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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a wired USB-C headphone you can wear for hours and fold away when you're done, choose Audio-Technica ATH-S120C-LV; if you need a compact in-ear set for running and everyday carry, choose HGCXING USB C Headphone. That's the short version. One is an on-ear, fold-flat design from a long-established audio brand; the other is a small right-angle in-ear with a carry case. If you're hunting for the best Bluetooth headphones for running, neither of these is that — both are wired USB-C sets — but if you specifically want a wired headset for running that plugs straight into a USB-C phone, the HGCXING is the one built for that job.
• Audio-Technica ATH-S120C-LV — biggest strength: on-ear comfort with a lightweight, compact build, flat-folding housings, and full inline control over volume, tracks and calls.
• Audio-Technica ATH-S120C-LV — biggest trade-off: it's an on-ear wired set with sound isolation rather than active noise cancellation, and it's not a sport-focused fit, so it's not my first pick for sweaty runs.
• HGCXING USB C Headphone — biggest strength: in-ear ergonomics with a right-angle USB-C plug, a built-in mic and remote, plus a zipper storage case that makes it genuinely pocketable.
• HGCXING USB C Headphone — biggest trade-off: in-ear buds sit inside the ear canal and block outside sound, which is a real consideration if you run near traffic.
• Who the Audio-Technica is for: people who want comfortable all-day listening at a desk, on a commute, or on the couch, and who value a foldable design.
• Who the HGCXING is for: people who want a small, tangle-resistant in-ear wired set they can drop in a case and take anywhere — including a run.
The ATH-S120C-LV is an on-ear wired headphone with a USB-C connector, and the spec sheet tells you most of what you need to know. The housings fold flat, the ear placement is on-ear with fabric and silicone surfaces, and the whole thing is described as lightweight and compact. That combination is a very specific pitch: it's a headphone you can leave plugged into a laptop or tablet, use for hours, then fold and toss in a bag. If long listening sessions are your normal, that flat-fold compactness is a bigger deal than it sounds — on-ear designs that don't collapse are the ones that end up permanently on your desk.
Who should buy it? Anyone who wants a comfortable, foldable on-ear wired headphone for work, study, travel or movie nights, and who is happy to plug into USB-C rather than deal with charging. The brand has been making audio gear since 1962, and the model carries a two-year warranty, which is a meaningful durability signal for a wired set. Who should skip it? Runners, mainly. There's no sport fit, no sweat-resistance claim in the data, and an on-ear frame is more likely to shift around when you move. If your priority is running, this isn't the shape I'd reach for.
HGCXING USB C Headphone: Who It's For
The HGCXING USB C Headphone goes the other direction entirely: it's an in-ear bud with a right-angle USB-C plug, and that right angle is the detail that makes it interesting. A straight plug sticking out of a phone is the number one thing that snags on pockets and gets bent; an L-shaped connector sits flush against the device and takes the leverage off the port. The style name literally calls it out as a right-angle USB-C earphone, so this isn't an afterthought — it's the core design idea. Add a tangle-resistant oxygen-free copper cable and the result is a wired set that behaves well in a pocket or a small bag.
Sound is handled by a dynamic driver with 32 ohm impedance, 105 dB sensitivity and a stated frequency response of 2000 hertz, and the manufacturer describes an upgraded DAC chip converting standard-resolution audio to lossless, with noise-canceling-style isolation that wraps the music into your ear. I'd treat the DAC wording as a design claim about the internal conversion rather than a laboratory result, but the practical point stands: this is an in-ear design, and in-ears seal the canal, which is why they isolate so effectively in noisy places. The ergonomic shell is described as fitting without pain over long wear.
Controls are on a button remote with an inline mic for play, pause, track skipping, volume and hands-free calls. In the box you get the earphone and a small zipper storage case, and the spec sheet lists the carrying case as a built-in media item alongside the headphones themselves. The enclosure materials — copper, metal, polycarbonate and stainless steel — read as a mix of lightweight and rigid rather than flimsy plastic throughout. Warranty is eight months, and the age range is listed as over six years old.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for long listening sessions → Audio-Technica ATH-S120C-LV. On-ear fit, lightweight build, and a design explicitly aimed at comfort over extended use.
• Best for running and moving around → HGCXING USB C Headphone. In-ear buds stay in place, and the right-angle plug sits flush against your phone instead of levering out of a pocket.
• Best for portability → HGCXING USB C Headphone. Buds plus a small zipper case pack down smaller than any on-ear frame, even a folding one.
• Best for storage at a desk → Audio-Technica ATH-S120C-LV. The housings fold flat, so they disappear into a drawer or laptop bag instead of living on your desk.
• Best for cable controls → a tie, with a nuance. Both offer play/pause, track skipping, volume and a mic; the Audio-Technica uses an inline remote, the HGCXING uses push buttons on a remote.
• Best for blocking out a noisy commute → HGCXING USB C Headphone. In-ear canal sealing is the stronger isolation of the two designs; the Audio-Technica relies on on-ear sound isolation.
• Best for hearing your surroundings → Audio-Technica ATH-S120C-LV. An on-ear fit leaks in more outside sound, which is often what you want in an office or at home.
• Best warranty coverage → Audio-Technica ATH-S120C-LV. Two years versus eight months, per the spec sheets.
My Verdict
For running, I'd go with the HGCXING. It's an in-ear bud with a right-angle USB-C plug, so it stays seated and the connector won't catch on clothing or an armband. The Audio-Technica is an on-ear design with no sport-specific fit claimed in its specs.
Neither lists active noise cancellation. Both list sound isolation — the Audio-Technica through its on-ear fit, and the HGCXING through in-ear sealing, which generally blocks more outside sound.
Yes, on both. The Audio-Technica has an inline mic and controls for play/pause, track skipping, volume and call answer/end. The HGCXING has a push-button remote with a built-in mic covering the same functions.
I don't quote prices here — check the current price on Amazon using the button on this page. On specs alone, the HGCXING adds a storage case and a right-angle plug, while the Audio-Technica adds flat-folding housings and a two-year warranty.
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