We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-25 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a single over-ear gaming headset that works across Xbox, PlayStation and Switch over a 3.5 mm jack, choose Nyko Nu-3500; if you need a two-pack of in-ear USB-C earbuds with a microphone and active noise cancellation for iPhone 15/16/17, iPad Pro and other USB-C devices, choose galawelly 2. That is the whole decision in one line, and everything below is the reasoning behind it.
• Nyko Nu-3500 — biggest strength: true multi-platform wired compatibility through a standard 3.5 mm jack, with an adjustable boom microphone, in-line volume control and a lightweight over-ear frame.
• Nyko Nu-3500 — biggest trade-off: it is a single headset, it is wired only, and it has no noise cancellation at all, so outside noise comes straight in.
• galawelly 2 — biggest strength: you get two pairs of in-ear USB-C earbuds with a microphone, remote control and active noise cancellation, which is a lot of function in a package you can split between two devices or two people.
• galawelly 2 — biggest trade-off: USB-C only, in-ear only, and no 3.5 mm option, so it is useless on any console or device that still relies on an analog headphone jack.
• Buy the Nyko Nu-3500 if you game on a console or a laptop with a 3.5 mm port and want one headset that moves between them.
• Buy the galawelly 2 if your devices are USB-C — a modern iPhone, an iPad Pro, a USB-C laptop — and you want compact earbuds instead of something that sits over your ears.
The Nyko Nu-3500 is built around a simple idea: one wired headset, a lot of platforms. The connection is a 3.5 mm jack, which is the analog headphone standard that Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Switch OLED and Switch Lite all accept. That single port is what makes it "universal" in the practical sense — you are not juggling dongles or adapters, you are just moving one cable from device to device. If you own more than one console, or you split your time between a console and a PC or laptop with a headphone jack, that flexibility is the entire point.
The design side backs up long sessions. The headband is adjustable and the ear cups are over-ear, padded with a fabric and leather mix on a plastic and metal frame. Nyko describes the goal as minimal added weight to reduce fatigue, and the headset comes in at 9.6 ounces, which is light for an over-ear model. Inside are 40 mm dynamic drivers covering 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz — the full audible range — and Nyko's stated aim is clear, powerful game audio rather than a flat, neutral sound. There is also an adjustable microphone on the headset itself and an in-line volume control on the cable, so you can mute the room and ride the level without touching the console. The colorway is a winter camouflage finish, which is a cosmetic detail but worth knowing if you want something that does not look like every other black headset.
Who should buy it: console players who want a wired, no-battery, no-pairing headset that works on the system they already own, and anyone who wants an over-ear fit for longer play sessions. Who should skip it: iPhone owners on USB-C who want earbuds, anyone who needs active noise cancellation, and anyone who wants two headsets in one purchase. The Nu-3500 gives you one headset and no noise control — the ear cups physically block some sound, but there is no electronic cancellation here.
The galawelly 2 is a different animal entirely, and it is honest about what it is: a two-pack of USB-C in-ear headphones with a microphone and a remote control. The connection is USB-C, full stop. That means it is aimed squarely at devices that have moved past the analog jack — iPhone 15, 16 and 17, iPad Pro, and the broad category of "most USB-C jack devices" the listing names. If your phone dropped the headphone jack years ago and you have been living on adapters, this is the kind of product that removes the adapter from the equation.
The specs are straightforward. Dynamic drivers, 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, in-ear placement with rounded tips, a white finish, and a wired connection with no wireless technology at all. The control method is a remote on the cable, so call and track control lives on the wire rather than on the earbud. The feature that separates it most from the Nyko is active noise cancellation — actual electronic noise reduction, not just a physical seal. For commuting, flights, open offices or noisy households, that is a meaningful difference, and it is the single strongest argument for this pair over the Nu-3500.
Then there is the number two. You get two pairs of headphones in one box, which matters more than it sounds. Keep one at the desk and one in a bag. Give one to a family member. Keep a spare for when a cable eventually gives out. For a household with two USB-C devices, that is a genuinely practical arrangement. The manufacturer warranty is listed at one year, which is worth noting as a coverage detail rather than a promise about durability.
Who should buy it: USB-C device owners who want compact in-ear buds with a mic and noise cancellation, and anyone who wants a spare pair without buying twice. Who should skip it: console gamers, anyone with a 3.5 mm-only device, and anyone who dislikes in-ear tips or wants an over-ear fit.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for console gaming → Nyko Nu-3500. The 3.5 mm jack covers Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch, Switch OLED and Switch Lite in one cable.
• Best for noise cancellation → galawelly 2. It has active noise cancellation; the Nyko has none.
• Best for long sessions and over-ear comfort → Nyko Nu-3500. Adjustable headband, padded over-ear cups, 9.6 ounces, 40 mm drivers.
• Best if you want two headsets in one purchase → galawelly 2. Two pairs, one box.
• Best for in-line volume control while gaming → Nyko Nu-3500. The volume control sits on the headset cable.
• Best for portability → galawelly 2. In-ear buds with a 0.03 kg weight are far easier to pocket than an over-ear headset.
• Best if you want zero batteries or pairing → either. Both are wired, and the galawelly 2 explicitly has no wireless technology.
• Best if you own both a console and a USB-C phone → buy both. They do not overlap, and that is the honest answer.
If I had to pick one, I would buy the Nyko Nu-3500 — but only because my use case is consoles. A 3.5 mm jack that works on Xbox, PlayStation and Switch without an adapter is the most useful kind of "universal" for a gamer, and the 40 mm drivers, adjustable mic and in-line volume are exactly the features I want in a wired headset. In my opinion, if your devices are USB-C phones and tablets instead, the galawelly 2 is the better buy, because active noise cancellation and a two-pair bundle solve problems the Nyko simply does not address. Buy the one that matches your ports. That is the whole game.
what is universal headphones
Universal headphones are headphones designed to work across multiple devices rather than being locked to one platform. The Nyko Nu-3500 is the clearest example here: a single 3.5 mm jack that fits Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Switch OLED and Switch Lite, plus any other device with a 3.5 mm port.
are headphones universal
Not automatically. "Universal" depends entirely on the connector. The Nyko Nu-3500 is universal within the 3.5 mm world, while the galawelly 2 is universal within the USB-C world — it lists iPhone 15/16/17, iPad Pro and most USB-C jack devices. A 3.5 mm headset will not fit a USB-C-only phone without an adapter, and vice versa.
are gaming headphones universal
Some are, and the Nyko Nu-3500 is one of them — it is explicitly sold as a multi-platform gaming headset for the major consoles over 3.5 mm. But gaming headsets are not universal by default. Many are tied to one console ecosystem, and the galawelly 2 shows the other side of the coin: it is a USB-C earbud set, so it works on USB-C devices rather than consoles.
what are universal headphones
They are headphones built around a widely shared connection standard so one pair can serve several devices. In practice you check the jack first: 3.5 mm points you to the Nyko Nu-3500, USB-C points you to the galawelly 2. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, then match the connector to the devices you actually own.
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