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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-07 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• Midland AVPH3 — biggest strength: a wrap-around, in-ear design with a media control inline and a 3.5 mm jack, sold as a pair, weighing just 19.87 g so it stays comfortable over long shifts.
• Midland AVPH3 — biggest trade-off: no noise control at all, and it's a general wired earset rather than something purpose-built for a specific radio or helmet.
• BAOFENG Motorcycle Helmet Headset — biggest strength: purpose-built for outdoor biking and cycling, with a PTT button on velcro that fixes to your handlebar, dual-sided earpieces for clarity, and a 147 cm cable run.
• BAOFENG Motorcycle Helmet Headset — biggest trade-off: it's a 2-pin K-plug kit tied to specific two-way radio brands, so it's useless if your radio doesn't use that connector.
• Who each is for: pick the Midland AVPH3 if you want a simple, light in-ear earset pair for listening and light media control; pick the BAOFENG kit if you ride a full-face helmet and need to talk on a compatible walkie talkie hands-free.
The Midland AVPH3 is a transparent-style security headset sold as a pair — "Wrap Around Design – Lasting Comfort Pair" is how it's labeled, and the specs back that up. Each earpiece is in-ear with a wrap-around shape and a standard earpiece form, made from plastic, in black. At 19.87 g it's genuinely light, which matters when something is sitting on your ear for a full shift rather than a quick ride.
In my opinion, this is the right pick for someone who wants an affordable, lightweight in-ear earset for two-way radio monitoring, security work, or general listening where they control the volume and environment. Skip it if you need active noise cancellation, if you want a wireless-only setup, or if you're buying for a child — the age range is listed as adult, and the fit is designed for grown-up ears. If price is the deciding factor for you, check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since that's the one number I won't guess at here.
BAOFENG Motorcycle Helmet Headset: Who It's For
The BAOFENG Motorcycle Helmet Headset is a different animal entirely. It's a mic-and-earpiece kit for walkie talkies using a 2-pin K-plug, and the "theme" is literally motorcycle. The headlining features are practical ones: it's designed specifically for outdoor biking and cycling conditions, it blocks out wind and noise in extreme road environments, and it has a PTT button on velcro that fixes to your handlebar so you're not fumbling for a button at speed.
The earpieces are in-ear with an angled ear hook or wing shape, and it's dual-sided for increased sound and clarity. The cable is 147 cm (about 57.87 inches), which is a real world detail — that length is what lets the PTT reach your bars while the earpieces sit in your helmet. Audio is a dynamic driver at 8 ohm, and the frequency range is listed as 136–174 MHz and 450–470 MHz, which is radio band territory, not music playback. Connectivity is a wired 3.5 mm jack with RF as the wireless technology, and control method is touch with media control. Noise control is listed as none — the "blocks out wind" claim is about the physical design of the mic and earpieces, not active cancellation.
This is for the rider who already owns a compatible Baofeng, Kenwood, Wouxun, Puxing or Linton two-way radio and wants helmet audio plus a bar-mounted PTT. Skip it if your radio uses a different plug, if you ride an open-face or modular helmet without space for the earpieces, or if you want something for music rather than comms. It's an adult product too — not a kids' toy.
• Best for all-day in-ear comfort → Midland AVPH3. At 19.87 g per unit with a wrap-around fit, it's built to disappear on your ear.
• Best for motorcycle comms → BAOFENG Motorcycle Helmet Headset. Purpose-built for riding, with a handlebar PTT and a 147 cm cable.
• Best for wind and road noise → BAOFENG. Its whole design brief is blocking wind in extreme road conditions.
• Best for a simple listening earset → Midland AVPH3. A 3.5 mm jack and inline media control make it plug-and-play.
• Best for full-face helmet use → BAOFENG. The angled in-ear shape and dual-sided earpieces are shaped for helmet fitment.
• Best for compatibility with standard audio gear → Midland AVPH3. A plain 3.5 mm jack works with far more devices than a 2-pin K-plug.
• Best for hands-free radio talk → BAOFENG. The velcro handlebar PTT is the feature that decides it for most riders.
• Best for noise cancellation → neither. Both list noise control as none; if you need active cancellation, look elsewhere.
In my opinion, I'd buy the BAOFENG Motorcycle Helmet Headset if my goal is talking on a two-way radio while riding — the handlebar PTT, the wind-oriented design and the 147 cm cable are exactly what motorcycling asks for, and no amount of lightweight comfort on the Midland makes up for a missing PTT when you're moving. I'd buy the Midland AVPH3 if I want a light, simple in-ear earset pair for monitoring, security work or casual listening on any device with a 3.5 mm jack. Neither is for toddlers, and neither offers real noise cancellation — so pick based on your radio, not your wishlist. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding.
FAQ
An in-ear headset is one where the speaker sits inside your ear canal, rather than resting on top of your ear. Both products here are in-ear — the Midland AVPH3 uses a wrap-around in-ear earpiece, and the BAOFENG uses an angled ear hook or wing shape.
An over-ear headset has cups that sit around your whole ear, rather than earpieces inside the canal. Neither of these two products is over-ear; both are in-ear designs, which is why they fit under a motorcycle helmet or stay discreet on a shift.
You place the earpiece inside your ear canal and route the cable so it doesn't pull. The Midland AVPH3 uses a wrap-around shape that hooks over the ear for stability, while the BAOFENG uses an angled hook or wing to keep the earpiece seated under a full-face helmet.
Usually you're talking about removing or repositioning the earpiece, and the answer is the same for both: grip the earpiece gently, twist slightly to break the seal, and pull straight out rather than yanking the cable. Neither product lists a removable or replaceable earpiece, so handle the in-ear section with care.
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