How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a wired, foldable pair built specifically to keep young children's listening volume in check on a 3.5 mm device, choose Maxell 190338; if you need USB-C plug-and-play headphones with a 94dB cap, bigger drivers, and an adjustable fit that grows with your kid, choose Bywulanda Upgrade USB Type.
• Maxell 190338 — biggest strength: a genuinely kid-first design with controlled volume, a foldable frame, and swappable headphone caps so a child can personalize the look.
• Maxell 190338 — biggest trade-off: it's a wired 3.5 mm headphone aimed at younger kids, with a 30 mm driver and a plastic build that reads as simple rather than premium.
• Bywulanda Upgrade USB Type — biggest strength: native USB-C with no adapter, a 94dB safe volume limit, 40 mm drivers, and an adjustable headband that fits kids through teens.
• Bywulanda Upgrade USB Type — biggest trade-off: it only works with USB-C devices, so anything with a 3.5 mm jack is off the table without a separate adapter.
• Pick Maxell 190338 if you want a lightweight, foldable, customize-able pair for a younger child on a tablet or handheld with a headphone jack.
• Pick Bywulanda Upgrade USB Type if your devices are USB-C and you want one pair that fits a wider age range.
The Maxell 190338 is a compact on-ear headphone designed around one idea: let a child listen without you hovering over the volume slider. The spec sheet calls out a controlled volume level for safe listening, and that intent runs through the whole product. It's also built to be small and light — the listed item weight is just 0.07 kg — so it won't drag on a small head or feel like a chore to wear.
What I like from a design standpoint is the foldability. It collapses into a compact shape for storage, which matters more than people admit when the headphones live in a backpack or a car door pocket. The interchangeable headphone caps are a smart touch too: kids get attached to their gear when they can make it theirs, and swapping caps is a low-effort way to do that.
Who should buy it: parents of younger children who want volume protection, a light foldable frame, and a fun customization angle, and who are plugging into a device with a standard 3.5 mm jack. Who should skip it: anyone whose phone or tablet is USB-C only, or anyone shopping for a teen who wants a bigger, fuller sound and a more grown-up look.
Bywulanda Upgrade USB Type: Who It's For
The Bywulanda Upgrade USB Type is the more modern of the two, and the name tells you why: it's USB-C native. There's no converter in the chain — you plug it straight into a USB-C phone or tablet and it just works. For a lot of families in 2024 and beyond, that alone removes a daily annoyance, because the 3.5 mm jack has quietly disappeared from most current devices.
The headline safety feature is the 94dB safe volume limit. That's a defined ceiling rather than a vague "kid-friendly" promise, and it's the kind of spec a parent can actually reason about. The drivers are bigger here too — 40 mm dynamic drivers with a 20Hz–20,000Hz range and 30 ohm impedance. Bigger drivers generally move more air, so I'd expect a fuller, more satisfying sound than the Maxell's 30 mm setup, which suits movies, games, and music rather than just spoken content.
The fit story is also broader. The adjustable headband expands to cover heads from kids up to teenagers, and the foldable design keeps it travel-friendly. At 0.18 kg it's heavier than the Maxell, but that weight comes with the larger drivers and the adjustable structure — a fair trade if you want one pair to last through growth spurts. Bywulanda also backs it with a 2-year warranty and advertises 24-hour customer support, which is worth noting for a kids' product that will get tossed around.
Who should buy it: anyone with USB-C devices, parents who want a specific dB limit, and families who'd rather buy one adjustable pair than replace headphones every year. Who should skip it: households still relying on 3.5 mm jacks, and very young children for whom a 0.18 kg on-ear pair might feel like more than they need.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for USB-C devices → Bywulanda Upgrade USB Type. Plug-and-play Type-C with no adapter needed.
• Best for a defined volume cap → Bywulanda Upgrade USB Type. The 94dB safe volume limit is an explicit number; the Maxell's protection is described more generally.
• Best for sound size → Bywulanda Upgrade USB Type. 40 mm drivers versus 30 mm, plus a wider 20Hz–20,000Hz range.
• Best for fit that grows → Bywulanda Upgrade USB Type. The adjustable headband spans kids to teens.
• Best for personalization → Maxell 190338. Interchangeable caps let a child change the look.
• Best for 3.5 mm devices and travel bulk → Maxell 190338. Folds compact and weighs next to nothing.
• Best for peace of mind on warranty → Bywulanda Upgrade USB Type. A 2-year warranty and stated 24-hour support.
If I were buying for a child today, I'd lean toward the Bywulanda Upgrade USB Type (B0F3WSVCYT). In my opinion, the combination of native USB-C, an explicit 94dB volume limit, 40 mm drivers, and an adjustable headband that fits a kid through the teen years makes it the more future-proof pick for most households — you buy it once and it keeps working as devices and heads change. I'd only steer you to the Maxell 190338 if your setup is still 3.5 mm, you're shopping for a very young child, or the interchangeable caps are the feature that'll actually get used. Check the current price on Amazon for each before you commit, since that's the one thing that can tip this either way.
are on ear headphones good
On-ear headphones rest on the ear rather than around it, which makes them lighter and more compact than over-ear models — good for kids, travel, and everyday listening. The trade-off is less sound isolation and, for some people, more pressure on the ears over long sessions. Both headphones here are compact on-ear designs; the Bywulanda lists sound isolation, while the Maxell lists active noise cancellation.
are on ear headphones comfortable
Comfort depends on weight, clamping force, and how long you wear them. The Maxell 190338 is extremely light at 0.07 kg, which helps for small heads, while the Bywulanda Upgrade USB Type uses an adjustable, soft headband to spread pressure and fit different head sizes. For short sessions both should be fine; for very long sessions, lighter is usually easier.
are open ear headphones good
Open-ear headphones sit outside or near the ear canal so you stay aware of your surroundings — useful for safety and situational awareness, but they let sound in and out. Neither the Maxell 190338 nor the Bywulanda Upgrade USB Type is an open-ear design; both are wired on-ear headphones, so if open-ear is what you actually want, keep looking.
what are the best open ear headphones
I can't point you to a specific model here, because this comparison covers two wired on-ear kids' headphones, not open-ear ones. If you want the best open-ear option for your needs, weigh fit, battery life (if wireless), and how much ambient sound you want to keep hearing, then compare those against your device's connection type.
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