More phone and laptop manufacturers are using USB-C ports for power, file transfers, and audio. That makes USB-C headphones useful if you want a simple wired connection without carrying a separate dongle, whether you're plugging into a laptop for work calls or a phone for music. Some models are wired-only, while others work over Bluetooth, analog, and USB-C. However, USB-C support varies: some headphones only support audio over USB-C, while others also let you use the microphone.
We've tested over 890 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.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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Best USB-C Headphones
TravelOffice WorkWired ConnectionNoise Isolation - Full RangeRecording QualitySee all our test resultsNoise HandlingThe 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 cancelling (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 listen to 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 simply plugging in a USB-C cable, these are the best options available.
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Best Mid-Range USB-C Headphones
TravelOffice WorkWired ConnectionNoise Isolation - Full RangeRecording QualitySee all our test resultsNoise HandlingThe Nothing Headphone (a) can't match the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) for noise isolation performance, but they're much more affordable. The Nothing's ANC still does a great job keeping out the sound of office chatter and fan noise, but the Bose is better at blocking out low engine rumble. The Nothing's USB-C connection supports both audio and microphone use on compatible devices. That makes them useful if you want to plug into a laptop for meetings without switching back to Bluetooth. However, they need power even over analog, and their USB-C detection can be a bit finicky, so you may need to turn them off and on again after plugging them into a laptop or PS5.
Still, these headphones also have Bluetooth multi-device pairing, and their companion app offers ANC controls and button customization settings. The app also lets you customize their warm sound profile using EQ, although the default warm sound suits most kinds of audio, with enough extra bass to give kick drums fullness without making vocals boomy. Their battery life is excellent at almost 80 hours, so they can handle long workweeks between charges. That said, their small, shallow ear cups can be uncomfortable if you have larger ears, and their pouch doesn't offer much protection.
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Best Budget USB-C Headphones
TravelOffice WorkWired ConnectionNoise Isolation - Full RangeRecording QualitySee all our test resultsNoise HandlingThe TOZO HT3 are the best budget USB-C headphones we've tested. They don't feel as polished as the Nothing Headphone (a), but they're much cheaper and still cover the basics very well. Their wired USB connection supports audio and microphone use on PCs and PlayStation consoles, and they also include an analog cable if you just want low-latency audio. Like the Nothing, they also offer Bluetooth multi-device pairing, which is useful if you switch between a phone and a laptop during the day.
These over-ears have ANC, which is a nice bonus at this price. It's good enough to soften the noise of chatty coworkers in the office, but it can't cut out sounds like engine rumble as effectively as the pricier picks on this list. The TOZO's mic keeps your voice clear enough in noisy places, but the processing makes speech sound a little unnatural. Their sound is also pretty bass-heavy, so kick drums and 808s hit hard, but cymbals can sound a little soft. That said, you can adjust their sound in the app's 10-band EQ. They last almost 45 hours on a charge, but they don't come with a case, and their narrow ear cups and higher clamping force can get tiring over longer sessions.
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Best Sounding USB-C Headphones
TravelOffice WorkWired ConnectionNoise Isolation - Full RangeRecording QualitySee all our test resultsNoise HandlingIf 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 also last nearly 30 hours on a single charge; used wirelessly, they'll get you through a few long work days without recharging.
They 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 cancelling performance that will help reduce a range of noise, from rumbling engines to background chit-chat and whiny A/C units.
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Best Call-Centric USB-C Headphones
TravelOffice WorkWired ConnectionNoise Isolation - Full RangeRecording QualitySee all our test resultsNoise HandlingThe best call-centric USB-C headphones are the Audeze Maxwell 2. Even though they're gaming headphones, they have a fairly low-key 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 outstanding noise handling, helping you stay audible in noisy places.
These headphones deliver a balanced sound profile, so whether you're listening to others on a conference call or enjoying music in your downtime, their sound is accurate from bass to treble. You can also fine-tune them using their companion app's EQ presets. However, they lack ANC. While they do an okay job of reducing high-pitched sounds like ambient chatter, 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
TravelOffice WorkWired ConnectionNoise Isolation - Full RangeRecording QualitySee all our test resultsNoise HandlingThe 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 track skipping. 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 significantly cheaper than 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). That said, the Noble can't quite match the Bose for ANC performance, and their price tag is hefty.
See our review -
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless:
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless are worth considering if you want a more premium-feeling alternative to the Nothing Headphone (a). They have good ANC and support Bluetooth, analog, and USB connections, but their wired USB connection is audio-only, so the Nothing are more useful if you need microphone support over USB-C.
See our review -
Beats Solo 4:
The Beats Solo 4 are worth considering if you want better sound than the TOZO HT3 and don't need ANC. They're more expensive than the TOZO, but they have a more balanced default sound, a better build quality, and a good carrying case, and they support audio and mic use over wired USB. However, they block out little noise, and their mic struggles in busy environments.
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 kinds of audio.
See our review
Recent Updates
Jun 12, 2026:
We've simplified this article to better direct readers to the best USB-C headphones at different price points. We've added the Nothing Headphone (a) as our new mid-range pick and the TOZO HT3 as our new budget pick, both thanks to their versatile USB-C audio and mic support. We also removed the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless and Beats Solo 4 from our main picks and moved them to the Notable Mentions, where they replace the Nothing Headphone (1) and Beats Studio Pro Wireless.
Mar 10, 2026:
The Audeze Maxwell 2 replace the original Audeze Maxwell as our call-centric pick, because their mic offers superb noise handling and an impressive recording quality.
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.
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 good enough to please almost everyone, and the differences often aren't too noticeable unless you look for them.