More and more phone manufacturers on the market are switching to USB-C ports as a one-size-fits-all connection for power, file transfer, and audio connection. The headphone market is following suit, and more models are being released that come with USB-C cables. Some USB-C headphones are wired-only, while others offer the flexibility of being used wirelessly.
We've tested over 850 pairs of headphones, and below are our recommendations for the best USB-C earphones and headphones. For more picks, check out our recommendations for the best headphones, the best Bluetooth headphones, and the best true wireless earbuds.
Quick Look
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Best USB-C Headphones
Travel8.6Office Work8.3Wired Connection7.1Noise Isolation - Full Range9.5Recording Quality7.2See all our test resultsNoise Handling7.2The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are the best USB-C headphones we've tested. These premium headphones can connect via Bluetooth, USB, or analog, so they're very versatile. They also support multi-device pairing over Bluetooth, allowing you to stay connected to your phone and laptop simultaneously. These headphones have a sturdy build quality and a very comfortable fit that's ideal for longer listening sessions or days at the office. As we've come to expect from Bose, their active noise canceling (ANC) is superb, doing a remarkable job of blocking out everything from rumbly bus engines to high-pitched fan whine.
These headphones have a warm sound profile out of the box. The extra thump, punch, and boom can help make mixes with a prominent bassline feel more lively, but it can also render mixes a touch boomy. While the Bose companion app doesn't offer the most robust equalizer available, you do get a three-band EQ that allows you to customize the sound to your liking. Unfortunately, you'll only be able to receive audio via a wired USB connection, as this type of connection doesn't support mic input. However, if you find Bluetooth bothersome and prefer the ease of use that simply plugging in a USB-C cable brings, these are the best options available.
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Best Upper Mid-Range USB-C Headphones
Commute/Travel7.8Office7.6Wired Connection7.1Noise Isolation - Full Range8.5Recording Quality7.4See all our test resultsNoise Handling7.0Check out the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless for premium headphones at a lower price point. Like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), they're designed to work via Bluetooth, USB, and analog. They have a snug fit around your ears, which might be a little too tight for some, as the headband puts pressure on the side of your head, negatively affecting comfort over long listening sessions. Although not as good as the Bose, their ANC also works well, isolating you from mid- and high-range background noise, such as office chatter and PC fans. However, like the Bose, they only support audio via wired USB.
Out of the box, these headphones have an excited, V-shaped sound profile that delivers extra bright treble and thumpy bass. While this makes them well-suited for genres like pop and hip-hop, the mix ends up sounding a bit muddy and piercing. Fortunately, their companion app has a two-band EQ to let you change their sound to match your preferences. They're a very good choice if you're looking for more wallet-friendly USB-C headphones.
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Best Mid-Range USB-C Headphones
Travel6.4Office Work5.9Wired Connection9.1Noise Isolation - Full Range4.9Recording Quality4.7See all our test resultsNoise Handling5.8The Beats Solo 4 are the best mid-range USB-C headphones we've tested. Compared to their predecessor, the Beats Solo3 2019, these add a built-in digital-analog converter (DAC) and support USB-C audio. The DAC means using these with a USB-C cable will add a little latency compared to using the included analog 1/8" TRS cable, but it's only noticeable if you're using them for delay-sensitive tasks like online gaming.
Though their build quality isn't quite as good as the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless, the Beats are much cheaper and have a significantly more well-controlled sound out of the box. Their sound is almost flat, leaning just a touch bright. Nonetheless, their bass accuracy is exceptional, so kick drums and basslines have just the right amount of thump and punch without becoming muddy, and their mids, while not quite as balanced as the Px7 S2, are still good. Vocals and instruments sound detailed and present without much honk or boxiness.
Unlike both pairs of cans we've recommended above, which have good noise isolation, the Beats don't have any noise cancelling technology, so they do a bad job of reducing sound around you. This makes them a sub-par choice for listening in the office or on your commute, where the sound of nearby conversations or the rumble of train engines will be clearly audible. Finally, though they come with a microphone, it's poor quality. If you plan on making a lot of phone calls using your headphones, you'll be better served by the Audeze Maxwell Wireless, listed below as our best phone call pick.
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Best Sounding USB-C Headphones
Travel7.8Office Work7.6Wired Connection6.7Noise Isolation - Full Range8.5Recording Quality6.4See all our test resultsNoise Handling7.0If sound quality is your thing, the Focal Bathys Wireless are the best-sounding USB-C headphones we've tested. These Bluetooth headphones are designed for audiophiles on the go and have several connection options, including a USB-C to USB-C cable for newer devices. While they have perceptible latency via wired USB since they're performing analog-to-digital conversion, it's not much of an issue if you're only listening to audio. Thanks to their DAC, the USB connection also allows you to benefit from higher audio quality than via Bluetooth.
They have French-made aluminum-magnesium dynamic drivers, which deliver a balanced sound profile that doesn't overemphasize the bass or treble. Voices and instruments alike sound accurate and clear. You can also fine-tune their sound using their companion app. They're quite a bit more expensive than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), and are also fairly bulky and heavy, with a high clamping force that can cause fatigue after long listening periods, especially if you wear glasses. Many people will find the Bose more comfortable over long listening sessions.
Fortunately, they have good noise cancellation performance that will help reduce a range of noise, from rumbling engines to background chit-chat and whiny A/C units. They also last nearly 30 hours on a single charge; used wirelessly, they'll get you through a few long work days without recharging.
