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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-06 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• Untvie Apple MFi Certified — biggest strength: Apple MFi certified chip with no error pop-ups, wide iPhone/iPad/iPod compatibility, and 48kHz / 24-bit lossless output over a 100% copper core.
• Untvie Apple MFi Certified — biggest trade-off: It is only an adapter. There are no earbuds and no microphone, and the listing explicitly notes it is not for making calls.
• Matsusho 2 — biggest strength: A complete package — two pairs of in-ear wired earbuds with a built-in remote for volume, playback and answering or ending calls.
• Matsusho 2 — biggest trade-off: Despite the "wired" label, it pairs over Bluetooth 5.2 first, so you must enable Bluetooth before plugging in, and the first connection can take a moment.
• Who each is for: Untvie is for people who already love their own wired headphones and just need a certified bridge to a Lightning iPhone. Matsusho 2 is for people who want earbuds and a mic included, straight out of the box.
The Untvie adapter is, at its core, a translation layer. It takes the 3.5mm jack on the headphones you already trust and lets a Lightning iPhone read them. The headline detail is Apple MFi certification. In practice that means no "this accessory is not supported" pop-up nagging you mid-lesson or mid-commute — the phone just accepts it. Untvie also states it works across all iOS systems with no extra software, so there's nothing to install and nothing to configure.
The audio side is more serious than you'd expect from a dongle. A 100% copper wire core carries the signal, and Untvie rates the output at up to 48kHz and 24-bit lossless. That's a high-fidelity ceiling well above what most casual listeners ever feed their ears. The signal isolation design is there to keep the connection stable rather than cutting out, which matters if you're walking around a room while audio plays.
Who should buy it? Anyone with a drawer of good wired headphones and a Lightning iPhone, iPad or iPod. It's compatible across iPhone 14, 13, 12, 11, XS, XR, X, 8, 7, 6s and 6 families, plus the Pro, Pro Max and Mini variants, and it works with car and home audio too. The 2-pack is the practical part: one lives in your bag, one stays in the car or at your desk, so a misplaced adapter never kills your audio. It's also small and glossy, so it disappears into a pocket. There's a 1-year manufacturer warranty.
Who should skip it? Anyone who needs to talk. This is a listening adapter — the listing says plainly it is not for making calls, and there's no microphone or inline control. If you take meetings or parent calls from your phone, this alone won't do it. Also skip it if your device is USB-C; Untvie states it does not support USB-C ports.
The Matsusho 2 is a different animal: it's an actual pair of earbuds. In-ear, silicone and TPE construction, white, with a balanced armature driver covering a 20Hz–20,000Hz range. In plain terms, that's the full range of normal human hearing, and balanced armature drivers are typically chosen for clarity rather than thump. If your priority is hearing speech, lectures and podcasts cleanly rather than feeling bass in your chest, this design points the right direction.
The feature that separates it from a bare adapter is the remote. There's a built-in controller on the cord for volume, playback and answering or ending calls — Matsusho describes it as a pinch of the cord. There's a microphone, so calls are on the table here in a way they simply aren't with the Untvie. The speakers are tuned to maximize output and minimize loss, which is the manufacturer's framing for "you'll actually hear it."
Here's the catch, and it's a real one. Despite being sold as wired earbuds, this is a Bluetooth connectivity version. You must switch on Bluetooth on your iPhone or iPad, then plug the earphones in to connect. After that first pairing, it reconnects automatically in roughly 2–8 seconds each time. Bluetooth 5.2 is the version here. So the cord is physical, but the connection is wireless — an unusual hybrid you should understand before buying, because it means a dead Bluetooth stack means no audio, and it means a short wait every time you plug in.
Who should buy it? Someone who wants one box with two pairs of earbuds, a mic and a remote, and who doesn't mind the Bluetooth-first ritual. The 36-month worry-free warranty is generous. Who should skip it? Anyone who wants pure analog plug-and-play with zero pairing, or anyone who dislikes in-ear silicone tips.
• Best for using your own headphones → Untvie Apple MFi Certified. It keeps the sound signature you already like and adds nothing to your ears.
• Best for calls and volume control → Matsusho 2. The inline remote and microphone are the deciding feature.
• Best for plug-and-play simplicity → Untvie Apple MFi Certified. No Bluetooth, no pairing, no 2–8 second wait.
• Best for a complete out-of-box setup → Matsusho 2. Earbuds, remote and mic in one package, two of everything.
• Best for high-fidelity spec ceiling → Untvie Apple MFi Certified. 48kHz / 24-bit lossless output over a copper core is the more ambitious audio claim.
• Best for a teaching bag or shared workspace → Untvie Apple MFi Certified. Two adapters mean one can live permanently in the classroom and one at home.
• Best for call-heavy days → Matsusho 2. Untvie's listing excludes calls entirely; Matsusho's remote handles them.
• Best for people who dislike pairing rituals → Untvie Apple MFi Certified. Matsusho requires Bluetooth to be on before it will work.
In my opinion, for teachers and anyone whose day is mostly listening — lectures, videos, music between classes — I'd buy the Untvie Apple MFi Certified adapter. It respects the headphones you already own, the MFi chip removes the pop-up friction, and the 2-pack solves the "where did my dongle go" problem that plagues classroom life. It's the cleaner, more reliable daily driver.
I'd only switch to the Matsusho 2 if talking on the phone matters more than purity of connection. If you want earbuds, a remote and a mic in one box, that's the one. For plain listening, Untvie wins for me.
Plug the adapter into the Lightning port, then plug your 3.5mm headphones into the adapter's jack. Untvie states no additional software is required — it's plug in and listen. Note it is not for making calls.
Turn on Bluetooth on your iPhone or iPad first, then plug the earbuds in to connect. After the initial pairing, Matsusho says it reconnects automatically in about 2–8 seconds on later uses.
Be careful here. Untvie states this Lightning to 3.5mm adapter does not support USB-C ports, and the compatibility list covers Lightning iPhones through the 14 series plus iPads and iPods. Check your port type before buying either product.
Yes — Untvie says it matches all 3.5mm headphone and earphone jacks, and it's compatible across iPhone 14 down through 6, plus iPad and iPod touch. Just remember there's no microphone passthrough, so calls aren't supported.
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