House of Marley Smile Jamaica USB-C review: a solid set of eco-friendly wired buds | Tech Radar

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I tested House of Marley’s new cheap wired earbuds and they exceeded my expectations in several key ways — but they're not the best fit for everyone

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The House of Marley Smile Jamaica USB-C are a very solid pair of in-ears with a sustainable, eye-catching design, an enticing low price, and steady sound quality. Bass output isn’t the most refined, and you won’t experience brilliantly separated vocals or anything, but for the price, they’re well-worth considering.

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In 1976, Bob Marley & The Wailers released Smile Jamaica, an upbeat reggae tune bursting with soul and positivity. And the House of Marley Smile Jamaica USB-C earbuds are aiming to replicate those qualities, boasting a vivid design, and apparently “vibrant sound”.

But just how good are these wired USB-C earbuds? Well, at

To begin with, I have to talk about the design of these wired in-ears. As soon as I took the Smile Jamaica out of the box, I was struck by their unique, enticing build. They’re made of a few materials, including recyclable aluminum, renewed Pe T, and bamboo. Not only does this blend look fantastic, but it’s a lot more sustainable than a huge proportion of the competition — even some of the best wired earbuds.

I really liked the Brass variant that I tested out, but you can also grab these in Copper, Signature Black, or even Rasta (a celebration of red, gold and green, with green ear tips, yellow branding and a cable that incorporates all three colors). Pretty cool.

The braided wires are pretty well-built, and I never experienced excessive cable noise when using the Smile Jamaica USB-C on the go. They’re also tangle-resistant, so I didn’t get a horrible wiry mess every time I retrieved the buds from my pocket. The inclusion of a USB-C connector also means you can connect these buds to your smart phone or just about any modern device, which is incredibly practical — no pairing, no charging, just plug and play.

If I was to be critical, I’d argue that there could’ve been more ear tip size options in the box — you only get one additional pair. This way there could’ve been more options for people with larger or smaller ears — although as someone with aggressively medium-sized ones, this wasn’t an issue for me. There’s also no carry case, but they should be safe in a pocket or small bag regardless.

The ear tips that do come in the box are fairly comfortable, though, and they passively block noise to decent effect. Don’t get me wrong, you’re not going to experience the noise-crushing effects that ANC will provide on the best wireless earbuds, but when listening to music in the office, sounds like typing and chatter were dulled relatively well.

One feature that’s missing, however, is volume controls. The in-line remote skips on these, meaning I had to remove my phone to alter loudness on the go, something that could be a tad inconvenient. According to the instructions booklet, some of the commands — bound to a single button on the controller — are also restricted to i Phone only, which was no good for a Samsung-owner like me.

Still, the in-line microphone is actually pretty decent, and when making phone calls, various people reported that my speech was clear and easy to decipher. When making a recording, I experienced a bit of feedback and a bit of sibilance, but I was pleased with the mic at this price-point.

House of Marley Smile Jamaica USB-C (Black) at Amazon for $19.99

Anyway, I know what you’re really here for. You want to know how these sound, right? Well then, I suppose I’ll indulge you.

It only feels right to start with a tune from Bob Marley & The Wailers, so I gave Jamming a spin, and the Smile Jamaica buds performed pretty well. Subtle percussive elements were well balanced in the mix, and had an impressive sense of space, and I never experienced any harshness or tinniness — even when listening at higher volumes. However, the bass sounded a little bloated at certain moments and Marley’s vocals lacked as much definition in the mix as I’d like, resulting in a fairly middling listening experience.

This proved to be a bit of a theme with these earbuds, as the low-end seemed as if it lacked refinement across a number of tracks. In Black Eye by Allie X, bass was a tad bloated once more, and was missing the agility I’ve heard from other budget in-ears. Given that bass is pretty prominent on these buds, I just wish it had a bit more punch and precision. Still, vocals remained clear enough in the mix, and energetic percussion came through with commendable expression. But if you’re expecting the most refined bass ever, you may find the Smile Jamaica to be a tad heavy-handed.

I was more impressed when tuning into Asama by Yuta Orisaka — a laid-back record that blends Japanese folk with reggae tones. Here, I found vocals to be pleasantly weighted alongside relaxed electric guitars and rhythmic percussion, and more subtle keys glided elegantly in the backdrop. Sure, you’re not going to get meticulous instrument separation or the most intricate detailing from a pair of ultra-cheap buds like this, but for the price, they do deliver a satisfying sound, all things considered.

