We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-03 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
If you want one wired pair of USB-C earbuds that plugs straight into your iPhone 17, iPad, MacBook, Galaxy phone or USB-C tablet and just works, choose Hylvsoe USB C Headphones; if you need an open-ear wireless set that stays off your ear canal, survives sweat and rain, and runs up to 24 hours with its charging dock, choose Monster Open Ear AC360.
Hylvsoe USB C Headphones vs Monster Open Ear AC360 at a Glance
• Hylvsoe USB C Headphones — biggest strength: wired USB-C connectivity with a huge, explicitly listed device list (iPhone 15 through 17 series, iPad Pro/Air/Mini/10th, MacBook Air and Pro, Galaxy S/Note/A, Pixel, Galaxy Tab and more), plus an inline remote with a microphone and volume buttons.
• Hylvsoe USB C Headphones — biggest trade-off: it is wired only, so you are tethered to a 1.2 m / 3.93 ft cable, and the 15 mm dynamic drivers are tuned for everyday listening rather than audiophile detail.
• Monster Open Ear AC360 — biggest strength: true wireless freedom with Bluetooth 6.0, up to 8 hours per charge, up to 24 hours with the charging dock, IPX5 water resistance and an open-ear fit that never blocks your ear canal.
• Who each pick is for: pick the Hylvsoe if your life runs through USB-C ports — laptops, tablets, newer iPhones; pick the Monster if you want to move, sweat and stay aware of your surroundings.
The Hylvsoe USB C Headphones are, at their core, a compatibility play. The manufacturer lists support for iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, 17e and 17 Air; iPhone 16 and 15 families; Samsung Galaxy S26 down through S20 plus Note 20/10 and A-series; Google Pixel 8 down to Pixel 2; iPad Pro 13-inch (M4/M5), 12.9-inch, 11-inch, iPad Air 6/5/4, iPad 10th (A16) and iPad Mini 6/7; Galaxy Tab S11 through S5 and Tab A11 through A8; MacBook Air 13/15-inch from 2018–2024, MacBook Pro 13/14/16-inch from 2016–2024, and the 12-inch MacBook. That is an unusually broad, explicitly stated list — most budget USB-C buds wave vaguely at "USB-C devices" and leave you guessing.
What it does best is plug-and-play audio on hardware that has already dropped the headphone jack. There is a 1.2 m / 3.93 ft cable, so you have real slack between your ear and your laptop or tablet. The inline remote gives you button controls for volume plus a microphone for calls — the manufacturer notes you should keep your mouth close to the mic on the back of the volume control during calls. The 15 mm dynamic drivers at 32 ohm impedance are an easy load, and the ABS/TPE plastic build with a 1-year warranty is what I'd expect at this tier.
Monster Open Ear AC360: Who It's For
The Monster Open Ear AC360 goes the opposite direction: nothing plugs in, nothing enters your ear canal. The earpiece is open-ear by design, made from silicone, and Monster describes it as ergonomic, lightweight and non-slip — the pitch being long wear without fatigue, even during intense exercise. If you have ever pulled traditional buds out after an hour because your ears ache, that is the exact problem this shape is built to solve.
Under the hood you get Bluetooth 6.0, which Monster frames as faster, more stable communication and broad compatibility with Bluetooth devices including smartphones and TVs. Battery is quoted at up to 8 hours per session and up to 24 hours with the charging dock — the spec sheet lists a 24-hour charge time and 24-hour average life, so plan on docking between sessions. IPX5 water resistance covers rain and sweat, which makes this a legitimate outdoor and fitness option. Calls use DNN 6th-generation smart noise filtering for what Monster calls HD calls, and audio runs a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz dynamic driver range. Controls are touch, and there is a novel rotating magnetic cover design plus a bundled lanyard so you can carry the set around your neck.
Who should buy it: cyclists, runners, walkers and gym users who need to hear traffic or a training partner; commuters who dislike the plugged-ear feeling; and anyone who wants a TV or second screen in the mix over Bluetooth. Who should skip it: people who need to block out a noisy train or open-plan office — there is no noise control listed at all, and open-ear designs intentionally let sound in. Also skip it if any of your key devices are non-Bluetooth, because there is no jack.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for device compatibility across laptops, tablets and phones → Hylvsoe USB C Headphones. The listed support for iPhone 15–17, iPad, MacBook, Galaxy, Pixel and Galaxy Tab is about as wide as USB-C audio gets.
• Best for battery life → Monster Open Ear AC360. Up to 24 hours with the charging dock, versus no battery at all for the wired Hylvsoe.
• Best for zero charging and zero pairing → Hylvsoe USB C Headphones. Plug in, and you are listening; no pairing, no dock, no firmware quirks.
• Best for hearing your surroundings → Monster Open Ear AC360. The open-ear shape keeps your ear canal clear.
• Best for calls in a shared space → Hylvsoe USB C Headphones. The inline mic sits close to your mouth and the in-ear seal keeps your audio from leaking outward.
• Best for watching a TV or a second device wirelessly → Monster Open Ear AC360. Bluetooth 6.0 covers phones, TVs and similar gear.
• Best for all-day desk work on a Mac or iPad → Hylvsoe USB C Headphones. The 1.2 m cable reaches comfortably and the button remote handles volume without touching your laptop.
If I had to pick one for myself, I would buy the Hylvsoe USB C Headphones — because the "headphones for all devices" brief is exactly what it was built for, and its listed compatibility stretches across iPhone 15–17, iPad, MacBook, Galaxy, Pixel and Galaxy Tab in one wired set. I like that there is nothing to charge, nothing to pair, and an inline remote for volume and calls. That said, I would steer anyone who trains outdoors, hates cables, or wants up to 24 hours of untethered playback straight to the Monster Open Ear AC360 — in my opinion it is the better pick for movement and awareness, just not for isolation or non-Bluetooth hardware. Buy the Hylvsoe for deskbound, multi-device USB-C life; buy the Monster for open-air, wireless life. And before either one, check the current price on Amazon using the button on this page, since that is the number that should settle a close call.
how to disconnect headphones from all devices
For the Monster Open Ear AC360, turn Bluetooth off on each paired phone, tablet or TV, or open that device's Bluetooth settings and choose "Forget" or "Unpair" for the AC360. Because it is a wireless Bluetooth 6.0 set, it can hold a pairing on more than one device, so you need to clear it on each one individually. The Hylvsoe USB C Headphones are wired — unplug the USB-C connector and the connection ends instantly.
how to make headphones forget all devices
On the Monster, the practical route is to remove the AC360 entry from the Bluetooth list on every device it has been paired with, then let it re-pair fresh with only the device you want. Most Bluetooth gear also has a reset step in its manual, and Monster ships a user manual with this model. With the wired Hylvsoe there is nothing to forget — no pairing record exists, so simply unplugging it removes it from the chain.
how to unpair headphones from all devices
Unpairing is the same job as forgetting: go into each device's Bluetooth menu and delete the Monster Open Ear AC360. If a device keeps auto-reconnecting, switch its Bluetooth off temporarily, unpair, then turn it back on. The Hylvsoe USB C Headphones never pair in the first place, so there is no unpairing to do — it is purely a physical USB-C connection.
how to listen to two devices at once with headphones
The Monster Open Ear AC360 is a Bluetooth 6.0 headset, and whether it can hold two active connections at once depends on its multipoint support, so check that before buying if simultaneous audio matters to you; otherwise you switch by disconnecting one device and connecting the other. The Hylvsoe USB C Headphones play from one source at a time — whichever USB-C port they are plugged into — so two devices at once is not an option there.
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