Understood. Wires are a pain, aren’t they? However, plug-in headphones have many benefits. Let’s count the ways:
- Headphones that plug into the jack or charging port of your phone, computer, or other device are usually cheaper than comparable wireless models.
- Unlike wireless headphones, plug-in models don’t have batteries that are destined to wear out. If you forget to charge it, you won’t be stranded.
- You don’t have to wonder why Bluetooth won’t connect flipping. You won’t be the sad person who loses half of a pair and wears a single earphone forever.
My mission is to make wired headphones great again. It starts with kicking the plug-in headphone fan out of the closet. And I’m pushing electronics manufacturers to create better wired options. You have to make a real choice.
My wish may come true as Apple recently introduced a cell phone charging technology called USB-C. More details later.
My love for wired headphones shows our admiration for the finer points of older technology. Consider that one of the hottest tech gadgets is a $139 phone case that gives your iPhone a Blackberry-style keyboard. teens (and adult) I love my flip phone.
“Simple and satisfying”
When I got on a video call with Jason Ruthman, Director of Product Management at headphone company Skullcandy, I quickly noticed that he was using plug-in headphones. (It was the Skullcandy Set headphones.)
Luthman works for a headphone company, so he uses many models. But he always carries wired headphones with him. He often makes video calls for hours on end, and his wireless headphones don’t last that long without charging.
“There are still simple and satisfying uses for wires,” Ruthman says.
Although sales of Skullcandy’s wired headphones have declined, Ruthman said the company still sells “millions” of wired earbuds each year.
Most of them are $10 earbuds that people pick up at big-box stores like Walmart and airport stores. The starting price for Skullcandy’s basic wireless headphones is about double or triple that of wired earbuds.
He said wired headphones are still an option for many parents who buy headphones for their children, for picky audiophiles, and even for video game enthusiasts who can’t stand the short delays of wireless beam audio.
And Ruthman said Skullcandy is paying attention to Gen Z’s desire for old-school technology like wired headphones. Instagram account, wired it girlsHere are some cool celebrities wearing plug-in headphones.
(Keep reading below for recommended wired headphone models and their drawbacks.)
Why wireless headphones win
I thought this was Apple’s fault.
When the company removed the headphone jack from iPhones starting in 2016, other smartphone manufacturers followed suit. The lack of a jack makes it inconvenient to use standard plug-in headphones with your phone. (Is required adapter, also known as a “dongle”. Apple will sell it to you for $9. )
But by the time Apple’s Jack murders occurred, wireless headphones had already overtaken plug-in headphones in dollar sales, said Ben Arnold, a consumer electronics analyst at industry research firm Circana.
And last year, Circana says Americans bought 39 million pairs of wired headphones, compared to 81 million wireless headphones.
It’s not all about our personal preference for not using wires. Companies also like to sell wireless.
Arnold said manufacturers typically make a lot of money on wireless headphones. And companies like Apple and Samsung are now closely aligning their wireless headphone designs with their smartphones, encouraging you to stick with their product families.
I also believed that wired headphones had better sound quality, including voice and video calls, because the microphone was closer to my mouth than wireless headphones.
Ville Ukonaho of technology analysis firm TechInsights said music can sound richer with wired headphones than wireless. However, Ukonaho says that high-quality wireless headphones are just as good as wired models when it comes to picking up your voice.
Could there be a wired renaissance?
My favorite variety of wired headphones plug into the USB-C charging port of my Android phone. However, many companies do not sell this type. (Skullcandy does.that’s right apple. )
I can’t find any USB-C headphones that I like, so I use Apple headphones from years ago. white wired headphones Comes with a dongle that connects to your phone’s charging port. Dongles make me sad.
My heart leapt when Ruthman said he believed more companies could start making USB-C wired headphones.
That’s because for the first time, USB-C is now the standard for all new iPhone models. Most Android smartphones already have it. This creates a huge potential market for companies selling USB-C headphones.
To be honest, I haven’t provided solid evidence that wired headphones are better. This may primarily be my resentment of feeling like I have to use wireless headphones.
Let me ask you this: If you love wireless headphones, but also have a plug-in backup pair, maybe wireless headphones aren’t as convenient as you think?
Convinced that wired headphones are great? Here’s a pair we recommend consumer report or wire cutter. (You may need to subscribe to read more of these reviews.)
The Washington Post won’t make money by buying this.
These pairs all have traditional headphone jacks, so you’ll need an adapter to connect them to your smartphone. lightning or USB-C charging port.
That’s not fun. However, keep in mind that wireless headphones may not work or work well with all devices. For example, you may have trouble pairing your AirPods with your Windows PC, or some audio features may not work.
If you’re interested in high-end wired (or wireless) headphones, it’s worth checking out previously owned models at trusted shops like: back marketwe scrutinize the reliability of used electronic equipment.
Headphone experts recommend against buying cheap wired earphones that can be purchased at drug stores or gas stations. They are often poorly made and don’t last long.
If you want to throw away your plug-in headphones, don’t throw them in the trash. Headphones contain materials that are harmful to the environment in landfills.
Leo Raudys, CEO of electronics recycling organization Call2Recycle, suggested taking your unwanted headphones to a recycler. best buy or staples Stores that recycle responsibly.
(Don’t throw your wireless headphones in the trash, either. Batteries are an environmental and fire hazard. List of delivery locations for products with rechargeable batteries. )