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 910 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. However, their USB connection doesn't support mic input, which may be a dealbreaker for some. Even so, these headphones are our top pick despite this limitation due to their remarkable active noise cancelling (ANC) that blocks out noise from rumbly engines to high-pitched fan whine, and impressively comfortable fit.
These headphones have a warm sound profile that helps make mixes with a prominent bassline feel more lively, but it can also render your music 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. They also support Bluetooth multi-point if you ever want to juggle multiple connections with a personal and work device without fiddling with the USB-C cable.
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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 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 to be powered on with wired connections, and their USB-C device 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.
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 carrying pouch doesn't offer much protection. Like the Bose, they support Bluetooth multipoint, which allows you to connect to multiple devices simultaneously, which isn't possible with a wired USB-C connection.
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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 well. Their wired USB connection supports audio and microphone functionality on PCs and PlayStation consoles, and they also include an analog cable if you just want low-latency audio (without mic support). 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 Sennheiser HDB 630 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 a bit of audio latency via wired USB, it's not much of an issue unless you're live-monitoring a tracking session. The USB connection also allows you to benefit from higher audio quality than via Bluetooth, though. They also last over 50 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's advanced parametric EQ. They're more expensive than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) and aren't as universally comfortable as the Bose. Fortunately, they have amazing 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 output 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, so you can prioritize recording quality or a casual look. Both mics capture your voice as clear and natural, and the boom mic also has outstanding noise handling, provided you also enable the headphone app's AI noise reduction feature.
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, you could opt for the more expensive ANC version, the Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC.
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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 dedicated USB-C cable rather than a dongle. 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. Their default sound is 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 balanced sound. However, you can't adjust their audio using the cable like you can with the MOONDROP.
Notable Mentions
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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 -
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 support a dedicated EQ and app like the MOONDROP, they're a fraction of the price and have a balanced sound that suits most kinds of audio.
See our review
Recent Updates
Sep 10, 2026:
We've replaced the Focal Bathys with the Sennheiser HDB 630, which provide a longer battery life and better noise isolation performance. We've also removed Notable Mentions that didn't provide substantial advantages or trade-offs compared to the existing picks.
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.
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.