Are Apple’s wired EarPods still worth buying?

AirPods are turning 10 this year and they’re everywhere now. They have also evolved over time; Modern AirPods include noise cancellation, health sensors, and even built-in live translation. If people ever had doubts about wireless earbuds, that’s largely a concern of the past, but perhaps not completely.

It turns out there’s a niche group of people who still buy wired headphones, like EarPods. Remember Apple’s wired headphones that came with an iPhone? While their current usage may seem like nothing more than nostalgia, there are several reasons to prefer EarPods over AirPods.

Comparing AirPods and EarPods isn’t as simple as “wired or wireless.” AirPods are packed with modern features that take them far beyond just an audio transmission channel. Take the AirPods Pro 3, for example, which can track your heart rate during a workout. There is also Spatial Audio and all the specs that make them sound great. In comparison, EarPods are just regular headphones. They lack any fancy gestures or voice commands.

Still, they may be better than AirPods in some ways. EarPods require no maintenance. No battery means no charge, so they’re ready when you are. Compare that to leaving your AirPods without a charger for a few days and being greeted by a red battery icon. Having a cord also means no Bluetooth-related pairing issues. You also don’t have to worry about re-pairing if you want to share your earbuds with a friend.

The built-in EarPods microphone also provides better voice quality. Although Apple has done a good job improving this aspect of AirPods, Bluetooth audio still doesn’t sound as good as wired audio. They even come in three connection types: 3.5mm, Lightning and USB-C. This makes EarPods compatible with a wide range of gadgets, and they’re cheap enough that you can buy separate pairs for different devices.

However, due to the lack of a headphone jack on modern iPhones, using the Lightning or USB-C port for EarPods means you can’t charge your phone while using your headphones. If this is a major problem for you, an adapter that splits the port in two is a simple solution, although it’s not as convenient to carry and connect to your phone.

There’s no denying that AirPods are better in many ways. Apple’s wired headphones won’t give you noise cancellation, which in itself is a compelling reason to choose AirPods. But sometimes you might prefer simplicity over high-end technology. Maybe you don’t want to bother charging your headphones, or maybe yours always tend to die during an important meeting. Times like this make it wise to keep wired headphones on hand.

Then there’s the price. The cheapest AirPods you can buy today are $129, and they’re not even the best. For $19, the EarPods can’t be beat. They’re not designed to be the best, but they cost a fraction of Apple’s wireless earbuds. Maybe you’d rather spend $19 on EarPods than $69 or more to replace your lost AirPod every six months. Or you can buy both and still have what the situation demands.