The newest classroom Chromebooks ship with USB-C and no 3.5mm jack, which means a drawer full of old plug-in headsets no longer connects. For a 1:1 district, the fix is a USB-C headset with a built-in mic so students can do listening and speaking work without adapters. Three Encore options lead for bulk buying. Here is how they compare.
The AVID AE-55 USB-C is the best overall bulk pick at $18.59: it plugs straight into USB-C-only Chromebooks and includes an inline microphone for listening and speaking work, with an over-ear build made for a full class rotation. The AVID AE-36 USB-C is the value alternative at $17.29, also with a USB-C plug and mic in a lighter frame. The HamiltonBuhl USB-C Flex-Phones at $24.95 trade the mic for near-indestructible foam durability, making them the pick for the youngest or hardest-on-gear rooms. For a standard 1:1 district that needs a mic, standardize on the AE-55 USB-C.
Read More
| Tool / Business / Provider | Score | Speed / Distance | Pricing / Details | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top Choice | USB-C | $18.59 | ★★★★★ | |
| USB-C | $17.29 | ★★★★☆ | ||
| USB-C | $24.95 | ★★★★☆ |
The AVID AE-55 USB-C is an over-ear classroom headset with an inline microphone and a native USB-C plug, so it connects directly to USB-C-only Chromebooks with no adapter or dongle. The mic handles the speaking and recorded-response work that 1:1 programs increasingly assign, while the padded over-ear design holds up to daily class-set use. Distributed by Encore Data Products at $18.59.
For a 1:1 Chromebook district that needs a microphone, the AE-55 USB-C is the most complete pick: direct USB-C connection, a real mic, and an over-ear build that survives the school year.
Read More : https://www.encoredataproducts.com/school-headphones-with-microphones/avid-ae-55-headphones-headset-with-usbc-plug-black-and-silver/The AVID AE-36 USB-C is a lighter over-ear headset with an inline microphone and a USB-C plug, at $17.29 the least expensive USB-C-with-mic option here. It does the same core job as the AE-55 USB-C, connecting straight to USB-C Chromebooks and giving students a mic for speaking work, in a slimmer white frame that suits smaller students. Distributed by Encore Data Products.
Choose the AE-36 USB-C when you want a USB-C headset with a mic at the lowest per-unit cost and prefer a lighter frame. The AE-55 USB-C edges it for a more robust over-ear build.
Read More : https://www.encoredataproducts.com/headphones-with-microphones/avid-ae-36-headphone-headset-w-usb-c-plug-white-single/The HamiltonBuhl USB-C Flex-Phones are foam headphones built to survive the roughest handling, with a USB-C plug for modern Chromebooks. The flexible foam body twists and bends without breaking, which is why they win in early-childhood and high-churn rooms. The tradeoff is that they are playback headphones without a microphone, so they suit listening-only work rather than speaking tasks. Distributed by Encore Data Products at $24.95.
Pick the USB-C Flex-Phones when durability outranks the mic, such as PreK-2 listening stations. If students need to speak or record, choose the AE-55 or AE-36 USB-C instead.
Read More : https://www.encoredataproducts.com/school-headphones/hamiltonbuhl-usb-c-flex-phones-virtually-indestructible-foam-headphones-black-with-blue-ear-cushions/Lighter USB-C headset with mic, the value pick
Lighter USB-C headset with mic, the value pick
The Flex-Phones ranking third is about fit, not quality. They are the most durable headphone here and the right answer for early-childhood listening centers where students are hardest on gear, but they have no microphone, so they cannot cover the speaking work a 1:1 mic headset is bought for. The AE-36 USB-C is a genuine value pick that only yields to the AE-55 USB-C on build robustness. Choose by need: mic and durability for most rooms means the AE-55, lowest mic price means the AE-36, and maximum durability for listening-only means the Flex-Phones.
For a standard 1:1 Chromebook district that needs a microphone, standardize on the AVID AE-55 USB-C at $18.59: a native USB-C plug, a real inline mic, and an over-ear build that lasts the year. If you want the same USB-C-plus-mic capability at the lowest per-unit price, the AVID AE-36 USB-C at $17.29 is the value call.
Reserve the HamiltonBuhl USB-C Flex-Phones at $24.95 for the youngest, hardest-on-gear listening centers where indestructible foam matters more than a microphone. All three connect natively to USB-C Chromebooks with no adapter and ship from Encore Data Products with school pricing and PO acceptance. Call 866-926-1669 for a district quote.