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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a lightweight wired headset built for all-day calls on a computer, choose NUBWO HW02; if you need true wireless earbuds with a charging case for commutes and workouts, choose JLab Go Air Pop. These two products barely compete in the same category — one is a plug-in office tool, the other is a pocket-sized Bluetooth companion. The right answer depends entirely on where and how you listen.
• NUBWO HW02 — biggest strength: A 60-gram on-ear wired headset with a boom mic, inline volume and mute controls, and a detachable USB control box for PC and Mac calls. Biggest trade-off: It's wired, so you're tethered to your device, and it has no active noise cancellation — only the boom mic's noise-minimizing design.
• JLab Go Air Pop — biggest strength: True wireless freedom with 35+ hours total playtime (9+ per bud plus the USB-C charging case), IPX4 sweat resistance, and EQ3 sound tuning. Biggest trade-off: It's Bluetooth-only with no wired jack at all, so it can't plug directly into a computer's USB port.
• Pick NUBWO HW02 if: You live on MS Teams, Skype, Zoom, or webinars and want a dedicated mic close to your mouth.
• Pick JLab Go Air Pop if: You want earbuds for commuting, workouts, podcasts, and phone calls without a cable.
• Bottom line: This is wired office gear versus wireless everyday audio. Choose by your use case, not by brand.
The NUBWO HW02 is, at its core, a communication device. The design tells you that immediately: a 60-gram on-ear headset with an adjustable boom mic that sits near your mouth, plus a control box that houses an enhanced digital signal sound card. That sound card is the detail that matters most for call quality — it's there to deliver clear, natural audio whether you're on a video call or just listening to music in a busy workspace. The 27mm dynamic drivers, 32-ohm impedance, and 20Hz–20kHz frequency range are modest, honest specs that fit voice-first work rather than critical listening.
Who should buy it: Anyone whose day revolves around voice — call center agents, remote workers on MS Teams or Zoom, teachers running webinars, or support staff. The lightweight build is aimed squarely at all-day wear, and the packaging options (single, 5-pack individually boxed, or 10-pack) hint that it's also designed for teams and offices buying in bulk. It carries a 1-year warranty.
Who should skip it: If you want to walk around while listening, or you mainly consume music and podcasts on the move, the wired tether and the absence of noise cancellation will frustrate you. This is a sit-at-your-desk headset, not a lifestyle product.
JLab Go Air Pop: Who It's For
The JLab Go Air Pop is the opposite philosophy: total freedom from cables. Each earbud runs 9+ hours, and the USB-C charging case adds 26+ more (the product description rounds the total to 32+ hours), which is genuinely enough to cover a full workweek of commutes without hunting for a charger. The case itself is the power source, so you recharge the whole system with a single USB-C cable.
The audio side is more playful than the NUBWO. Built-in EQ3 lets you switch between three signatures — Signature, Bass Boost, and Balanced — so you can tune the sound to podcasts or playlists. The JLab App lets you adjust EQ and manage touch controls, and each earbud has a MEMS mic for calls, with voice assistant access built in. Dual Connect means you can use either bud independently, which is genuinely useful for taking a call while keeping one ear open to your surroundings.
The hardware details matter for fit and durability. The earbuds are 15% smaller than the previous generation, IPX4 rated for sweat and light rain, and ship with three gel tip sizes (S/M/L) to dial in a secure seal. Bluetooth 5.3 handles connections to iOS, Android, and PC. The 6mm dynamic drivers and 16-ohm impedance are tuned for wireless listening rather than studio accuracy, and the 8-hour average battery life per bud lines up with the 9+ hour claim. There's a 2-year JLab warranty.
Who should skip it: If your job is hours of back-to-back video meetings on a laptop, a boom-mic headset like the NUBWO is simply the better tool. There's no wired jack on the Go Air Pop, so you can't plug it into a USB port for a guaranteed, lag-free connection.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for all-day desk calls → NUBWO HW02. The boom mic, mute indicator, and 60-gram build are made for hours of meetings.
• Best for battery life away from a desk → JLab Go Air Pop. 9+ hours per bud plus the USB-C case covers a full workweek of commutes.
• Best for computer and Mac calls → NUBWO HW02. The detachable USB inline control is purpose-built for PC and Mac.
• Best for workouts and light rain → JLab Go Air Pop. IPX4 sweat and rain resistance plus three gel tip sizes for a secure fit.
• Best for sound customization → JLab Go Air Pop. EQ3 and the JLab App let you switch between Signature, Bass Boost, and Balanced.
• Best for phone and tablet use → Tie. The NUBWO has a 3.5mm plug; the Go Air Pop connects over Bluetooth 5.3. Different routes, same destination.
• Best for multi-device freedom → JLab Go Air Pop. Dual Connect and independent bud use make it far more flexible on the move.
• Best for office and team deployment → NUBWO HW02. The 1-pack, 5-pack, and 10-pack options signal it's built for fleets of users.
In my opinion, if your priority is being heard clearly on calls while sitting at a computer, I'd buy the NUBWO HW02. The boom mic, inline mute with an indicator light, and detachable USB control box are the exact features that make video meetings and webinars less painful, and the 60-gram weight is designed for long sessions. If your life happens away from a desk — commuting, gym, errands — I'd buy the JLab Go Air Pop instead. It wins on freedom, battery, and durability. Two different jobs, two different winners.
how to connect usb c wired headphones
Plug the USB-C end of the cable into your device's USB-C port and the headphones should be recognized automatically as an audio output. If they don't appear, open your sound settings and select the headset from the output list. Note that the JLab Go Air Pop has no wired jack and charges via USB-C rather than connecting through it.
how to use usb c wired headphones on mac
On a Mac, connect the USB-C end to a USB-C port, then go to System Settings, open Sound, and choose the headset under Output and Input. The NUBWO HW02's detachable USB inline control is designed for exactly this kind of PC and Mac call use.
how to connect usb wired headphones to xbox
For Xbox, a USB wired headset usually needs to plug into the console's USB port, though many consoles rely on the controller's 3.5mm jack instead. The NUBWO HW02 includes a 3.5mm connection, which is the more common route for controller-based audio. The JLab Go Air Pop connects over Bluetooth 5.3, not USB.
how to connect usb wired headphones to macbook
Modern MacBooks use USB-C ports, so a USB-A headset needs an adapter or a USB-C cable. Once connected, select the headset in Sound settings. The NUBWO HW02's USB inline controls are built for computer calls, while the JLab Go Air Pop pairs wirelessly over Bluetooth instead.
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