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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-18 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• UGREEN Headphone Adapter — biggest strength: Apple MFi certification plus wide Lightning-device support, so the adapter handshakes cleanly with iPhones and iPads that still use a Lightning port.
• UGREEN Headphone Adapter — biggest trade-off: It solves a connector problem, not a listening problem. You still need to bring your own 3.5mm headphones, and it will not work with USB-C iPads or the iPad mini 6.
• ASKUBSKU Open Ear Headphone — biggest strength: An open-ear hook design with a USB-C plug and in-line controls, built for movement and awareness rather than isolation.
• ASKUBSKU Open Ear Headphone — biggest trade-off: It is wired, USB-C only, and its open fit deliberately lets outside sound in, so it is not the pick for blocking out a noisy commute.
• Who each is for: UGREEN for Apple users with a drawer full of 3.5mm gear; ASKUBSKU for Android and modern iPhone/iPad users who want one wired set for workouts.
This is a tiny adapter with one job, and it does that job in a very specific ecosystem. The Lightning plug goes into your phone, the 3.5mm jack takes your existing headphones, and the Apple MFi certification is the part that matters most here. MFi means the adapter carries Apple-approved chips, which is why UGREEN frames it as connecting securely and without error messages — the kind of pop-up complaint that plagues cheap uncertified dongles.
The spec sheet lists support for up to 48 kHz and 24-bit audio output, along with noise-reduction technology, in-line control, and plug-and-play operation with no settings to change. In practical terms: you plug it in, your wired headphones work, and the inline remote on those headphones still handles playback and calls. The housing is aluminum alloy with a nylon-braided cable, and UGREEN lists a 15,000+ bending lifespan, which matters because this is the kind of cable that lives in a pocket or a bag pocket and gets bent constantly.
Compatibility is broad but not universal, and this is where buyers get burned. It covers iPhone 14 Pro Max down through the 13, 12, 11, XS, XR, X, 8 Plus, 7 and SE 2020, plus iPod touch and several Lightning iPads including iPad 9, iPad mini, iPad Air and older iPad Pro models. It does not work with iPad mini 6 or any iPad Pro that uses USB-C. If your phone is a Lightning iPhone, you are in the target group. If you have already moved to USB-C, this adapter is simply the wrong connector.
So who should buy it? Anyone with a Lightning iPhone who refuses to give up a favorite pair of wired headphones, or who wants to keep using an aux cable in a car that only has a 3.5mm input. It is also the sensible fix for a speaker, amp or older sound system that takes a 3.5mm plug. Who should skip it? USB-C phone owners, and anyone hoping an adapter will upgrade their audio — it passes your existing headphones through, it does not replace them.
The ASKUBSKU is a different kind of product entirely: a complete wired headphone rather than an accessory. Its defining feature is the open-ear, hook-shaped earpiece. Nothing goes into your ear canal. Instead the earpiece rests over the ear on a loop, which the spec sheet ties directly to two benefits — long wear without ear fatigue, and awareness of your surroundings while audio plays.
That design is aimed squarely at movement. The listing describes them as sport earbuds for running, jogging and gym use, with ear hooks that keep them from falling out during intense activity. If you have ever had a standard earbud pop loose mid-sprint, the hook geometry is the whole point. The plastic enclosure keeps the weight down, and the open-ear placement means you can hear a car, a cyclist or a training partner while you listen.
Connection is USB-C, wired, with an in-line button control for volume, track changes and answering calls. The 16 ohm impedance is a low figure, which generally means they are easy to drive straight from a phone or laptop without a separate amp. The package includes a protective case, which is a small but genuinely useful addition for a set that is meant to be carried to the gym.
Compatibility is where this product actually shines, and it is worth reading carefully. The USB-C plug covers Samsung's S-series and A-series, Note and Z Fold and Z Flip lines, Google Pixel models, and the USB-C generations of iPhone 15, 16 and 17 families along with iPad, iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad mini and MacBook. That is an unusually wide net for a wired headphone, and it means one set can move between a phone, a tablet and a laptop.
Who should buy it? Runners, gym-goers, cyclists and anyone who wants to stay aware of their environment. Also Android users tired of hunting for a USB-C headphone that actually fits their port. Who should skip it? Anyone who wants to shut out the world on a plane or a busy train — open-ear design is the opposite of noise isolation, and the spec sheet lists sound isolation only as a control category, not as active noise cancellation. If blocking noise is your goal, this is not your product.
• Best for reusing existing wired headphones → UGREEN Headphone Adapter. It converts a Lightning port to a 3.5mm jack so your current headphones, car aux cable or speaker still work.
• Best for workouts and running → ASKUBSKU Open Ear Headphone. The ear-hook open-ear design is built specifically to stay put during movement.
• Best for staying aware of your surroundings → ASKUBSKU Open Ear Headphone. The non-in-ear fit deliberately lets ambient sound through.
• Best for iPhone users on Lightning → UGREEN Headphone Adapter. MFi certification and support from iPhone 14 Pro Max back through iPhone 7 and SE 2020.
• Best for USB-C phones, tablets and laptops → ASKUBSKU Open Ear Headphone. It plugs directly into Samsung, Pixel, USB-C iPhone, iPad and MacBook ports with no adapter in between.
• Best for built-in controls → ASKUBSKU Open Ear Headphone. In-line buttons handle volume, tracks and calls without touching the phone.
• Best for keeping the headphones you already love → UGREEN Headphone Adapter. It adds zero new sound signature; it just restores the connection.
• Best for all-day comfort without ear fatigue → ASKUBSKU Open Ear Headphone. The open-ear loop avoids the pressure of an in-canal tip.
In my opinion, most people reading this comparison should buy the ASKUBSKU Open Ear Headphone. It is a complete product, not a workaround, and its USB-C compatibility list spans Samsung, Pixel, modern iPhone, iPad and MacBook — which means it fits more devices in one purchase. If you specifically own a Lightning iPhone and want to keep using wired headphones you already own, or you need an aux connection for a car or speaker, then I would buy the UGREEN Headphone Adapter instead. Match the connector on your device first; everything else is secondary.
Yes, if your phone is a Lightning iPhone. It restores the 3.5mm jack your phone lacks, supports in-line controls and plug-and-play use, and carries Apple MFi certification. You can check the current price on Amazon via the button on this page.
Only if your iPhone has a USB-C port. The listing covers the iPhone 15, 16 and 17 families and iPad models with USB-C. It will not work with older Lightning iPhones — for those, the UGREEN adapter is the relevant pick.
No, and that is intentional here. The ASKUBSKU's non-in-ear hook design is made to keep you aware of your surroundings, so it is a poor choice for noisy flights or commutes and a good one for running outdoors.
The ASKUBSKU Open Ear Headphone. Its ear hooks and open-ear fit are designed for running, jogging and gym sessions, and the included protective case makes it easier to carry. The UGREEN adapter is a passive cable with no wearable function of its own.
With Lightning iPads such as iPad 9 and older iPad mini, Air and Pro models. It will not work with iPad mini 6 or any iPad Pro that uses a USB-C port.
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