We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-30 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a budget-friendly 3.5mm pair for older phones, tablets and laptops with a headphone jack, choose ASKUBSKU School Earbuds; if you need a USB-C connection for modern phones, iPads and MacBooks with a digital DAC inside, choose APETOO USB C Headphones.
• ASKUBSKU biggest strength: A 3.5mm jack that works with a huge range of older phones, laptops and tablets, plus a semi in-ear shape designed to avoid ear pressure over long sessions.
• ASKUBSKU biggest trade-off: It's a 3.5mm plug, so phones and tablets without a headphone jack need an adapter. The in-line volume control also isn't available on iOS devices.
• APETOO biggest strength: A USB-C plug with a built-in digital DAC chip, which means it plugs straight into modern iPhones, Galaxy phones, Pixel phones, iPads and MacBooks and handles the digital-to-analog conversion itself.
• APETOO biggest trade-off: It only fits USB-C ports, so anything with a traditional 3.5mm jack is out. On MacBooks you may need to pick "USB" in the Sound settings before it works.
• Who ASKUBSKU is for: Anyone with a 3.5mm jack who wants a comfortable, no-fuss pair for school, calls and travel.
• Who APETOO is for: Anyone on a USB-C-only device who wants a plug-and-play earbud with ear tips in multiple sizes.
The ASKUBSKU School Earbuds are a wired 3.5mm pair aimed at everyday listening on devices that still have a headphone jack. The driver is a dynamic unit covering 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, and the tuning is described as leaning toward bass detail with clear mid and high pitch, so music, podcasts and video all sit in a familiar, easy-listening zone. The housing is metal in black, which gives it a slightly more solid feel than plain plastic, and the whole thing comes with a storage case for tossing in a bag.
The design choice that stands out is the semi in-ear shape. Instead of pushing a silicone tip deep into the canal, the earbud sits at roughly a 45-degree angle and rests more against the opening of the ear. That's the "no earpress" idea — the trade-off is that you don't get the same seal as a deep in-ear tip, but for long study sessions, commutes or a full flight, the reduced pressure is the point. The brand's own note about wearing it at the right angle matters here: get the angle right and it stays put; get it wrong and it can feel loose.
So who should buy it? Anyone with a Samsung Galaxy A-series, an older Galaxy S model, a Moto G, a Pixel 4a/3a/5a, a laptop or a tablet with a 3.5mm jack. Who should skip it? If your phone only has USB-C, this isn't your pair — you'd be living with an adapter.
APETOO USB C Headphones: Who It's For
The APETOO USB C Headphones take the opposite approach: no analog jack at all, just a USB-C plug. Inside is a digital DAC chip, and that's the meaningful difference. Instead of your phone's internal converter doing the work, the earbud handles the digital-to-analog step itself, which the brand says lets it carry high-fidelity stereo sound without loss. Whether or not you hear a dramatic jump, the practical benefit is real: on USB-C-only devices there's no adapter in the chain to lose or wear out.
The fit side is more conventional. These are in-ear earbuds with soft silicone tips in an oval shape, and the package includes extra small and large replacement tips so you can size up or down. That tip seal is what the noise isolation claim rests on — the silicone blocks ambient sound physically rather than through active electronics. It's a real advantage on a bus or in a library, and it's the opposite of ASKUBSKU's semi in-ear comfort play.
The wire is 4 feet of flexible TPE, which is on the shorter side — fine at a desk or in a pocket, less ideal if you like to move around a room. There's an in-line HD microphone and multifunction control for calls, audiobooks, video and conference use. The package includes a carrying case and the spare tips, and the brand lists a 180-day warranty. Weight is around 20 grams, so it's light. Color is a mint-green finish with a green case.
One practical quirk: on MacBooks, the brand notes you may need to go into Settings, Sound, Output or Input, and select "USB" for the earbuds to work. Small thing, but it's the kind of detail that saves you ten minutes of confusion. Compatibility is broad across modern USB-C gear — iPhone 15 and newer, Galaxy S-series and Z-series, Pixel, iPad, MacBook and OnePlus. If your device is older and still uses a 3.5mm jack, this isn't the one.
• Best for devices with a 3.5mm headphone jack → ASKUBSKU School Earbuds. Old Galaxy, Moto G, Pixel 4a/3a/5a, laptops and tablets all plug straight in.
• Best for USB-C-only devices → APETOO USB C Headphones. iPhone 15 and newer, Galaxy S-series, Pixel, iPad and MacBook without an adapter.
• Best for long-wear comfort → ASKUBSKU School Earbuds. The semi in-ear, 45-degree design is built specifically to avoid ear pressure.
• Best for blocking out background noise → APETOO USB C Headphones. The silicone in-ear tips create a physical seal that isolates ambient sound.
• Best for a secure fit you can size → APETOO USB C Headphones. Three tip sizes let you dial in the seal; ASKUBSKU relies on getting the angle right.
• Best for travel and packing → ASKUBSKU School Earbuds. The included storage case and lighter, semi in-ear shape make it easy to carry.
• Best for built-in sound processing → APETOO USB C Headphones. The digital DAC chip handles conversion inside the earbud.
• Best for older iOS devices → neither, honestly. ASKUBSKU's in-line volume control doesn't work on iOS, and APETOO needs a USB-C port.
If I had to pick one, I'd go with the APETOO USB C Headphones for most people buying today, because USB-C is where phones and tablets have landed and the built-in DAC means one less adapter to manage. The multiple ear tip sizes and the silicone seal also make the fit easier to get right. That said, if you're on an older phone or a laptop with a 3.5mm jack and you hate the pressure of deep in-ear tips, the ASKUBSKU School Earbuds are the smarter buy — the semi in-ear shape is genuinely the more comfortable long-session design. Match the plug to your device first; everything else follows from that.
FAQ
how to make wired earbuds stay in ear
how to put earbuds in your ear
For deep in-ear tips, pull the top of your ear up and back slightly to open the canal, then insert and let the tip expand. For semi in-ear designs like the ASKUBSKU pair, don't push hard — rest it at the intended angle against the ear opening. Either way, if it feels loose, try a different tip size before assuming the earbud is faulty.
how to keep earbuds in ears
Fit is the whole game. Swap tip sizes until the seal holds without pressure, and route the cable so it isn't tugging downward on the earbud. Keep the 3.5mm or USB-C port clean too — ASKUBSKU notes that dust and static in the jack can cause connection trouble, which people often mistake for a fit problem.
how to make apple wired earbuds stay in ear
If you're on an iPhone with a Lightning or 3.5mm connection, the same tip-and-angle rules apply. Note that ASKUBSKU's in-line volume control isn't available on iOS devices, and APETOO needs a USB-C port — so on older iPhones you'd want a different pair entirely.
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