If you want lightweight wireless earbuds for everyday listening on a MacBook, choose Surfans T1; if you need over-ear headphones built around watching television, choose RETRADEKING TV Headphones. For a MacBook, Surfans is the more natural match, while RETRADEKING’s transmitter, TV connections, and over-ear design serve a different job.
These are not two versions of the same kind of headphone. The key decision is whether you want small earbuds for general personal listening or a dedicated TV setup that can work with several kinds of audio output.
• Surfans T1: Compact, 3-gram-per-earbud wireless listening, Bluetooth 6.0, and touch controls; its semi-in-ear fit is not an over-ear TV headset.
• RETRADEKING TV Headphones: A supplied transmitter, compatibility with optical, AUX, RCA, and USB audio outputs, and up to 30 hours of battery life; the headphones must be used with their matched transmitter.
• For a MacBook: Surfans T1 is the simpler fit for routine Bluetooth listening, while RETRADEKING is designed around a TV and its audio connections.
• For calls and daily carry: Surfans T1 has dual microphones and a charging case; RETRADEKING is an over-ear headset with a transmitter-led setup.
• For long TV sessions: RETRADEKING offers an over-ear design and TV-focused connections, but volume is adjusted with the television remote rather than headphone volume buttons.
• Choose Surfans T1 for lightweight earbuds; choose RETRADEKING TV Headphones for a dedicated wireless television setup.
Surfans T1 is a pair of in-ear Bluetooth earbuds for someone who wants a small, uncomplicated listening option for a MacBook, phone, or other Bluetooth-compatible device. Each earbud weighs 3 grams, and the semi-in-ear design is intended to sit without the pressure of a heavier over-ear headset. The charging case has a glossy, crystal-ball look, so appearance is also part of the product’s appeal.
The audio specification centers on a 13 mm bio-diaphragm dynamic driver. Surfans also lists a pure copper voice coil, support for SBC and AAC, and a frequency range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Those details describe the hardware and supported codecs; they do not by themselves guarantee how any particular listener will perceive the sound. The product also includes touch controls for music, calls, volume, and voice assistants, along with Bluetooth 6.0 and a stated 10-meter wireless range.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-18 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
RETRADEKING TV Headphones are built around a television connection rather than general-purpose earbuds. The package includes a wireless transmitter that works with optical, 3.5 mm AUX, RCA, or USB audio connections, depending on the TV’s available outputs. The headphones and transmitter are matched and need to be used together; they are not described as a standalone Bluetooth headset for connecting directly to a MacBook.
The over-ear design uses 40 mm dynamic drivers, with a listed frequency range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz. RETRADEKING specifies Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX low-latency coding and describes the system as designed to keep audio and video synchronized. Its stated wireless range is up to 30 meters, and the battery life is listed as up to 30 hours per charge, with a two-hour charging time. Those figures make it the more TV-focused choice for someone who wants to watch programs without relying on the television’s speakers.
The single-button approach is a distinctive trade-off. Instead of adjusting volume on the headphones, the listener uses the TV remote. That may simplify the headset itself, but it also means the television’s audio output and settings matter. For optical connections, the setup instructions specify selecting PCM in the TV’s digital audio output format. The USB port must support audio output for USB audio to work; if it does not, an optical, RCA, or AUX connection may be needed instead. I would choose RETRADEKING for a compatible TV and a listener who prefers over-ear coverage. I would not choose it as my first option for MacBook listening or for anyone who wants to use a headset without its transmitter.
• Best fit for a MacBook’s everyday Bluetooth listening → Surfans T1. It is an earbud set with Bluetooth 6.0 and supports SBC and AAC. RETRADEKING is supplied as a TV headset with a transmitter that must stay paired with the headphones.
• Best for a dedicated TV connection → RETRADEKING TV Headphones. Its transmitter supports optical, AUX, RCA, and USB audio connections, provided the TV’s relevant output works.
• Best for a lightweight in-ear design → Surfans T1. Each earbud weighs 3 grams and uses a semi-in-ear shape. RETRADEKING instead has an over-ear design.
• Best for longer stated battery life per charge → RETRADEKING TV Headphones. Its listed battery life is up to 30 hours, compared with Surfans’s listed average of 4.5 hours per charge and up to 20 hours total with the case.
• Best for calls among these two designs → Surfans T1. It includes dual microphones and AI noise reduction intended to reduce background noise during calls.
• Best for controlling TV volume from the couch → RETRADEKING TV Headphones. The design leaves volume adjustment to the television remote rather than adding headphone volume buttons.
• Best for touch controls on the earbuds → Surfans T1. The touch controls handle music, calls, volume, and voice assistants.
• Best for a stated longer wireless range → RETRADEKING TV Headphones. Its listed range is up to 30 meters, compared with up to 10 meters for Surfans T1.
The “best hi res headphones for MacBook” search phrase needs a careful answer here. Neither product’s supplied specifications identify it as a high-resolution-audio headphone, so I would not label either one that way. Surfans lists SBC and AAC support, while RETRADEKING lists aptX low-latency coding for its TV-focused Bluetooth system. Codec and driver specifications can help narrow a choice, but they are not enough to establish a complete hi-res audio capability.
The same caution applies to “best IPX7 waterproof headset for MacBook.” Neither product’s supplied details state an IPX7 rating or provide a waterproof rating, so there is no factual basis to call either one IPX7 waterproof. If that rating is essential, these two descriptions do not answer that requirement.
For “best on-ear headphones for MacBook,” neither design is technically described as on-ear. Surfans is in-ear, and RETRADEKING is over-ear. Between them, Surfans is still the more straightforward MacBook choice because it is a general Bluetooth earbud set, but shoppers who specifically want on-ear headphones should look for that fit category rather than treating either option as a match.
My Verdict
I would buy Surfans T1 for a MacBook because its Bluetooth earbud format, touch controls, and 3-gram-per-earbud design make it the more suitable pick for everyday personal listening. Its listed battery life per charge is shorter, so I would factor in the charging case rather than expect a 30-hour single-charge session. I would choose RETRADEKING instead if my main need were listening to a compatible TV through over-ear headphones, especially with the supplied transmitter and TV-remote volume control. For MacBook use, my recommendation is Surfans T1.
FAQ
Can I connect Surfans T1 to a MacBook?
The product is described as a TV headphone system whose headphones must be used with their matched transmitter. Its transmitter connects to TV audio outputs such as optical, AUX, RCA, or USB. The supplied details do not describe direct MacBook pairing as a use case.
RETRADEKING lists up to 30 hours on a single charge and a two-hour charging time. Surfans lists an average of 4.5 hours for the earbuds and up to 20 hours total with the charging case, so the battery figures are presented differently.
The supplied details do not give either product an IPX7 or other waterproof rating. Surfans lists environmental noise cancellation and microphone noise reduction for calls; RETRADEKING lists sound isolation. Those descriptions are not a stated waterproof rating, nor do they establish that the two products provide the same kind of noise control.
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