We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-26 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want to turn a single USB-C port into a full desktop setup — monitors, wired internet, cards, and a headphone jack all at once — choose Aplimln USB C HUB; if you need a simple pair of wired USB-C earbuds with a mic for calls and everyday listening on a MacBook, choose Gsangoo USB C Headphones.
• Aplimln USB C HUB — biggest strength: 11 ports in one metal dongle, including 4K HDMI, VGA, PD 100W charging, Ethernet, SD/TF readers, four USB data ports, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
• Aplimln USB C HUB — biggest trade-off: It's a hub, not a listening device, and its HDMI tops out at 4K@30Hz, while running HDMI and VGA together caps output at 1080p.
• Gsangoo USB C Headphones — biggest strength: A lightweight semi-in-ear wired headset with a built-in mic, a digital DAC chip, and button controls for calls and voice assistant use.
• Gsangoo USB C Headphones — biggest trade-off: It's a single-purpose accessory — no display output, no charging passthrough, no data ports.
• Who each pick is for: Aplimln is for laptop users drowning in too few ports; Gsangoo is for anyone who just wants dependable wired audio on a USB-C phone or MacBook.
The Aplimln USB C HUB is, at its core, a port multiplier. It takes one USB-C connection and splits it into 11 separate ports: 4K HDMI, 1080P VGA, PD 100W fast charging, one USB 3.0 port, three USB 2.0 ports, 100Mbps Ethernet, SD and TF card readers, and a 3.5mm audio slot. The enclosure is metal, and it measures about 4.68" long by 2.2" wide by 0.67" thick — small enough to toss in a bag but substantial enough to sit on a desk without sliding around. It's plug and play across Windows, Mac OS, Chrome OS, Linux, and Android, provided your device supports OTG and DP function.
This is a hub for people whose laptop has too few ports and too many peripherals. Think about a typical workday: you plug in an external monitor over HDMI, a keyboard and mouse into the USB-A ports, an SD card from a camera, an Ethernet cable for a stable 100Mbps wired connection instead of flaky WiFi, and your charger into the PD port. That's the entire workflow in one dongle. The USB 3.0 port moves data at up to 5Gbps, while the three USB 2.0 ports handle slower accessories like mice and keyboards at 480Mbps — a sensible split, since keyboards and mice don't need speed.
Who should skip it? Anyone who only wants to listen to music. If your goal is wired audio on a MacBook, buying an 11-port hub to get a 3.5mm jack is like buying a toolbox to hang one picture. Also skip it if you need 4K at 60Hz, since the HDMI here runs 4K at 30Hz, and if you plan to drive two displays at once, because HDMI and VGA together are limited to 1080p by the VGA side. And note the card reader limitation: SD and TF cards can't be read at the same time. None of these are dealbreakers for a general-purpose dock, but they matter if your work depends on high-refresh displays or simultaneous card transfers.
The Gsangoo USB C Headphones are a different category entirely: a wired, in-ear headset built around a USB-C jack. There's no adapter, no dongle, no pairing — you plug the connector into a USB-C port and you're listening. Inside, a dynamic driver handles the audio, and a digital DAC chip handles the conversion, which is the part that matters most on phones that dropped the headphone jack. The cord is flexible TPE, which tends to resist the kinks and stiff bends that kill cheaper cables.
The feature list is aimed at daily practicality. There's a wired remote with push-button controls, so you can take calls and trigger a voice assistant without reaching for your phone. The semi-in-ear shape is designed to sit snugly without fully sealing the ear canal — Gsangoo frames this as a wider sound stage and a more comfortable fit for long listening sessions, and it's a design choice that many people prefer for podcasts and calls precisely because it doesn't feel plugged up. The package also includes a PU leather storage bag and anti-drop ear tips, and the brand explicitly recommends using the bag to keep dust out of the USB-C port — a small detail that says something about how these connectors fail over time.
