If you want a Bluetooth transmitter and noise-canceling earbuds for flights and other audio sources, choose Avantree SoundJet R1&; if you need open-ear clip-on earbuds with longer stated total playback, choose TOZO NC3. For side sleepers, I’d lean toward the TOZO’s open-ear design, while the Avantree bundle makes more sense when travel connectivity and an airplane transmitter matter most.
Avantree SoundJet R1& vs TOZO NC3 at a Glance
• TOZO NC3 — biggest strength: Its clip-on open-ear design and claimed playback of up to 10 hours per charge, with 30 more hours from the case, suit longer stretches between charging. Trade-off: It does not include the Avantree bundle’s AUX-connected Bluetooth transmitter.
• Choose Avantree if you want one bundle for wireless listening from a phone or from an AUX-equipped source such as an airplane entertainment system.
• Choose TOZO if you prefer open-ear earbuds, touch controls, and a charging case with a digital display.
• These are different kinds of products despite sharing wireless audio and noise-cancellation features. The key question is not just how much noise they claim to reduce. It’s whether you want an in-ear earbud-and-transmitter system or a clip-on open-ear design, and which setup better fits how you listen.
Avantree SoundJet R1& is the more travel-focused option. The bundle includes wireless earbuds and a Bluetooth transmitter that connects to an audio source through a 3.5mm AUX port. That connection can matter on a flight, where the entertainment system may provide audio through an AUX output rather than through Bluetooth. The transmitter can also be used with other AUX-equipped devices, including a TV or tablet.
The earbuds can connect directly to a phone or another Bluetooth-enabled device without using the transmitter. That gives the bundle two practical roles: earbuds for everyday wireless listening, and a separate transmitter for sending sound from an AUX source to Bluetooth headphones. The listed Bluetooth version is 5.3. Hybrid active noise cancellation is specified to reduce environmental noise by up to 24dB, while Ambient Mode uses built-in microphones to pass surrounding sound through to the listener. That mode is useful when you want to hear more of what is happening nearby without treating the earbuds as a fully isolating option.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
The in-ear fit is the central trade-off. If you sleep on your side and do not like pressure from an in-ear fit against a pillow, that design may be a drawback. Skip the Avantree if your main priority is an open-ear clip-on fit for side sleeping.
The listed audio details include a balanced armature driver and a frequency range of 20Hz to 20,000Hz. Those are specifications, not a guarantee of how the earbuds will sound to every listener. The more concrete reason to choose this set is its combination of ANC earbuds and an AUX-connected transmitter. It is particularly relevant to travelers who want to use an airplane entertainment system, while still being able to pair the earbuds directly with a phone at other times.
TOZO NC3 takes a different approach. It is described as an open-ear earbud with a secure clip-on design, rather than an in-ear model. The stated weight is 5.1g per earbud. That combination may appeal to someone who wants to avoid an earbud sitting inside the ear canal, including a side sleeper considering earphones for side sleepers. Fit is personal, though, and the information provided does not establish that every ear or pillow position will feel comfortable.
The NC3 lists hybrid active noise cancellation with noise reduction of up to 45dB. It also has six microphones, which are described as detecting ambient noise and adjusting the noise reduction level, as well as touch controls for calls and music. Those features make it a plausible choice for people who switch between listening and taking calls. The open-ear placement is an important distinction: it is not the same physical design as Avantree’s in-ear ANC earbuds, so shoppers should not assume the two will block or present surrounding sound in the same way.
Battery details are a notable part of the NC3’s appeal. TOZO states up to 10 hours of playback on a single charge, with up to 30 additional hours supplied by the case, for a stated total of up to 40 hours. The case has a digital display and supports Type-C charging. That can make it easier to check the case’s charge status and plan charging, although actual playback time can vary with use. The sheet identifies a dynamic driver but does not provide a frequency range, so there is not enough information here to make a direct technical sound-range comparison with the Avantree.
