We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-23 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a no-fuss Lightning plug-and-play earbud set for an iPhone 7 through 14 — with a spare pair in the box and a long warranty — choose wamaxlink Apple MFi Certified; if you need over-ear comfort, a longer braided cord and a 3.5mm-plus-USB-C kit that spans newer iPhones, Android phones, laptops and consoles, choose URBAN SWING W70.
• wamaxlink Apple MFi Certified — biggest strength: a native Lightning plug with inline remote and mic, sold as a 2-pack, so you get a backup pair and true plug-and-play on iPhone 7 through 14.
• wamaxlink Apple MFi Certified — biggest trade-off: it is in-ear only, wired only (no Bluetooth), and its Lightning jack means it will not fit USB-C iPhones or 3.5mm devices.
• URBAN SWING W70 — biggest strength: a dual-connection kit (3.5mm plug plus USB-C adapter), 40mm dynamic drivers, a 4.9ft braided cord and a hard travel case.
• URBAN SWING W70 — biggest trade-off: no electronic noise cancellation (passive isolation only), a 1-year warranty, and iPhone 7–14 owners need a separate connector.
• Pick wamaxlink if your phone is an older Lightning iPhone and you want cheap, simple, always-ready earbuds.
• Pick URBAN SWING W70 if you want one wired headphone that moves between a phone, a laptop and a console with real over-ear comfort.
The wamaxlink set is built around one idea: get sound into an older iPhone with zero setup. The jack is Lightning, so it slots straight into an iPhone 14, 13, 12, 11, Pro Max, XS, XR, X, 8, 7 or SE. No pairing, no charging, no app. Plug in and it plays — that "true plug and play" promise is the whole product.
Around that jack you get an inline remote: one press for play/pause, two for next track, three for previous. There's also a mic, and the brand describes advanced noise reduction plus "professional-grade tuning" with main and secondary sound holes for a wide, surround-style presentation. Take the marketing language with a grain of salt — these are in-ear buds with ABS housings, not studio monitors — but the feature list is exactly what a commuter or student wants: call handling, track control and a snug in-ear fit without touching the phone.
URBAN SWING W70: Who It's For
The W70 is the more ambitious of the two. It's an over-ear headphone with 40mm dynamic drivers, a frequency response of 20Hz up to 20kHz, 32-ohm impedance and 108dB sensitivity — easy-to-drive numbers that any phone or laptop headphone jack can handle. The tuning is described as balanced, prioritizing dialogue, vocals, podcasts and lessons rather than booming bass. That tells you who it's really for: students, remote workers and commuters who listen to speech-heavy content more than they chase thumping low end.
The kit is the selling point. You get a native 3.5mm plug plus a USB-C adapter, covering iPhone 15/16/17, iPad, Samsung Galaxy, Pixel, laptops, tablets, MP3 players and PS5 controllers. Note the caveat: iPhone 7–14 owners need a separate connector, so if you're on an older Lightning iPhone, the W70 isn't plug-and-play for you. The 4.9ft braided cord is a genuine ergonomic win — enough slack to keep a comfortable viewing distance while studying or working, with a reinforced metal jack to reduce strain.
Comfort and travel are the other pillars. The earcups fold flat, the soft over-ear cushions are made for extended sessions, and the included hard-shell case (about 7.48 by 5.51 by 3.15 inches) protects the headphones and adapter from bag pressure and tangles. The inline three-button remote handles volume, tracks and supported calls, though mic and remote functions can vary by PC, Mac or Chromebook driver. There's no active noise cancellation — just passive physical isolation from the cushions — and no water resistance, so keep them out of the rain. Warranty is 1 year, and the headband adjusts to fit teens 12+ and adults.
• Best for older iPhones (7–14) → wamaxlink Apple MFi Certified, thanks to its native Lightning plug.
• Best for newer iPhones, Android, laptops and consoles → URBAN SWING W70, via its 3.5mm plug plus USB-C adapter.
• Best for long listening sessions → URBAN SWING W70, with over-ear cushions, an adjustable headband and a foldable frame.
• Best for keeping a backup pair → wamaxlink Apple MFi Certified, which arrives as a 2-pack.
• Best for travel protection → URBAN SWING W70, which includes a crush-resistant hard case.
• Best for cable reach → URBAN SWING W70, with its 4.9ft braided cord versus the short earbud cable on the wamaxlink.
• Best for warranty length → wamaxlink Apple MFi Certified, at 36 months versus URBAN SWING's 1 year.
• Best for a pocket-sized, always-on-hand pair → wamaxlink Apple MFi Certified, which packs down to in-ear buds.
In my opinion, the URBAN SWING W70 is the better single purchase for most people in 2026, because one wired headphone that works across a modern iPhone, an Android phone, a laptop and a console is simply more useful than a pair locked to Lightning — and the over-ear comfort and hard case make it a genuine everyday tool. I'd only steer you to the wamaxlink set if you're specifically on an iPhone 7 through 14 and want the simplest possible earbuds, with a spare pair and a three-year warranty as a bonus. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since the value gap between the two shifts with whatever each is going for on the day.
how to wired headphones work
A wired headphone passes an analog audio signal from your device's output jack straight into the drivers — no battery, no pairing, no Bluetooth. The wamaxlink uses a Lightning jack for iPhone 7–14, while the URBAN SWING W70 uses a 3.5mm plug with an included USB-C adapter so it fits both older and newer devices.
how to use wired headphones with iphone
On an iPhone 7 through 14, plug the wamaxlink's Lightning connector straight in and use the inline remote for play, pause and track skipping. On an iPhone 15 or newer, there's no Lightning port, so you'd use the URBAN SWING W70 with its USB-C adapter instead. Either way, no charging or setup is required.
how to fix wired headphones no sound
First check the obvious: is the plug fully seated in the correct jack, and is the inline volume turned up? Because the wamaxlink is Lightning and the W70 is 3.5mm (plus a USB-C adapter), make sure you're using the connector your phone actually supports — a Lightning plug in a USB-C iPhone will never pass audio.
are over-ear wired headphones better than in-ear earbuds
Not universally — it depends on use. The URBAN SWING W70's over-ear cushions and adjustable headband suit long sessions and passive isolation, while the wamaxlink's in-ear design is more portable and comes as a 2-pack. If you listen for hours, the W70 is the more comfortable shape; if you want something pocket-sized, the wamaxlink wins.
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See also: FUHAYA Apple MFi Certified vs IIISOGNO 3.5mm, LilGadgets Connect+ Pro vs IIOZO Apple MFi Certified, EarFun K3 vs iMangoo Apple MFi-Certified Soft