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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-05 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• MITB 2Pack — biggest strength: Official MFi-certified Lightning plug, so it connects to Lightning iPhones instantly with no pop-up warning and no Bluetooth step.
• MITB 2Pack — biggest trade-off: It only works with Lightning devices. Plug it into a USB-C phone and it does nothing at all.
• ABCPOW Earbuds USB C — biggest strength: A USB-C plug that covers the newer iPhone 15/16/17 range plus a long list of Samsung Galaxy models, with three sizes of eartips in the box.
• ABCPOW Earbuds USB C — biggest trade-off: On some devices — MacBook, iPad Pro and a few older Samsung models — it handles music playback only, not phone calls.
• Who each pick is for: MITB 2Pack is for Lightning iPhone owners who want two identical pairs for sharing or backup. ABCPOW Earbuds USB C is for anyone on a USB-C phone, especially newer iPhones and Galaxy handsets.
The MITB 2Pack is built around one idea: remove every step between you and your music. There's no Bluetooth pairing, no battery indicator to watch, and no charging case to remember. The plug is an MFi-certified Lightning connector, which the brand says is officially tested and won't trigger the compatibility pop-up some cheap Lightning cables cause. That matters more than it sounds — with an iPhone, a certified chip is the difference between "it just works" and a warning box every time you plug in.
What it does best is simple, dependable wired listening. The 32-ohm dynamic driver handles balanced sound, and because the signal travels over a physical connection, there's no wireless interference, no dropouts and no lag. The brand points out this wired design gives lower latency for gaming and video, which is exactly the kind of thing you notice when audio and picture drift apart on a wireless set. The inline remote gives you volume, play/pause, track skip and call answer/end — all by pinching the cord — plus an omnidirectional microphone for calls.
Who should skip it: if you've moved to a USB-C iPhone or an Android phone, this is the wrong product entirely — the brand is explicit that it isn't compatible with Type-C interfaces. And if you specifically want active noise cancelling, note this model has no noise control at all; it's a passive in-ear fit.
ABCPOW Earbuds USB C: Who It's For
The ABCPOW Earbuds USB C is the modern-port answer. It uses a USB-C plug and the brand lists compatibility across the iPhone 17, 16 and 15 families — including the 17 Pro Max, 16e, 15 Pro Max and 15 Plus — plus a deep bench of Samsung Galaxy S and A series, Z Fold and Z Flip models. If you're carrying a phone that dropped the headphone jack, this is the connector you actually need.
The fit story is more thoughtful here. You get three pairs of eartips in small, medium and large, so you can pick the size that seals properly instead of fighting a one-size shell. The earpiece is a silicone-tipped bud on a TPE cord, and the brand describes the audio as HiFi stereo with a 20Hz–20,000Hz frequency range on a dynamic driver. It also lists sound isolation as its noise-control approach — that's passive sealing from the tips, not active noise cancelling, so don't expect electronics to cancel out traffic.
The trade-off is real and worth reading carefully. The brand warns that on some USB-C devices — MacBook, iPad Pro, and older Samsung models like the S8, S9 and Note 5 — you get music playback only, with no phone call support. There's also a note that if you hear nothing, you should slide the volume switch up or try another port. Those are the kinds of quirks that come with USB-C audio, where not every port is wired the same way. The package includes two pairs of earbuds, a small clip and the spare eartips, and the brand backs it with a one-year manufacturer warranty.
Who should buy it: USB-C iPhone 15/16/17 owners, Galaxy users, and anyone who wants two pairs plus a proper eartip fit. Who should skip it: Lightning-only iPhone owners, and anyone who needs guaranteed call audio on a laptop or tablet.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for Lightning iPhones (7 through 14) → MITB 2Pack. Certified Lightning plug, no adapter, no pop-up.
• Best for sharing or backup → MITB 2Pack, but only if both people are on Lightning. ABCPOW also ships two pairs, so it wins the same category on USB-C.
• Best for fit customization → ABCPOW Earbuds USB C. Three eartip sizes versus a fixed in-ear shell.
• Best for zero-battery, zero-pairing listening → both. Neither needs charging; both are pure wired.
• Best for guaranteed call audio everywhere → MITB 2Pack on a Lightning iPhone. ABCPOW flags music-only playback on some laptops and tablets.
• Best for a jogging pair you won't stress about → honestly, either one. A wired set can't run out of battery mid-run, and if a bud tugs loose you just push it back in — no re-pairing. That's the quiet argument for wired when you're moving. If you'd rather go wireless for running, that's a different shopping trip: look for active noise cancelling bluetooth headphones for jogging or fast charging over ear headphones for jogging, and treat the best in ear earbuds for jogging as a separate decision.
• Best if you're unsure about price → check the current price on Amazon for each, since the two are aimed at different phones rather than the same shopper.
In my opinion, the deciding factor here isn't sound or build — it's the port on your phone, and that makes the choice almost automatic. If you own a Lightning iPhone, I'd buy the MITB 2Pack: the certified chip and the two-pair bundle are exactly what you want for a no-fuss wired set. If you're on a USB-C iPhone or a Galaxy, I'd buy the ABCPOW Earbuds USB C, mostly for the three eartip sizes and the far wider compatibility list. For jogging, I lean MITB 2Pack on a Lightning phone because call and music controls both work and there's nothing to charge. Either way, confirm the connector before you order — that's the one mistake that can't be fixed after the fact.
FAQ
how to use headphones for iphone
how to use wired headphones for iphone 15
The iPhone 15 moved to USB-C, so you need the ABCPOW Earbuds USB C, not the Lightning MITB model. Plug it into the USB-C port and it should play immediately; if you hear nothing, slide the volume switch up or try the other port, as the brand advises. Keep in mind some USB-C devices are listed for music playback only.
how to use wired headphones for iphone
Match the plug to the port: Lightning iPhones (7 through 14, plus SE and XR/XS) take the MITB 2Pack, while USB-C iPhones take the ABCPOW set. Once connected, the wired link needs no pairing and can't drop out. Controls sit on the cord, so you answer calls and change tracks by pinching the remote.
how to use wired headphones for iphone 16
The iPhone 16 family is USB-C, so the ABCPOW Earbuds USB C is the fit — the brand lists the 16, 16e, 16 Plus and 16 Pro Max. Plug in, pick the eartip size that seals best from the S/M/L set, and you're set. The MITB 2Pack won't work here because it's Lightning-only.
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See also: PETSEAR Dog Ear Muffs vs WHYKJTEK Active Noise Cancelling, ONANOFF Fokus+ Hybrid ANC vs JVC Headphones, HUYUN Barracuda X Mic vs TANGZU Wan'er S.G II, Beats Fit Pro Gen vs Apple AirPods 4