We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-09 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a genuinely compact, kid-safe pair of on-ear headphones that folds down small, choose Maxell 190338; if you need a fuller-sized on-ear headphone with a reinforced tangle-free cord and a wider fit range for older kids and teens, choose POWMEE M2. I'm framing this whole comparison around compact on ear headphones, because that's the exact job both of these are built to do — and if you're hunting for the best headphones for vlogging with a simple wired setup, the differences below are what actually matter.
• Maxell 190338 — biggest strength: A true lightweight, small-volume design with controlled volume protection and interchangeable color caps, built specifically for young children.
• Maxell 190338 — biggest trade-off: It's a wired in-ear/ear-hook style with a 3.5 mm jack only, and the focus on kid-safe listening means it's not aimed at older users who want a bigger earcup.
• POWMEE M2 — biggest strength: A foldable, adjustable on-ear headphone with soft protein earmuffs, a nylon-braided tangle-free cord, and 40 mm dynamic drivers for richer stereo sound.
• POWMEE M2 — biggest trade-off: It's heavier and bulkier than the Maxell, and its on-ear cushions isolate sound rather than protect volume levels, so it's less "kid-safe by design."
• Pick Maxell 190338 if you want the smallest, most child-focused option with volume protection.
• Pick POWMEE M2 if you want a more comfortable, adjustable on-ear fit that grows with a kid into their teen years.
The Maxell 190338 is the more specialized of the two. Its whole identity is "Kids Safe Headphones" — a lightweight, small-volume build with a controlled volume level so young ears aren't blasted. That single design decision tells you who it's for: parents buying for small children who need something safe, light, and easy to manage.
It folds into a compact shape for storage, which matters more than people think. A pair that collapses small is the difference between a headphone that actually travels in a backpack pocket and one that gets left at home. The interchangeable headphone caps are a nice touch too — kids can swap the look and make the pair feel like theirs, which genuinely helps with getting a child to actually wear them.
On the technical side, the Maxell uses 30 mm dynamic drivers with a 14Hz–20kHz frequency range and 32 ohm impedance, over a standard 3.5 mm wired jack that works with most electronic devices. There's active noise cancellation and touch-based volume control. If you're a parent who wants a compact, safe, wired pair for a younger child, this is the more purpose-built pick. Skip it if you're buying for a teen or adult who wants bigger earcups and stronger bass — that's not what this design chases.
The POWMEE M2 is the more grown-up, more versatile option. It's an on-ear headphone with an adjustable headband, so it actually fits a range of head sizes instead of being locked to one. That adjustability is the biggest practical upgrade here — it means the same pair can fit a 4-year-old and still work for a 14-year-old. The soft protein earmuffs are there to reduce fatigue over longer listening sessions and to block outside noise.
The sound side is beefier: 40 mm dynamic drivers with a 20Hz–20,000Hz range, tuned for stereo bass. For music, movies, and games, that's a fuller experience than a small kid-focused driver can deliver. The cord is a 4.2-foot nylon-braided cable, which is the detail parents appreciate most — it's durable and tangle-free, so it survives being shoved in a bag.
It's also genuinely compact when you need it to be: the foldable design collapses for storage and travel, so it slips into a suitcase or backpack. Compatibility is broad — the 3.5 mm plug works with phones, Chromebooks, Android devices, iPads, laptops, tablets, computers, and car DVD players, with an adapter needed for newer iPhones. It carries a 24-month protection plan and a volume control on the remote. Buy it if you want one headphone that covers school, travel, and entertainment for a kid who'll grow into it. Skip it if you specifically want built-in volume limiting for a very young child — that's the Maxell's territory.
• Best for volume protection and young kids → Maxell 190338. Its controlled volume level and small-volume design are made for safe listening.
• Best for long-term fit and growing kids → POWMEE M2. The adjustable headband adapts to head size, so it lasts longer.
• Best for richer sound → POWMEE M2. 40 mm drivers with a 20Hz–20,000Hz range and stereo bass beat a small kid-focused driver for movies and music.
• Best for the smallest, most packable shape → Maxell 190338. It folds into a compact form and is built lightweight for small heads.
• Best for durability and travel → POWMEE M2. The 4.2-foot nylon-braided tangle-free cord and foldable build are made to survive bags and trips.
• Best for customization → Maxell 190338. The interchangeable color caps let a child change the look.
• Best for wide device compatibility → POWMEE M2. It explicitly lists phones, Chromebooks, tablets, laptops, and more via the 3.5 mm plug.
• Best for a with mic headset for vlogging setup? Neither includes a dedicated boom mic, so treat both as playback headphones — if you need a mic for vlogging, plan on a separate mic or an in ear earbuds for vlogging solution instead.
In my opinion, the POWMEE M2 is the better buy for most families, because the adjustable headband, soft protein earmuffs, 40 mm drivers, and nylon-braided tangle-free cord make it the more comfortable, longer-lasting, more versatile on-ear headphone — and its foldable design still keeps it compact for travel. I'd pick the Maxell 190338 only for a very young child where built-in volume protection and a small, featherweight frame are the priority. If you're weighing best headphones for vlogging, remember both are wired playback headphones without a dedicated mic, so neither is the full answer on its own. For everything else — school, trips, movies, and daily listening — the POWMEE M2 is the one I'd recommend.
Yes, for many situations. On-ear headphones like the POWMEE M2 rest on the ear with soft protein earmuffs, which makes them lighter and more portable than big over-ear models while still delivering stereo sound. The trade-off is less isolation than a full over-ear cup and less portability than a tiny in-ear design.
Open-ear and on-ear designs serve different goals. The POWMEE M2 is an on-ear headphone with sound isolation, meaning it blocks some ambient noise rather than letting it in. If your priority is staying aware of your surroundings, that's a different category — but for focused listening, a closed on-ear like the M2 is the more practical choice.
Comfort depends on fit and padding. The POWMEE M2 uses an adjustable headband and soft protein earmuffs specifically to reduce tiredness over long sessions, which is a real advantage over a fixed-size design. The Maxell 190338, by contrast, is built lightweight and small for young children rather than for extended adult wear.
That depends on whether you want to hear your surroundings. Neither the Maxell 190338 nor the POWMEE M2 is an open-ear design — the Maxell is a wired kids-safe option with volume protection, and the M2 is a sound-isolating on-ear headphone. If open-ear listening is your goal, you'd look outside this pair entirely.
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