How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-24 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• JSAUX Headphone Adapter — biggest strength: It turns a Lightning port into a 3.5mm jack, so your existing wired headphones work again, with Apple MFi certification and full inline control support.
• JSAUX Headphone Adapter — biggest trade-off: It only fits Lightning devices, so newer USB-C iPhones and USB-C iPads are off the table.
• ASKUBSKU Open Ear Headphone — biggest strength: A non-in-ear, hook-style open design wired straight to USB-C, built for running, gym work and staying aware of your surroundings.
• ASKUBSKU Open Ear Headphone — biggest trade-off: It's a complete headset, not an adapter, so it can't revive the 3.5mm headphones you already own.
• Who the JSAUX is for: Anyone with a Lightning iPhone, an older iPad, or an iPod touch and a drawer full of 3.5mm gear.
• Who the ASKUBSKU is for: Anyone with a USB-C phone, tablet or laptop who wants a secure open-ear set for training and calls.
This is a tiny, single-purpose piece of kit: a Lightning-to-3.5mm dongle that measures roughly 7 inches long with a slim aluminum body and a short nylon-braided cable. In practice that means it disappears into a pocket, hangs off the phone without much leverage, and doesn't tangle into a knot the way a bare rubber cable does. The strain relief at the connector is specifically designed to survive repeated bending — JSAUX cites lab testing of 15,000+ bends — which is the failure point on cheap dongles.
What it actually does is more interesting than the size suggests. Because it carries an Apple MFi certification, it's built to connect to Lightning devices without the "this accessory is not supported" nag. And it keeps the inline remote alive: volume, previous/next track, pause, call answering and Siri all pass through to whatever 3.5mm headset you plug in. The DAC inside supports a sampling rate up to 48kHz and filters noise, so the audio arrives clean rather than muffled.
Buy it if you're on an iPhone 14, 13, 12, 11, SE, XS, XR, X, 8 or 7 series (or a 7/7 Plus running iOS 10.3.1 or later), an iPod touch 6th gen, or a Lightning iPad Mini/Air/Pro — and you'd rather keep your current headphones than replace them. Skip it if your phone or tablet has a USB-C port, including the 2018 iPad Pro 11-inch and 12.9-inch and the 2021 iPad Mini. In my opinion this is the pick for anyone who cares about audio gear they already trust, not new gear.
The ASKUBSKU is a different animal entirely. It's a complete wired headset with a hook-shaped earpiece that sits over the ear rather than inside it. The open, non-in-ear fit is the whole point: no pressure building up in the canal, no ear fatigue on long sessions, and you stay aware of traffic, gym equipment and people around you while audio plays. The ear hooks are there for the same reason — the design is aimed squarely at running, jogging and gym work where normal buds work loose.
Control comes from an in-line module with buttons, so volume, track changes and call answering happen on the cable instead of on your phone. The connection is USB-C, wired end to end, which means no charging, no pairing, and no battery to run down mid-session. Impedance is listed at 16 ohm, a low figure that generally suits phones, tablets and laptops driving it directly. It ships with a protective case, which matters more than it sounds for something you'll throw in a gym bag.
Compatibility is broad and worth reading carefully. It covers USB-C iPhones (17, 16 and 15 families), iPads including the 10th gen, Pro 11-inch and 13-inch, Mini 7/6 and Air models, a long list of Samsung Galaxy S and A series phones plus Note and Z Fold/Flip models, Pixel devices, and MacBook and MacBook Pro. Buy it if you want a workout-stable, open-ear wired set with a mic and no battery management. Skip it if your phone still uses Lightning, or if your goal is to keep using the 3.5mm headphones you already own.
• Best for reviving old headphones → JSAUX Headphone Adapter. If you own a good pair of 3.5mm headphones, this is how they get back on your iPhone.
• Best for Lightning iPhones → JSAUX Headphone Adapter. iPhone 14 and earlier, plus SE, XS, XR, X, 8 and 7 series, are covered.
• Best for USB-C phones and tablets → ASKUBSKU Open Ear Headphone. iPhone 15/16/17 families, iPads, Galaxy and Pixel devices all connect directly.
• Best for running and gym sessions → ASKUBSKU Open Ear Headphone. The ear hooks and non-in-ear fit are designed to stay put and avoid fatigue.
• Best for situational awareness → ASKUBSKU Open Ear Headphone. The open design leaves your ear canal clear, so you hear what's around you.
• Best for keeping full inline control → both, in different ways. JSAUX passes volume, track and call controls through to your existing headset; ASKUBSKU puts them on its own in-line module.
• Best for no charging or pairing → both. Neither has a battery or a wireless mode to manage.
• Best for build durability → JSAUX Headphone Adapter. Aluminum housing, nylon braiding and strain relief rated for 15,000+ bends on a part that normally fails first.
In my opinion, the right answer comes down to one question: do you want to keep your headphones or replace them? If you already own a pair of 3.5mm headphones you like and you're on a Lightning iPhone or iPad, I'd buy the JSAUX Headphone Adapter — it's the cheaper-feeling decision in the best sense, because it costs you nothing in audio quality and keeps your inline controls working. If you're on USB-C and you need something that survives a run, I'd buy the ASKUBSKU Open Ear Headphone instead. The open-ear fit and ear hooks are doing real work for training, and the wired USB-C connection means zero battery anxiety. Two very different jobs, and I wouldn't swap either one for the other.
how to use headphones for iphone
On a Lightning iPhone, plug the JSAUX Headphone Adapter into the charging port and connect your 3.5mm headphones to the other end. Volume, track skipping, pause, calls and Siri all work through the headset's inline controls once connected. On a USB-C iPhone, a USB-C headset like the ASKUBSKU plugs straight in with no adapter needed.
how to use wired headphones for iphone 15
The iPhone 15 family uses USB-C, so a Lightning adapter won't fit. You have two routes: a USB-C headset like the ASKUBSKU Open Ear Headphone, which connects directly, or a USB-C-to-3.5mm adapter if you want to keep your existing wired headphones. Check which port your specific model has before buying anything.
how to use wired headphones for iphone
First identify the port. Lightning models (iPhone 14 and earlier, SE, XS, XR, X, 8, 7) need the JSAUX adapter to reach a 3.5mm jack. USB-C models (iPhone 15 and later) can use a USB-C headset directly, such as the ASKUBSKU, or a USB-C audio adapter. Both approaches are fully wired, so there's nothing to charge or pair.
how to use wired headphones for iphone 16
The iPhone 16 series is USB-C, so the JSAUX Lightning adapter is not compatible. Use a USB-C wired headset like the ASKUBSKU Open Ear Headphone, which the manufacturer lists as compatible with the 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max, or add a USB-C-to-3.5mm adapter for headphones you already own.
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: YuShaTra Headphone vs Kinglucky Open-Ear Headphones, Gneinour Studio Charge Cable vs zoyuzan USB-C Headphone Adapter(2in1, Purity Air Open Ear vs BEVCEFCC Over Era Open