We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-17 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want to add a headphone jack to a computer, console or other USB-A device and keep using the wired cans you already own, choose Ugreen USB; if you need a pair of USB-C wired earbuds with a built-in mic and inline controls for a modern phone or tablet, choose TZONOO USB C Headphones.
• Ugreen USB — biggest strength: it is an adapter, not a headset. A built-in high-resolution DAC chip feeds a 3.5mm TRS jack for both headphones and a mic, with noise reduction output up to 16bit/48kHz.
• Ugreen USB — biggest trade-off: it produces no sound on its own. You must supply your own wired headphones, and it is explicitly not compatible with PS3.
• TZONOO USB C Headphones — biggest strength: a complete plug-in-and-listen package — wired in-ear earbuds with a digital DAC chip, a microphone and inline volume/button controls, in a semi in-ear TPE design.
• TZONOO USB C Headphones — biggest trade-off: it is a USB-C-only headset, so it does nothing for a desktop or console that lacks a USB-C port, and it depends on your device supporting USB-C audio.
• Who each pick is for: Ugreen for people who already own good headphones and want to run them through a laptop, PC, PS5/PS4, Chromebook or Raspberry Pi; TZONOO for people who want one cable that goes straight from a USB-C phone or tablet to their ears.
Think of the Ugreen USB adapter as a bridge. On one end is a USB-A plug; on the other is a standard TRS 3.5mm jack that accepts both a headphone and a mic. Inside sits a high-resolution DAC chip, and Ugreen rates the output at 16bit/48kHz with a signal-to-noise ratio of 90dB. That combination is the whole point: it takes digital audio from your device and hands it to analog headphones with as little noise as the design allows. In my opinion, that 90dB figure and the 16bit/48kHz ceiling are the numbers worth paying attention to here — they describe a clean, everyday-grade audio path rather than an exotic audiophile one.
The real-world fit is broad. Ugreen lists compatibility with Windows 11/10 down through 98SE/ME/2000/XP, Server 2003, Vista, 7 and 8, plus Linux, Mac OS X, PS5, PS4, Google Chromebook, Windows Surface Pro 3 and Raspberry Pi. That is an unusually long list, and it tells you exactly who this is for: the person whose laptop dropped its headphone jack, the desktop builder whose motherboard audio is noisy or dead, the PS5 or PS4 owner who wants to run a favorite wired headset, or the Raspberry Pi tinkerer who needs a cheap audio output. It is plug and play — no drivers, no external power — and the ABS body plus an 18.14g weight make it a toss-in-your-bag accessory.
Who should skip it? Anyone who wants earbuds in the box. This is only an adapter, so if you do not already own a wired headphone or headset you like, you would be buying half a solution. It is also not for PS3 owners — Ugreen flags that incompatibility directly — and not for phones that only offer USB-C, since the connector here is USB-A. Ugreen backs it with a 24-month warranty.
The TZONOO USB C Headphones are the opposite kind of product: a finished listening device rather than a connector. You get wired in-ear earbuds in white, with a digital DAC chip built in that TZONOO says converts standard-resolution audio into lossless output, and a noise-canceling design aimed at wrapping the music around you. There is a microphone and inline volume/button controls on the cable, so calls and playback are handled without touching the phone. The enclosure is thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), which is the soft, flexible stuff you want in a cable that bends and coils all day.
Comfort and use cases are spelled out clearly: an ergonomic semi in-ear shape, pitched for gaming and daily use like walking, the office and even sleeping. That last one matters — a semi in-ear fit tends to sit more loosely in the ear than a deep-seated tip, which is often more comfortable for long sessions and side-sleepers. The compatibility list is the deciding factor for most buyers. TZONOO names iPhone 17/16/15 Pro Max, Google Pixel 7/6a/5/4/4 XL/3/3 XL, Galaxy S23/S22/S21 family, S20 series, Note 20/10 series, iPad Pro 2018, iPad Mini 6th gen, Motorola Moto Z and Z2, HTC U11, and OnePlus 9 Pro down through the 5/5T. TZONOO even suggests contacting them before purchase if you are unsure about your device.
Who should buy it? Anyone with one of those USB-C phones or tablets who wants a single cable, a mic and controls without charging anything. Who should skip it? Desktop and console users with only USB-A ports — this will not connect. And if you already own a favorite pair of over-ear headphones, buying a second set of earbuds may be redundant when an adapter would do. It carries a 24-month worry-free replacement warranty.
• Best for reviving old wired headphones → Ugreen USB. It turns any 3.5mm headphone or headset into a USB audio device.
• Best for a phone or tablet with no headphone jack → TZONOO USB C Headphones. A USB-C plug, a DAC, a mic and controls, all in one.
• Best for gaming on PS5 or PS4 → Ugreen USB. TZONOO's USB-C headset is aimed at phones and tablets; Ugreen names the PlayStation consoles directly (PS3 excluded).
• Best for PC, laptop, Chromebook or Raspberry Pi → Ugreen USB. The compatibility list covers Windows, Linux, macOS, Chrome OS and Pi boards.
• Best for taking calls on the go → TZONOO USB C Headphones. The inline mic and button controls are built for it.
• Best for comfort over long sessions or sleeping → TZONOO USB C Headphones. The semi in-ear TPE design is described for exactly that.
• Best if you already own great headphones → Ugreen USB. You keep the sound you like and just change the connection.
• Best if you want nothing extra to buy → TZONOO USB C Headphones. It is a complete, ready-to-use set.
In my opinion, the right pick comes down to one question: do you already own wired headphones you love? If yes, I would buy the Ugreen USB adapter — it is the cheaper-feeling move in the sense that it adds capability to gear you already trust, and its compatibility list is genuinely enormous. If you do not, and your daily driver is a USB-C phone or tablet, I would buy the TZONOO USB C Headphones and be done in one purchase. I lean Ugreen only because adapters solve more problems for more people; the TZONOO is the better single-device answer. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding.
FAQ
No. Ugreen is an adapter with a 3.5mm jack — you plug your own headphones into it. TZONOO is a complete pair of USB-C earbuds with a mic and controls built in.
According to TZONOO, they work with iPhone 17/16/15 Pro Max, the Galaxy S23/S22/S21 and S20 families, the Note 20/10 series, Pixel phones, iPad Pro 2018, iPad Mini 6th gen and several OnePlus and Motorola models. If you are unsure, TZONOO advises checking compatibility before buying.
Yes — Ugreen lists PS5 and PS4 among compatible devices, along with Windows, Linux, macOS, Chromebook and Raspberry Pi. Note that PS3 is explicitly not supported.
Both use a DAC chip. Ugreen specifies 16bit/48kHz output with noise reduction and a 90dB signal-to-noise ratio; TZONOO describes a digital DAC converting standard audio to lossless. Both are everyday-grade listening solutions rather than audiophile gear, so pick based on the connection you need.
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