How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a proper in-ear pair built specifically for Lightning iPhones — certified, sweat-resistant, with a real wired remote — choose Thore iPhone Earphones MFi; if you need a USB-C open-ear hook design that fits everything from a phone to a laptop and stays comfortable for hours, choose TOPAUX USB Type C.
• Thore iPhone Earphones MFi biggest strength: Apple MFi certification plus a Lightning plug, so it connects natively to iPhone 12/13/14 Pro Max and similar Lightning-port phones — no adapter, no dongle, no fuss.
• Thore iPhone Earphones MFi biggest trade-off: It is Lightning-only. If your phone or tablet uses USB-C, this pair simply will not plug into it.
• TOPAUX USB Type C biggest strength: A USB-C plug plus an open-ear, adjustable over-ear hook design, so it works across USB-C phones, tablets and laptops and stays put without sealing your ear canal.
• TOPAUX USB Type C biggest trade-off: It is an open-ear hook, not an in-ear seal, so sound isolation and bass punch will never match a properly seated in-ear driver.
• Who each pick is for: Thore for Lightning iPhone owners who want a conventional in-ear earbud; TOPAUX for USB-C device owners who want an open, comfortable, multi-device headset.
The Thore V120 is a classic wired in-ear earbud, and the spec sheet tells you exactly what kind of listener it was built for. The headline number is the 11mm dynamic driver paired with a 16-ohm impedance and a 20 Hz – 20 kHz frequency range. That low impedance matters more than people realise: 16 ohms is easy to drive, which is exactly what you want when the amp is a phone rather than a dedicated player. In my opinion, that combination — a relatively large driver and low impedance — is the recipe for a wired earbud that sounds full and doesn't need volume pushed to the ceiling.
Then there's the Lightning connector and the Apple MFi certification. That is the whole reason this product exists as a distinct option. If you own an iPhone 12, 13 or 14 in any Pro Max variant, the cable plugs straight in. No Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter dangling off the bottom of your phone, no USB-C dongle. For someone who just wants to grab their phone and go, that simplicity is the feature.
Buy it if you have a Lightning iPhone, you want an in-ear seal for commuting or training, and you value a lifetime-backed build with a reinforced cord. Skip it if your phone, tablet or laptop is USB-C — this is the wrong connector for you, full stop.
TOPAUX USB Type C: Who It's For
TOPAUX takes the opposite approach on almost every design decision. The connector is USB-C, which instantly opens the door to USB-C iPhones, Samsung and Google phones, iPads, and laptops. That's the core appeal: one pair of wired earphones that follows you from phone to tablet to laptop without an adapter in your bag.
The form factor is the second big difference. This is an open-ear design with an over-ear hook, and the hook adjusts through roughly 15 degrees so it can be tuned toward your ear for better sound. Nothing goes inside your ear canal. If you have ever finished a long call or a study session and felt that sore, plugged-up sensation from in-ear tips, this is the alternative the design is aimed at. TOPAUX describes it as lightweight and pressure-free for long wear, and the age range starts at six years old — the adjustable hook is meant to fit a genuinely wide span of heads and ears.
Inside, there's a dynamic driver with a newer DAC chip, quoted at 32 ohms with a 20 Hz – 20 kHz range, delivering 3D stereo sound. The 32-ohm figure is higher than the Thore's 16 ohms, which is normal for a design like this and worth knowing if you plan to drive it from a weak source. Controls cover play, pause, answer, end, reject, track skip, volume, and waking Siri or the Android voice assistant. The cord is oxygen-free copper with a cable fixer clip to stop it swinging, and there's a PU zipper case in the box.
Buy it if you're on USB-C across several devices, you want open-ear comfort for study, calls, gaming or live broadcasting, or you need one headset that a kid and an adult can both wear. Skip it if you want maximum isolation on a noisy train or you specifically need a Lightning plug.
• Best for iPhone 12/13/14 Pro Max owners → Thore iPhone Earphones MFi. The Lightning plug is native; no adapter required.
• Best for USB-C phones, tablets and laptops → TOPAUX USB Type C. One plug, multiple device types, including Samsung, Google, iPad and laptop use.
• Best for in-ear sound isolation → Thore iPhone Earphones MFi. Sound isolation via a sealed in-ear fit with three gel sizes.
• Best for long-wear comfort → TOPAUX USB Type C. Open-ear hooks with 15-degree adjustment and no in-canal pressure.
• Best for workouts and sweat → Thore iPhone Earphones MFi. Water- and sweat-resistant build with a reinforced TPU cord.
• Best for studying, calls and shared family use → TOPAUX USB Type C. Adjustable hooks fit kids through adults, plus a mic and full call controls.
• Best for easy-to-drive audio → Thore iPhone Earphones MFi. 16-ohm impedance and an 11mm dynamic driver are an undemanding load for a phone.
• Best for travel organisation → TOPAUX USB Type C. It ships with a zipper PU storage case and a cable fixer clip.
If I were buying for myself and my daily phone were a Lightning iPhone, I would take the Thore iPhone Earphones MFi. The MFi certification and the native Lightning plug remove the single most annoying part of wired listening on those phones, and the 11mm driver, 16-ohm impedance and in-ear seal are a sensible combination for everyday listening and training. I would only switch to the TOPAUX USB Type C in one scenario: if my devices are USB-C or I want open-ear comfort for long study, call or gaming sessions. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit — the button on this page will show it.
how to use headphones for iphone
Plug the connector into your iPhone's port — Lightning for the Thore, USB-C for the TOPAUX — then press play. Both pairs use inline wired controls: the Thore's remote handles mic and playback, while the TOPAUX adds call answer/end, track skip, volume and voice-assistant wake. Match the connector to your phone's port first; that's the only real setup step.
how to use wired headphones for iphone 15
The iPhone 15 moved to USB-C, so a Lightning pair like the Thore V120 won't fit it directly. The TOPAUX USB Type C plugs straight into an iPhone 15. If you specifically want the Thore, you'd need a Lightning-to-USB-C adapter, which isn't part of either package here.
how to use wired headphones for iphone
Check your port before buying. Lightning-port iPhones (12/13/14 Pro Max and similar) take the Thore iPhone Earphones MFi directly. USB-C iPhones take the TOPAUX. Once connected, both work as standard wired headsets — inline mic, inline controls, no pairing, no charging.
how to use wired headphones for iphone 16
The iPhone 16 uses USB-C, so the TOPAUX USB Type C is the plug-and-play match here. Its 32-ohm dynamic driver and DAC chip are designed for USB-C audio sources, and the inline controls handle calls, music and voice-assistant wake without any app or pairing step.
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