Home/Universal/Cables & Adapters/UGREEN USB-C to 3.5mm DAC Adapter
Now that iPhones have USB-C, everyone with wired headphones needs a dongle again. Most of the cheap ones are hit-or-miss passive adapters. This UGREEN has a real DAC and amplifier chip inside, is rated for 24-bit/96kHz, and costs about $8. It is trying to be the one dongle worth recommending.
Reviewed by the Tiny Tech Box team · Not a hands-on test — written from UGREEN’s published specs, the live Amazon US listing and owner reviews · Last checked August 28, 2026
Version reviewed: UGREEN USB-C to 3.5mm Audio Adapter, 24-bit/96kHz HiFi DAC, Grey · ASIN B082WG5VTK · Amazon US listing.
One-sentence verdict: Buy it — a real DAC-and-amp dongle with in-line remote and mic support for about $8, and 27,600 ratings behind it; it just will not drive demanding high-impedance headphones.
The small aluminium body holds a DAC and headphone amplifier; the braided cable resists strain at the plug.
Image source: Amazon.com
| Best for | Anyone with a USB-C phone and wired headphones who wants clean sound, working in-line controls and a mic, cheaply. |
| Not ideal for | People driving demanding high-impedance headphones, or who want a desktop-grade DAC. |
| Current price | $7.99 on Amazon |
| Price checked | August 28, 2026 |
| Version reviewed | UGREEN USB-C to 3.5mm DAC Adapter · 24-bit/96kHz · Grey · ASIN B082WG5VTK · Amazon US |
A small aluminium slug on a short braided cable, terminating in a USB-C plug. It is well made for the price — the metal housing gives it some heft and the braided cable resists the strain that frays cheap dongles at the plug. It is unobtrusive hanging off the bottom of a phone.
Plug it into a USB-C phone, tablet or PC, plug your headphones into the 3.5mm end, and it works. No app, no pairing. On compatible headsets the in-line buttons and the microphone are recognised.
The DAC-and-amp chip is the point: it takes the USB-C digital audio stream and produces its own clean analogue signal, so it works on phones that removed analogue-over-USB-C support and it is not at the mercy of the phone’s own audio path. Output is clean and clear, with enough power for earbuds and most on-ear and over-ear headphones. What it is not is a portable amp for demanding audiophile headphones — high-impedance cans will sound quiet and flat. For normal wired headphones and calls, it does everything asked of it.
Works with:
Not compatible:
The metal housing and braided cable are a step above the disposable dongles, and 27,600 ratings at 4.5 stars is a strong, settled record. As with any dongle, the plug and the cable junction are what eventually wear. UGREEN backs it with a limited warranty; the exact term is not printed on this listing.
At $7.99 on Amazon (checked August 28, 2026), it costs about the same as the passive dongles that do not have a DAC and are hit-or-miss on call quality. For a couple of dollars over the cheapest option you get a proper DAC, working in-line controls and a metal housing.
This is the value pick of the category by a clear margin. The only reasons to spend more are a dedicated portable DAC for serious headphones, or a two-in-one adapter that also charges. Check the current price before you buy.
4.5 ★ from 27,600 Amazon ratings · price & rating checked August 28, 2026
Price and availability may change after the date shown.
| Product | Best for | Key advantage | Main drawback | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UGREEN USB-C to 3.5mm DAC Adapter (this adapter) | A clean, reliable headphone dongle for a USB-C phone | Real DAC + amp; working in-line controls; metal build; ~$8; 27,600 ratings | No charging pass-through; not for high-impedance headphones | $7.99 |
| USB-C to 3.5mm + PD Charge Adapter (2-in-1) | Listening and charging at the same time | Adds a charging passthrough port | Passthrough is unreliable; no dedicated DAC; 2.8-star record | ~$6 |
| UGREEN Lightning to 3.5mm Adapter | The same job on an older Lightning iPhone | MFi certified; sturdier than Apple’s dongle | Lightning only (iPhone 14 and earlier); reliability varies | ~$16 |
For a USB-C phone, this UGREEN DAC adapter is the one to buy. Choose a 2-in-1 charge-and-listen adapter only if simultaneous charging is essential and you will tolerate its unreliability. On an older Lightning iPhone, the Lightning version of this adapter is the equivalent. Prices are Amazon figures from August 28, 2026.
