We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-23 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a USB-C audio adapter that simply gets a 3.5 mm wired headphone or mic working on your MacBook, choose TRIPP LITE USB-C; if you need to plug a Lightning earphone into a USB-C MacBook and want a spare in the bag, choose Jadebones USB C.
• TRIPP LITE USB-C — biggest strength: a 24-bit DAC that converts digital audio to analog at a 96 kHz sample rate, so it's built for actual listening quality, not just a pass-through connection.
• TRIPP LITE USB-C — biggest trade-off: it's a single adapter with one USB-C connector, so you get one unit and nothing to share between devices.
• Jadebones USB C — biggest strength: you get two adapters in the box and it handles both Lightning and USB-C, which covers a much wider pile of devices.
• Jadebones USB C — biggest trade-off: it only supports headphones — no lavalier mics, no charging, no data — so it's strictly a listening accessory.
• Who each is for: TRIPP LITE for MacBook owners with a wired 3.5 mm headset who want clean audio and a hardware warranty; Jadebones for someone juggling a Lightning earphone and a USB-C laptop who wants a backup adapter ready.
TRIPP LITE USB-C is the pick for anyone whose MacBook has lost its headphone jack, or whose jack has gone flaky. It connects to a USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 port and gives you a 3.5 mm socket for headphones, earbuds, a microphone or speakers. That last part matters more than it looks on paper: because it accepts a microphone, it's the adapter you want if you use a wired headset with an inline mic for calls, not just a pair of plain earbuds.
The interesting spec here is the audio path. The 24-bit U437-001 converts digital high-resolution audio to analog at a 96 kHz sample rate. In plain terms, the adapter is doing real conversion work rather than just reshaping a connector, which is the difference between "sound comes out" and "sound comes out well" on a laptop that pushes audio over USB-C. The housing is slim aluminum in black, small enough to live in a pocket, purse backpack or laptop bag, and the whole thing is plug-and-play with no software or external power. It's listed as compatible with Android, Windows and macOS, so it isn't locked to Apple hardware.
Who should skip it? If your headphones are Lightning-terminated, this is the wrong adapter — there's no Lightning socket here. And if you want one purchase that covers two devices at once, you only get a single unit. In my opinion it's the better buy for a MacBook user who cares about the sound going into their ears and wants a manufacturer's 1-year limited warranty plus phone and email support behind it. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since that's the one variable I can't speak to.
Jadebones USB C plays a different game. It's a USB-C to Lightning headphone adapter, sold as a 2-pack, which means it's solving the "my Lightning earphone won't fit my USB-C laptop" problem rather than the "my laptop has no headphone jack" problem. If you own Lightning earphones — the kind that used to plug into an iPhone — and you've moved to a USB-C MacBook, this is the bridge.
The feature set is narrow but honest about it. The first bullet on the sheet is a warning: it supports headphones only, not lavalier microphones, not charging, not data transfer. That's a genuinely useful thing for a brand to admit, and it tells you exactly where this adapter belongs — casual listening, not a headset for meetings. Inside, Jadebones says there's an intelligent DAC chip for stable, distortion-free transmission, and the shell is a durable aluminum build with no driver installation required. It's white and light — the sheet lists 9 g — so it disappears in a bag.
Compatibility is the real argument: iPhone 16 and 15 families, iPad Air and Pro, MacBook, a long list of Galaxy S and Note models, Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5, and Pixel 7 down to Pixel 4. If your household has a mix of phones, tablets and a MacBook, two adapters means you can leave one plugged into the laptop bag and one at the desk. It also carries a 1-year warranty.
Who should skip it? Anyone who needs a mic, anyone who wants to charge while listening, and anyone whose headphones end in 3.5 mm — this adapter has no 3.5 mm socket at all. It's a Lightning-earphone accessory, full stop.
• Best for wired 3.5 mm headphones on a MacBook → TRIPP LITE USB-C, which gives you a 3.5 mm socket over USB-C or Thunderbolt 3.
• Best for a headset with a microphone → TRIPP LITE USB-C, since Jadebones explicitly does not support lavalier mics.
• Best for Lightning earphones → Jadebones USB C — TRIPP LITE has no Lightning connector.
• Best for audio quality on paper → TRIPP LITE USB-C, with its 24-bit conversion at a 96 kHz sample rate.
• Best for covering multiple devices → Jadebones USB C, thanks to the 2-pack and its iPhone, iPad, Galaxy and Pixel compatibility list.
• Best for travel and bag space → Both are slim and driver-free, but Jadebones' 9 g aluminum body and two-unit pack give you a spare.
• Best for charging or data while you listen → Neither. Jadebones blocks charging and data outright, and TRIPP LITE is an audio adapter.
• Best for someone who wants a hardware warranty and human support → TRIPP LITE USB-C, with a 1-year limited warranty and Chicago-based phone and email support.
I'd buy the TRIPP LITE USB-C for a MacBook. The reasoning is simple: most people asking about headphones for a MacBook are trying to use a normal pair of wired headphones or a headset with a mic, and that's exactly what this adapter does — with a 24-bit, 96 kHz conversion path behind it and a warranty to lean on. Jadebones USB C is the right call only if your earphones are Lightning-tipped and you want two of them. Different problems, different tools. If you're still unsure, check the current price on Amazon on both and let your actual headphones decide.
how to use headphones for macbook
Plug the adapter into your MacBook's USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 port, then plug your headphones into the adapter. Both products are plug-and-play with no driver or software install. TRIPP LITE accepts a 3.5 mm headphone or mic plug; Jadebones accepts a Lightning headphone plug only.
how to connect headphones macbook
On TRIPP LITE USB-C, connect the adapter to USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 and plug in your 3.5 mm headphones or headset — it's compatible with macOS as well as Android and Windows. On Jadebones USB C, connect the adapter to the MacBook's USB-C port and plug in a Lightning earphone. Nothing else is required.
how to connect headphones macbook air
Both adapters work the same way on a MacBook Air as on any other USB-C Mac: adapter into the USB-C port, headphones into the adapter. Jadebones lists MacBook among its compatible devices; TRIPP LITE lists macOS and Thunderbolt 3 support. Just match the adapter to your headphone plug — 3.5 mm or Lightning.
how to use headphones macbook pro
The MacBook Pro is explicitly named in TRIPP LITE's compatibility, so a 3.5 mm headphone or a headset with a mic goes straight in via the adapter. Jadebones USB C covers MacBook too, but only for Lightning headphones — no mic support, no charging and no data pass-through. Pick based on your headphone connector.
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.
See also: Mokories 2 vs iHoto USB C Headphones, kurdene Earbuds vs APETOO USB C Headphones: Wired in Ear, Hello Kitty Light Up Headphones vs GZLMMY Neckband Earphones