We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-23 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want to keep using your existing wired headphones on an older Lightning iPhone, choose SAMPOP Lightning; if you need a complete wired earbud setup for a newer USB-C iPhone, choose FIYUM Earphones USB C. These two solve the same everyday problem — getting a cable back into your iPhone — from opposite ends of Apple's connector switch, so the right pick depends entirely on which iPhone sits in your pocket.
• SAMPOP Lightning — biggest strength: a 48kHz/24-bit DAC adapter that turns any 3.5mm headphone you already own into a working Lightning headphone, with full inline controls and a microphone passthrough.
• SAMPOP Lightning — biggest trade-off: it is an adapter, not a headphone. You still need your own 3.5mm cans, and the volume buttons on Apple "Made for iPhone" headsets don't work through it.
• FIYUM Earphones USB C — biggest strength: it's a complete pair of in-ear USB-C earbuds with a built-in mic, remote control, DAC chip and an MFi-certified USB-C connector — nothing else to buy.
• FIYUM Earphones USB C — biggest trade-off: it only fits USB-C devices, so it's useless on a Lightning iPhone, and it's a single pair rather than a multi-pack.
• Who each pick is for: SAMPOP for Lightning iPhone owners who love their current headphones; FIYUM for iPhone 15/16/17 owners who want one cable, one pair, done.
The SAMPOP Lightning is a two-pack of Lightning-to-3.5mm adapters, and its whole reason to exist is the headphone you already own. If you have a favourite pair of wired cans — the ones with the sound signature you actually like — this dongle lets you keep using them on a Lightning iPhone instead of being pushed into Bluetooth. The adapter covers a huge compatibility list: iPhone 7 and 7 Plus all the way through iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, plus iPhone SE, and the Lightning iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad and iPad mini generations. It supports iOS 14–18 and TRRS 3.5mm accessories.
The part that matters day to day is the control story. Play/pause, track skipping, volume, answer/reject calls, Siri and FaceTime all work through the adapter, so you're not reaching for your phone every two minutes on a walk or a commute. The 48kHz/24-bit DAC is there to keep the signal clean — crisp highs, smooth mids, deep bass, in the spec's own terms — with active noise cancellation working to cut down street, subway and gym noise. SAMPOP also claims lab testing of 15,000 plug/unplug and bend cycles, roughly three times a standard adapter, and it throws in a 3-year replacement or refund support promise. Two adapters in the box means one can live in a bag and one at your desk.
FIYUM Earphones USB C: Who It's For
The FIYUM Earphones USB C is the newer-phone answer. It's a finished pair of wired in-ear earbuds with a USB-C plug, MFi certification, and a built-in microphone and volume control on the cable. There's no adapter in the chain and no 3.5mm jack to worry about — you plug straight into the port and you're listening. It's aimed at the iPhone 15, 16 and 17 families (including Pro Max), and FIYUM also lists compatibility with Samsung Galaxy S24/S23, Google Pixel and iPad Pro, which makes it a sensible pick if you switch between an iPhone and an Android phone or a tablet during the day.
Comfort and build are the design story here. The earpieces are an ergonomic rounded-tip in-ear shape, and the cable is TPE with a twist-resistant construction meant to stop it tangling in a pocket or gym bag. The connector housing is aluminium alloy, chosen for durability and corrosion resistance — a small detail, but the plug is the part that fails first on cheap earbuds. Inside, a dynamic driver and a DAC chip do the audio work, with the goal of lossless, full-range sound from deep bass up to crisp highs. Noise control is passive sound isolation rather than active cancellation, which is typical for in-ear buds: the seal does the blocking. FIYUM backs it with a 1-year manufacturer warranty.
Who should buy it: iPhone 15/16/17 owners who want a single, tidy wired solution with a mic for calls, and anyone who moves between USB-C devices. It's also the obvious pick for running, yoga, cycling and gym work, since the in-ear fit and tangle-resistant cable suit movement. Who should skip it: anyone still on a Lightning iPhone — the USB-C connector won't go in — and anyone who specifically wants to keep using their own over-ear headphones rather than in-ear buds.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for iPhone 7–14 owners → SAMPOP Lightning. It's the only one of the two that physically fits a Lightning port.
• Best if you already love your wired headphones → SAMPOP Lightning. It's a converter, so your existing cans keep their sound.
• Best if you want nothing extra to buy → FIYUM Earphones USB C. Earbuds, cable, mic and remote all come in one piece.
• Best for calls and inline control → both, with a caveat. SAMPOP passes controls through to your headset (except volume on MFi Apple headsets); FIYUM has its own mic and volume remote built in.
• Best for gym, running and commuting → FIYUM Earphones USB C. The in-ear seal plus TPE tangle-resistant cable is built for movement; SAMPOP's noise cancellation depends on the headphone you attach.
• Best for having a backup on hand → SAMPOP Lightning. It ships as a 2-pack with a 3-year replacement or refund promise; FIYUM is a single pair with a 1-year manufacturer warranty.
• Best for switching between phone brands → FIYUM Earphones USB C. It also covers Galaxy S24/S23, Pixel and iPad Pro, while SAMPOP is Apple Lightning only.
In my opinion, the deciding factor isn't sound or build — it's the port on your phone, and that makes this an easy call. If your iPhone still has a Lightning connector, I'd buy the SAMPOP Lightning: it's the only option here that works, it keeps the headphones you already trust, and the two-pack plus long support window is genuinely reassuring. If you've moved to an iPhone 15, 16 or 17, I'd buy the FIYUM Earphones USB C — it's a complete, MFi-certified wired setup with a mic, remote and a connector built to survive pocket life. Check the current price on Amazon for whichever one matches your port before you commit.
how to use wired headphones for iphone 15
The iPhone 15 series uses a USB-C port, so a Lightning adapter won't fit. You need either USB-C earbuds like the FIYUM Earphones USB C, or a USB-C-to-3.5mm adapter for existing wired headphones. Plug in and audio routes automatically.
how to use wired headphones for iphone 16
Same as the iPhone 15: the port is USB-C. The FIYUM Earphones USB C plugs straight in with no setup, and its built-in mic and remote handle calls and playback. If you'd rather keep your own headphones, use a USB-C adapter instead.
how to use wired headphones for iphone
It depends on the connector. On iPhone 7 through 14, plug a Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter like the SAMPOP Lightning into the phone, then your headphones into the adapter. On iPhone 15 and later, use USB-C earbuds or a USB-C adapter.
how to use wired headphones for iphone
Once connected, controls route through the adapter or the earbuds' own remote — play/pause, track skip, calls and Siri all work. Note that with Apple MFi headsets on the SAMPOP adapter, volume stays on the iPhone's side buttons.
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See also: FIYUM Earphones USB C vs Bioonis Lightning Ear Buds, HAIMLJLBK USB C Headphones vs FIYUM USB C Headphones, NUBWO HW02 vs JYCHEYI White USB C: USB Wired Headphones