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If you want to give a pair of worn Bose around-ear headphones a second life without buying new headphones, choose YOCOWOCO Ear Pads; if you need a wired USB-C open-ear headset for calls, workouts and travel with a modern phone, choose AIAUXAI Open Ear USB.
• YOCOWOCO Ear Pads biggest strength: a direct-fit replacement cushion set for a long list of Bose around-ear models, using soft protein leather over thicker memory foam with no special tools needed.
• YOCOWOCO Ear Pads biggest trade-off: it is a repair part, not a listening device — it only makes sense if you already own a compatible Bose headphone.
• AIAUXAI Open Ear USB biggest strength: a plug-and-play USB-C wired headset with an over-ear hook, built-in mic and inline volume control, plus a storage case for travel and workouts.
• AIAUXAI Open Ear USB biggest trade-off: it is wired and USB-C only, so it is a poor fit for older phones or anything with a 3.5 mm jack.
• Who YOCOWOCO Ear Pads is for: owners of Bose QC25/QC35/AE2/SoundTrue/SoundLink around-ear headphones whose pads are worn flat.
• Who AIAUXAI Open Ear USB is for: anyone with a USB-C phone or tablet who wants situational awareness while running, cycling or taking calls.
This is a maintenance product, and it's worth being clear about that up front. The YOCOWOCO Ear Pads are replacement earpads sized for a specific family of Bose around-ear headphones: QC25, QC2, QC15, QC35 I, QC35 II, AE2, AE2i, AE2w, SoundTrue Around-Ear and SoundLink Around-Ear. If your model isn't on that list, this product isn't for you, and no amount of clever installation will fix that.
What it does well is the one job it has. The pads use soft protein leather over a thicker memory foam, and the ergonomic shape is designed to sit against the ear the way the originals did. In practice, that combination matters for two reasons: a fresh foam cushion restores the seal around your ear, which is what passive noise blocking and bass response depend on, and the soft surface stops the sore-spot feeling you get when old pads have flattened into cardboard. YOCOWOCO also states that fitting takes roughly three to five minutes with no special tools, and that a video guide is available — that's about as painless as headphone maintenance gets.
AIAUXAI Open Ear USB: Who It's For
The AIAUXAI Open Ear USB is a different animal entirely — a wired USB-C headset with an over-ear hook. The core idea is that the drivers sit over the ear rather than sealing inside it, so you hear your audio and your surroundings at the same time. That's the whole appeal for runners, cyclists, gym-goers and anyone who has ever been startled by a car they didn't hear coming.
Sound is described as crisp and balanced through the USB-C audio connection, and there's a built-in microphone plus inline volume control. For airplane rides, car trips and long calls, that combination is genuinely useful — you're not fishing your phone out of a pocket every time you want to adjust volume, and you're not relying on a fragile adapter chain to be heard on a call.
Compatibility is where this product really differentiates itself, and it's broad: iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, 16e, 16, 16 Pro, 16 Plus, 16 Pro Max, 15 series; iPad 10th gen, 11 (A16), iPad Pro, iPad Air (2024/2020/2022/2021), Mini 6th and 7th; a long list of Samsung Galaxy S and A series plus Z Flip and Fold models and Tab tablets; and Pixel 10 and 9a. The listing also includes an extra PU storage case for the earphones or a cable adapter — a small thing, but it's the difference between a headset that lives in your bag and one that gets tangled at the bottom of it.
Who should buy it: USB-C phone and tablet owners who want an open-ear, wired headset for exercise, commuting and calls, and who value never having to charge another device. Who should skip it: anyone on a Lightning iPhone or a 3.5 mm jack, anyone who wants active noise cancelling (this is the opposite design philosophy — it lets sound in on purpose), and anyone who can't live with a cable.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for reviving old headphones → YOCOWOCO Ear Pads. If you own a compatible Bose around-ear model, this is a repair, not a purchase decision you'll regret.
• Best for workouts and outdoor exercise → AIAUXAI Open Ear USB. The over-ear hook plus open design is built for movement and awareness.
• Best for noise blocking → YOCOWOCO Ear Pads. Fresh memory foam and protein leather restore the seal; the open-ear headset deliberately doesn't seal at all.
• Best for calls and inline control → AIAUXAI Open Ear USB. Built-in mic and volume control on the cable.
• Best for travel storage → AIAUXAI Open Ear USB. It ships with a PU carry case.
• Best for compatibility with a specific existing device → it depends on the device. Bose around-ear owners want the pads; USB-C phone and tablet owners want the headset.
• Best for low-effort ownership → YOCOWOCO Ear Pads if you already own the Bose. Five minutes, no charging, no pairing. The AIAUXAI option needs a USB-C port and a cable you're willing to live with.
These two products don't really compete — they solve opposite problems. One restores a headphone you already own; the other is a headphone you don't own yet.
If I had to pick one for myself, I'd go with the AIAUXAI Open Ear USB, simply because it's a complete, usable product for a modern USB-C phone and covers exercise, calls and travel in one go. But that's my situation. If your Bose QC35 or QC25 still sounds great and only the cushions have gone flat, the YOCOWOCO Ear Pads are the smarter buy by a wide margin — you'd be spending a little to avoid replacing something that isn't broken. Check the current price on Amazon for whichever one matches your setup before you commit.
No. The listed compatibility covers QC25, QC2, QC15, QC35 I, QC35 II, AE2, AE2i, AE2w, SoundTrue Around-Ear and SoundLink Around-Ear. The QC45 and QC Ultra are different models with different pad shapes, so these cushions aren't the right fit.
Yes. The compatibility list includes iPhone 15, 15 Pro, 15 Plus, 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16 series, iPhone 17 series, and 16e. Older Lightning iPhones aren't listed, so this is a USB-C-only headset.
Not in the way sealed or noise-cancelling headphones do. It's an open-ear design, so it's built to let outside sound in — good for awareness on a run, less good if you want to shut out engine drone. The YOCOWOCO pads, by contrast, restore the seal that helps your Bose headphones block sound.
The listing doesn't state a lifespan, but it does include a 6-month warranty description. Wear on protein leather and memory foam depends on how often you wear the headphones, how much you sweat in them and how you store them.
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