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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 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want featherweight in-ear headphones that plug straight into a USB-C port and never need charging, choose Sony IER-EX15C; if you need over-ear headphones with a 3.5 mm plug for a laptop, PC or Chromebook, choose ARTIX Headphones. Both are wired, both skip batteries entirely, and both sit at the light end of the headphone spectrum — but they solve completely different problems. One is a pocket-sized USB-C earbud set. The other is a full-size over-ear pair built for desk and classroom duty.
• Sony IER-EX15C — biggest trade-off: it is wired only, so you are tethered to your device, and there is no active noise cancellation — just the natural seal of the eartips.
• ARTIX Headphones — biggest strength: over-ear cups with sound isolation and a universal 3.5 mm aux jack, so they work with almost any laptop, PC, Chromebook or school device without an adapter.
• ARTIX Headphones — biggest trade-off: they are bulkier and less portable than earbuds, and the 3.5 mm plug means newer phones without a headphone jack need an adapter.
• Who Sony IER-EX15C is for: anyone who wants the lightest possible carry, a USB-C connection and a built-in mic for calls.
• Who ARTIX Headphones is for: students, kids, teens and desk workers who want over-ear comfort and a plug that fits standard headphone jacks.
The Sony IER-EX15C is built around one idea: a wired connection without the fuss. The USB-C plug means you connect straight to modern phones, laptops and gaming consoles with no dongle and no pairing. Because it is wired, there is no battery to charge, no latency to worry about and no drop-outs mid-song. For anyone who has ever had Bluetooth earbuds die halfway through a commute, that simplicity is the whole appeal.
Weight is where this pair really earns its place in a lightweight-headphones conversation. The item weight listed is 0.05 kg, and Sony describes the driver and high-compliance diaphragm as keeping the headphones light without compromising sound. The housing is compact and contoured, and you get XS, M and XL ear tips so you can dial in a secure fit rather than settling for whatever comes in the box. The serrated cable is designed to resist tangling, and a built-in slider and cable adjuster let you fine-tune the length so there is less slack while you listen and fewer knots when you pack up. Four color options — black, white, blue and pink — let you match your style.
Controls live on the in-line remote: a multi-function button plus volume +/- and a built-in microphone. The multi-function button handles play/pause, track skipping, answering calls, voice assistant activation and mic mute/unmute. The frequency range is a standard 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz with a dynamic driver, and Sony claims powerful bass and clear vocals across genres.
ARTIX Headphones: Who It's For
The ARTIX Headphones take the opposite approach. These are over-ear headphones with circular earcups in a Midnight Blue plastic enclosure, and they are aimed at a broad audience: kids, teens and adults. The 3.5 mm aux cord is the key spec. It plugs into laptops, PCs, computers, Chromebooks and school devices without any adapter, which is exactly the kind of universal fit a classroom or home-office setup needs.
The listed impedance is 32 ohm, paired with a dynamic driver and the same 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz frequency range as the Sony. That 32 ohm figure matters for everyday gear — it is a common, easy-to-drive rating that onboard laptop and phone outputs handle without trouble. The cups are over-ear, so they rest around your ears rather than inside them, and ARTIX lists sound isolation as the noise-control approach. That is passive isolation from the cup design, not active cancellation, so it reduces some surrounding noise without electronics.
Controls are simple: a button-based volume control, plus a built-in microphone for calls and online classes. There is no battery and no charging, because the connection is wired. The Midnight Blue finish keeps things neutral rather than flashy, and the age range spans kids through adults, so the same pair can serve a student on a Chromebook and a parent on a work call.
Who should buy it? Anyone who needs over-ear comfort, a mic and a plug that fits standard headphone jacks — students, remote workers and families buying for kids. Who should skip it? If you want maximum portability, in-ear fit or USB-C without an adapter, the ARTIX pair is the wrong shape and the wrong connector for you.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for the lightest possible carry → Sony IER-EX15C. At 0.05 kg with a compact in-ear housing and a tangle-resistant cable, it disappears into a pocket.
• Best for over-ear comfort and passive isolation → ARTIX Headphones. The over-ear cups and listed sound isolation suit long desk sessions better than earbuds.
• Best for laptops, PCs and Chromebooks → ARTIX Headphones. The 3.5 mm jack is the universal standard for those devices.
• Best for calls and voice assistants → Sony IER-EX15C. The multi-function button covers play/pause, track skip, call answer, voice assistant and mic mute.
• Best for kids and teens → ARTIX Headphones. ARTIX explicitly lists kids and teens in the age range, and the simple volume button is easy for younger users.
• Best for fit customization → Sony IER-EX15C. Three ear tip sizes (XS, M, XL) plus a cable slider and adjuster let you tune both fit and cable length.
• Best for a shared household device → ARTIX Headphones. The 3.5 mm plug and over-ear design work across school and home hardware without fuss.
In my opinion, I would buy the Sony IER-EX15C. The reasoning is simple: if lightweight is the priority, 0.05 kg of in-ear hardware with a USB-C plug, three ear tip sizes and an in-line remote is about as little as a wired headphone can ask of you. It is the pair I would grab for a commute, a call or a quick session on a laptop. That said, I would recommend the ARTIX Headphones without hesitation for a student, a kid, or anyone who wants over-ear cups and a 3.5 mm jack that fits almost everything. If you are torn, decide by connector and shape first — those two specs settle it faster than anything else.
how to wear on ear headphones
Place the headband over the top of your head and let each cup rest against the outside of your ear, not on top of it. The ARTIX Headphones are over-ear, so the circular cups should sit around the ear with the cushion sealing against your head. Adjust the headband until the cups feel even on both sides.
how to make on ear headphones more comfortable
Start with the headband fit — if the cups press too hard, extend the band slightly so the clamping force eases. Take short breaks during long sessions, since over-ear cups can warm up your ears over time. The ARTIX design uses sound isolation from the cup seal, so a correct fit also helps you hear more of the music and less of the room.
how to wear on ear headphones comfortably
Keep the band centered rather than tilted, and make sure the cable hangs on the side you prefer so it does not pull on the cups. If you wear glasses, let the arms sit under the cushion rather than pinched against it. A relaxed, even fit matters more than a tight one for long listening.
how to clean on ear headphones
Wipe the plastic enclosure and cushions with a soft, slightly damp cloth, and avoid soaking the drivers or the volume control. For the Sony IER-EX15C, the silicone ear tips can be removed and rinsed, then dried fully before you put them back on. Never submerge either pair in water.
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