When shopping around for your next pair of headphones, there are many features to look out for. Whether it’s noise cancellation, battery life, comfort and fit, connection options, sound quality, and whatnot. Honestly, you need to consider a considerable number of features, some of which may not be apparent when you’re glancing over a spec sheet online on Amazon or Walmart. That’s why I prefer performing certain tests before buying new headphones.
But despite knowing what to look for in a pair of wireless headphones, I’ve missed USB-C audio in the past and wouldn’t want to make the same mistake again. While not yet mainstream or at least headphone companies are making noise about it, USB-C audio is a crucial feature and is a must-have for my next pair of headphones.
What is USB-C audio?
Yet another unique USB-C capability
USB-C audio is a protocol that enables the transmission of digital audio over the USB Type-C interface. With USB-C audio support, you wouldn’t need your device to have the traditional 3.5mm headphone jack for audio. You can simply plug in your headphones to the available USB-C port on your iOS or Android device and enjoy your music over the wire just like in the good old days. As you can imagine, the feature comes in handy for hi-res music streaming.
It might sound like a new standard, but it isn’t—USB-C audio has been around for over a decade as of this writing. For context, the latest specification of the standard, USB Audio Device Class 3.0, was published in September 2016 by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF). The goal of USB-C audio is simple: to have a single cable for everything. And by the time the USB Audio Device Class 3.0 spec was released, USB-C already had the ability to charge devices via power delivery and transfer file and video data. It’s why USB-C is such a vital connector today.
Why USB-C audio is a must-have for my next headphones
I won’t compromise again
Most headphones that have a USB-C port only use it for charging. However, I want my next pair of wireless headphones to make more use of the port. If it doesn’t have USB-C audio support, I’ll happily pass for these reasons:
1. I can listen to music over the wire without an adapter
When Apple made the bold move of removing the headphone jack from its iPhones in 2016 with the launch of the iPhone 7, it angered many. Sure, it might’ve been uncalled-for at the time, but in hindsight, I think it’s safe to say that removing the headphone jack made smartphones better. Other smartphone manufacturers did hold on to the port longer, but they’ve slowly but steadily followed in Apple’s footsteps.
Now most phones don’t have a headphone jack, from the high-end Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra to the budget Google Pixel 9a and Nothing Phone (3a). The common (and only) port you’ll find is USB-C. The same applies to headphones, where it’s becoming common to get a USB-C port and nothing else. While it’s mainly used for charging headphones, it can save the day when you want to listen to music over the wire if there’s no headphone jack available.
However, the catch is that this is only possible if the headphones support USB-C audio. If it doesn’t, you’re out of luck. Personally, I don’t want to miss out on that again. I want the freedom to buy a pair of wireless headphones and still be able to plug in a cable and listen to music when I want. Because with USB-C audio support, your pair of wireless headphones isn’t limited to Bluetooth alone.
2. It gives wireless headphones better longevity
When it comes to listening to music, Bluetooth is as convenient as it can get. You pair your headphones with your phone or laptop and, voilà, you’re off to the races. Of course, you might experience Bluetooth connection hassles at times, like not being able to pair, but in most cases, you can fix such issues yourself with a simple online search.
However, you can’t fix your headphone’s battery degradation in a cinch. Similar to your phone’s battery, it will degrade over time as you use it. Your headphones might offer a solid 20- or 30-hour playback time on a single charge right now, but it certainly won’t be the case a few months (or years) down the line.
That’s why USB-C audio is such an important feature on wireless headphones. With it, I’m guaranteed to continue using the headphones via USB-C without worrying about battery life, especially after the battery health deteriorates. And as long as the headphones’ build stays intact, I can still pick them up a decade or two later, plug in my USB-C cable, and enjoy my music.
3. It’s a fallback when the headphone battery dies or Bluetooth fails
Even if you upgrade your wireless headphones often enough that you’re less likely to experience severe battery degradation, you’re not safe from two risks: low-battery shutdown and Bluetooth connectivity issues. I’ve used wireless headphones long enough, and I’ve been in a situation where they die off when I most need them.
When working out, for example, I’ve had several occasions where I had to endure the pain of listening to music played at the gym because my headphones didn’t have enough battery. While I’ve never faced serious issues with Bluetooth to the point where I can’t use my headphones no matter what I try, there’s always a chance it might happen. Reddit is littered with threads of unsolved Bluetooth connectivity issues; therefore, it’s a real threat.
But if my headphones have USB-C audio, these two won’t be a problem, because I would use the cable and forget about it. You don’t get that if you buy wireless headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM6 that lack USB-C audio support.
4. I can listen to hi-res music
The continued disappearance of the headphone jack on headphones and smartphones means you have to go an extra step to listen to lossless music. And with wireless headphones without a headphone jack becoming increasingly common, your only chance of listening to hi-res music is with USB-C audio. For this reason, if you’ve subscribed to a hi-res music streaming service like Spotify, Apple Music, or Tidal and listen via Bluetooth, you’re ruining your hi-res sound.
The truth is, Bluetooth doesn’t yet offer enough bandwidth and stability to deliver files without affecting quality. Because of this, my next pair of wireless headphones must have USB-C audio. I pay for a music streaming service with hi-res playback support (Spotify), so I definitely won’t sit on the fence while my friends enjoy listening to tracks in high fidelity.
Don’t overlook wired connectivity on your headphones
Smartphone companies killed the headphone jack, and it’s no surprise that headphone manufacturers are following suit. But while wireless headphones without a headphone jack are gaining momentum, it doesn’t make sense for companies not to include USB-C audio.
As a result, don’t compromise on that, because it’s the only way you can listen to music over wire on wireless headphones. Besides, listening over cable means you can enjoy true lossless quality as long as you have the right setup. Most importantly, wired connection support matters for the long-term usability of your headphones, as you’ll be able to reduce, or even ditch, dependence on Bluetooth and battery.