Consider us old-fashioned, but we’ll choose a pair of classic, wired headphones over wireless options any day of the week.
Earbuds and other wireless earphone options might be one of the most popular categories of tech accessories, but give us the choice, and we’ll always pick the option that has a wire and physically plugs into something. They’re simply more convenient, and in our experience, they offer a better experience, too. If you’re not yet sold, let us break things down for you.
They’re Harder to Lose Track Of
As avid wired headphone users, we try not to be a little smug every time friends and family complain about losing their earbuds. Sometimes, they’ll just fall out of an ear without the wearer noticing, and they’re also far too easy to leave in a random spot and forget about completely. Not only are there two individual earbuds to keep track off, but you can also lose the entire charging case (not to mention the wires to charge it). With wired headphones, whether you prefer bulkier over-the-ear options or more minimalist earphones, they’re physically connected to your device, making them hard to lose. Even if you store them in a bag, there are wires to contend with. Sure, wires can get tangled from time to time, but it never takes more than a minute to straighten them out and start using them.
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There’s No Irritating Pairing Process
It feels like whenever we try to use a pair of wireless earbuds, we have to fight with our Bluetooth settings first. They’re notoriously uncooperative, even if you follow the included directions to a T, and oftentimes, the name of the device that appears on your phone differs from what’s stated in the manual. With wireless headphones, you have to wait for them to sync, and sometimes, your phone will arbitrarily forget you ever paired the headphones in the first place and you have to go through the process all over again. Do it wrong, and you might awkwardly blast music from your phone in public at an inopportune moment, or set off a nearby speaker when you least want to. We also get sick and tired of that weird voice saying “power on” and “connected” with every use.
With wired headphones, there’s no process whatsoever. Just plug and go.
You Never Have to Charge Them
We have enough to worry about every day without thinking about whether our earbuds are properly charged for the occasion. The typical set-up—a charging case, plus two individual earbuds—actually gives us two completely distinct systems to charge up and be aware of. When we use them, the batteries always seem to be dying at the worst times, and the charging case rarely holds a consistent charge, anyway.
We don’t want to suddenly run out of juice when we’re bored and need our music most—and most of all, we hate being interrupted with jarring beeping sounds and a bizarre voice telling us the battery is low.
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They’re More Reliable
Even when you’ve done everything right, with your device paired properly and the battery fully charged, Bluetooth headphones can be weirdly unreliable. Depending on your environment, other electronics or even the architecture and interfere with your earbuds and make them suddenly disconnect or stutter. It’s extra annoying because it can be so unpredictable, and is fully avoidable if you’re not relying on that tech for your sound.
They’re Generally Cheaper (and More Durable)
Top-of-the-line wireless headphones can cost a pretty penny these days. While that’s also the case with the wired versions, we find that wired headphones are a lot more durable and long-lasting, and we’ve been using the same ones for years and years without issue. Earbuds, in particular, can be finicky. Just a little dampness from sweat or humid weather can make them malfunction, and the same goes for the charging cases. Even if you’re still under warranty, getting a replacement can be inconvenient and time-consuming. We’d rather not fuss and stick with the option that’s going to last us forever.
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They’re Not Weirdly Sensitive
The touch controls on wireless earbuds are there for convenience, but that rarely tends to be the case. Maybe others have mastered the presses for pausing and playing music and skipping between tracks, but the controls never seem to work for us. In fact, they only cause us hassle. They’re weirdly sensitive, and it’s far too easy to accidentally press a button for too long and initiate a phone call with a random contact, which can be positively mortifying if your phone chooses the wrong person. We’ve never had that issue with any kind of wired headphone.
They Show Off Way More Style and Personalization
Sure, earbud can come in different colors and designs, but they’re usually small enough that they’re not really a fashion statement. That’s not the case when you’re wearing over-ear headphones, which come in countless styles, colors and patterns and are crafted for aesthetics just as much as quality. A lot more thought can go into selecting a pair that represents you and complements your everyday looks. Even using wired iPhone headphones, like we do, makes a statement because you have to buy a specialized set that plugs into the charging port.
They Sound Better
We can’t be the only ones who vastly prefer the sound quality with wired headphones over wireless. With a physical connection the audio is clearer and crisper, with less fuzzy interference. That’s not super important when we’re scrolling through TikToks, but essential when we’re listening to our favorite artists and want to give them the focus and respect they deserve. Plus, there’s no delay or lag with wireless headphones, which can make or break the experience when you’re gaming and time is of the essence.
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