Back in the day, headphone jacks used to be ubiquitous in smartphones. That said, the scenery changed quickly when Apple decided to axe the beloved analog port from the iPhone 7 range. Thankfully, all hope is not lost. In fact, if you’re vying for a wired headset, you can get your hands on some excellent USB Type-C earbuds.
What’s more? We’ve done the homework and have listed some of the best USB-C earbuds below. But, before we get into that, here are some other articles that you might want to check out:
- The best TWS headsets under $50.
- Top 5 wireless earbuds with a long battery life that can go days without a charge.
- The best wireless earbuds with wireless charging.
That said, if you are on the lookout for a wired headset, here are some excellent USB-C earbuds.
1. Samsung AKG USB Type-C Earbuds
Samsung used to bundle the AKG earbuds with its high-end, Galaxy S-range and Note range of devices. Unfortunately, the brand no longer adheres to the tradition. On the upside, you can still buy the AKG-tuned, USB Type-C earbuds from Samsung at a wallet-friendly price. The earphones in question ship with a braided cable that should stand the test of time.
Furthermore, the fabric cable also ensures that the earbuds don’t tangle when you stow them away in your pockets or backpack. That’s not all, as the pair punches above its weight in the audio department too. Moreover, the earbuds ship with a DAC that helps in delivering a balanced sound output.
That’s partly why a lot of customers have spoken highly of the unit’s sound output too. A lot of user reviews state that the earbuds offer bountiful treble. On the flip side, the earbuds’ bass output left some buyers wanting more. More notably, the earbuds work best with a Samsung-branded device.
Further, while you might get audio from both, the left and the right channels, some phones don’t support the earphone’s music playback toggles. Other than that, though, the Samsung AKG earbuds are a reliable and sturdy pair of USB-C earbuds.
2. Google Pixel USB Type-C Earbuds
Following in Samsung’s footsteps, Google stopped bundling its USB Type-C Pixel earbuds with Pixel devices too. Thankfully, the company readily sells the pair on various e-commerce portals. What’s more, for the price, the Pixel earbuds come across as an absolute bargain.
To wit, the earphones ship with an open-ear design and correspondingly, allow some outside noise to seep in. As a result, the Pixel USB-C earbuds are a godsend for athletes and runners who like to be aware of their surroundings when they’re listening to music. Speaking of which, the earbuds also get a set of adjustable loops which you can use to better the earphone’s in-ear fit.
That’s not all, as the earbuds get an in-line mic which should come in clutch for taking calls on the fly. You will also get a slew of other nifty features with the Pixel USB Type-C earbuds. To that note, the earbuds come with native support for Google Assistant. You can invoke the same by long-pressing the black-colored toggle on the in-line microphone. Once done, you will be able to ask the Assistant for directions to a nearby place, or have it send a message to your friends.
You can even check up on your incoming notifications by long pressing the volume up button. As for the sound quality, the earbuds support 24-bit audio, so you can enjoy lossless media on the buds to the fullest. The customer reviews are a testament to the earbuds’ sound quality too, with many users raving about the Pixel USB-C earbuds’ audio output.
3. Palovue SoundFlow USB Type-C Earbuds
Palovue’s SoundFlow USB Type-C earbuds bring a host of features to the mix too. For one, the buds are compatible with a host of devices, including smartphones from Google, Huawei, Samsung, Xiaomi, and HTC’s stables. In fact, you can even use the buds with your iPad or MacBook without any hassles.
What’s more, the earbuds are backed by a pair of 10mm dynamic drivers that reciprocate tight, punchy beats. So much so, the earphones’ low-end output has been lauded by a handful of customers. At the same time, users pointed out that the earphones’ sound output didn’t seem muffled or distorted, especially at high volume levels. As such, you can expect the earbuds to offer stellar imaging or instrument separation too.
The SoundFlow USB Type-C earbuds also come with a built-in mic and music playback toggles. As a result, you can answer calls, change the soundtrack or variate the volume levels without taking your phone out of your pockets. What’s more? The earbuds can also invoke your phone’s assistant, which should allow you to use voice commands with the headset as well.
Lastly, you should know that the earbuds are available in two distinctive avatars. As such, interested buyers can pick up the SoundFlow USB-C earbuds in either a black or a white colorway. The earbuds also ship with three different-sized ear tips, so you can pick and choose the one which works the best for you.
4. Logitech G333 Gaming Earphones
If you tend to play a lot of games on your phone, you’ll like Logitech sale’s pitch for the G333 gaming earphones. Now, full disclosure – the earbuds come with a 3.5mm audio jack. However, the company bundles a USB Type-C dongle with the retail packaging. And, going by the impressive customer reviews, we couldn’t resist adding the headset to our list.
First things first, you should know that the earphones ship with a dual-driver array. This includes a pair of 5.8mm and a 9.2mm dynamic driver positioned inside each earpiece. As a result, the Logitech G333 earbuds can seamlessly segregate different frequencies, with one driver tasked with tackling the highs and the other responsible for reciprocating the bass or the low end. It’s not surprising, then, that users speak highly of the G333’s sound output.
Per customer reviews, the earbuds could accurately pinpoint the direction of the enemy footsteps in FPS shooters like Apex Legends. What’s more, users cited that the earphones’ performed admirably when listening to music too. In particular, the earbuds’ low-end output was admired by a good majority of buyers.
The earbuds come encased in a sturdy aluminum housing too, which will undoubtedly stand the test of time. You can also pick up the pair in a bunch of interesting colors, including black, purple, white, and a unique League of Legends livery. Pool everything together and the Logitech G333 gaming earphones are among the best USB-C earbuds for under $50.
5. SoundMAGIC E11D
SoundMAGIC has a penchant for making high-performance IEMs that don’t cost a fortune. Take the brand’s E11D, for instance, which features a premium design that is replete with robust, aluminum housings for the earpieces.
Furthermore, the earbuds ship with a built-in DAC that can seemingly relay high-res media too. That’s not all, as the earbuds also feature 10mm dynamic drivers that deliver excellent audio, per several customers. Besides, the E11D’s sound output has been rated highly by reviewers too.
To that note, most state that the buds offer excellent imaging and a well-balanced sound with a slight emphasis on the low end. The reviews also cite that the earbuds don’t sound sibilant either. So, you can use the pair to listen to podcasts as well. Moving on, the SoundMAGIC E11D also ships with an in-line mic. You can also control the music playback or increase/decrease the volume directly through the headset.
Interestingly, the E11Ds tip the scales at just 0.03 lbs. What’s more? The earbuds ship with a carrying pouch along with three sets of different-sized ear tips too. All said and done, the SoundMAGIC E11D makes for a great set of USB Type-C earbuds.
FAQs About USB Type-C Earbuds
1. Do Type-C earbuds offer better sound than true wireless earbuds?
For the most part, a wired earphone will sound better than its wireless counterpart.
2. Will type-C earphones damage the charging port?
Using a pair of Type-C earbuds will lessen the shelf life of the USB Type-C port on your smartphone. However, most Type-C connectors are designed to work flawlessly for years, so you won’t stumble upon any major issues when using a Type-C earbud with your phone.
3. Can we use Type-C earphones on iPhones?
Provided you have a lightning to Type-C headphone adapter, you can use USB Type-C earbuds with an iPhone.
Plug and Play
We could be preaching to a choir but we sorely miss the 3.5mm headphone jack. Thankfully, there is light at the end of the tunnel for users looking for a pair of wired earbuds. In fact, if your device ships with a USB Type-C connector, you can leverage any one of the aforementioned earbuds to listen to your favorite tracks and podcasts.