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Best Call-Centric USB-C Headphones
Travel6.2Office Work6.7Wired Connection8.3Noise Isolation - Full Range5.3Recording Quality7.5See all our test resultsNoise Handling9.0The best call-centric USB-C headphones are the Audeze Maxwell Wireless. Even though they're gaming headphones, they have a fairly bland look, and their USB-C connection offers full mic and audio compatibility. Unlike other picks on this list, such as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), they come with both a detachable boom mic and an integrated mic, which is handy if you want them to look even more casual. Both mics make your voice sound very clear and natural, and the boom mic also has fantastic noise handling, ensuring you're audible throughout the call, no matter where you are.
These headphones deliver a slightly warm sound profile that lends a touch of extra punch to your audio. Still, whether listening to others on a conference call or enjoying music in your downtime, their sound is accurate and well-balanced from bass to treble. You can also fine-tune them using their companion app's EQ presets. However, they lack ANC. While they do a solid job of reducing ambient chatter and some noise, they don't do much to reduce bass-range noise like rumbling engines. If noise isolation is important to you, the Bose are the obvious choice.
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Best USB-C Earbuds
Travel6.9Office Work6.9Wired Connection9.7Noise Isolation - Full Range6.8Recording Quality6.6See all our test resultsNoise Handling6.0The MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK are our top pick for USB-C earbuds. Unlike most IEMs, which usually only work via analog connections, this pair also comes with a USB-C cable. That cable adds some extra functionality such as a microphone and an EQ to customize their sound. Unfortunately, the app is only available to Android users, but you can flash your EQ settings to the cable so they're stored there. That said, their default sound is no slouch: it's slightly warm but still balanced through the mid-range, so voices and instruments sound accurate, if a touch lacking in treble-range detail. These well-built earbuds effectively control their own sound profile, so any EQ you apply won't inadvertently boost rogue frequencies.
These earbuds have a relatively straightforward control scheme that allows you to adjust the volume and play or pause tracks, but they lack other basic functions, such as skipping tracks forward or backward. Happily, you can also use these with the included 3.5 mm analog cable, which adds to their versatility. The built-in microphone is sufficient for taking calls on the go, but you probably wouldn't want these to be your primary pair for daily work conferencing. If you don't need a mic and are looking to save a little cash, consider the Meze ALBA. The Meze are about half the price of the MOONDROP and offer a very balanced sound. However, you can't adjust their audio via a DSP cable, unlike with the MOONDROP. Though neither pair has ANC, the MOONDROP also do a better job of isolating you from external noise, meaning you won't easily be distracted by the rumble of bus engines or neighboring conversations.
Notable Mentions
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Sonos Ace:
If you're invested in the Sonos ecosystem and want a pair of USB-C headphones, the Sonos Ace are a good choice, since you can pair them with compatible Sonos soundbars. They also just about match the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) for ANC performance. But the Sonos have a higher latency when used via USB-C than the Bose, and their sound isn't as well-controlled.
See our review -
Noble FoKus Apollo:
The Noble FoKus Apollo are premium headphones with an impressive mic that's a notable step up from the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen). But the Noble can't quite match the Bose for ANC performance, and their price tag is hefty.
See our review -
Beats Studio Pro Wireless:
The Beats Studio Pro Wireless are mid-range headphones with a neutral sound out of the box, but they aren't as comfortable or as well-built as the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless, and their mic isn't as good.
See our review -
Nothing Headphone (1):
In most respects, the Nothing Headphone (1) perform better than the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless. So why haven't they dethroned the Bowers & Wilkins on our list? Unfortunately, we found the USB-C connection to be a little finicky, often requiring a restart to work properly. If it's a smooth user experience you want, the Bowers & Wilkins remain our recommendation.
See our review -
Samsung AKG Type-C:
If you'd prefer a more affordable pair of earbuds than the MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK, the Samsung AKG Type-C are worth considering. Though they don't perform quite as well as the MOONDROP, they're a fraction of the price and have a balanced sound that will suit most audio.
See our review
Recent Updates
Dec 08, 2025:
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are our new top pick due to their impressive performance across the board. We also added the Meze ALBA as a cheaper alternative to the MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK. Finally, we removed the Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless from our Notable Mentions but added the Nothing Headphone (1) and Noble FoKus Apollo.
Mar 31, 2025:
We've edited the text for clarity and cleaned up some hyperlinks, but haven't changed our picks.
Jan 07, 2025:
The MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK replace the Samsung AKG Type-C as our 'Best USB-C Earbuds' pick because of their superior noise isolation performance and more controlled sound profile. The much more affordable Samsung are now a Notable Mention.
Sep 16, 2024: We added the Sonos Ace Wireless to our Notable Mentions for anyone interested in USB-C headphones who's also invested in the Sonos ecosystem.
Jun 21, 2024: We added the Beats Solo 4 Wireless as the mid-range pick because it's cheaper than the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2, which is now our upper mid-range pick. We also made some small edits for style and checked that all of our picks are in stock at online retailers.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best headphones with a USB-C connection for most people in each price range. We factor in the price, feedback from our visitors, and availability.
If you want to check out our reviews yourself, here is the list of all our reviews of USB-C headphones. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no headphones are perfect, most are great enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not too noticeable unless you look for them.