We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-19 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a 3.5mm wired IEM built for gaming and music listening with a secure wrap-around fit, choose Piluyaa Gaming Headphones IEM; if you need USB-C plug-and-play audio with in-line volume control, a mic and a carry case for a modern phone or laptop, choose COOYA USB C Headphones.
• Piluyaa's biggest strength: a proper in-ear monitor design — 11mm dynamic driver, 16 ohm impedance, wrap-around memory ear hook and only 2.3g per earbud, so it stays put during long gaming or workout sessions.
• Piluyaa's biggest trade-off: it's strictly 3.5mm, so phones and tablets with no headphone jack need an adapter, and the remote does not support volume control.
• COOYA's biggest strength: it plugs straight into USB-C devices — iPhone 15/16/17 family, Galaxy S-series, Pixel, iPad, MacBook — and the in-line button handles volume, play/pause and track skipping.
• COOYA's biggest trade-off: no 3.5mm option at all, and the wider 20Hz–40KHz range comes with a higher 32 ohm impedance that suits USB-C sources rather than analog jacks.
• Who each pick is for: Piluyaa for the gamer or music listener on a 3.5mm port who wants an IEM-style fit; COOYA for the phone-first user who wants one cable, a mic and a case.
The Piluyaa set (model QKZ-ENZO) is built like an in-ear monitor first and an accessory second. The housing is a PC cavity finished with UV varnish, and the ear tips use TPE material with a groove design at the ear cap that the spec sheet says widens the stereo image and adds detail. The short sound guide tubes are meant to reduce sound loss on the way to your ear. In practice, that combination is what you want when you're listening closely — spotting footsteps in a game, picking out an instrument in a mix — rather than just wanting background audio.
Comfort is clearly the design priority here. A single earbud weighs 2.3g, which is light enough that you stop noticing it, and Piluyaa includes three sets of soft eartips for different ear sizes. The wrap-around ear design plus a memory ear hook that holds its shape is the detail that matters most day to day: the earbuds don't slide out when you move your head or work out. If you've ever had a bud pop loose mid-match, that's the problem this solves.
The cable is a 4-core 4N OFC wire, and the 3.5mm plug works with Android and Windows phones, MP3/MP4 players and music speakers. The in-line mic sits just below the jaw and the remote handles answer/end calls plus pause/play/skip — but not volume, so plan on controlling loudness from the source. Buy it if you're on a 3.5mm port, you game or listen for hours, and you want a stable, lightweight IEM fit. Skip it if your phone is USB-C-only and you don't want to carry an adapter, or if on-cable volume control is non-negotiable.
The COOYA pair is a USB-C earbud aimed squarely at people whose devices no longer have a headphone jack. Compatibility is the headline: the list covers iPhone 17/16/15 families, iPad Air and Mini, MacBook Pro and Air, Galaxy S26 down through S20, Galaxy A-series and Tab models, Pixel 10 down to 6, OnePlus, Motorola and more. That's an unusually broad Type-C net, and it's the main reason to pick these over any 3.5mm set. One practical note from the listing: on MacBook you'll need to go to Settings → Sound → Input/Output and select USB before audio routes correctly.
Inside, COOYA uses dual dynamic drivers with a high-sensitivity diaphragm and a built-in DAC chip, which the description credits with ultra-low distortion and clean, natural sound. The frequency range is quoted at 20Hz–40KHz — wider on paper than the Piluyaa set — and impedance is 32 ohm. Practically, the DAC matters more than the numbers here: it means the earbuds do the digital-to-analog conversion themselves, so they behave consistently across phones, tablets and laptops instead of depending on whatever chip your device has.
The in-line module is the other half of the pitch. There's a built-in mic for hands-free calls, and the button handles play/pause, track skipping and volume — the volume control the Piluyaa set lacks. COOYA also throws in a small clip to hold the mic steady and a carrying case so the cable doesn't tangle in your bag. The earbuds are TPE with an orange finish and are listed for both adults and kids, which fits the small-ear, everyday-call use case. Buy it if you want one USB-C cable that just works across your phone, tablet and laptop, with volume on the wire. Skip it if your main device is a 3.5mm-only PC, console controller or older player — there's no analog option here.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for gaming and critical listening → Piluyaa Gaming Headphones IEM. The 16 ohm impedance, 11mm dynamic driver and IEM-style cavity are tuned toward detail and a wide stereo image.
• Best for a secure fit while moving → Piluyaa. 2.3g per earbud, wrap-around design and a memory ear hook.
• Best for on-cable volume control → COOYA. Its button handles volume; Piluyaa's remote does not.
• Best for calls on the go → COOYA. Built-in mic, mic clip and a case to keep the cable tidy.
• Best for cross-device consistency → COOYA. The built-in DAC means the same sound whether you're on a phone, tablet or laptop.
• Best for older gear and analog jacks → Piluyaa. The 3.5mm plug covers Androids, Windows phones, MP3/MP4 players and speakers.
• Best for small ears or kids → COOYA. It's explicitly listed for adult and kid use with a small in-ear shape.
In my opinion, the deciding question is what you're plugging into, not which earbud is "better." If your daily driver has a 3.5mm jack and you care about a locked-in IEM fit for gaming, I'd buy the Piluyaa Gaming Headphones IEM — the 2.3g weight, memory ear hook and 16 ohm driver are exactly what long sessions reward. If your phone, tablet or laptop is USB-C only and you want volume on the wire plus a mic and case, I'd buy the COOYA USB C Headphones. For most people buying in 2025, that second scenario is the common one, and COOYA's breadth of compatibility makes it the safer single purchase. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since both sit in the budget tier and value shifts with whatever each is going for.
For gaming specifically, yes — in my opinion. Piluyaa's 11mm dynamic driver, 16 ohm impedance and IEM cavity with groove-tuned ear caps are aimed at detail and soundstage, and the wrap-around fit keeps them planted. COOYA is fine for casual play but is designed more around calls and everyday listening.
Will COOYA USB C Headphones work with my iPhone or Samsung?
No. The in-line remote handles answer/end calls and pause/play/skip tracks, but volume control is not supported — you adjust loudness on your device. COOYA's control button does handle volume, so that's the pick if on-wire volume matters to you.
COOYA is the easier answer if both devices are USB-C, since the built-in DAC keeps the sound consistent and there's nothing else to carry. If your laptop has a 3.5mm jack, Piluyaa works there directly too — but you'd need an adapter for a USB-C-only phone.
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