How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
The Abysssea Airpods Pro 2nd/3rd is my top pick for most iPhone owners, because a certified USB-C to USB-C charging set is the one thing every current iPhone and AirPods buyer actually needs. It's not a pair of earbuds — it's the power gear that keeps them alive, and it happens to cover the widest spread of modern Apple devices of anything on this list.
• Abysssea Airpods Pro 2nd/3rd — best for charging the newest Apple audio gear; pick this if you own AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4 or AirPods Max 2 and want one cable-plus-adapter set that also handles iPhone 15, 16 and 17 families.
• Mutsrd 2 — best for older iPhones and mixed households; pick this if you still use a 3.5mm jack on a 6s-era iPhone, an iPad, a PC or an Android tablet and want two identical wired sets with an inline remote.
• Bordsek USB C — best for plug-and-play listening on USB-C phones; pick this if you want wired in-ear sound with a Hi-Res DAC chip, three sizes of silicone tips and a braided cord that resists tangling.
• CREHAO 2 — best for Lightning-port iPhones; pick this if your phone is an iPhone 14 or older with a Lightning connector and you'd rather not carry an adapter.
Let me be blunt about what this is, because the name can mislead. The Abysssea set is a charging kit: a 20W USB-C power adapter plus a USB-C to USB-C woven cable. The copper conductors carry up to 3A of current and move data at 480 Mbps. In practice that means it tops up your phone or your AirPods case at a genuinely quick rate rather than trickling, and it can also sync data if you ever need a wired connection.
The compatibility list is the reason it sits at number one in my opinion. It's built around AirPods Pro 2nd generation, AirPods Pro 3rd generation, AirPods 4 and AirPods Max 2, and it also covers the iPhone 15, 16 and 17 families. If you bought a new iPhone in the last couple of generations, you already live in USB-C land — your phone, your laptop and your earbuds case all want the same plug. One cable in your bag instead of three is a small daily win that adds up.
The safety side is where the spec sheet earns its keep. There's an MFi certified chip inside, plus multi-function protection that adjusts the current to match what the connected device is asking for. The brand describes it as safe enough to leave charging overnight, which matters if you plug in at your bedside. I'd rather have a certified chip negotiating the current than a cheap cable guessing at it.
The trade-off is simple: this is not audio gear. If you came here looking for something to put in your ears, this isn't it — it's the accessory that keeps whatever you already own running. There's also a quirk worth knowing before you buy: the manufacturer notes that if you hit an issue, reversing the USB-C plug and trying again can resolve it. That's a real-world annoyance, not a dealbreaker, and it's the kind of honesty in a listing I appreciate.
Who should buy it? Anyone with AirPods Pro 2, Pro 3, AirPods 4 or AirPods Max 2 who is tired of hunting for the right cable, and anyone who wants a spare 20W adapter that plays nicely with a recent iPhone. It's a boring purchase that you'll use every single day.
Mutsrd 2
Each set has an inline remote on the cord. You pinch it to adjust volume, control music and video playback, and answer or end calls. There's a built-in microphone, so hands-free calling works without touching your phone. The earpieces themselves are in-ear with a lightweight build the brand pitches for exercise, travel and everyday wear, with a bass-forward tuning.
Here's the practical case for it. Two identical sets means one lives in your bag and one stays at your desk, or one for you and one for a kid — the listing explicitly calls out both kids and adults. If you're still running an older iPhone or an iPad as a media device, a wired pair with a physical remote is more reliable than pairing and re-pairing Bluetooth every time you sit down. Nothing to charge, nothing to drop.
The honest trade-off: this is not the right pick if your iPhone is a 15, 16 or 17, or anything from the iPhone 7 onward. Those phones have no 3.5mm jack, and this set has no adapter in the box. The brand's own compatibility list stops at the 6s generation, so take that at face value. It's also a plastic-bodied, in-ear design with a fixed cable — fine for the job, but not meant to be babied or swapped around.
In my opinion, this is the value pick for a household with older Apple gear and a mix of devices, and the wrong pick for anyone with a current iPhone who wants to plug straight in.
