We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-06 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want to add ports, video output and a headphone jack to a MacBook in one plug, choose HUBFINDER USB C Hub; if you need a cheap, wired, plug-and-play set of earphones for a MacBook's 3.5mm jack, choose AIAUXAI Earbuds Headphones. These two products barely overlap — one is a 9-in-1 USB-C dock built around a MacBook's port shortage, the other is a basic wired in-ear headset. But if your actual goal is headphones for a MacBook, the comparison is more useful than it looks, because the HUBFINDER hub is one of the few ways to give a jack-less MacBook a 3.5mm port again, while the AIAUXAI buds are what you plug into it.
• HUBFINDER USB C Hub — biggest strength: 9 ports in one adapter — 4K@30Hz HDMI, three USB 3.0 data ports at up to 5Gbps, a USB-C data port, SD/TF card slots, 100W power delivery pass-through, and a 3.5mm audio jack with a built-in DAC (up to 384kHz/32-bit output).
• HUBFINDER USB C Hub — biggest trade-off: it is a dongle, not audio gear. It gets warm (the spec sheet notes around 50°C is normal under full load), its USB-C port carries data only — no video — and it needs an HDMI-to-HDMI cable for display output.
• AIAUXAI Earbuds Headphones — biggest strength: dead-simple wired listening. 3.5mm plug, 14.2mm dynamic drivers, 20Hz–20kHz range, 32 ohm impedance, 105dB sensitivity, an in-line remote with a mic, and a 3.93 ft cable with a reinforced joint.
• AIAUXAI Earbuds Headphones — biggest trade-off: it is wired-only and needs a 3.5mm socket. On a newer MacBook with USB-C only, it needs an adapter — which is exactly where the HUBFINDER comes in.
• Who each pick is for: pick the HUBFINDER if your MacBook is short on ports and you want display, data, charging and audio from one plug. Pick the AIAUXAI if you just want inexpensive wired earphones with a mic for calls, classes and video.
The HUBFINDER hub's real job is to undo the modern MacBook's port diet. On a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro with two USB-C ports, it turns one of them into nine connections: HDMI for a monitor or projector, three USB 3.0 ports for drives, keyboards and mice, a USB-C data port, SD and microSD slots for camera cards, a 100W PD charging port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. That last one matters here. Apple dropped the headphone jack on MacBooks years ago, and this hub hands it back — with a built-in DAC that processes the digital signal into Hi-Res audio up to 384kHz/32-bit and supports microphone input, so a headset mic works, not just playback.
The charging side is genuinely useful for a laptop desk setup. The PD port passes up to 85W through to your MacBook (the hub itself consumes 5–15W), so you can run a monitor, a hard drive and charge the laptop from a single cable. The three USB 3.0 ports move data at up to 5Gbps, which is fine for external SSDs, thumb drives and card offloads. One caveat from the spec sheet: when you connect a hard drive for file transfers, power the hub through the 5V USB-C port to keep transfers stable.
AIAUXAI Earbuds Headphones: Who It's For
The AIAUXAI earbuds are the other end of the spectrum: a plain, wired 3.5mm headset. The spec sheet describes a 35-degree in-ear design with silicone tips, 14.2mm dynamic drivers, a 20Hz–20kHz frequency range, 32 ohm impedance and 105dB sensitivity — numbers that tell you these are easy to drive from a laptop jack, a phone jack or a game console controller. No battery, no pairing, no charging case to lose.
The practical features are aimed at everyday use. There is an in-line remote with a built-in HD microphone for play/pause, track skipping and answering or ending calls, so you do not have to reach for your phone mid-call. The cable runs 3.93 ft and the joint between the buds and cable is reinforced, which is the failure point on most cheap wired earphones. Sound isolation comes from the in-ear seal rather than active noise cancelling — worth knowing if you expected true ANC from the "noise cancelling" wording in the listing title. You also get two pairs of eartips and a carrying box, and the set is rated for ages 7 and up with a 1-year warranty.
Who should buy it: students, commuters, office workers and anyone who wants a backup wired headset for a laptop, Chromebook, tablet, Switch or phone with a 3.5mm jack. Who should skip it: anyone who wants wireless freedom, active noise cancellation, or a USB-C plug. On a newer MacBook with no headphone jack, these only work through an adapter.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for adding a headphone jack to a jack-less MacBook → HUBFINDER USB C Hub (3.5mm port with built-in DAC and mic support)
• Best for cheap wired earphones with a mic → AIAUXAI Earbuds Headphones (in-line remote, HD mic, 3.5mm plug)
• Best for charging while you work → HUBFINDER USB C Hub (100W PD port, up to 85W pass-through to the laptop)
• Best for low-hassle listening on any device with a jack → AIAUXAI Earbuds Headphones (no pairing, no battery, 32 ohm / 105dB — easy to drive)
• Best for travel light → AIAUXAI Earbuds Headphones (0.02 kg and a 3.93 ft cable versus a 0.08 kg nine-port hub)
• Best for video calls on a MacBook → both together (the hub supplies the 3.5mm socket and mic input; the earbuds supply the mic and remote)
• Best for open-ear-style comfort seekers → neither, strictly speaking — these are in-ear buds, so if you specifically want open ear earbuds for MacBook use, keep looking; this pair seals into the ear canal instead.
If I had to pick one for a MacBook, I would buy the HUBFINDER USB C Hub, and it is not close. It solves the bigger problem — a laptop with too few ports — and it quietly gives back the 3.5mm headphone jack that newer MacBooks removed, with a DAC that handles Hi-Res output and mic input. In my opinion, the AIAUXAI earbuds are a sensible add-on, not a substitute: cheap, wired, easy to drive, with a mic and remote, but useless on a USB-C-only MacBook until something hands them a 3.5mm socket. Buy the hub first, add the buds if you need a dedicated wired headset for calls and classes.
On older MacBooks, plug a 3.5mm headset like the AIAUXAI earbuds straight into the headphone jack and select it in Sound settings. On newer USB-C-only MacBooks there is no jack, so you need an adapter or hub with a 3.5mm port — the HUBFINDER hub provides one with a built-in DAC and microphone input support.
Wired 3.5mm headphones connect directly if your MacBook has a jack; otherwise route them through a USB-C hub with an audio port, like the HUBFINDER's 3.5mm jack. Bluetooth headphones pair through the Mac's Bluetooth menu instead. The AIAUXAI buds are wired-only, so they always need a physical 3.5mm socket.
Recent MacBook Air models are USB-C only, so a 3.5mm headset needs an adapter or a hub. Plug the HUBFINDER hub into a USB-C port, then plug the AIAUXAI earbuds into the hub's 3.5mm jack — the hub's DAC handles the conversion and supports mic input for calls. Older Airs with a headphone jack work with a direct plug-in.
Same logic as the Air: if your MacBook Pro has a 3.5mm jack, plug straight in. If it is USB-C only, use a hub — the HUBFINDER adds the jack plus HDMI, USB 3.0 and 100W charging from one connection. Remember the hub's USB-C port is data-only, so video goes through HDMI with an HDMI-to-HDMI cable.
If you are weighing these two, check the current price on Amazon before you commit, because the right answer depends on whether your MacBook is missing ports or missing a headphone jack — and plenty of people are missing both.
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: KZA COUSTICS Vibe X vs RUNOLIM Hybrid Active Noise, Voistek RJ9 vs Vpohenas Headset: Call Center Headphones, Voistek USB Headset vs Joyqua 2, TECKNET Single Ear vs Cyber Acoustics AC