We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-23 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a single pair of corded earphones that plugs into almost anything with a round 3.5mm hole — laptops, Chromebooks, Android phones, tablets, handhelds and school devices — choose ASKUBSKU Headphones Earphones; if you need a Lightning-terminated pair built specifically for older iPhones and iPads, choose iMangoo Apple MFi-Certified Soft.
• ASKUBSKU's biggest strength: a universal 3.5mm plug that works across Android, Windows, Chromebook, tablet, Switch, PS4/PS5 and MP3 hardware — one cable for the whole drawer.
• ASKUBSKU's biggest trade-off: it's a plastic-bodied in-ear with a semi in-ear fit, so it prioritizes comfort and compatibility over a premium feel.
• iMangoo's biggest strength: a Lightning connector and an in-line volume control aimed squarely at iPhone and iPad owners, plus a hard EVA case in the box.
• iMangoo's biggest trade-off: it will not fit USB-C iPhones without an adapter, so the newest handsets are out unless you buy one separately.
• Buy ASKUBSKU if you want one set of corded buds for school, work and mixed devices.
• Buy iMangoo if your phone is a Lightning iPhone and you want the cable to match it.
The ASKUBSKU set is built around one idea: a jack that goes everywhere. The plug is a standard 3.5mm, and the compatibility list is unusually long — Samsung Galaxy models, Google Pixel, OnePlus, Motorola, older iPhone SE and 6/6S/5/5S units, iPads, Switch, PS4 and PS5, MP3 and MP4 players, plus Windows PCs, laptops and Chromebooks. If your household has three or four different devices with a headphone hole, this is the pair you leave in the bag.
The fit side is deliberately adjustable. You get three sizes of soft silicone eartips (L, M and S), and the earbud sits at a 45-degree angle into the ear. That semi in-ear design is meant to reduce the pressure feeling you get from deep-seated tips, which matters if you wear buds for a full class period or a long shift. The drivers are dynamic, the impedance is 32 ohm and the stated frequency range runs 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz — a normal, widely compatible spec that doesn't demand a headphone amp.
Controls are all on the cable. The in-line remote handles play/pause, volume up and down, answering and hanging up calls, waking a voice assistant, and even a shutter press for photos. There's a built-in mic with a high-sensitivity pickup, so calls and video meetings are part of the job description. A protective case and an extra eartip are included. Who should buy it: students, commuters, office workers and anyone juggling Android, PC and console hardware. Who should skip it: you own a USB-C-only iPhone and don't want to deal with an adapter, or you specifically want a Lightning cable.
The iMangoo pair takes the opposite approach: it commits to Apple's Lightning port. The connector is Lightning, the chip is MFi-certified, and the target list is the iPhone 14, 13, 12 and 11 families including the Pro Max sizes — the generation of iPhones that still shipped with Lightning rather than USB-C. For those phones, the cable is a direct fit with no dongle and no fuss.
There's a clear heads-up in the product's own notes, and it's worth repeating because it's the single biggest buying decision here: this Lightning version does not work with USB-C iPhones such as the 15, 16 and 17 series. If that's your phone, you either need an official USB-C to Lightning adapter or the brand's separate USB-C version. That's a real, practical trade-off rather than a hidden one.
On the audio side, the numbers are solid for the category: 10mm dynamic drivers, 32 ohm impedance, a 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz frequency range, and 114 dB sensitivity — which generally means the earbuds reach a usable loudness from a phone without much strain. The buds are described as rounded tips with three earbud tip sizes included, and the cable is magnetic, which helps keep it tidy in a pocket. Controls are volume plus a button remote, and sound isolation is part of the design. You also get a hard EVA carrying case in the box rather than a soft pouch, and an 8-month manufacturer warranty. Who should buy it: anyone on a Lightning iPhone or iPad who wants a corded backup with a proper case. Who should skip it: USB-C phone owners, unless they plan to add an adapter.
• Best for device compatibility → ASKUBSKU Headphones Earphones. The 3.5mm plug covers Android, Windows, Chromebook, tablets, consoles and MP3 players.
• Best for iPhone/iPad owners on Lightning → iMangoo Apple MFi-Certified Soft. The Lightning connector and MFi certification are the whole point.
• Best for USB-C phones → neither as-is. iMangoo states plainly that its Lightning model isn't compatible with USB-C iPhones without an adapter.
• Best for students and shared devices → ASKUBSKU Headphones Earphones. One pair, many machines, and three eartip sizes for different ears.
• Best for a tidy carry setup → iMangoo Apple MFi-Certified Soft. The hard EVA case and magnetic cable are genuinely useful for commuting.
• Best for call and remote control → a tie. Both offer in-line controls and a built-in mic; ASKUBSKU also handles voice-assistant wake and a photo shutter.
• Best for long-wear comfort → ASKUBSKU Headphones Earphones. The semi in-ear, 45-degree design is specifically aimed at reducing ear pressure.
• Best for a defined support window → iMangoo Apple MFi-Certified Soft. Its 8-month manufacturer warranty is spelled out.
In my opinion, the deciding question isn't sound — both use 32 ohm dynamic drivers with a 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz range, so they sit in the same broad class — it's the connector on your phone. I'd buy the ASKUBSKU Headphones Earphones if I needed corded buds for school, a laptop, a Chromebook or an Android handset, because one cable then covers nearly everything I own. I'd buy the iMangoo Apple MFi-Certified Soft if my daily phone were a Lightning iPhone, since the MFi-certified fit, magnetic cable and hard case make it the more polished choice for that specific device. If you're unsure, check what port your phone actually has before you buy — and check the current price on Amazon using the button on this page.
how to use wired headphones with iphone
If your iPhone uses a Lightning port, plug a Lightning-terminated pair like the iMangoo Apple MFi-Certified Soft straight in — no adapter needed. If your iPhone is a USB-C model (15, 16 or 17 series), that Lightning version won't fit and you'd need an official USB-C to Lightning adapter or a USB-C earphone instead. A 3.5mm pair like the ASKUBSKU only works on iPhones that still have a headphone jack, or through a separate adapter.
how to wired headphones work
A corded earphone sends the audio signal from your device down the cable to small dynamic drivers inside the earbuds, which convert the electrical signal into sound. Both sets here use 32 ohm dynamic drivers with a 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz frequency range, which is why they can run directly from a phone or laptop without extra amplification. The in-line remote and mic sit on the cable itself, so play, pause, volume and calls are handled without touching the screen.
how to fix wired headphones no sound
Start at the connection: make sure the plug is fully seated in the correct port, and remember a 3.5mm plug won't fit a Lightning socket or vice versa. Check that the plug and jack are clean and that the cable isn't kinked at the strain relief. Test the same earphones on a second device — if they work there, the problem is the phone or laptop, not the buds.
how to wired headphones
Using corded earphones is mostly about fit and control. Pick the eartip size that seals comfortably — both of these include three sizes, and the ASKUBSKU's 45-degree semi in-ear design is intended to reduce pressure over long sessions. Then use the in-line buttons for volume, play/pause and calls; the ASKUBSKU remote also wakes a voice assistant and can trigger a photo shutter.
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See also: MARLALL Soft Liquid Silicone vs Dpvisn Neckband Headphones, earbuds versus headphones, Yatloml USB C Headphone vs iMangoo USB C Headphones