We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-25 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want to repair the headphone jack on a MacBook Air and keep using the port Apple gave you, choose HAWSON A1932; if you need a pair of USB-C earbuds that actually plug into a modern laptop or phone and just work, choose Sanluba USB C Headphones. These two products share a keyword and almost nothing else — one is a repair part, the other is a listening device — but both come up when people search for headphones for a MacBook, so it's worth untangling which one you actually need before you buy the wrong thing.
• HAWSON A1932 — biggest strength: it restores the built-in 3.5 mm headphone jack on a specific MacBook Air, so you get audio back without a dongle.
• HAWSON A1932 — biggest trade-off: it is a bare internal component with a flex cable. It does nothing on its own, fits only one laptop, and installs with a level of disassembly most people won't want to attempt.
• Sanluba USB C Headphones — biggest strength: a complete, ready-to-use wired USB-C earphone with an in-line remote, microphone, and active noise cancellation built in.
• Sanluba USB C Headphones — biggest trade-off: it's wired, so you're tethered to the device, and it needs a USB-C audio port to function at all.
• Who each is for: HAWSON A1932 is for a confident repairer with a 2018–2019 MacBook Air Retina 13"; Sanluba is for anyone who just wants to plug in and listen.
The HAWSON A1932 is not a pair of headphones. It's the audio board and headphone jack connector that lives inside a MacBook Air Retina 13" A1932 from the 2018 or 2019 model year. If the 3.5 mm jack on that machine has stopped working — crackling, cutting out, or dead — this is the replacement part that brings it back. It ships as a board with a flex cable attached, in a white finish, and HAWSON states each unit is tested before shipping. In other words, it's a targeted fix for one very specific failure on one very specific laptop.
Who should buy it? Someone comfortable opening a laptop, following a teardown guide, and handling small ribbon connectors. The product's own guidance is blunt about this: it's not an easy job for anyone without technical skill in disassembling and assembling laptops, and you should only buy it if you already know how to install it. If that's you, and you've confirmed your machine is a 2018 or 2019 A1932, this is the part that lets you go back to plugging ordinary wired headphones straight into the MacBook — no adapter, no USB-C audio conversion.
Sanluba USB C Headphones: Who It's For
The Sanluba USB C Headphones are the opposite kind of product: a finished, plug-and-play set of wired in-ear earphones that terminate in a USB-C connector. There's no 3.5 mm plug here at all. The cable itself is the interface, and the earphones are built around an enhanced DAC, which is the piece that converts digital audio into something your ears can hear. That matters on laptops and phones that dropped the analog jack, because a plain passive adapter can't always do that conversion — a headset like this handles it internally.
Feature-wise, Sanluba packs in the things people use every day. There's an in-line remote for volume, playback, and calls, plus a built-in microphone for hands-free conversation. Active noise cancellation is listed as the noise-control method, aimed at cutting down background rumble on commutes, flights, or in a shared office. The build uses a tangle-free TPE cable with soft, skin-friendly materials and a reinforced, corrosion-resistant construction, and the earpieces are in-ear with an ergonomic fit intended for long sessions. Color is white, and it's sold as a two-piece set with a one-year warranty.
Compatibility is where you need to pay attention. Sanluba lists the iPhone 15, 16, and 17 series (including Plus, Pro, and Pro Max), a long list of Samsung Galaxy models from the S22 through S25, several Galaxy A-series phones, and the Z Fold and Z Flip lines — plus any other device with a USB-C audio port. On the laptop side, that last phrase is the key: a USB-C port that supports audio output. Most modern MacBooks with USB-C or Thunderbolt ports handle USB-C audio, which is why these earphones are a natural fit for a MacBook owner who wants wired listening without hunting for a dongle.
Who should skip them? Anyone who needs a 3.5 mm plug, anyone who dislikes being tethered by a cable, and anyone whose device's USB-C port doesn't carry audio. And obviously, if your problem is a broken internal jack, these earphones won't fix it.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for plug-and-play listening on a USB-C MacBook → Sanluba USB C Headphones.
• Best for hands-free calls and in-line volume control → Sanluba, which has a microphone and remote built into the cable.
• Best for blocking out background noise → Sanluba, which lists active noise cancellation; the HAWSON part has no audio features of its own.
• Best for a no-tools, zero-risk purchase → Sanluba. The HAWSON part requires laptop disassembly and technical skill.
• Best for a very specific repair → HAWSON A1932, but only if your machine is confirmed as a 2018 or 2019 A1932.
• Best for durability on the move → Sanluba, with its tangle-free TPE cable and reinforced, corrosion-resistant build.
• Best if you're not sure what's wrong with your laptop → neither, yet. Diagnose first; a replacement board won't help a software or driver issue.
In my opinion, the Sanluba USB C Headphones are the safer buy for the vast majority of people searching this comparison, because they're a complete product that works the moment you plug them in, and they suit any USB-C audio device rather than one laptop model. I'd only choose the HAWSON A1932 if I owned a 2018 or 2019 MacBook Air Retina 13", the jack had genuinely failed, and I was confident doing the repair myself. If any of those three conditions is missing, the HAWSON part is the wrong tool. Check the current price on Amazon for whichever one matches your situation, and confirm your exact model year before ordering the repair board.
how to use headphones for macbook
On a MacBook that still has a 3.5 mm jack, plug any standard wired headphone straight in and macOS routes the audio automatically. On a USB-C-only MacBook, use a headset with a USB-C connector — like the Sanluba — or a USB-C audio adapter, and select the device under Sound settings. If the jack itself is dead on an A1932 MacBook Air, no headphone will work until the audio board is replaced.
how to connect headphones macbook
Wired headphones connect physically: 3.5 mm into the headphone port, or USB-C into a USB-C port that supports audio. Once connected, open System Settings, go to Sound, and pick the headphones as the output device. Wireless headphones pair over Bluetooth from the same settings panel.
how to connect headphones macbook air
MacBook Air models vary. Older ones with a 3.5 mm jack accept ordinary wired headphones directly, while newer USB-C models need either a USB-C headset or an adapter. The Sanluba USB C Headphones are designed for that USB-C audio connection. If audio only comes out of the speakers, check the Sound output setting first.
how to use headphones macbook pro
The same rules apply. Plug a 3.5 mm headphone into the jack if your MacBook Pro has one, or use a USB-C headset if it doesn't. Then confirm the output in Sound settings. If nothing registers on any port, the issue is likely the port or the internal audio hardware rather than the headphones.
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