while" headphone. The cups are oval, the earpads use protein leather over memory foam, and the headband adjusts, which together with 90-degree rotating ear cups means it's built to sit on a range of head shapes without pinching. At 195 grams it's light for an over-ear, but it's still an over-ear — you feel it on your head in a way you never feel a small earbud.
Inside, a 40 mm bass driver with 32-ohm impedance and a 20 kHz frequency ceiling means you don't need an amp or a dongle to drive it. Plug it into a laptop, tablet, desktop or phone with a USB-C port and it just plays. The in-line module handles everything: one click on the multi-function button plays or pauses, two skips forward, three goes back, and there's a volume control on the cable too — handy when you're wearing gloves or your phone is buried in a bag. The high-definition mic sits on the cable, so calls, online classes and meetings work without you holding anything.
Skip it if you need something that disappears into a pocket, if you want water resistance for sweaty workouts (it's rated not water resistant), or if you want the microphone right at your mouth rather than on the cable.
SoFunMoky USB C Headphones: Who It's For
SoFunMoky goes the opposite direction: as small as possible. At roughly 20 grams with a metal-and-plastic housing and a circular in-ear shape, this is a pair you can keep in a jacket pocket and forget about until you need it. The composite rubber cable resists tangling, and the button feedback is deliberately crisp so you know when a press has registered.
The spec sheet reads like a phone-first product. A 10 mm dynamic driver, 16-ohm impedance, 100 dB sensitivity and a claimed 0.01 ms audio latency add up to something that's easy to drive and intended to stay in sync with video. The DAC chip is the interesting part: it accepts a digital input signal and converts standard-resolution audio, which is the reason a USB-C-only phone or tablet can talk to it at all. The in-ear design is also the noise strategy — the tips physically block outside sound, and there are two extra silicone tips in S and L so you can dial in the seal.
Compatibility is unusually broad and explicitly listed: iPhone 17, 16 and 15 families, a long run of Samsung Galaxy S and A models plus Z Flip and Fold, Galaxy Tab S tablets, Google Pixel, OnePlus and MacBook Pro. One troubleshooting note worth knowing before you buy: if you get no sound on a mobile device, the manufacturer suggests checking Settings, then Developer Options, and switching off "Disable USB audio routing." It carries a one-year warranty and comes in black metal.
Who should buy it? Anyone who wants a wired USB-C earbud for calls, music, movies and phone gaming, values a metal build over plastic, and doesn't want a headband. Who should skip it? Anyone who dislikes in-ear tips, wants over-ear comfort for long sessions, or needs water resistance — that isn't listed here either.
• Best for long listening sessions → ApilWave Over-Ear Headphones. Memory-foam over-ear pads beat in-ear tips for multi-hour comfort.
• Best for portability → SoFunMoky USB C Headphones. Around 20 grams versus 195 grams is not a close contest.
• Best for blocking outside noise → SoFunMoky USB C Headphones. Its in-ear seal and sound isolation do the work passively.
• Best for shared or home setups → ApilWave Over-Ear Headphones. Its 1.2 m cable and USB-C plug suit laptops, desktops and tablets.
• Best for calls on the move → SoFunMoky USB C Headphones. A compact remote with a high-definition mic on a light cable is easier to live with on a walk.
• Best for travel storage → ApilWave Over-Ear Headphones. It folds and ships with a dust bag and storage pouch.
• Best for bass-first listening → ApilWave Over-Ear Headphones. A 40 mm bass driver moves more air than a 10 mm dynamic driver.
• Best for USB-C phone owners → SoFunMoky USB C Headphones. Its listed compatibility covers iPhone 15 through 17, most recent Samsung Galaxy models, Pixel, OnePlus and MacBook Pro.
If I had to pick one, I'd take the SoFunMoky USB C Headphones for a phone-first life — in my opinion the tiny footprint, metal housing, DAC chip and wide USB-C compatibility make it the more useful everyday object, and it's the one you'll actually have with you. But I'd switch to the ApilWave Over-Ear Headphones without hesitation if comfort across a long day mattered more than pocketability, or if I mostly listened at a desk. They're solving two different problems, and the "cheap headphones" question is really a question about which problem is yours. Check the current price on Amazon for whichever one fits, since that's the number that decides it for most people.
FAQ
how to make cheap headphones sound better
how to get cheap headphones
Look for wired models rather than wireless ones — neither of these needs a battery, a charging case or a Bluetooth chip, which is a large part of why wired designs land in the budget tier. Then match the connector to your device: USB-C here covers most recent iPhones, Samsung Galaxy phones, Pixel, OnePlus, tablets and MacBook Pro. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit.
how to pair cheap headphones
You don't — both of these are wired, so there's nothing to pair. Plug the USB-C connector into your phone, tablet, laptop or desktop and the device should recognize it as an audio output automatically. If the SoFunMoky earbuds produce no sound on a mobile device, go to Settings, then Developer Options, and turn off "Disable USB audio routing."
what is the cheapest headphones
There's no single answer, since it depends on the connector, the brand and the day you're shopping. What I can tell you is how to compare fairly: weigh the build and features you actually need — over-ear comfort and a foldable frame on the ApilWave, or a pocketable metal in-ear set with a DAC chip on the SoFunMoky — against what each costs right now. Check the current price on Amazon for both and let that decide.
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