We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-27 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want to keep using your own wired headphones on a modern laptop, choose TRIPP LITE USB-C; if you need a full set of USB-C earbuds with a mic and inline controls for your phone, choose Sanluba USB C Headphones.
• TRIPP LITE USB-C — biggest strength: it turns a USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 port into a standard 3.5 mm jack, so the headphones you already own keep working on a MacBook Pro, Windows laptop, Chromebook or iPad.
• TRIPP LITE USB-C — biggest trade-off: it is an adapter, not a headset. You supply the earbuds, and there is no inline remote or microphone of its own.
• Sanluba USB C Headphones — biggest strength: everything is built in — the earbuds, the microphone, the volume and music controls, and active noise cancellation.
• Sanluba USB C Headphones — biggest trade-off: it only works with devices that carry audio over USB-C, and the earbuds are fixed to the cable, so there is nothing to swap out.
• Who each pick is for: TRIPP LITE USB-C is for the person who already has headphones they love and just needs the right connection. Sanluba USB C Headphones is for the person who wants one complete, ready-to-go wired set for calls and music.
The TRIPP LITE USB-C is a small black aluminum adapter, model U437-001. One end goes into a USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 port; the other end is a standard 3.5 mm jack. That is the whole idea, and it is a good one if you are the kind of person who has a favourite pair of wired headphones and refuses to give them up. Plug it in and your headset, earbuds, microphone or desktop speakers work exactly as they always did.
What it does best is solve a very specific modern-laptop problem. Thin machines dropped the headphone jack, and plenty of them now offer only USB-C ports. This adapter gives that jack back, and it does so without software, drivers or external power — it is plug-and-play. It also works as a workaround when a device's built-in sound card or headphone jack has stopped behaving, giving you a clean path out to your audio gear.
Who should buy it: MacBook Pro owners, Windows laptop and Chromebook users, iPad Pro owners, and anyone whose device has USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 but no 3.5 mm jack. It is also compatible with Android and macOS, so it moves between devices without complaint. Who should skip it: if you do not already own a wired headset you like, this adapter gives you nothing to listen through. And if you want a microphone, remote and noise cancellation baked in, this is not that product. It is also worth noting the 1-year limited warranty and the manufacturer's Chicago-based phone and email support, which matters if you like knowing a real support line exists.
Sanluba USB C Headphones: Who It's For
The Sanluba USB C Headphones are a complete wired in-ear set that connects over USB-C. There is no adapter and no dongle — the cable ends in a USB-C plug and goes straight into your phone or tablet. If you want one thing that does everything, this is the shape of that thing.
The feature list is genuinely complete. There is an enhanced DAC inside, which is what lets the earbuds pull rich, lossless audio straight from a digital USB-C port instead of relying on a headphone jack that most new phones no longer have. There is active noise cancellation, so you can listen in a busy space without cranking the volume. There is a built-in microphone and an inline remote, so you can take calls, change tracks and adjust volume without touching your phone. The cable is tangle-free TPE, the materials are skin-friendly, and the build is described as reinforced and corrosion-resistant with a secure ergonomic fit — the kind of spec sheet that points at gym sessions, commutes and long journeys rather than a desk drawer.
Compatibility is broad and clearly stated: iPhone 15, 16 and 17 series including the Plus, Pro and Pro Max models, plus Samsung Galaxy S22 through S25, the A-series phones, and the Z Fold and Z Flip lines — anything with a USB-C audio port. The colour is white, the fit is in-ear, and the package contains two items. A 1-year warranty is listed.
Who should buy it: anyone who has moved to a USB-C phone and wants wired earbuds that just work — no charging, no pairing, no dongle to lose. Who should skip it: if your device still has a 3.5 mm jack and you already own headphones you like, you gain little here. And if you prefer over-ear headphones or want to swap between different headsets, the fixed in-ear design will feel limiting.
• Best for using your existing headphones on a MacBook → TRIPP LITE USB-C. It restores the 3.5 mm jack your laptop removed.
• Best for a complete one-piece solution → Sanluba USB C Headphones. Earbuds, mic, remote and noise cancellation all included.
• Best for taking calls → Sanluba USB C Headphones, thanks to the built-in microphone and inline remote.
• Best for high-resolution listening on a laptop → TRIPP LITE USB-C, whose 24-bit, 96 kHz digital-to-analog conversion is built to keep audio clean.
• Best for the gym, commute and travel → Sanluba USB C Headphones, with its tangle-free cable, ergonomic in-ear fit and active noise cancellation.
• Best for flexibility across devices → TRIPP LITE USB-C, because it works with Android, Windows and macOS and pairs with whatever headphones you already own.
• Best for iPhone 15, 16 or 17 owners → Sanluba USB C Headphones, which lists those models directly among its compatible devices.
• Best if you hate charging accessories → either one. Both are wired and draw no battery of their own.
In my opinion, the right pick comes down to one question: do you already own headphones you love? If you do, I would buy the TRIPP LITE USB-C. It is the cheaper-feeling decision in the best sense — one small aluminum adapter that keeps a good pair of headphones in service for years, across a MacBook, a Windows laptop and an iPad. If you do not, or if you want calls and noise cancellation handled in one purchase, I would buy the Sanluba USB C Headphones. It is the complete package, and for a USB-C phone it is the more satisfying single purchase. My honest pick for most people starting from scratch: Sanluba.
FAQ
how to connect headphones macbook
how to connect headphones macbook air
The same logic applies to a USB-C MacBook Air: use a USB-C to 3.5 mm adapter for wired headphones, or connect a USB-C headset like the Sanluba directly to the port. Either route avoids Bluetooth pairing entirely. If your headphones end in USB-C already, no adapter is required.
how to use headphones macbook pro
A MacBook Pro with USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 works with the TRIPP LITE USB-C adapter for any 3.5 mm headset, microphone or speakers. The adapter also helps if the machine's audio output is misbehaving. For a self-contained option, the Sanluba USB C Headphones plug straight into a USB-C audio port on compatible devices.
how to connect headphones macbook
If your headphones use a 3.5 mm plug, you need an adapter like the TRIPP LITE USB-C — the U437-001 converts digital audio to analog at 24-bit, 96 kHz. If they use USB-C, connect them directly. Both approaches are wired, so there is nothing to charge or pair.
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