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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-01 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• Planet Buddies – biggest strength: A fixed 85 dB volume cap in line with what the World Health Organization recommends, plus a build using 50% recycled plastic and recycled packaging.
• Planet Buddies – biggest trade-off: The volume ceiling can't be raised for older kids, and there's no passive noise cancellation listed.
• YOYOTUNE – biggest strength: A switchable 85/94 dB limiter and a very light 130 g frame with memory foam, protein-leather cushions.
• YOYOTUNE – biggest trade-off: No recycled-material story and no carry pouch, so it's more of a plain everyday headset than a character-driven one.
• Who each is for: Planet Buddies for the 3+ crowd who want an animal buddy and a hard 85 dB cap; YOYOTUNE for slightly older kids who want a louder option and the lightest possible fit.
Planet Buddies builds this headset around one idea: keep little ears safe without making the product boring. The volume is capped at 85 dB, and the brand points out that this is the level the World Health Organization recommends, with the design allowing up to about 8 hours of listening a day at that ceiling. For a parent handing a tablet to a 4-year-old on a long drive, that hard cap is the whole point. There's no switch to flip it louder, which is exactly what some parents want and exactly what others don't.
The design details back up the kid-first angle. It's an on-ear fit with soft padded earpads and a fully adjustable headband sized for ages 3 and up, and it folds down for travel with a woven nylon-hemp pouch included. The frame is made from 50% recycled plastic, the packaging is 100% recycled and recyclable, and the animal characters are meant to nudge kids toward caring about endangered species. It's a wired 3.5 mm set at 32 ohm, so it plays nicely with phones, tablets and e-readers, and a single multi-function button handles play, pause, skip and calls.
In my opinion, this is the pick for a family that values the fixed safety limit and the sustainability message, and for a child young enough that the owl or animal character actually matters. Skip it if your kid is old enough to complain that 85 dB is too quiet, or if you specifically want noise isolation — this model lists no noise control at all. Also note the listing states no warranty, so treat it as a straightforward, durable everyday pair rather than something covered.
YOYOTUNE takes a different route: it gives you the safety feature but hands you the dial. The in-line remote lets you pick between an 85 dB and a 94 dB limit, so the same headset can serve a cautious 5-year-old and a 10-year-old who insists everything is too soft. That one button also covers play/pause, track skipping and answering or ending calls, so a kid can run the whole thing without touching the device.
Comfort is clearly the second pillar here. The on-ear cushions use soft foam and breathable protein leather, and the whole thing weighs about 130 g (0.3 lb) with no metal parts, which is genuinely light for a wired kids' headset. The dynamic drivers cover a 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz range and the set leans on passive noise cancellation, so it takes some edge off surrounding noise without any electronics. It's wired over a 3.5 mm jack and works with Kindle Fire tablets, phones, laptops and PCs — the usual suspects for online lessons and after-school cartoons.
The trade-offs are real but modest. There's no recycled-material angle, no travel pouch, and the character-driven appeal of an animal-branded headset is absent — this is a plain green pair. In my opinion, it's the better fit for an older child, a shared headset between siblings of different ages, or anyone who wants the lightest possible on-ear option. Skip it if the eco story or the animal design is what sold you on kids' headphones in the first place.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for the youngest kids (3+) → Planet Buddies Kids Headphones, with its fixed 85 dB cap and adjustable headband.
• Best for a growing kid who wants more volume → YOYOTUNE Kids Headphones, thanks to the 85/94 dB switch.
• Best for travel and storage → Planet Buddies Kids Headphones, which folds down and ships with a woven pouch.
• Best for eco-conscious buyers → Planet Buddies Kids Headphones, made from 50% recycled plastic with fully recycled packaging.
• Best for blocking background noise → YOYOTUNE Kids Headphones, which lists passive noise cancellation; Planet Buddies lists none.
• Best for online classes and calls → a tie, since both include a microphone and a 3.5 mm wired connection with in-line controls.
• Best for a shared family headset → YOYOTUNE Kids Headphones, because the volume limit can adapt to different ages.
If I were buying for a 3- to 6-year-old and wanted the simplest possible safety story, I'd take the Planet Buddies Kids Headphones. The fixed 85 dB limit removes any temptation to go louder, the animal design lands with small kids, and the foldable build with a pouch is genuinely handy for travel.
If the child is older, or the headset needs to work for more than one kid, I'd buy the YOYOTUNE Kids Headphones. The 85/94 dB switch, the 130 g weight and the passive noise cancellation make it the more flexible, more comfortable everyday pair. In my opinion that flexibility is worth more than the character appeal once a kid hits school age.
are on ear headphones good
Yes, for kids they're a sensible middle ground. Both of these are on-ear designs, which means the pads rest against the ear rather than surrounding it — lighter and cooler than over-ear models, and easier to fold and pack. The trade-off is less isolation, which is why YOYOTUNE's passive noise cancellation is a small plus.
what are the best open ear headphones
Neither of these is an open-ear model, so if that's specifically what you want, look elsewhere. Both Planet Buddies and YOYOTUNE are wired on-ear headphones with cushioned pads that sit on the ear. If you just want something light and breathable for a child, the 130 g YOYOTUNE set is the closer match in spirit.
which are the best over the ear headphones
Over-ear and on-ear are different fits, and both headsets here are on-ear. If your priority is a fully cushioned around-the-ear feel for a child, neither is the right category. Between these two, Planet Buddies is the more padded, character-driven option for younger kids, while YOYOTUNE is the lighter, more adjustable one.
what are the best over the ear headphones to buy
For kids specifically, I'd weigh the volume limit and the fit before anything else. Planet Buddies gives you a fixed 85 dB cap, recycled materials and a travel pouch; YOYOTUNE gives you an 85/94 dB switch, passive noise cancellation and a 130 g frame. Check the current price on Amazon for both, then match the limit and the weight to your child's age.
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