We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-23 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want plug-and-play wired audio on an older iPhone with a Lightning port, choose iMangoo Apple MFi-Certified Lightning; if you need a two-pack of USB-C earbuds for a modern iPhone, iPad or Android phone, choose wamaxlink 2. In my opinion these two are solving the same "wired headphones for iPhone" problem on opposite sides of Apple's connector switch, and that single fact decides the purchase before anything else does.
• iMangoo's biggest strength: a true Lightning connection — no adapter, no dongle, just a cord that goes straight into an iPhone 14, 13, 12 or 11.
• iMangoo's biggest trade-off: it is a Lightning-only product, so it is useless on an iPhone 15, 16 or 17, and it ships as a single unit.
• wamaxlink 2's biggest strength: two complete USB-C earbuds in one box, with a wide device list spanning modern iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, Galaxy and Pixel phones.
• wamaxlink 2's biggest trade-off: it needs a USB-C port, so anyone still carrying a Lightning iPhone is out of luck.
• Buy iMangoo if you own an iPhone 14 or older and want a compact, sound-isolating in-ear set with a button remote and a hard case.
• Buy wamaxlink 2 if you own an iPhone 15 or newer (or a USB-C tablet/Android phone) and want a spare set ready to go.
The iMangoo set is built around one connector: a 90-degree angled Lightning plug. That angle matters more than it sounds. When a phone is in a pocket or held in landscape, a right-angled jack sits flatter and takes less sideways strain than a straight plug, which is exactly the kind of everyday detail that keeps a wired pair in service longer. The cord runs to an in-ear design using 10 mm dynamic drivers, rated at 32 ohm impedance and 114 dB sensitivity — an easy load for a phone to drive, so you can expect normal listening volume without reaching for an amp.
Controls are physical, not touch: a button remote handles volume, and the spec sheet lists sound isolation rather than active noise cancellation. In practice that means the seal from the eartips is doing the noise work — which is why iMangoo includes three sizes of earbud tips in the box. Getting the right tip size is the difference between a thin, leaky sound and a full one. There's also a hard EVA carrying case included, which is a genuinely useful inclusion for a wired pair: no tangles in a bag, no crushed earbuds at the bottom of a backpack.
Who should skip it? Anyone on an iPhone 15 or newer — the Lightning plug simply will not fit. Also skip it if you want a spare pair for a partner, a second bag or a desk drawer, because this is a single set. And if noise cancellation is a must-have rather than noise isolation, this isn't the design for you.
wamaxlink 2: Who It's For
wamaxlink 2 takes the opposite approach: it goes all-in on USB-C and covers as many devices as possible. The compatibility list is the headline — iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, Air, 16 series, 15 series, iPad Pro 12.9 and 11 inch, iPad Air 4th and 5th gen, iPad Mini 6, MacBook and MacBook Pro, plus Galaxy S26 through S20 and Pixel 9 down to Pixel 2. If your household has a mix of Apple and Android hardware, this is the set that moves between them.
The design leans on a few concrete details. The connectors are metal-plated, which the spec sheet ties to reducing poor-contact problems — that intermittent "one side cuts out" annoyance wired earbuds are famous for. There's a built-in DAC chip, which is what lets a digital USB-C port deliver clean audio at the phone's native resolution; the brand frames the result as no buzzing or popping, just plug-and-play. The cable is 4 ft, long enough to reach from a pocket to your ears with slack, and the earbuds use magnets on the back so they clip together and resist tangling.
The remote is a single button: one press for play/pause, two for next track, three for previous. Note what that means — there is no dedicated volume rocker on the inline control, so volume lives on the phone itself. In-ear ergonomics are tuned to reduce fatigue over long sessions, and the brand positions the set for commuting, buses, running and climbing. You get two complete sets in the box, an ABS shell in bright white, and a 36-month warranty with round-the-clock support.
Buy wamaxlink 2 if you're on an iPhone 15, 16 or 17, or you want a pair that also works with a USB-C iPad, MacBook or Android phone — and you like having a backup set. Skip it if you're still on a Lightning iPhone, or if you need inline volume buttons.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for an iPhone 14 or older → iMangoo. The Lightning plug is the whole point; no adapter needed.
• Best for an iPhone 15, 16 or 17 → wamaxlink 2. USB-C is the only connector that fits those phones.
• Best for a spare set or sharing → wamaxlink 2. Two complete earbuds ship in the box; iMangoo is a single set.
• Best for inline volume control → iMangoo. It has a button remote with volume; wamaxlink 2's single button covers playback and calls only.
• Best for tangle resistance → wamaxlink 2. Magnetic earbud backs and an anti-knot design make it easier to stuff in a pocket.
• Best for storage and protection → iMangoo. The hard EVA case is included; wamaxlink 2 relies on its magnets and cable length.
• Best for a fit you can tune → iMangoo. Three earbud tip sizes let you dial in the seal that drives its sound isolation.
• Best for warranty length → wamaxlink 2. 36 months versus 8 months on the iMangoo set.
If I were buying for myself today, I'd pick based on the port on my phone and nothing else — that's the honest dividing line here. On an iPhone 15, 16 or 17, I'd take wamaxlink 2: the USB-C compatibility list is enormous, the metal-plated connectors and DAC chip address the real-world flaws of cheap wired buds, and two sets plus a 36-month warranty is a sensible package. On an iPhone 14 or older, iMangoo is the cleaner answer — a Lightning plug that fits, an angled cord that survives pockets, three tip sizes to tune the seal, and a hard case included. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, but let your phone's port make the call first.
how to use wired headphones for iphone
Plug the connector into your iPhone and the audio routes through the earbuds automatically — no pairing, no settings. If you're on an iPhone 14 or older, you need a Lightning plug like the iMangoo set; on an iPhone 15 or newer you need USB-C like wamaxlink 2. Use the inline button for play/pause and track skipping, and set volume on the phone.
how to use wired headphones for iphone 15
The iPhone 15 uses USB-C, so a Lightning pair will not fit. Choose USB-C earbuds such as wamaxlink 2, plug them in, and audio switches over instantly. Because USB-C is digital, the earbuds need their own DAC chip to convert the signal — wamaxlink 2 includes one, which is what keeps the sound clean and free of buzzing.
how to use wired headphones for iphone 16
It's the same story as the iPhone 15: USB-C only. wamaxlink 2 lists the 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max as compatible, so it's plug-and-play. Press the inline button once for play/pause and twice for the next track, and adjust volume on the phone since the remote has no volume buttons.
how to use wired headphones for iphone
Match the plug to the port first — Lightning for iPhone 14 and older, USB-C for iPhone 15 and newer. Then check the fit: iMangoo ships three earbud tip sizes, and the right size is what seals the ear and blocks outside noise. After that it's simply plug in, press play and go.
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See also: wamaxlink Apple MFi Certified vs URBAN SWING W70, EarFun K3 vs iMangoo Apple MFi-Certified Soft, LilGadgets BestBuds Ear Buds vs iMangoo MFi Certified