How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want maximum device compatibility and a straightforward in-ear wired earbud for calls and music on USB-C phones, tablets and laptops, choose Maeline USB C Headphone; if you need a secure ear-hook design built for running, sports and sweaty movement, choose Avantree C171.
• Maeline USB C Headphone — biggest strength: An unusually long, explicitly listed compatibility roster covering iPad Pro/Air/Mini, MacBook, a wide spread of Samsung Galaxy S and Note models, Galaxy Tab, Google Pixel and OnePlus devices, plus a built-in DAC chip for Windows 10 laptops and desktops.
• Maeline USB C Headphone — biggest trade-off: It is a conventional in-ear bud with sound isolation rather than active noise cancellation, and it relies on the fit of its silicone tips to stay put — nothing anchors it during hard movement.
• Avantree C171 — biggest strength: The ear-hook shape plus soft eartips is purpose-built for sports and active scenarios, and the physical in-line buttons cover playback, volume, track skipping, calls and voice assistant without touching your phone.
• Avantree C171 — biggest trade-off: Compatibility is narrower and more caveated — it works with USB-C devices like iPhone 15 and 16 and most Android phones, but not iPhone 11–14, not 3.5mm AUX, and it may not work with the Samsung S24.
• Pick Maeline USB C Headphone if you want one wired USB-C earbud that covers the widest spread of phones, tablets and computers, with a case and magnetic buds for everyday carry.
• Pick Avantree C171 if you want a white ear-hook earbud that stays planted while you run, lift or ride, and you already know your phone's USB-C port is on the supported list.
Maeline's pitch here is breadth. The compatibility list is the longest part of the spec sheet, and it reads like someone sat down and worked through the devices people actually own: iPad Pro 2020 and 2021, iPad Air 4th gen, iPad Mini 6th gen, MacBook and MacBook Pro, a long run of Samsung Galaxy S21, S20, Note 20, Note 10, Z Fold and Z Flip models through the S22 family and the A53 and A33, Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G, Google Pixel 6 through 2 XL, and OnePlus 9, 10 Pro, Nord and 8-series phones. If you switch between a phone, a tablet and a laptop during the day, that list matters more than almost anything else on this page.
The other half of the story is desktop and laptop use. Maeline includes a DAC chip that works with Windows 10 systems over a Type C port, and the microphone is stated to work with Windows 10 for video or voice calls. For anyone whose "headset" is really a meeting tool — a MacBook on a video call, a Windows laptop on a voice call — that's a concrete, checkable feature rather than a vague promise. The spec sheet even notes the Mac sound settings path to select the USB audio output, which tells you the manufacturer expects people to need that nudge.
Who should buy it: people who want one wired USB-C earbud to cover a mixed stable of devices, who take a lot of calls on a laptop, and who value the magnetic-neck habit and the included case. Who should skip it: anyone who needs an anchor during intense movement, anyone who wants true active noise cancellation rather than isolation, and anyone whose phone isn't on that compatibility list — check your model before buying.
Avantree C171: Who It's For
The C171 is a different animal, and the design tells you so immediately. It's an in-ear earbud with an ear-hook shape — the hook wraps over the ear and the soft eartip sits in the canal, which is the classic combination for keeping earbuds in place when you're moving. Avantree states this directly: the earhook and soft eartips give a snug, comfortable fit that's "perfect for sports and active scenarios." If your old buds fall out the moment you start jogging, that single design choice is the whole argument for this product.
The in-line controls are physical push buttons, not touch surfaces. That's a real distinction when you're mid-run or wearing gloves: play/pause, volume, skip and replay tracks, answer and reject calls, and even trigger your voice assistant, all from the cable. Touch controls on earbuds are notoriously fussy when your hands are damp; buttons aren't. There's also a built-in microphone for calls.
Sound-wise, the sheet gives you actual numbers: 32 ohm impedance, a dynamic driver, and a frequency range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz — the standard full-range window. Avantree describes the tuning as crisp with an emphasis on well-balanced, high-quality sound levels. At 32 ohms these are easy to drive from a phone or laptop without a separate amp, which is exactly what you want from a wired USB-C bud.
The finish is white, and the package includes ear cushions. Avantree backs it with a 2-year manufacturer warranty, which is a longer coverage window than many budget earbuds carry and worth noting if you're hard on your gear.
The catch is compatibility, and Avantree is refreshingly blunt about it. It works with USB-C devices — iPhone 15 and 16, most Android smartphones including Samsung and Google, and tablets — but it is not compatible with iPhone 11–14 (Lightning) or 3.5mm AUX ports, and it may not be compatible with the Samsung S24. That last caveat is the kind of thing most listings bury; here it's front and center.
Who should buy it: runners, gym-goers, cyclists and anyone whose earbuds keep falling out, plus people who prefer physical buttons over touch controls and who have confirmed their phone is on the supported list. Who should skip it: iPhone 11–14 owners, anyone still on 3.5mm, Samsung S24 owners who don't want to gamble, and anyone who needs the C171 to double as a work headset across a pile of different computers.
• Best for running and sports → Avantree C171. The ear-hook design is the only one of the two explicitly built to stay put during movement.
• Best for the widest device compatibility → Maeline USB C Headphone. iPad, MacBook, a long list of Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets, Pixel, OnePlus and more, all named on the sheet.
• Best for laptop and desktop calls → Maeline USB C Headphone. The DAC chip and Windows 10 microphone support make it the more computer-friendly pick of the two.
• Best for physical button controls → Avantree C171. Push-button in-line controls beat touch controls when your hands are busy or damp.
• Best for cable management and storage → Maeline USB C Headphone. Magnetic earbuds plus an included carrying case solve tangling and scratches in one move.
• Best for warranty coverage → Avantree C171. A 2-year manufacturer warranty is stated on the sheet.
• Best for iPhone 15/16 owners → either, but check the caveats. Both support USB-C iPhones; the C171 explicitly names iPhone 15 and 16, while Maeline lists USB-C audio devices broadly.
• Best for Samsung S24 owners → Maeline USB C Headphone. The C171 sheet warns it may not be compatible with the S24; Maeline's list doesn't carry that warning.
• Best for sound isolation in a plain in-ear shape → Maeline USB C Headphone. Both use isolation rather than active noise cancellation, but Maeline's ergonomic in-ear fit with S/M/L tips is the more conventional sealed design.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the Maeline USB C Headphone. In my opinion, the deciding factor isn't sound or style — it's how many places you can actually plug it in. The compatibility list covers phones, tablets and computers, the DAC chip makes it usable for Windows 10 calls, and the magnetic buds plus included case make it the easier thing to live with day to day. I'd only steer you to the Avantree C171 if your priority is staying in your ears while you run — that ear-hook design is a genuine advantage the Maeline simply doesn't have. Neither is a bad choice; they're just built for different buyers. Check the current price on Amazon for whichever one matches your devices.
FAQ
Yes. It includes a DAC chip that works with Windows 10 systems over a Type C port, and the microphone is stated to work with Windows 10 for video and voice calls. Maeline also lists MacBook and MacBook Pro, with a note about selecting USB audio in Mac sound settings.
It works with USB-C iPhones — Avantree names iPhone 15 and 16 — but it is not compatible with iPhone 11–14, which use Lightning, or with 3.5mm AUX ports. If you're on an older iPhone, look elsewhere.
I'd lean toward the Maeline USB C Headphone. Avantree's own spec sheet warns the C171 may not be compatible with the Samsung S24, while Maeline's list doesn't carry that caveat — worth confirming before you order.
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