If you want a tool for removing a broken headphone plug from a 3.5mm jack, choose GripperX Headphone Plug Extraction; if you need USB-C audio and charging at the same time, choose Subynanal USB c. For cycling, the key difference is that neither is an earbud or a pair of headphones: GripperX is for a repair problem, while Subynanal is an adapter for compatible wired headphones and a USB-C device.
GripperX Headphone Plug Extraction vs Subynanal USB c at a Glance
• Subynanal USB c: Its strength is combining a 3.5mm audio connection with USB-C charging. Its trade-off is that it does not support data transfer and works only with compatible USB-C devices.
• Choose GripperX if a broken headphone plug is stuck in a phone, laptop, or other small device with a 3.5mm jack.
• Choose Subynanal if you want to connect wired 3.5mm headphones to a compatible USB-C device while charging.
• These products do not solve the same everyday problem. One is a repair tool; the other is an audio-and-charging adapter. That distinction matters more than any minor spec comparison. If your headphones are working and you need a way to use them with a USB-C device, GripperX is the wrong type of product. If a plug tip is lodged in a headphone jack, Subynanal cannot remove it.
• For cycling, that means the right choice depends on what is actually missing from your setup. If you are shopping for clip on earbuds for cycling, neither product supplies earbuds. Subynanal may connect compatible wired headphones to a USB-C device, but that is not the same as buying cycling audio gear. GripperX only becomes relevant if a broken plug is blocking a 3.5mm jack you need to use.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-19 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
This is a narrowly useful tool for someone dealing with a specific hardware problem. If a plug has snapped off in a device’s 3.5mm port, GripperX is designed for that task. It is not an audio adapter, a headphone, or a tool for improving sound. Its purpose is to help clear the jack so the port can potentially be used again.
The trade-off is caution. The opening is sharp, and inserting too far or rotating the tool can damage the device. The product is also described as a single-use tool, with no guarantees implied or expressed. Its instructions recommend gloves and pliers, so I would not treat it as a casual accessory to poke into a port without care. Skip it if your headphone jack is working normally or if what you need is a way to connect 3.5mm headphones to USB-C.
Subynanal is a compact USB-C adapter with a 3.5mm audio jack and a separate USB-C charging connection. Its main use is straightforward: connect compatible wired headphones to a USB-C device, then charge that device at the same time. It supports music playback, calls, and volume control while charging, according to its listed features.
The adapter is a better fit for someone whose phone or tablet has USB-C but who wants to keep using 3.5mm headphones. Its cable is listed as 13 cm long, and setup is described as plug-and-play without installing a driver or app. It supports PD 3.0 charging up to 60 W, though the listing notes that compatibility with QC may vary on some newer phones and suggests a PD charger for faster charging.
There are limits. It does not support data transfer, and it cannot extract a broken headphone plug from a 3.5mm jack. The stated compatibility covers a range of USB-C phones, tablets, and other devices, but compatibility should still be checked for the particular device. This is an adapter, not a wireless headset or a pair of clip-on earbuds. For someone seeking the best wireless headphones for cycling, it does not meet that need on its own.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• A broken plug is lodged in a 3.5mm jack → GripperX Headphone Plug Extraction. It is specifically designed to enclose and pull out a broken plug tip.
• You want to use wired 3.5mm headphones with a USB-C device → Subynanal USB c. It provides the audio connection that the USB-C device may lack.
• You need a tool for a phone or laptop’s 3.5mm jack → GripperX Headphone Plug Extraction. Its intended use includes 3.5mm jacks on phones, laptops, and smaller devices.
• You need file or other data transfer through an adapter → Neither. Subynanal explicitly does not support data transfer, and GripperX is an extraction tool.
• You want a solution for cycling audio → Neither is a complete headphone solution. Subynanal can connect compatible wired headphones to a USB-C device, but neither product is itself an earbud or headphone.
• You want to avoid inserting a tool into a device port → Subynanal USB c, if your goal is audio connectivity. GripperX requires careful insertion and pulling, so it only makes sense when addressing a broken plug.
For the cycling question, it helps to separate audio preference from device compatibility. A shopper searching for the best volume limiting clip on earbuds for cycling is looking for a product with earbuds and a volume-limiting feature. Neither item’s listed features provide that. Subynanal is useful only as a connection option for compatible wired headphones; it does not claim to limit volume. GripperX does not handle audio at all.
That also makes the choice easy if your need is unrelated to cycling. A damaged jack points toward GripperX. A working USB-C device and wired headphones point toward Subynanal. If neither situation describes you, these two products are not substitutes for the cycling audio product you have in mind.
My Verdict
No. It is a USB-C-to-3.5mm audio and charging adapter. GripperX is the product here designed to extract a broken plug tip from a 3.5mm jack.
Yes, that is its intended two-in-one use. It supports PD 3.0 charging up to 60 W, but it does not support data transfer, and the listing notes that QC may not work with some newer phones.
Its instructions warn that inserting it too far or rotating it may damage the device, and that its opening is sharp. The listed guidance recommends gloves and pliers, so careful handling is important.
Neither is a pair of cycling headphones or earbuds. Subynanal can connect compatible wired 3.5mm headphones to a USB-C device, but it does not provide wireless audio or a volume-limiting feature. GripperX is for removing a broken plug.
• Adhiper Studio3 vs Behringer HPS3000: Studio Over Ear
• headset for iphone 17 pro max
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.