How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you're still plugging wired earbuds into a phone in 2026, the Pcwfbzf 2 is my top pick: it's the only set here that ships as a two-pack with a built-in DAC chip, so you get clean USB-C audio on a modern iPhone or Android device plus a spare pair for your bag.
• Pcwfbzf 2 — best for USB-C phones and tablets that need a spare pair; pick this if you want a two-pack with a built-in DAC chip, metal-plated connectors and a 1-meter cable.
• CREHAO Earbuds — best for older 3.5mm gear and school or call use; pick this if your device still has a headphone jack and you want an 80-ohm dynamic driver with a gold-plated plug.
• Joysico USB C Headphones — best for running and small ears; pick this if you want an over-ear hook that stays put, four ear-tip options and a shirt clip.
• AIAUXAI USB C Headphones — best for travel and right-angle jack setups; pick this if you want a compact set with a right-angle plug, a mini carry case and three tip sizes.
This is a two-pack of USB-C in-ear earphones in white, meant for anyone who has moved past the headphone jack and doesn't want to think about it again. You get two identical sets, which sounds like a small thing until you're the person who leaves earbuds in a jacket pocket or a work bag and needs a second pair by the afternoon.
The spec that matters most is the built-in DAC chip. A lot of cheap USB-C earphones just pass a digital signal through and hope the phone does the work; the DAC here is there to convert that signal properly, and the manufacturer specifically calls out that this is what keeps buzzing, popping and other distortion out of the chain. Paired with a 20–20,000 Hz dynamic driver, that's a normal full-range setup — nothing exotic, but the right foundation for music, podcasts and calls.
The metal-plated connectors are worth a mention too. USB-C ports are small and the failure point on wired earphones is almost always the plug end, so plating against poor contact is a sensible place to spend money. The cable runs 1 meter, which is about right for pocket or desk use and short enough that it won't snag on everything. There's inline volume and media control on the remote, and the magnetic housings let the two buds clasp together around your neck so they don't turn into a knot in your pocket.
Compatibility is the headline feature: iPhone 17, 17 Air, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, iPhone 16 and 15 families, several iPad Pro and iPad Mini generations, MacBook Air and Pro, Galaxy S23 down to S21, Galaxy Tab S8 and S7, and Pixel 6 through 3a. If your device has a USB-C audio port, this is likely on the list.
The main trade-off: there's no active noise cancelling here, and the listing says as much. You get the passive isolation of a rounded in-ear tip and nothing more, so on a plane or a loud train you'll still hear the room. It's also a USB-C-only product — no 3.5mm option — so it's a non-starter for older gear.
The CREHAO set is the one to look at if your world still runs on 3.5mm. It's a two-pack of white in-ear earphones with a 24K gold-plated 3.5mm plug, and the gold plating is a practical choice rather than a decorative one: it resists the corrosion that eventually kills cheap plugs.
The spec sheet lists an 80-ohm impedance, which is unusually high for budget earbuds — most sit far lower. Higher impedance generally means the drivers ask more of whatever is feeding them, so these are happiest plugged into something with a bit of output behind it: a laptop, a desktop, a gaming controller, a Kindle Fire, a Switch, an MP3 player, a mixer or streaming gear. On a phone they'll still work, but they may play a little quieter than a low-impedance set. The frequency range is the standard 20 Hz–20,000 Hz, and the driver is dynamic.
Where these earn their place is voice work. The inline microphone is described as high-sensitivity and multi-directional, and the manufacturer positions the set for Zoom and Skype calls, online classes, language practice and tests. That's a specific, believable use case: a wired mic sitting near your mouth beats a laptop's built-in array for anything where people need to hear you clearly. The inline remote covers play/pause, volume, answering and ending calls, waking a voice assistant and even a camera shutter.
Compatibility is broad and old-school: iPhone SE through 5s, iPad Mini and Air, iPod touch and Nano, Samsung Galaxy, Android phones and tablets, Windows devices, consoles and MP3/MP4 players. If it has a headphone jack, it probably works.
The trade-offs are real. Noise control is passive only, so isolation comes from the tip fit and nothing else. And the 3.5mm plug means these simply don't connect to a modern USB-C or Lightning-only phone without an adapter, which the set doesn't include. Buy these for the devices that still have the jack.
