We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-05 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a clean, no-fuss way to plug your favorite wired headphones or speakers into a modern USB-C phone, tablet or laptop, choose Apple USB-C; if you need an actual pair of wired earbuds for an Xbox controller, a Chromebook or a school laptop, choose ASKUBSKU 3.5mm. They are not rivals in the same category — one is an adapter, the other is a finished set of earphones — so the real question is which job you're trying to get done for Xbox and everyday listening.
• Apple USB-C — biggest strength: it turns a USB-C port into a standard 3.5 mm jack, so any wired headphone or speaker you already own works again on newer iPhones, iPads and USB-C devices.
• Apple USB-C — biggest trade-off: it is only an adapter. No cable, no earbuds, no microphone of its own — if you have nothing to plug into it, it does nothing.
• ASKUBSKU 3.5mm — biggest strength: it is a complete wired in-ear headset with a 3.5 mm plug, in-line controls, a mute function and three sizes of silicone eartips.
• ASKUBSKU 3.5mm — biggest trade-off: it is wired only and relies on a device that still has a 3.5 mm audio jack — it will not connect to a USB-C-only phone without help.
• Who each pick is for: Apple USB-C for anyone who already owns good wired gear and needs to keep using it; ASKUBSKU 3.5mm for anyone who needs affordable, ready-to-use earbuds with a mic for a controller, laptop or classroom device.
The Apple USB-C to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter is a small white dongle — model MW2Q3AM/A — and its entire purpose is stated plainly in its own feature list: it connects devices that use a standard 3.5 mm audio plug, like headphones or speakers, to your USB-C devices. That's it. There's no battery, no plug of its own to charge, and no software to install.
What makes it genuinely useful is the compatibility list. According to the product information, it works with devices that have a USB-C connector and support iOS 10 or later, and the supported hardware spans a long run of recent iPhones — iPhone 15 through iPhone 17 families, including the Pro, Pro Max, Plus and "e" variants — plus iPad Pro models in 11-inch and 12.9-inch sizes across several generations, including the M4 versions.
In my opinion, this is the pick for someone who has already spent money on a good pair of wired headphones, a trusted wired headset, or a nice set of desktop speakers, and simply wants them to keep working on a newer device. If you're a musician plugging into an interface, a commuter who refuses to give up a wired pair, or someone who just prefers the reliability of a physical plug, this is the simplest bridge between old gear and new ports.
ASKUBSKU 3.5mm: Who It's For
The ASKUBSKU 3.5mm Headphones are a finished pair of wired in-ear earbuds — model ASKUBSKU-0151 — and they're built around a 3.5 mm jack with a wired connection, no wireless technology involved. That sounds basic, and honestly, that's the appeal: plug in, and they work, with no pairing, no charging and no dropouts.
The design details matter here. You get three sizes of soft silicone eartips (L, M and S) so you can dial in fit, and the semi in-ear shape is described as a 45-degree insertion angle that reduces earpress and stays put during longer wear. The housing is metal, which suggests a sturdier feel than all-plastic buds, and the color is purple if that matters to you. Inside, they use a dynamic driver with a frequency range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz — the standard full-range span for everyday music and voice.
The controls are where these punch above their weight for practical use. There's an in-line remote with buttons that let you pause and play, answer and hang up calls, and wake a voice assistant without touching your phone. There's also a mute function to switch the microphone on or off on demand, and the mic itself is described as high-sensitivity with multi-directional pickup for clearer calls. A protective case and an extra eartip are included.
Who should buy these? In my opinion, they fit anyone whose device still has a real 3.5 mm audio port: Chromebook and laptop users, students, Kindle Fire owners, and people who want a spare wired set for work, workouts or outdoor use. The listing also calls out compatibility with a long list of Samsung Galaxy, Pixel, OnePlus and Motorola models with a 3.5 mm jack.
Who should skip them? Anyone using a device with no headphone jack at all. These are wired 3.5 mm earbuds — on a USB-C-only phone, they need an adapter, and this product isn't that adapter. Also skip if you want noise cancellation; the noise control here is passive sound isolation, not active cancellation.
One practical note straight from the product's own description: the 3.5 mm port can collect dust and static-attracted debris over time, and if the earbuds stop working normally, the manufacturer recommends checking and cleaning the port before reconnecting. Worth knowing before you assume the buds have failed.
• Best for reviving wired headphones or speakers you already own → Apple USB-C. It's a pure adapter with no audio hardware of its own.
• Best for a complete, ready-to-use wired headset → ASKUBSKU 3.5mm. Earbuds, cable, mic and controls all in one.
• Best for calls and voice chat → ASKUBSKU 3.5mm. It has an in-line mic with a mute function; the Apple adapter has no microphone.
• Best for newer USB-C iPhones and iPads → Apple USB-C. Its compatibility list is built around USB-C devices running iOS 10 or later.
• Best for Chromebooks, school laptops and Kindle Fire → ASKUBSKU 3.5mm. These are the 3.5 mm-jack devices it was clearly designed around.
• Best for fit and long-wear comfort → ASKUBSKU 3.5mm. Three eartip sizes and a 45-degree semi in-ear angle are aimed at extended use.
• Best for durability of the connector itself → ASKUBSKU 3.5mm. A metal housing on the buds versus a small plastic-bodied dongle.
• Best for plugging into an Xbox controller's 3.5 mm jack → ASKUBSKU 3.5mm. A controller jack is a standard 3.5 mm output, which is exactly what these earbuds take.
For Xbox and general everyday use, I would buy the ASKUBSKU 3.5mm. It's a finished product — earbuds, cable, microphone, mute and in-line controls — while the Apple USB-C is only a connector that needs something else plugged into it to do anything at all. If you want a best wireless headset for Xbox experience, neither of these is that; these are wired options, and for wired use the ASKUBSKU gives you more to actually listen with. I'd only pick the Apple USB-C over it if I already owned a wired headset I loved and needed to run it from a USB-C phone or tablet. In my opinion, most people shopping this comparison want the earbuds, not the dongle.
Yes, if you're plugging into a controller or device with a standard 3.5 mm jack. It's a wired in-ear headset with an in-line mic, so it handles game audio and voice chat over that single plug. It won't work on a USB-C-only port without an adapter.
No. It's an adapter only — it converts a USB-C port into a 3.5 mm jack so you can attach headphones or speakers you already own. It has no drivers, no cable and no microphone of its own.
The ASKUBSKU earbuds use passive sound isolation — the sealed in-ear fit physically blocks some outside noise. That's different from active noise cancellation, which uses electronics to cancel sound, and this product does not have that.
They solve different problems, so value depends on your setup. If you own good wired headphones and just need to connect them, the Apple adapter is the cheaper path to a working solution. If you need earbuds with a mic and controls, the ASKUBSKU covers more ground in one purchase. Check the current price on Amazon for both and match it to what you actually need — the page has a button for that.
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