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If you want a true plug-and-play USB-C headset for school-age kids with a braided cable and a proper fit for smaller heads, choose yoygerty Upgrade USB Type; if you need one headset that works with both newer USB-C devices and older 3.5mm gear, choose Zollexa Kids. Both are wired, volume-limited kids' headphones, and for side sleepers specifically, neither is the pick I'd make — the best in ear headphones for side sleepers need a low-profile bud, not an on-ear or over-ear cup.
• yoygerty Upgrade USB Type — biggest strength: a built-in USB-C connector with no adapter to lose, plus a tangle-free braided nylon cable and a foldable, travel-friendly frame.
• yoygerty Upgrade USB Type — biggest trade-off: it is USB-C only. There is no 3.5mm option, so older laptops, tablets and school devices without a Type-C port are out.
• Zollexa Kids — biggest strength: 2-in-1 connectivity through a 3.5mm plug with an attached USB-C adapter, so it covers both old and new classroom hardware.
• Zollexa Kids — biggest trade-off: the adapter is one more thing to keep track of, and Zollexa positions this mainly for school-age kids rather than toddlers.
• Who each pick is for: yoygerty for kids who are always on USB-C devices and need a durable, no-fuss cable; Zollexa for families juggling a mix of 3.5mm and Type-C gear.
The yoygerty Upgrade USB Type is built around one idea: skip the adapter. The USB-C connector is part of the headset itself, so an Android tablet, a Chromebook or a modern laptop just plugs straight in. For a kid who carries the same device to class every day, that removes the single most common failure point in a school headset — the dongle that gets lost, bent or left at home.
The comfort story is where it stands out for me on paper. It is an on-ear design with oval earcups, a soft adjustable headband and breathable earmuffs made from memory foam and protein leather. That combination is what parents search for when they want a memory foam ear cushion headphone for side sleepers — though I'll be direct: an on-ear cup is not built for sleeping on your side. On-ear pressure against a pillow is uncomfortable, and these are designed for study sessions, travel and screen time, not overnight wear.
Volume limiting lands at 85dB or 94dB, which keeps output inside the range parents look for in kids' audio gear. There's an in-line microphone on the cable for online classes and calls, plus in-line volume control. At 5.9 ounces with a fold-flat swivel design, it packs easily. Impedance is 32 ohm with a 20 KHz frequency response and a dynamic driver.
Buy it if your kid's devices are all USB-C and you want one cable, one connection, no accessories. Skip it if your household still runs older 3.5mm hardware — you'd be locked out entirely.
Zollexa Kids takes the opposite approach: cover every port. You get a standard 3.5mm plug with an attached USB-C adapter, so the same headset works with Chromebooks, iPads, tablets, laptops and phones. In a family with a hand-me-down tablet, a school Chromebook and an older laptop, that flexibility matters more than any single spec.
It's an over-ear design in a gradient sky blue and teal finish, with soft cushions, a lightweight frame and an adjustable headband. Zollexa's own positioning points this at school-age kids rather than toddlers, so if you're buying for a preschooler, sizing is worth checking before you commit. Volume limiting runs 85dB for everyday learning and 94dB for louder environments like a plane or a busy car.
The in-line microphone and one-button control handle online lessons, calls and voice practice with no pairing and no charging — which is the whole appeal of wired in the first place. The foldable frame and tangle-resistant cable make it backpack-ready. There's no active noise control here, just passive isolation from the over-ear cushions.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for USB-C-only simplicity → yoygerty Upgrade USB Type. The connector is built in, so there's nothing to lose or forget.
• Best for mixed 3.5mm and USB-C devices → Zollexa Kids. The attached adapter covers both generations of school hardware.
• Best for cable durability → yoygerty Upgrade USB Type. The braided nylon cable is reinforced against pulling and dragging.
• Best for younger kids and smaller heads → yoygerty Upgrade USB Type. It's rated for kids and teens, and the on-ear fit with an adjustable headband suits smaller frames. Zollexa is aimed at school-age kids.
• Best for airplane and road-trip use → Zollexa Kids. The 94dB mode exists for louder travel environments.
• Best for over-ear coverage → Zollexa Kids. Its over-ear cushions sit around the ear rather than pressing on it.
• Best for travel storage → both. Each folds flat and packs into a bag.
• Best for side sleeping → neither. If you specifically want a hifi stereo clip on earbuds for side sleepers, look at a low-profile bud instead — a cup design is the wrong shape for a pillow.
In my opinion, the yoygerty Upgrade USB Type is the headset I'd buy for a school-age kid in a USB-C household. The built-in connector, braided cable and fold-flat frame solve the three things that actually break kids' headphones: lost adapters, frayed cords and crushed earcups. The memory foam and protein leather cushions are a genuine comfort plus for long study sessions, even though they don't make this a side-sleeper solution — for side sleepers, I'd steer you to a proper low-profile in-ear bud instead. If your family still juggles 3.5mm gear, Zollexa Kids is the more flexible buy.
how to use usb c headphones on mac
Plug the USB-C connector directly into a USB-C port on your Mac. The headset should appear as an output device automatically; select it in your sound settings. No adapter or driver is needed for either of these headsets on a USB-C Mac.
how to use usb c headphones on android phone
Connect the USB-C plug straight into your phone's charging port. Audio routes through the headset and the in-line microphone handles calls and voice input. If your Android phone only has a 3.5mm jack, use the Zollexa Kids with its 3.5mm plug instead.
how to use usb c headphones on android
Same idea: plug in, and the phone switches audio output to the headset. Both models are wired, so there's no pairing or charging step. The in-line volume control on the yoygerty lets you adjust levels without touching the phone.
how to use usb c headphones on ps5
The PS5 has a USB-C port, so a USB-C headset can connect directly for game audio and chat through the in-line mic. Check your console's audio output settings and select the headset as the output device. If you'd rather use the controller's 3.5mm jack, the Zollexa Kids plugs in there without the adapter.
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