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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
• Philips SHS3200BL — biggest strength: A 3D flexible earhook design that wraps behind your ear for a secure, stable fit, plus a genuinely light build (about 18 g) and no charging to worry about.
• Philips SHS3200BL — biggest trade-off: It's a wired 3.5mm earhook set with an open acoustic system, so it won't seal out gym noise and it needs a 3.5mm jack (or an adapter) to work.
• phoie USB-C — biggest strength: It turns a USB-C port into a 3.5mm jack, so you can keep using wired headphones on newer phones, tablets and laptops, and you get two adapters in the pack.
• phoie USB-C — biggest trade-off: It's an adapter, not a headphone — it only helps if you already own a 3.5mm set, and it doesn't support volume control for Apple headphones.
• Pick Philips SHS3200BL if you want the lightest, simplest grab-and-go earhook headphones for the gym and don't want to think about batteries.
• Pick phoie USB-C if your phone dropped the headphone jack and you want a lightweight way to stay wired.
The SHS3200BL is built around one idea: stay put. The 3D flexible earhook is soft and bendy, so it molds behind your ear and holds the earpiece in place even when you're moving. For the gym specifically, that's the whole ballgame — an earhook that stays hooked means you're not constantly pushing an earbud back in between sets. Add the fact that it weighs roughly 18 grams and you've got something you'll barely notice during a workout.
On the audio side, Philips specs a 15 mm dynamic driver, 16 ohm impedance, 100 dB sensitivity and a 20,000 Hz frequency response, with an open acoustic system and an acoustically-tuned air channel that's meant to push the bass. In plain terms: this is an easy-to-drive, open-design earhook set. The open design is a double-edged sword at the gym — you'll hear your surroundings and your surroundings will hear a bit of your music, but you also stay aware of what's going on around you, which some people genuinely prefer while training. The 3.9-foot OFC cable and 3.5mm copper-plated connector round out a simple, no-fuss wired setup. There's no battery, no pairing, no charging case — you plug in and go. It also lists touch-based volume control and sound isolation as its noise approach.
phoie USB-C: Who It's For
The phoie USB-C is a different animal entirely — it's a USB-C to 3.5mm audio adapter, sold as a two-pack, not a pair of headphones. Its job is simple: give a USB-C-only device a real 3.5mm jack again. It's tiny (about 5 x 0.4 x 0.25 inches), white, ABS-finished, and it's the bridge between a modern phone and an old-school wired headphone. If you're pairing it with something like the Philips SHS3200BL and your phone has no headphone jack, this adapter is what makes that whole setup possible.
The compatibility list is broad: Samsung Galaxy S24/S23/S22/S21/S20, Plus, Ultra, FE and the Z Fold and Z Flip lines; iPhone 16/15 Plus/Pro Max and iPad; Google Pixel 7/6 Pro and XL; plus more smartphones, tablets and laptops. The brand notes it supports microphone functionality for most 3.5mm headphones with a TRRS plug, with one clear caveat — it does not support volume control for Apple headphones. It also mentions a high sampling rate for high-fidelity sound, and it ships with a lifetime warranty type and a stated 2-year coverage in the warranty description.
Who should buy it: anyone whose phone, tablet or laptop only has USB-C and who wants to keep using wired 3.5mm headphones — especially at the gym, where a lightweight wired setup plus this dongle keeps things simple and battery-free. Who should skip it: if you don't own any 3.5mm headphones, or your device still has a headphone jack, this adapter solves a problem you don't have. And if you specifically rely on Apple headphone volume buttons, note that limitation before you commit.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for a secure, stay-put gym fit → Philips SHS3200BL. The 3D flexible earhook is designed to hold behind your ear while you move.
• Best for lightweight and battery-free → Philips SHS3200BL. Around 18 g with no charging, pairing or power to manage.
• Best for people who already own good 3.5mm headphones → phoie USB-C. You don't need new headphones, just a bridge to your phone.
• Best for open-ear awareness while training → Philips SHS3200BL. The open acoustic system lets in your surroundings.
• Best for value in a multi-device household → phoie USB-C. It's a two-pack, so you can leave one with your gym bag and one at your desk.
• Best for the simplest possible gym setup → Philips SHS3200BL, assuming your device still has a 3.5mm jack.
• Best combined setup → both. If your phone is USB-C-only, the phoie adapter plus the Philips earhook headphones is the pairing that covers the whole chain.
In my opinion, the right pick hinges on one question: does your device still have a 3.5mm jack? If it does, I'd buy the Philips SHS3200BL — it's the actual product that gets you listening at the gym, and its lightweight, earhook-based, battery-free design is exactly what a lot of people want for training. The phoie USB-C is a smart, tiny fix, but it's a means to an end: it only shines if you've already got wired headphones and a USB-C-only phone. For a pure gym setup where you want the lightest, most secure feel with zero charging hassle, the Philips SHS3200BL is the one I'd reach for. If your phone has no jack, buy the phoie adapter too — but the headphones are the part that matters.
how to wear on ear headphones
For an earhook design like the Philips SHS3200BL, the flexible hook sits behind your ear and the earpiece rests at the ear opening. Bend the 3D earhook gently so it follows the curve of your ear, then let it settle — the whole point of the flexible hook is that it adapts to your ear shape for a secure fit.
how to make on ear headphones more comfortable
The key is fit, not force. Because the SHS3200BL uses a soft, flexible 3D earhook, you can adjust the hook's angle until the earpiece rests lightly instead of pressing. Its small 15 mm driver and roughly 18 g weight keep pressure low, so small adjustments usually do more for comfort than anything else.
Position the earhook so the cable runs down naturally behind your ear and the earpiece sits at the opening, not jammed inside. The open acoustic system means you don't need a tight seal for sound, so there's no reason to push it in — a light, stable placement is the comfortable one.
how to clean on ear headphones
Wipe the earpieces and the flexible earhook with a soft, dry or slightly damp cloth, and keep the 3.5mm plug and cable free of sweat and grit — especially useful after gym use. Avoid soaking the drivers or the connector, and let everything air-dry before you plug back in.
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