Why wired earbuds are making a comeback
Last night I boarded the train and took a seat in a four-seater, diagonally across from a girl. With music in her ears, she was lost in her own world. What struck me immediately? Her wired earbuds. A little later I saw another one. And another one. Then I thought: excuse me... are wired earbuds back?
I happened to buy mine a few weeks ago out of pure panic from a vending machine at the university library, after I lost my AirPods somewhere between the street, my room, or my bag full of junk. I saw them as a temporary dip-solution. But by now, I've been wearing them myself for weeks.
From CEO to ChAOs
For years, wireless earbuds were the pinnacle of having life in order. No cables, no hassle, sleek little case, a tap on your ear and you suddenly felt like the CEO of your own life. Until that case is empty. Or your left earbud is gone. Or they suddenly won't connect while you're already in a hurry and tapping irritably. Maybe that's the moment when the old wire suddenly becomes very tempting again.
They get lost less quickly, don't need to be charged, and just work immediately. No bluetooth drama, no battery stress, no morning ruined by technology. Just plug in and go. Actually wonderful.
Gen Z loves a throwback
That old stuff is definitely getting a shine again. Just look at vinyl records, compact cameras, and flip phones. Everything that once seemed outdated suddenly gets a second life. I have the feeling that Gen Z knows how to make everything from the past (for other generations: nostalgia) cool again.
With wired earbuds, it's exactly the same. It has that old iPod feeling, a touch of 2008, but in a fun way. A visible cord along your jacket, a bit nonchalant. I quote my sister, also a Gen Z-er: “Guys with wired earbuds have aura.” Haha, living proof that such a cord even does something for your image.
The reassuring wire
There's also something else at play. Some people feel more comfortable with wired earbuds, simply because they don't emit a bluetooth signal. Important detail: according to studies, the radiation from wireless earbuds is extremely low and not harmful according to current safety standards. The biggest risk remains mainly a volume that's too loud.
Still, I understand that thought somewhere. Sometimes you just want to be a hundred percent sure that something does nothing, and then that old-fashioned wire suddenly feels surprisingly reassuring.
Are you not an earbud person and swear by a good headphone on your head? Something notable recently came up about that too. In recent research, concerning substances were found in many headphones and earbuds, such as BPA and other chemicals in plastics. And no, it wasn't just about vague unknown brands from far away. Names like Sony, Samsung, Bose, and JBL also came up.
No reason to scream and throw your headphones out the window, because research is still ongoing about the exact impact. But it does make people look a little more critically at what they wear in or on their heads for hours every day.
Back from the dead
Anyways, this article is not meant to scare you or to make you throw your AirPods into the canal immediately.
But to answer the question: why are wired earbuds making a comeback? Simple. They are affordable, get lost less quickly, don't need to be charged, work immediately, and give some people just a bit more peace of mind. Add a pinch of Gen Z nostalgia, an old school iPod vibe, and apparently also a bit of extra aura on top... and you have your answer.
Sometimes it's not the newest product that wins, but the product that works chill. And sometimes... there's a wire attached to that.