At the end of it all, would I recommend the House of Marley Smile Jamaica USB-C? Here’s the thing: it depends on your budget. If you want some extremely cheap wired buds that sound totally serviceable but won’t blow you away, then yes. On top of their adequate audio, they are well-built, have a decent mic, and tangle-free cable, ensuring good bang for your buck.

However, if you can spend a little more, then you can get big returns. A model like the Sennheiser CX 80U will deliver considerably better sound, with much-improved detailing and balance across the frequency range.

Want a bit more finesse and grace? Something like the Sennheiser is for you — but for stable and dependable sound on a budget, the Smile Jamaica USB-C aren’t a half-bad option.

House of Marley Smile Jamaica USB-C review: price & release date

The House of Marley Smile Jamaica USB-C released in September 2025, about 13 years after the original 3.5mm version debuted. They have a list price of

House of Marley Smile Jamaica USB-C review: specs

Should I buy the House of Marley Smile Jamaica USB-C?

Lacking in-line controller, but solid passive noise isolation and steady mic with convenience of USB-C.

Lacking in-line controller, but solid passive noise isolation and steady mic with convenience of USB-C.

Not the most refined bass or defined vocals, but audio is generally clear and decently expressive.

Not the most refined bass or defined vocals, but audio is generally clear and decently expressive.

Sustainable build, tangle-free wire, eye-catching color options, could have more ear tips.

Sustainable build, tangle-free wire, eye-catching color options, could have more ear tips.

Very cheap, with an admirable design and solid sound.

Very cheap, with an admirable design and solid sound.

You want solid all-round quality but you’re on a budget The Smile Jamaica USB-C are good all-rounders, with decent audio quality, serviceable mic quality, and a neat design. Are they going to blow your socks off? No. But for less than $20 / £15, they give you just about everything you need from a pair of wired earbuds.

You value sustainable tech Kudos to House of Marley for making a sustainable piece of tech, something that we always like to see here at Tech Radar. The Smile Jamaica USB-C are made of bamboo, recycled Pe T, and recyclable aluminum, making them a more sustainable pick than a lot of cheap rivals.

You want premium sound quality The Smile Jamaica USB-C sound solid considering their ultra-low price, but some aspects — like their imperfect bass output, mean that you’re not getting the best audio ever. If you want premium sound without splashing out, the Sennheiser CX 80U are the easiest recommendation I could give.

You want ultimate convenience While these earbuds don’t need to be paired or anything, they could be more convenient in-use with one small addition: volume controls. A lot of cheaper rivals have this, and the omission meant that I had to remove my phone from my pocket to crank loudness up or dial it down.

House of Marley Smile Jamaica USB-C review: also consider

Sennheiser CX 80U These are some of my favorite budget-friendly wired earbuds for two key reasons: great sound, and gorgeous looks. The Sennheiser CX 80U are excellent all-rounders, and although they’re a bit pricier than the Smile Jamaica USB-C, the increase in quality you’ll experience — at least sonically speaking — is significant. Read my full Sennheiser CX 80U review.

Apple Ear Pods USB-C If you prefer more of an open in-ear feel, then I’d like to point you in the direction of the Ear Pods USB-C. Yes, they’re from Apple, but surprisingly, these buds are extremely cheap, coming in at a similar price-point to the Smile Jamaica USB-C. With top-drawer modern looks and a sleek controller, there’s a lot to like about these — but their average sound and tendency to leak audio may put some off. Read my full Apple Ear Pods USB-C review.

How I tested the House of Marley Smile Jamaica USB-C

I spent many days (rolling into weeks, actually) testing out the House of Marley Smile Jamaica USB-C earbuds, during which time I took them just about everywhere with me, to analyze passive noise isolation and convenience among other things.

When listening to music, I typically streamed tracks over Tidal using the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. I started out by sifting through the Tech Radar testing playlist, which features tunes from a wide variety of genres, but I also made sure to listen to hours worth of songs from my personal library.

More generally, I’ve tested tons of audio gear during my time with Tech Radar, including a whole host of wired and USB-C earbuds. I had a few rival models at hand to compare the Smile Jamaica USB-C against, including the Sennheiser and Apple rivals mentioned in the ‘Also consider’ section.

Harry is a Senior Reviews Writer for Tech Radar. He reviews everything from party speakers to wall chargers and has a particular interest in the worlds of audio and gaming. Harry has a background in business tech journalism, particularly around the telecoms industry.

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Key Takeaways

• News, deals, reviews, guides and more on the newest computing gadgets

• Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more

• Unlock and manage exclusive Techradar member rewards

• I tested House of Marley’s new cheap wired earbuds and they exceeded my expectations in several key ways — but they're not the best fit for everyone

• When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission