Wired earbuds are trending again, and there are real reasons to switch

Wired earbuds are having a moment, and the case for them goes beyond fashion. How-To Geek published a piece arguing that a simple cord beats AirPods in five practical ways. The trend is being pushed along by celebrities such as Harry Styles, Zendaya and Bella Hadid, who have been spotted wearing wired earphones.

What changed

The article says some brands have already started releasing new wired products. Its main point is that wireless earbuds lose to wired ones on practicality, affordability and audio quality. These are the three things it calls most important in a good pair. The piece is one writer's opinion, but the numbers it cites are easy to check against your own habits.

The five reasons

• No charging. Wired earbuds draw power from your phone, so your phone battery is the only limit.
• Sound quality. Bluetooth compresses audio, while a wire can carry uncompressed, lossless sound.
• Less lag. Wired sets typically lag under 5 milliseconds, versus roughly 144 to 274 for AirPods.
• Works anywhere. Wired pairs fit nearly any device, including consoles and older gadgets without Bluetooth.
• Longer life. AirPods batteries are rated for 300 to 500 charge cycles, about two to three years.

The lag point matters most for gaming, playing music and editing video. For streaming a show on your phone, the article admits AirPods lag is unlikely to bother you. It also notes that AirPods Max can play lossless audio, but only when plugged in with a USB-C cable.

The catch

Wired has trade-offs. Many modern phones cannot charge and play audio through the same port without a splitter. If your phone lacks the right port, you will need an adapter. The writer says he would rather carry an adapter than keep another device charged, and notes that cheap adapters exist for most ports.

What to do

The practical moment to think about this is when your AirPods wear out. Because their batteries only last so many charge cycles, they eventually stop holding a useful charge. A wired pair has no battery to wear down, so the article says a good one will easily outlast AirPods if you take care of it. If you mostly listen on one phone and never need lag-free audio, wireless may still suit you. If you juggle several devices or hate charging things, a wired pair is worth a look.