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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a proven kid-proof wired headphone with a braided cable, a foldable frame and a standard 3.5mm plug that works with almost anything, choose POWMEE M1; if you need a USB-C plug that goes straight into a modern tablet or phone with no adapter, plus a hard 94dB volume ceiling, choose Bywulanda Upgrade USB Type.
• POWMEE M1 — biggest strength: a 3.5mm jack that fits virtually every phone, tablet, laptop, Chromebook and car DVD player, plus a nylon-braided 4.2 ft cord built to survive kids.
• POWMEE M1 — biggest trade-off: it has no volume limiter, and on newer iPhones or 2020 iPad Pro models you'll need a Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter.
• Bywulanda Upgrade USB Type — biggest strength: native USB-C plug-and-play and a 94dB safe volume limit that protects young ears without you policing the volume.
• Bywulanda Upgrade USB Type — biggest trade-off: it only works with Type-C devices, so anything with a plain 3.5mm socket is off the table.
• Pick POWMEE M1 if your household is a mix of older and newer gear and you want one cheap, tough pair that plugs into all of it.
• Pick Bywulanda Upgrade USB Type if your child's main device is USB-C and you care most about hearing protection.
The POWMEE M1 is a compact on-ear headphone aimed squarely at kids age three and up, and the spec sheet reads like someone actually thought about how children treat their things. The cord is nylon braided and 4.2 feet long, which is the detail I'd point to first: braided cable resists the yanking, chewing and pocket-stuffing that kills thin rubber cords. The earcups are protein cushion, the headband adjusts to fit different head shapes, and the whole thing folds down for storage in a suitcase or backpack.
Sound-wise you get 40mm dynamic drivers covering 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, so the full audible range is there for music, movies and schoolwork. The stereo bass tuning is aimed at kids, not audiophiles, and that's fine — this is not a headphone for critical listening. The on-ear cushion design also isolates some outside noise, which helps on a bus or in a noisy classroom.
Who should buy it: parents who want one affordable, durable pair that works across a mixed pile of devices — Android phones, iPads, Chromebooks, laptops, car DVD players. The 3.5mm plug is the universal standard, so compatibility is rarely a problem. Who should skip it: anyone whose child only uses a USB-C phone or tablet and would rather not carry an adapter, and anyone who specifically wants a built-in volume limit. The POWMEE M1 relies on sound isolation, not a decibel cap, so the volume ceiling is whatever the source device allows. That's the honest trade-off. It also ships in pink, so if that's not your kid's color, look elsewhere.
The Bywulanda Upgrade USB Type is built around two decisions, and both are smart for the right buyer. First, the connector: it's USB-C, no converter needed, plug straight into a modern tablet, phone or laptop and it just works. Second, the 94dB safe volume limit. For a parent, that single number is the whole pitch — it caps output at a level generally considered safe for young ears, so you're not constantly leaning over to check the volume slider.
The rest of the package is conventional but sensible. Foldable frame, adjustable headband that stretches from young kids up to teenagers, 40mm dynamic drivers with a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz range, and 30 ohm impedance, which is easy to drive from a phone or tablet without a separate amp. It weighs 0.18 kg, so it's light enough that a child won't complain about it on a long car ride. Controls are a simple button-based volume control.
Who should buy it: families whose kids use USB-C devices — many current iPads, most modern Android phones and tablets, and USB-C laptops. If that's your setup, this is the cleaner choice because there's no dongle to lose. Who should skip it: anyone with a 3.5mm-only device, an older iPhone, a school Chromebook with a headphone jack, or a car DVD player. On those, the Bywulanda simply won't connect. It comes in mint green, and the brand backs it with a 2-year warranty and 24-hour support.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for device compatibility → POWMEE M1. The 3.5mm plug covers phones, tablets, laptops, Chromebooks and car DVD players; the USB-C plug covers only Type-C gear.
• Best for cable durability → POWMEE M1. A 4.2 ft nylon-braided cord is a real advantage with kids who tug and tangle.
• Best for modern USB-C households → Bywulanda Upgrade USB Type. No adapter, no dongle, no "where did the converter go" on the school run.
• Best for travel and storage → tie. Both fold down into a compact shape for bags and suitcases.
• Best for sound specs → tie. Both use 40mm dynamic drivers with a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz range.
• Best for adjustable fit across ages → Bywulanda Upgrade USB Type. Its headband is explicitly sized from kids through teenagers.
• Best for a mixed-device family → POWMEE M1. One pair that works on old and new hardware beats two pairs that only work on one.
In my opinion, the right pick comes down to one question: what does your child actually plug into? If it's a USB-C tablet or phone and you want the built-in 94dB safety cap, I'd buy the Bywulanda Upgrade USB Type — the volume limit and native Type-C connection are worth more than any spec on the other side of the fence. If your household still runs on 3.5mm jacks across laptops, older tablets and car DVD players, I'd buy the POWMEE M1 instead, because a universal plug and a braided cord will serve you longer than a connector your devices can't accept. Neither is "better" in the abstract; they solve different problems.
what are the best open ear headphones
Neither of these two is an open-ear design — both are on-ear headphones with cushioned earcups, so they sit against the ear rather than leaving it open. If open-ear is a hard requirement, you'd need to look at a different category entirely. If you just want comfortable, lightweight headphones for a child, both models here qualify.
are on ear headphones good
For kids, on-ear headphones are a solid choice: they're lighter and more compact than over-ear models, and both the POWMEE M1 and Bywulanda Upgrade USB Type use soft cushioning and sound isolation, which cuts some outside noise. The main trade-off is that on-ear pads press against the ear rather than surrounding it, so long sessions can feel different from over-ear comfort. For school, travel and everyday listening, they're more than adequate.
are open ear headphones good
Open-ear headphones let you hear your surroundings, which some people prefer for safety while walking or cycling. The catch is that they leak sound both ways, so they isolate poorly — the opposite of what both headphones here do. Both the POWMEE M1 and the Bywulanda use on-ear cushions with sound isolation, which is better for focused listening on a bus or in class.
are on ear headphones comfortable
Comfort comes down to padding, weight and fit, and both of these handle it reasonably. The POWMEE M1 uses protein cushion earcups with an adjustable headband and is described as lightweight for kids age three and up. The Bywulanda Upgrade USB Type weighs 0.18 kg with a soft adjustable headband that expands from kids to teenagers, so it should stay comfortable for longer wear.
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