For someone searching for USB-C charging ear clip headphones for side sleepers, the clip-on form and Type-C case charging are the strongest points to weigh. The TOZO is also the more natural fit for a listener who wants a deep bass headphone for side sleepers only if their priority is the open-ear wearing style; the provided specifications do not establish bass performance. Skip the TOZO if you specifically need a Bluetooth transmitter for an AUX-equipped airplane or TV audio source.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for connecting to an AUX-equipped airplane entertainment system → Avantree SoundJet R1&. Its included Bluetooth transmitter is designed to send audio from a 3.5mm AUX source to wireless headphones.
• Best for an open-ear clip-on design → TOZO NC3. Its stated design clips onto the ear rather than sitting in the ear in the conventional in-ear style.
• Best for stated total playback across earbuds and case → TOZO NC3. It lists up to 10 hours per charge and up to 30 additional hours from its case.
• Best for a stated ANC reduction figure → TOZO NC3. Its listed maximum is up to 45dB, compared with up to 24dB for Avantree. These figures alone do not tell you how either will sound or feel in every environment.
• Best for a choice between ANC and an ambient listening mode → Avantree SoundJet R1&. Its Ambient Mode uses built-in microphones to transmit environmental sound.
• Best for touch-operated call and music controls → TOZO NC3. Touch controls are specified for answering or ending calls and managing music.
• Best for a bundle built around travel and multiple audio sources → Avantree SoundJet R1&. The earbuds can connect directly to Bluetooth devices, and the transmitter can be used separately with an AUX source.
Think about how you sleep, not just the product label. TOZO’s open-ear clip-on shape is the more obvious design to consider if you want earphones for side sleepers, since it does not place an earpiece inside the ear in the same way as Avantree. But the listed design and 5.1g weight do not prove that the clip will stay comfortable against every pillow. If you are choosing specifically for side sleeping, fit and pressure are personal concerns worth keeping in mind.
Separate ANC figures from real-world fit. The sheets give maximum noise-reduction figures of up to 24dB for Avantree and up to 45dB for TOZO. Those numbers provide a specification to compare, but they do not establish identical measurement conditions or tell you precisely what you will hear on a bus, plane, or busy street. The designs differ too: Avantree is in-ear and includes Ambient Mode; TOZO is open-ear and lists its own hybrid ANC system.
Ask whether you need the transmitter. If you expect to listen to built-in entertainment on a plane or audio from a TV with an AUX port, Avantree’s transmitter is a distinct functional advantage. If your listening mostly comes from a Bluetooth phone, that extra component may not be central to your decision. TOZO’s case display and Type-C charging may matter more if you want to keep track of charging and value its stated combined playback time.
Treat audio descriptors cautiously. Avantree lists a balanced armature driver and a 20Hz–20,000Hz frequency range; TOZO lists a dynamic driver but no frequency range. Neither sheet supplies enough information to establish which one has stronger bass or sounds better overall. In particular, a search for a deep bass headphone for side sleepers cannot be answered confidently from these specifications alone.
I’d choose the TOZO NC3 if I were prioritizing side sleeping, because its open-ear clip-on design is the closer match for someone avoiding an in-ear shape. Its stated playback and Type-C case charging add useful practical detail. I would choose Avantree instead for regular flights or any setup where the AUX-to-Bluetooth transmitter solves a real connection problem. My side-sleeper recommendation is TOZO, with the caveat that comfort depends on how its clip fits your ear and pillow.
TOZO NC3 has the open-ear clip-on design, while Avantree SoundJet R1& is an in-ear model. That makes TOZO the more relevant design to consider for side sleeping, though comfort will depend on your fit and sleeping position.
TOZO lists hybrid ANC with noise reduction of up to 45dB; Avantree lists up to 24dB and also has an Ambient Mode. The stated figures are not enough to predict exactly how either will perform in a particular room or commute.
The included transmitter is intended for audio devices with a 3.5mm AUX connection, including in-flight entertainment systems. The earbuds can also connect directly to a Bluetooth-enabled phone or other device.
TOZO states up to 10 hours on a single charge and up to 30 additional hours from the charging case. Avantree’s provided information does not specify battery-life figures, so a direct runtime comparison is not possible from these details.
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