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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a certified Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter that lets you keep using your existing wired headphones on an older iPhone, choose Untvie Apple MFi Certified; if you need actual USB-C wired earbuds with a built-in mic and inline controls for a modern USB-C phone, tablet or laptop, choose Houbrera USB C Headphones.
• Untvie Apple MFi Certified — biggest strength: an Apple MFi certified Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter that adds a real headphone jack back to Lightning iPhones and iPads, sold as a 2-pack, with a 48kHz/24-bit lossless signal path over a copper wire core and no pop-up error messages.
• Untvie Apple MFi Certified — biggest trade-off: it is a converter, not a headset. There is no microphone and no inline controls, and it explicitly does not support calls — so it is music, video and car/home audio only. It also does nothing for USB-C devices.
• Houbrera USB C Headphones — biggest strength: a complete pair of wired USB-C in-ear earphones with a mic, passive noise cancellation, and an inline remote for volume, track skip, play/pause and answering or ending calls — one cable, no adapter, no charging.
• Houbrera USB C Headphones — biggest trade-off: USB-C only. It will not fit a Lightning iPhone (iPhone 14 and older) and it will not fit a 3.5mm jack either, so the device you own decides whether it is even an option.
• Who each pick is for: Untvie for anyone with a Lightning iPhone or iPad who wants to keep their favourite 3.5mm headphones alive; Houbrera for anyone on a USB-C phone, iPad, MacBook or Galaxy device who wants earbuds with a mic and controls built in.
The Untvie adapter solves one very specific, very annoying problem: your phone lost its headphone jack, but your headphones didn't. It is an Apple MFi certified Lightning-to-3.5mm dongle, which in practice means the phone recognises it without throwing an error message at you, and no extra software or app is needed — you plug in and the audio just routes through. The spec sheet lists a 100% copper wire core for stable signal transmission and support for up to 48kHz and 24-bit lossless output, so it is built to pass a clean signal rather than mangle it. A signal isolation design is also called out for keeping the connection continuous.
Compatibility is broad on the Apple side: iPhone 14/14 Pro/14 Pro Max, 13 series, 12 series, 11 series, XS/XS Max/XR, 8/8 Plus, X, 7/7 Plus, 6s/6s Plus, 6/6 Plus, iPod touch, plus iPad and iPod devices, across all iOS systems. If you have a drawer full of Lightning-era Apple gear and a favourite pair of wired headphones, this is the piece that keeps both useful.
Houbrera USB C Headphones: Who It's For
The Houbrera USB C Headphones are the other half of the equation: not an adapter, but a finished pair of wired in-ear earphones that plug straight into a USB-C audio port. They are MFi certified and aimed squarely at the newer Apple lineup — iPhone 16/16 Plus/16 Pro/16 Pro Max and iPhone 15/15 Plus/15 Pro/15 Pro Max (the USB-C iPhones only), iPad Pro from 2018 through 2024, iPad 10th gen, iPad Mini 6th gen, and the M2 iPad Air 11-inch among others.
Where they earn their place is the Android and laptop crowd. The list runs through Galaxy S25 Ultra/S25, S24/S24+/S24 Ultra, S23/S23+/S23 Ultra/S23 FE, S22 series, S21 FE/S21/S21 Plus/S21 Ultra, S20 FE/S20/S20 Plus/S20 Ultra, Note 20/20 Ultra/10/10 Plus, Z Fold and Flip 3, A53 and A33, Galaxy Tab S8+ 5G, plus MacBook and MacBook Pro — in short, anything with a USB-C audio port.
The hardware itself is modest but sensible. A 10mm dynamic driver, 32 ohm impedance, 98dB sensitivity and a 20Hz–20,000Hz frequency range — an easy, phone-friendly load that doesn't need a DAC to get loud. The fit is an ergonomic in-ear oval shape with silicone tips, which the sheet credits with isolating outside noise (passive noise cancellation, not active), and the cable is TPE anti-tangle with a reinforced, corrosion-resistant build and a plated aluminium connector to reduce poor-contact dropouts. Controls live on the inline remote: volume up/down, next/previous track, pause, and answer/end/reject call, with a built-in mic for calls.
So who should buy them? Anyone who wants one cable that does everything — music, podcasts, calls, gaming, driving, walking, working — on a USB-C device, without batteries to charge. Who should skip them? Anyone still on a Lightning iPhone (iPhone 14 or earlier), because these simply won't connect, and anyone who wants the flexibility of using their own existing headphones rather than the ones in the box. In my opinion, the Houbrera is the simpler answer for most modern phones — no dongle to lose, and the mic and remote come included.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for a complete, ready-to-use set → Houbrera USB C Headphones. Drivers, cable, mic and inline controls are all in the box; nothing else to buy.
• Best for older iPhones (iPhone 14 and earlier) → Untvie. The Houbrera is USB-C only and won't fit a Lightning port at all.
• Best for iPhone 15/16/17, iPad Pro, MacBook and Galaxy → Houbrera. Native USB-C, with the compatibility list to match.
• Best for calls → Houbrera. The Untvie adapter is explicitly not for making calls; the Houbrera has a mic and a call-answer/end button on the wire.
• Best for travel and car audio with your own gear → Untvie. The 2-pack means one stays in the vehicle and one in your bag, and there's no battery to remember.
• Best for noise isolation → Houbrera. Sealed silicone in-ear tips give passive noise cancellation, which the adapter simply can't provide.
• Best for no-charge, no-pair listening → a tie, with different plumbing. Both are wired and battery-free; one runs over Lightning, the other over USB-C.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the Houbrera USB C Headphones — but only for a USB-C device. In my opinion it does more work per cable: it's a complete listening tool with a mic, inline controls and passive isolation, and there's nothing extra to carry or lose. The Untvie is the better buy in one narrower case, and it wins that case completely: you own a Lightning iPhone or iPad and you refuse to give up your current 3.5mm headphones. That's a real need, and the 2-pack plus the lossless signal path make it the right tool. If your phone is USB-C, skip the adapter entirely — it won't work. If your phone is Lightning, the Houbrera won't work either. The port decides.
Yes, if your phone is a Lightning iPhone or iPad and your headphones are 3.5mm. It restores the jack, supports up to 48kHz/24-bit output, and the MFi certification means no error pop-ups. Just remember it isn't for calls.
No. They're USB-C only, and the compatibility list starts at iPhone 15 and 16 series. Older iPhones use Lightning, so you'd want the Untvie adapter instead.
They solve different problems, so value depends on your port. The Untvie gives you two certified adapters to keep your existing headphones alive; the Houbrera gives you a full set of earbuds with a mic and controls. Check the current price on Amazon for each and compare against what you already own.
Yes. They have a built-in mic and an inline remote for volume, track skipping, pause, and answering or ending calls — something the Untvie adapter deliberately doesn't do.
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