HAIMLJLBK HM-Headphones-C01

The HAIMLJLBK HM-Headphones-C01 is a two-pack of wired USB-C earbuds for around $10 USD. Comfort is the standout feature at the 95th percentile, but sound and call quality are below average. The built-in DAC chip helps with clean audio, but the mic is weak. Buy these as a cheap backup or gym pair, not as your main earbuds.

The sound score lands at the 29th percentile, which is below average even for budget earbuds. The DAC chip helps with clean digital conversion, but the drivers themselves aren't doing anything special. Expect a sound profile that's fine for podcasts, YouTube, and casual music listening, but don't expect deep, controlled bass or crisp highs. The marketing mentions 'deep bass,' but the data doesn't back that up. You'll get bass that's present, not powerful.

The mic score is 40th percentile, and the calls score is the weakest area at 18.7 out of 100. That's a problem if you plan to use these for phone calls or video meetings. The inline mic will pick up your voice, but background noise handling and clarity are going to be rough. For quick calls in a quiet room, it'll work. For anything more demanding, you'll sound like you're talking through a tin can. The 30g weight and 95th percentile comfort score mean you can wear these for hours without ear fatigue, which is genuinely impressive for the price.

The Soundcore P20i is the obvious step up if you can stretch your budget. It's wireless, sounds better, and has a charging case. You lose the simplicity of wired, but you gain a lot in sound quality and convenience. The JLab GO POP ANC adds active noise cancellation, which this product doesn't even attempt. If you're on a noisy commute, the JLab is worth the extra money.

The TOZO A1 and SoundPEATS C30 are closer competitors in the budget space. Both are wireless, which means you're dealing with batteries and pairing, but they offer better sound scores and more consistent build quality. The HAIMLJLBK's main advantage is the wired connection. No latency, no battery anxiety, no Bluetooth dropouts. For gaming or video editing where latency matters, wired is actually the better choice, even if the sound quality is mediocre.

At $10 USD for a two-pack, the value proposition is straightforward: you're paying $5 per pair. That's about as cheap as wired USB-C earbuds get without falling into truly disposable territory. The EUR pricing shows a spread from EUR 19 to EUR 21 across four listings, so if you're in Europe, shop around a bit. The DE, ES, FR, and IT listings all hover in that range, and the lower end is the better deal.

Compared to the competition, the Soundcore P20i and JLab GO POP ANC are both wireless options that cost more but offer better sound and features. The TOZO A1 and SoundPEATS C30 are closer in spirit, budget wired or semi-wired options, but they still outscore this product on sound and build. What you're really paying for here is convenience and redundancy. Two pairs, no charging, no pairing, just plug and go. For a backup pair in your bag or a cheap solution for a kid's tablet, that's a fair trade.

The HAIMLJLBK HM-Headphones-C01 is a two-pack of wired USB-C earbuds aimed at people who just got a phone without a headphone jack and don't want to deal with Bluetooth pairing, charging cases, or losing a single bud under the couch. At around $10 USD for the pair, this is firmly in impulse-buy territory. You're getting two sets of earbuds with inline mics and volume controls, which means one for your bag, one for your desk, or one to hand to a friend who keeps borrowing yours.

What makes these interesting is the built-in DAC chip. USB-C audio is digital, so the earbuds have to convert that signal themselves. A decent DAC can make a real difference in sound quality, and HAIMLJLBK is leaning on that as the headline feature. The comfort score is also a genuine standout, landing in the 95th percentile in our database. For cheap wired earbuds, that's not nothing.

But let's be real about what this is. The overall score sits at 32.7 out of 100, and the weakest area is calls at 18.7. This is a budget accessory for casual listening, not a serious audio purchase. If you need something cheap, wired, and compatible with your USB-C phone, this fits the bill. If you want great sound or reliable call quality, keep scrolling.

Skip these if you take phone calls regularly. The call quality is bad enough that you'll frustrate yourself and whoever you're talking to. Look at the Soundcore P20i or even a cheap wireless headset with a better mic instead. Also skip if you care about sound quality. The 29th percentile sound score means music will sound flat and uninspired compared to even budget wireless earbuds.

If you want active noise cancellation, these don't have it. The JLab GO POP ANC is the budget pick for that. And if you're rough on your gear, the 34th percentile build quality means these won't survive being yanked out of a bag or stepped on. For durability, the SoundPEATS C30 or TOZO A1 are better built, though they cost a bit more.

If you need cheap, reliable wired earbuds for a USB-C phone and you don't care about call quality, this two-pack is a solid buy. The comfort is genuinely excellent, and having two pairs means you always have a backup. For podcasts, audiobooks, and casual music listening, these get the job done without fuss.

But if you take a lot of phone calls or care about sound quality, look elsewhere. The call performance is bad enough to be a dealbreaker for anyone who uses earbuds for work. And if you want wireless convenience, the Soundcore P20i or JLab GO POP ANC are better investments. These are a backup pair, a gym pair, or a kid's first earbuds. Not a primary audio device.