We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-18 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a wireless, noise-cancelling, bass-forward over-ear headphone you can wear all day without hunting for a cable, choose SONY WHXB900N; if you need a wired USB-C in-ear with a built-in DAC, a mute button, and two switchable EQ modes, choose APETOO USB C Headphones. These two products sit in completely different lanes — one is a Bluetooth over-ear built for immersion and long listening sessions, the other is a plug-and-play USB-C earbud built for calls, clarity, and low-latency wired connection. Here is how I'd decide between them.
• SONY WHXB900N — biggest strength: Active Noise Cancellation plus Extra Bass and up to 30 hours of battery life in a wireless over-ear design with touch controls and voice assistant support.
• SONY WHXB900N — biggest trade-off: It's a bulky over-ear headphone that relies on Bluetooth 4.2, so it needs charging and adds a bit of wireless latency versus a wired connection.
• APETOO USB C Headphones — biggest strength: A wired USB-C plug with a built-in digital DAC chip, two EQ modes (Bass Boost and Clear Vocal), and a dedicated mute button for calls.
• APETOO USB C Headphones — biggest trade-off: Wired in-ear buds with sound isolation rather than active noise cancellation, so they physically tether you to your device.
• Who SONY WHXB900N is for: Commuters, travelers, and bass lovers who want wireless freedom and real noise cancellation.
• Who APETOO USB C Headphones is for: Anyone with a USB-C phone, tablet, or laptop who wants reliable wired audio, clear calls, and a mute button.
The WHXB900N is Sony's Extra Bass take on the wireless noise-cancelling over-ear. In plain terms, Sony tuned it to push low-end impact harder than a neutral headphone would, and that's the whole personality of this model. If your library leans toward hip-hop, EDM, pop, or anything where the kick drum and bassline carry the song, this is the kind of tuning that makes those tracks feel bigger. The 40 mm dynamic driver and the advertised 20 Hz–40 kHz frequency range back that up on paper, and the 50-ohm impedance figure tells you it's a proper over-ear driver rather than a tiny earbud.
What really separates it is the combination of features. You get active noise cancellation for blocking out plane engines, train rumble, or office chatter. You get up to 30 hours of battery life on a charge, with quick charging that Sony describes as giving roughly 60 minutes of playback from about 10 minutes on the cable — handy when you forgot to plug in the night before. And you get touch controls on the ear cup: tap to pause, skip tracks, adjust volume, take calls, or trigger your voice assistant. There's also Quick Attention Mode, which lets you cup your hand over the right ear cup to drop the volume and pause noise cancelling so you can hear someone without taking the headphones off. That's a genuinely useful trick in a coffee shop or at an airport gate.
Who should buy it? If you want one pair of headphones for commuting, working, and long listening sessions, and you don't want a cable in the way, this is the natural pick. The wireless range is listed at 10 meters, so you can leave your phone on a desk and walk around. It also ships with a carrying case and a 3.5 mm cable, so you have a wired fallback when the battery runs out.
APETOO USB C Headphones: Who It's For
The APETOO set is a different animal entirely. These are wired in-ear buds that terminate in a USB-C plug, and the headline feature is the built-in digital DAC chip. That matters because a lot of phones and tablets no longer have a headphone jack, and a USB-C earbud with its own DAC is designed to hand your device a clean digital signal and convert it properly rather than relying on a dongle. APETOO describes the result as high-fidelity stereo sound, and with a 20 Hz–20 kHz range and 32-ohm impedance, these are spec'd like a straightforward, easy-to-drive in-ear.
The second thing you'll notice is the EQ switching. APETOO builds in two modes: a Bass Boost that the brand says lifts the low end by at least 40%, and a Clear Vocal mode that pushes human voices forward. That's a nice bit of flexibility for a wired earbud — you can flip to bass for music and vocals for podcasts or calls without touching an app. The third feature is the inline control module, which handles volume, play/pause, track skipping, and — importantly — a mute button. Press it once during a call and your mic goes silent. For anyone who takes a lot of meetings or calls, having a hardware mute right on the cable is genuinely convenient and faster than fumbling for a software button.
Comfort and fit are aimed at all-day wear. APETOO uses soft silicone eartips in two sizes (S and L), a lightweight semi in-ear design, and a memory-foam-and-silicone build. Because it's a semi in-ear rather than a deep-sealing bud, the brand notes it doesn't block out all outside noise — that's framed as a safety-aware choice for people who want to stay aware of their surroundings, like cyclists or runners. Noise control here is sound isolation, not active cancellation, so keep expectations realistic.
Who should buy it? If you have a USB-C phone, tablet, or laptop and you want dependable wired audio with no charging, no pairing, and no battery anxiety, this is the pick. The compatibility list is broad — iPhone 15/16/17 series, iPad, MacBook, Samsung Galaxy S through S26, Pixel, OnePlus, Motorola Edge, and more. It also ships with a protective carry case, which keeps the cable from tangling in a bag.
Who should skip it? If you want wireless freedom, active noise cancellation for a noisy flight, or big over-ear bass you can feel, this won't satisfy that. It's a wired, lightweight, semi in-ear — great for calls and everyday listening, not a replacement for a noise-cancelling travel headphone.
• Best for noise cancellation → SONY WHXB900N. It has active noise cancellation; APETOO uses passive sound isolation.
• Best for bass you can feel → SONY WHXB900N. The Extra Bass tuning and 40 mm driver are built for low-end impact, though APETOO's Bass Boost mode gives a wired alternative.
• Best for calls and meetings → APETOO USB C Headphones. The inline mute button and Clear Vocal EQ make it the more practical work-call tool.
• Best for battery life → SONY WHXB900N. Up to 30 hours on a charge, versus a wired earbud that needs no battery at all but stays tethered.
• Best for zero-charge, plug-and-play simplicity → APETOO USB C Headphones. No pairing, no charging, just a USB-C plug.
• Best for travel and commuting → SONY WHXB900N. Over-ear comfort, a carrying case, and noise cancelling suit long journeys.
• Best for staying aware of your surroundings → APETOO USB C Headphones. The semi in-ear design deliberately doesn't seal out all outside noise.
• Best for device compatibility flexibility → APETOO USB C Headphones, which lists a very wide range of USB-C phones, tablets, and laptops.
In my opinion, these aren't really competitors — they solve different problems, and the right answer depends on how you listen. If I wanted one headphone for commuting, bass-heavy music, and long wireless sessions, I'd buy the SONY WHXB900N: the active noise cancellation, up to 30-hour battery, touch controls, and Quick Attention Mode make it the more versatile all-rounder. If I mostly took calls and wanted something I never have to charge, I'd buy the APETOO USB C Headphones for the mute button, dual EQ modes, and true plug-and-play USB-C connection. Pick based on wireless-and-immersive versus wired-and-practical.
Not universally — they're different categories. The Sony is better for wireless listening, active noise cancellation, and bass impact. The APETOO is better for wired USB-C use, calls, and never needing a charge.
APETOO lists compatibility with the iPhone 15/16/17 series along with iPad, MacBook, Samsung Galaxy, Pixel, OnePlus, Motorola Edge, and more. It's a USB-C wired connection, so your device needs a USB-C port.
For call-focused use, I'd lean toward the APETOO USB C Headphones because of the inline mute button and Clear Vocal EQ mode. The Sony does handle calls wirelessly via its integrated microphone and Bluetooth.
I don't publish prices here since they change often. Use the "Check latest price on Amazon" button on this page to see the current price for whichever model you're leaning toward.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.