The UGREEN USB-C to 3.5mm DAC adapter is the headphone dongle to recommend without caveats for most people. It has a real DAC and amplifier inside, it is rated well above CD quality, the in-line controls and microphone work, and it is built with a metal housing and a braided cable — all for about $8, with 27,600 ratings at 4.5 stars.
It has limits, but sensible ones: it will not drive audiophile headphones, and it does not charge while you listen. For a USB-C phone and a normal pair of wired headphones or a headset, it does the job cleanly and reliably, which is more than most dongles in this price range manage.
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Design — small aluminium housing on a braided cable; unobtrusive and better built than disposable dongles | 4 / 5 |
| Value — a real DAC-and-amp dongle with working controls for about $8, barely more than a passive adapter | 4.5 / 5 |
| Performance — clean 24-bit/96kHz output that drives normal headphones and headsets; not for high-impedance cans | 4 / 5 |
| Build & Durability — metal body, braided cable, 27,600 ratings at 4.5; the plug junction is the usual wear point | 4 / 5 |
| Compatibility & Ease of Use — plug-and-play on USB-C phones, tablets and PCs; in-line remote and mic work | 4.5 / 5 |
| Overall | 4.2 / 5 · Would Buy |
Each aspect is scored from 1 to 5. The overall score is the average of the five, shown to one decimal place. Verdict bands: 4.5–5.0 Hell Yeah, 3.5–4.4 Would Buy, 2.5–3.4 Average, 1.0–2.4 Trash.
| Brand / line | UGREEN — USB-C to 3.5mm HiFi DAC adapter |
| Chip | Built-in DAC and headphone amplifier (not a passive adapter) (UGREEN) |
| Resolution | Up to 24-bit / 96kHz, USB Audio Class 2.0 — above CD quality (UGREEN) |
| Controls | Supports in-line play/pause, track, volume and microphone on compatible headsets (UGREEN) |
| Housing / cable | Aluminium-alloy housing; nylon-braided cable (UGREEN) |
| Compatibility | USB-C phones, tablets and PCs (iPhone 15 and later, Galaxy, Pixel, iPad, Windows) |
| Power | Draws power from the device; no separate supply |
| Warranty | UGREEN limited warranty; exact term not printed on this listing (UGREEN) |
| ASIN | B082WG5VTK |
| Manufacturer | UGREEN |
Figures marked “UGREEN” are the manufacturer’s published claims. “N/A” means the value is not listed on the Amazon listing or the UGREEN product page.
It has an actual DAC and headphone amplifier inside, rather than passive wiring. That means it works on phones that dropped analogue-over-USB-C support, it is not at the mercy of the phone’s own audio circuitry, and the in-line controls and microphone reliably work.
Yes. It works with iPhone 15 and later, as well as Galaxy, Pixel and other USB-C phones, USB-C iPads and Windows PCs.
For normal consumer headphones and earbuds, yes. For demanding high-impedance audiophile headphones it does not have the power — you would want a dedicated portable DAC/amp.
Not with this adapter. It has no charging pass-through. A 2-in-1 adapter adds that, at the cost of reliability.
Yes, on compatible headsets — which is where many cheaper dongles fail. Music plays but the mic does not; this one handles both.
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Sources: Amazon product listing (ASIN B082WG5VTK), read Aug 28, 2026 · UGREEN USB-C to 3.5mm HiFi DAC adapter product pages for the DAC chip, resolution and control support · independent reviews (Gaming PC Guru, BestViewsReviews). Figures attributed to UGREEN are the manufacturer’s published claims; the rating, price and buyer feedback are from the live Amazon listing on the date shown.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Tiny Tech Box earns from qualifying purchases. Recommendations are based on our own research and scoring, described in full on our How We Score page.