The Joysico set is the sports pick, and it's the only one here with an over-ear hook design. The wire wraps around the back of your ear, which is the single most effective way to stop earbuds from working their way out mid-run. The hook itself is soft and thin enough that the manufacturer notes you can wear glasses over it, and there's a shirt clip to stop the cable from swinging around.
For fit, you get four eartip options: small, medium and large silicone plus an extra pair of memory foam. That's a genuine advantage if you have small ear canals — kids, teens and petite adults are called out specifically — because most budget earbuds ship with one or two sizes and assume everyone has the same ears. The buds themselves are lightweight, around 20 grams for the set, with 9mm dynamic drivers and 32-ohm impedance, which is an easy load for a phone to drive.
Audio is described as balanced rather than bass-heavy: strong low end for workouts, clear mids and crisp highs for music, audiobooks, podcasts and radio. The cable is 131 cm and described as thick and sturdy, with a reinforced sweatproof plug — and the plug is deliberately tuned to sit firm without being so tight you risk damaging the port when you pull it out.
Calls run through an inline mic positioned just below the jaw, with buttons for answering, ending, skipping tracks, volume and voice assistant. Worth reading the fine print: the manufacturer states the remote functions don't work on every device or app, and volume control may not work on some laptops. It works with MacBook Pro, but check your model.
There's also a practical note in the listing that you should take seriously — these won't work with 3.5mm or Lightning phones, and unlisted USB-C devices may connect for audio but lose some mic or remote functions. If your phone is on the supported list, you're fine.
The AIAUXAI set is the travel-friendly option. It's a single pair of black USB-C in-ear earphones with a right-angle plug, and that angled connector is more useful than it sounds: it keeps the cable running down the side of the phone instead of sticking straight out, which matters when the phone is in a pocket or clamped in a car mount.
The kit is small but complete — one pair of earbuds, a mini carrying case and three pairs of silicone tips in small, medium and large. The case is the detail I'd actually notice day to day, since loose earbuds in a bag is how cables get destroyed. The TPE enclosure and silicone caps are there for comfort and passive noise isolation, and the manufacturer pitches the in-ear seal as a way to cut down on surrounding noise without any electronics doing the work.
Inside, you get high-fidelity stereo drivers plus a DAC chip, which is the same approach as my top pick — proper digital-to-analog conversion rather than leaving it to the phone. The sound is described as deep bass with crisp trebles. Sensitivity is listed at 105 dB with a 20 Hz low-end response, which suggests these will play loud without much effort from the source. Controls are inline: volume, track skipping and call handling via the mic.
Compatibility covers iPhone Air, 17e, 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, the 16 and 15 families including 16e, plus iPad Pro, iPad 10th and 11th gen A16, iPad Air 6/5/4, iPad Mini 6 and Mini 7. It's a plug-and-play set with no adapters or software needed.
The trade-offs: it's one pair, not two, so there's no spare if you lose it. Noise control is sound isolation only — no active cancelling. And the age guidance is over 7 years old, which is worth heeding if you're buying for a younger child who might chew the cable.
We compared the published specifications and features of each set — connector type, driver and impedance figures, ear-tip options, inline controls, cable length and stated device compatibility — and matched them against common ways people actually use wired earbuds: commuting, calls and classes, running, and travel.
The ranking is our own independent editorial opinion based on those specs, and no brand paid for placement or had any say in the order.
Yes, if it's a USB-C iPhone — the 15, 16 and 17 families are supported by the USB-C sets here. Older Lightning iPhones need a different connector and won't work with these.
It helps. A DAC converts the digital signal into audio, and having one built in is what the Pcwfbzf and AIAUXAI sets credit for clean sound without buzzing or popping. Phones with USB-C audio output often handle this internally, but a dedicated chip is a reasonable safeguard.
Impedance is usually the reason. The CREHAO set is rated at 80 ohm, which asks more of the source, while the Joysico's 32 ohm is easier to drive from a phone. Higher impedance isn't worse — it's just a better match for laptops, consoles and other gear with more output.
Noise cancelling uses electronics to actively counteract sound, and none of these sets have it. Noise isolating means the ear tip physically blocks outside sound, which is what all four rely on — so a good seal with the right tip size does most of the work.
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.
See also: Generic Speak Translation Earbuds vs LAISANIM Headphones Headphones, earbuds headphones, headphones earbuds