Then there's the honest caveat you need to read before buying: on iPhone 15, 16, and 17 series phones, the headset can't make calls unless you go into Settings, tap Sound and Haptics, open Headphone Security, and turn on "Reduce Audio Loudness." That's a real limitation, not a marketing footnote, and it's the kind of thing that frustrates buyers who don't read the listing carefully. It also tells you this headset is happiest on Android phones and USB-C laptops, where that restriction doesn't apply.
Who should skip it? Anyone who needs display output, charging passthrough, or card readers — this does none of that. And if you want noise isolation from a sealed in-ear design, the semi-in-ear fit here is the opposite approach.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for wired audio on a MacBook → Gsangoo USB C Headphones. Plug straight into USB-C, no dongle chain required.
• Best for video output → Aplimln USB C HUB. HDMI up to 4K@30Hz, backward compatible with 1080P@60Hz, 1280x1024, 1600x1200, and 720p.
• Best for a stable internet connection → Aplimln USB C HUB. The 100Mbps Ethernet port is more consistent than WiFi for calls and large transfers.
• Best for charging while you work → Aplimln USB C HUB. PD 100W input, delivering 87W–100W depending on the device.
• Best for calls and voice assistant use → Gsangoo USB C Headphones. Built-in mic plus push-button remote.
• Best for travel and pocket carry → Gsangoo USB C Headphones. Small, lightweight, and it ships with a leather bag and anti-drop ear tips.
• Best for a two-display desk setup → neither, honestly. Aplimln's HDMI+VGA combo is capped at 1080p, and Gsangoo offers no display output at all.
In my opinion, the right pick depends entirely on the problem you're solving, and these two products barely overlap. If your MacBook is the bottleneck — not enough ports, no Ethernet, no display output — I'd buy the Aplimln USB C HUB, because it replaces three or four separate adapters with one metal dongle. If your problem is simply that you want wired, mic-equipped earbuds that plug into USB-C without fuss, I'd buy the Gsangoo USB C Headphones and skip the hub entirely. If you genuinely need both, they don't compete — buy the hub and plug the earbuds into its 3.5mm jack, or straight into your laptop's USB-C port. Just check the current price on Amazon for whichever one you land on before committing.
how to use headphones for macbook
On a USB-C MacBook, plug the Gsangoo headset's USB-C connector directly into any USB-C port — it's plug and play, with no drivers needed. If your MacBook only has USB-C and you're using a 3.5mm headset instead, the Aplimln hub's 3.5mm audio slot gives you that connection. Either way, the Mac should route audio automatically once the device is detected.
how to connect headphones macbook
Wired USB-C headphones like the Gsangoo pair connect by simply seating the USB-C plug in the port. The Aplimln hub is an alternative route: plug the hub into the MacBook, then plug a 3.5mm headphone into the hub's audio slot. If audio doesn't switch over, check your Mac's sound output settings and confirm the port supports the connection.
how to connect headphones macbook air
The MacBook Air relies on USB-C (Thunderbolt) ports, so the Gsangoo USB-C earbuds connect straight in with no adapter. If you're using traditional 3.5mm headphones, the Aplimln USB C HUB adds a 3.5mm audio port alongside its other connections, letting you run headphones and peripherals from a single USB-C port. Confirm your Air supports the hub's OTG and DP requirements before relying on display output.
how to use headphones macbook pro
On a MacBook Pro, the Gsangoo headset plugs into any available USB-C port for audio and calls via its built-in mic and button controls. For a fuller desk setup, the Aplimln hub lets you connect headphones through its 3.5mm jack while also driving a monitor, Ethernet, and USB accessories. Note that on iPhone 15/16/17 series you must enable "Reduce Audio Loudness" in Headphone Security settings for calls; on MacBooks that step doesn't apply.
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: HUBFINDER USB C Hub vs JustJamz Pearl 50: Headphones for, MEE audio SleepTones USB-C vs MAXAUX USB C: USB C Headphones, Mokata Kids Headphones vs Monster Achieve 100