10 Best USB-C Earbuds of 2026

EarPods (USB-C) are the default answer for anyone whose iPhone came without a headphone jack. Apple sells them for $19.00, and the product page lists compatibility with iPhone models with USB-C running iOS 17 or later, iPad models on iPadOS 16.4 or later and Mac models on macOS Monterey 12.6 or later. The built-in remote adjusts volume, controls music and video playback, and answers or ends calls, so nothing new needs learning. Apple describes the shape as defined by the geometry of the ear instead of a round earbud, and it lists protection from sweat and water. The trade-off is the open fit: there are no silicone tips, so the EarPods do not seal the ear canal and let in more outside noise than the sealed models on this list. Apple also publishes no driver size or frequency response, and it only lists its own devices as compatible. For a cheap, familiar pair that just plugs in, they are hard to beat.

Belkin's SoundForm wired earbuds cost $19.99, almost the same as Apple's EarPods, but they take a different approach to fit. Three sizes of silicone ear tips (S, M and L) seal the ear canal, which Belkin says gives a solid seal for noise isolation, and the IPX5 rating covers sweat and splashes. Inside are 10mm drivers tuned to what Belkin calls its Signature Sound. The flat 4 ft cable is designed to stay tangle-free in a pocket, and a single multi-control switch handles play, pause, track skipping, volume and calls. Belkin lists a long run of compatible phones, including recent iPhone Pro, Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy models, and backs the earbuds with a 2-year warranty. Points against: Belkin publishes no frequency response or impedance, and one switch handles every control. If you want EarPods convenience with a sealed fit and sweat rating, this is the closest match.

JLab pitches the JBuds Pro USB-C at Android phone users and PC or Mac owners. The page lists 10mm drivers, an in-line button with microphone and track controls, and a fit system built around custom cush fins plus gel ear tips, which helps the buds stay put on walks. The same model comes in USB-C, Lightning and 3.5mm versions, so a household with mixed devices can buy one design for everyone. JLab lists a 2-year warranty and 30-day returns. We could not confirm the US price: JLab's store showed us international pricing from our location, so the price is marked pending and the value score assumes it stays in the budget range. JLab publishes no water rating or frequency response for this model. If earbuds keep slipping out of your ears, the fins make this one worth a look.

The CX 80 U is Sennheiser's answer for phones without a headphone jack. The company describes a wired USB-C connection that carries uncompressed audio with no pairing or charging, an inline remote with microphone for calls and music, and a lightweight in-ear design with three ear tip sizes, size M fitted out of the box, for passive noise isolation. Sennheiser is one of the few brands here to publish real numbers: a frequency response of 17 to 20,000 Hz at -10 dB and a weight of about 14.3 g. It describes the tuning as balanced, with crisp highs, natural mids and controlled bass. What we could not do is confirm a US price, because Sennheiser's US store redirected our request, so treat value as provisional until you check the live price. There is also no sweat or water rating listed. If you care more about tuning than about paying the absolute minimum, this is the step-up pick.

At $7.99, Monoprice's Premium USB-C Wired Earbuds are the cheapest way on this list to get sound out of a phone without a headphone jack. Monoprice lists 10mm Neodymium Iron Boron drivers, a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz, a built-in microphone, and one control button that plays, pauses and answers or ends calls. The company calls the build ultra lightweight for long sessions, and it sells them with a 1-year replacement warranty plus a 30-day money back guarantee. Volume pricing makes them practical for classrooms or offices: $7.79 each for 2 to 9 and $6.79 each at 50 or more. The limits show in the spec list. There are no volume buttons, no water rating, and the package contents list only the earbuds, with no extra tip sizes named. For a spare pair in a bag or a set for kids, the price does most of the work.

Samsung's Type-C Earphones are the natural pick for Galaxy owners. Samsung lists 2-way speakers with 11mm and 8mm drivers tuned by AKG, a built-in DAC, a 32-ohm impedance and a 20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency response. Controls are clear: two buttons for volume up and down and one for play, pause and calls, with mute and reject functions. The fabric cable is meant to stop tangles, and S, M and L tips come in the box. The catch is compatibility. Samsung's spec page lists Samsung Galaxy Fold and all Samsung mobile devices without a 3.5mm jack, so it does not promise support for iPhones or Pixels, and it warns that FM radio on some Korea-market Galaxy phones may not work. We could not find a Samsung US store page, so the price is pending and the facts come from Samsung's UK page. For a Galaxy phone, the dual drivers make it a strong match.

Skullcandy describes the Jib USB-C as a no-frills wired earbud that connects instantly to a phone or laptop with no charging and no pairing. For $14.99 you get an in-line mic and remote with call and track controls, a noise-isolating fit and gel tips in S, M and L sizes, backed by a 1-year limited warranty. That covers what most people need from a replacement pair. The weak points are the thin spec sheet and the store rating. Skullcandy lists no driver size, frequency response or water rating, and the product averaged 3.8 out of 5 from 99 reviews on its own store when we checked, lower than the 4.3 shown for the Set. If the Monoprice feels too basic and you want a sealed fit from a familiar brand, the Jib sits in the gap at $14.99.

The RP-TCM325 is the USB-C version of Panasonic's long-running ErgoFit earbuds, and Panasonic's US store listed it at $24.99. The spec table gives 10mm drivers, 32 ohms impedance, 106 dB/mW sensitivity and a 20 Hz to 20k Hz response with cord, while the description cites a wider 10Hz to 24kHz range, so read the frequency numbers with care. Three sizes of soft tips seal the ear, an integrated microphone and call remote handle calls, and the 3.6 ft cord gives more slack than most phone earbuds, useful when the phone or laptop sits on a desk. Panasonic notes the earbuds work with any device that supports a standard USB-C audio connection. At $24.99 it costs more than the Apple, Belkin and Skullcandy Jib picks without a sweat rating or a longer warranty, which is why it sits mid-table.

The Moondrop May is the pick for people who want more than a basic plug-in pair. Moondrop describes it as a USB-C in-ear monitor with online interactive DSP and a hybrid of a 10mm sapphire-plated dynamic driver and a 6mm annular planar magnetic driver. The cable plugs into USB-C and detaches from the earpieces with a standard 0.78 2-pin connector, so a damaged cable does not mean replacing the whole set. Moondrop lists 30 ohms impedance, 120dB/Vrms sensitivity and a frequency response of 7Hz to 39kHz, or 20Hz to 20kHz effective, and supports tuning through its Moondrop Link app and online EQ. The box includes a leather case. On the other side, Moondrop's site gives no US price, the package list does not mention a microphone, and in-ear monitors take more fiddling than EarPods. Buy it for listening at home, not for calls.

Skullcandy positions the Set as an all-day, do-everything wired earbud. The product page lists a USB-C connector, sweat and water resistance, a noise-isolating fit and a microphone with call and track controls. On Skullcandy's own store it averaged 4.3 out of 5 from 482 reviews when we checked, a better showing than the cheaper Jib. The trouble is price. At $33.99, the Set costs more than Belkin's SoundForm, which lists a specific IPX5 rating, 10mm drivers and a 2-year warranty for $19.99. The Set page does not give an IP number, driver size or frequency response, so it is hard to see what the extra money buys beyond the brand. Choose it if you like Skullcandy's styling and want sweat resistance from that brand, but the Belkin covers the same needs for less.