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
If you want a universal wired earbud that plugs into almost anything with a headphone jack and stays comfortable enough to wear lying down, choose Panasonic ErgoFit; if you need a USB-C wired headset with an inline microphone for calls and newer phones, choose ABCPOW USB C. That's the short version, and it holds up even when you're specifically hunting for head phones for side sleepers, where fit and cord behavior matter as much as sound.
• Panasonic ErgoFit — biggest strength: a 3.5mm jack that works with phones, laptops, tablets and MP3 players, plus three sizes of soft eartips (S/M/L) for a fit you can actually tune.
• Panasonic ErgoFit — biggest trade-off: no microphone and no inline controls, so it's a listening-only bud.
• ABCPOW USB C — biggest strength: a USB-C plug with an inline microphone and push-button control, built for newer phones that dropped the headphone jack.
• ABCPOW USB C — biggest trade-off: it only works with USB-C devices that have no 3.5mm jack, and some devices handle music but not calls.
• Pick Panasonic ErgoFit if you want maximum compatibility and a fit-first bud for long, low-key listening.
• Pick ABCPOW USB C if you take calls, own a modern USB-C phone, and want a mic on the wire.
The ErgoFit RP-HJE120-S is the classic "just works" wired earbud. It uses a 3.5mm jack, so it plugs into desktops, laptops, tablets, phones, MP3 players — basically anything with a standard headphone port. Panasonic pairs that with 9mm neodymium dynamic drivers and a quoted frequency range that runs from 12Hz up to 23kHz, with 96dB/mW sensitivity and 47 ohm impedance. In plain terms: it's efficient enough to get loud off a phone or laptop, and the low-end extension suggests it can handle bass-heavy pop and hip hop without sounding thin.
The real story here is fit. You get three pairs of ultra-soft eartips in small, medium and large, and the rounded-tip, in-ear design is meant to conform to your ear. Panasonic's own note says it plainly — if the tip size doesn't match your ear canal, you won't get the sound quality you expect. That's true of every in-ear bud, but the S/M/L spread makes it easy to fix. For anyone searching for head phones for side sleepers, that soft, low-profile tip and the short 3.6-foot cord are the details that matter: a shorter cord tangles less against a pillow, and a properly sized tip means less pressure and less shifting when you roll over. It won't magically become a sleep device, but among wired buds it's a sensible starting point.
Who should buy it: anyone who wants one cheap, versatile pair for a laptop, an older phone, or a bedside player, and who doesn't need to talk on the mic. Who should skip it: iPhone owners with no headphone jack, people who take a lot of calls, and anyone who wants volume or track controls on the cable. There are none. Also note the 90-day limited warranty — shorter than what some brands offer.
The ABCPOW USB C earbuds solve a very specific modern problem: your phone has a USB-C port and no 3.5mm jack. Instead of a dongle, the plug itself is USB-C. Inside, ABCPOW uses a 14.2mm dynamic driver plus an integrated DAC chip, with a quoted frequency range of 20Hz to 20,000Hz and silicone eartips. A DAC in the cable matters because a USB-C phone sends a digital signal — without that chip, you'd get nothing. It's also listed as compatible with a long list of recent USB-C phones, including current iPhone 15/16/17-family models and Samsung devices.
The other headline feature is the microphone. Unlike the Panasonic, this one is built for talking, and the wire control sits on the right earbud. That's a genuinely different use case: calls on the go, quick voice notes, video meetings from a laptop that only has USB-C.
But read the warnings carefully, because this is where buyers get burned. ABCPOW states that a phone with a 3.5mm jack won't produce sound through it — this is a USB-C-only product. Your phone case must not cover the charging port, or the plug won't seat. The USB-C end has to be pushed in fully with no gap. And on some devices — MacBook, iPad Pro, and older Samsung models like the S8, S9 and Note 5 — music plays but phone calls don't work. If you get no sound, ABCPOW suggests adjusting the volume switch or trying another port. It ships with S/M/L earplugs and a 12-month manufacturer warranty.
Who should buy it: USB-C phone owners who want a mic and controls on a wired bud. Who should skip it: anyone with a 3.5mm jack, anyone using a thick case that blocks the port, and anyone who needs reliable call audio on a MacBook or iPad Pro.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for device compatibility → Panasonic ErgoFit. A 3.5mm jack works across phones, laptops, tablets and MP3 players; USB-C does not.
• Best for tuning the fit → Panasonic ErgoFit. Both include S/M/L tips, but the rounded-tip, soft-tip design is explicitly built around fit matching.
• Best for newer USB-C phones → ABCPOW USB C. Built for phones with a USB-C port and no headphone jack.
• Best for low-key bedside or laptop listening → Panasonic ErgoFit. No mic, no buttons, nothing to fumble with in the dark.
• Best for noise handling → ties by design. The Panasonic lists active noise cancellation and the ABCPOW lists sound isolation; both are in-ear designs, so a good tip seal matters more than the label.
• Best for long-term coverage → ABCPOW USB C. A 12-month manufacturer warranty versus Panasonic's 90-day limited.
• Best for sleep-adjacent use → Panasonic ErgoFit, in my opinion, because the short 3.6-foot cord and soft eartips suit lying down better than a rigid USB-C plug that can be knocked loose.
For most people reading this, I'd buy the Panasonic ErgoFit. It works with more devices, the 9mm drivers and wide quoted frequency range suit everyday music, and the fit-first design is what you want if you're a side sleeper or just wear buds for hours. I'd only switch to the ABCPOW USB C if your phone has no headphone jack and you genuinely need a microphone — that's its whole reason to exist, and it does that job. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since both are budget-tier and the gap changes often.
A wired headphone sends an analog audio signal from your device down the cable to the drivers, which convert it into sound. The Panasonic ErgoFit uses a 3.5mm analog jack, while the ABCPOW USB C receives a digital signal through USB-C and converts it with an integrated DAC chip inside the earbud.
It depends on the port. The ABCPOW USB C plugs directly into USB-C iPhones, including the iPhone 15, 16 and 17 families, with no adapter needed. The Panasonic ErgoFit needs a 3.5mm jack, so it won't work on an iPhone that only has USB-C without an adapter.
Start with the basics: make sure the plug is fully seated with no gap, and on the ABCPOW, slide the volume switch up. ABCPOW also notes that a phone case covering the port can block the plug, and that a phone with its own 3.5mm jack won't output sound through the USB-C earbud.
Fit is everything for side sleeping, and both include S/M/L eartips so you can size them properly. In my opinion the Panasonic ErgoFit is the safer pick for lying down, because its soft rounded tips and short 3.6-foot cord put less pressure and bulk against a pillow than a rigid USB-C connector.
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