The Bordsek USB C is a wired in-ear headphone that plugs into a USB-C port. The compatibility list is unusually wide for a wired set: iPhone 17e, 17 Pro Max, 17 Pro, 17 Air, 17, 16e, 16, 16 Pro Max, 16 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, 15, 15 Pro Max and 15 Plus, plus iPad Pro, MacBook Air M4 and MacBook Pro. It also covers a long list of Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel and OnePlus models with USB-C ports, so it can follow you across brands.
The audio spec is where it separates itself from a basic dongle-free pair. There's a Hi-Res DAC chip on board, which the brand says keeps sound loss to a minimum and delivers balanced bass, mids and highs. The rated frequency range is 20Hz to 20,000Hz with a dynamic driver. The in-ear shape is designed to isolate outside noise, and you get three sizes of silicone tips — small, medium and large — so you can actually find a seal instead of settling for whatever's in the box.
The cord is 4 feet and braided, with a clip included, and the brand claims the braiding helps it stay tangle-free. The ergonomic in-ear shape is pitched for extended wear — commuting, workouts, gaming, even sleeping. Controls are push-button with sound isolation handling the noise side. One practical tip straight from the listing: if audio cuts out on an Android device, enabling "USB audio routing" in Developer Options can fix it. Worth knowing before you assume the set is faulty.
The trade-offs are the usual wired ones. Four feet is fine at a desk or on a train, less convenient if you pace around while listening. There's no battery to worry about, but also no wireless freedom — and the cable is the part that eventually wears out. Also worth flagging: the connectivity field on this listing reads oddly, so I'd treat it as a straightforward wired USB-C set and nothing more exotic than that.
I recommend this one for anyone with a USB-C iPhone or a USB-C Android phone who wants wired sound with a proper DAC and a comfortable fit, and doesn't mind being tethered.
The CREHAO 2 is a two-pack of wired in-ear headphones with a Lightning connector. That's the whole pitch, and it's a good one for a specific group: people whose iPhones still use Lightning. The compatibility list runs iPhone 14, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max, 13, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max, 13 Mini, 12 Mini, 12 Pro Max, SE, 11 Pro Max, 11 Pro, XS Max, X, XR, 8, 8 Plus, 7 Plus and 7, and the brand states support for all iOS versions.
Each set has an inline controller with a single multifunctional button. One press answers or ends a call, plays or pauses, and skips tracks. Volume control sits on the same remote, and the built-in microphone handles hands-free calls so you don't have to pull the phone out of your pocket. There's noise reduction in the mix too — the listing describes an adaptive noise cancellation approach alongside the in-ear seal.
The impedance rating is 80 ohm, which is on the higher side for earbuds. In plain terms, that usually means the drivers want a bit more push to reach the same loudness, so you'll likely ride the volume a notch higher than you would with a low-impedance pair. It's not a problem on a phone, just something to expect.
Two sets in the box is the practical hook — keep one at home, one in the car, or split them between two people. The brand also backs it with an 18-month warranty, which is a longer commitment than most accessories in this category bother to state.
The trade-off is the connector. If you've moved to a USB-C iPhone 15 or newer, this set simply won't plug in, and there's no adapter included. It's also white plastic in-ear gear with a fixed cable — built to a budget, and the cable is the weak point over time. But for the Lightning era of iPhones, this is a genuinely sensible two-pack.
How We Picked
It depends on the connector. The Bordsek USB C plugs directly into a USB-C iPhone, and the Abysssea cable and adapter cover the iPhone 15, 16 and 17 families. The Mutsrd needs a 3.5mm jack, which those phones don't have, and the CREHAO needs a Lightning port, which they also don't have.
For the Mutsrd (3.5mm) and the CREHAO (Lightning), yes — neither is designed for a USB-C iPhone port. The Bordsek is built for USB-C, so no adapter is needed there.
Yes. The Mutsrd 2 and the CREHAO 2 each ship as two complete sets of earbuds, which is why they suit households or anyone who wants a spare in a second bag.
The Abysssea set. It pairs a 20W USB-C adapter with a USB-C to USB-C woven cable, carries an MFi certified chip and supports up to 3A charging, and it's listed as compatible with AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4, AirPods Max 2 and the iPhone 15, 16 and 17 lines.
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See also: wireless earbuds for iphone, APETOO USB Earbuds vs HUAZHUN iPhone, earbuds for iphone