Key Points
- Wireless earbuds are a discreet and portable option for audio entertainment, suitable for various activities and lifestyles.
- Earbuds are more comfortable to wear for long periods compared to larger headphones, thanks to their lightweight design and customizable silicone tips.
- Earbuds are generally more affordable than larger headphones, offering good quality at a lower price point.
- Wireless earbuds provide excellent noise isolation and cancellation, rivaling the performance of regular-sized headphones.
- Wireless earbuds come in a wide range of styles, colors, and designs, allowing for personalization and fashion choices.
When it comes to finding the right pair of headphones to listen to music or movies, there are really only two choices.
The first is a headphone that wraps around your head and provides either on-ear or over-ear cups that help envelope you in sound. The second choice is an earbud, which can fit neatly in your ear without wires and are much smaller, making them easy to carry around you with in a pocket or small bag.
Between their audio quality and convenience, a pair of wireless earbuds can fulfill all of your audio needs without making many sacrifices over larger headphones.
Let’s take a look at 7 reasons you should buy a pair of wireless earbuds today.
What Are Wireless Earbuds?
For many people, a wireless earbud is a type of headphone that goes into your ears and rests just outside the ear canal. These types of headphones can be used for just about any type of audio entertainment you can think of, whether it’s movies, music, video games, or even hands-free communication through your smartphone.
Earbuds can be available as a wired option but wireless has grown far more popular as the flexibility of not having any cords is hard to ignore. The best part about earbuds is that they are typically a one-size-fits-all piece of technology, so there is a pair out there for every need and lifestyle.
Reason #1: Small Size
If there is one big reason why earbuds should be your next audio device, it’s their discrete size. Earbuds can easily come out of your ears, slip into their case or your pocket when they are not in use and you don’t have to worry about creating space for them in a bag.
Whether you are looking at AirPods or the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, earbuds are small enough that they can easily disappear when you do not want to use them.
Having earbuds as your headphone choice also makes it easy to carry them with you on a regular basis. In the case of bigger over-the-ear headphones, you might need to carry an extra bag in order to make sure you have space. If you are someone who prefers less bulk or just doesn’t want to carry an extra bag every day, earbuds are definitely for you.
Reason #2: They’re More Comfortable
One of the biggest concerns for anyone looking to buy a larger pair of headphones that wrap around your head is comfort. Even as manufacturers attempt to use soft leather that wraps around your head and memory foam that bumps up against your ears, comfort can still be an issue.
The biggest issue with larger headphones is that fatigue is definitely a concern depending on how long you are wearing these bulkier headphones.
Fortunately, this same consideration doesn’t exist with an earbud in that they do not lead to situations where fatigue is a real possibility. Instead, many earbuds provide multiple silicone tips that can help you find the right fit for your ears, so you can wear them for hours on end without feeling as if you need to constantly pull them out.
Not to mention that earbuds are simply smaller and therefore lighter, which also adds to the idea they will be more comfortable to wear over a long period. Additionally, earbuds’ silicone tips can often be swapped with foam tips that are more comfortable and help create a better seal around the ear.
Reason #3: Better Prices
When comparing earbuds to larger-sized headphones, there is no doubt they can both exist on different sides of the price spectrum. However, earbuds tend to be less expensive overall as they require less material and can only include so much technology because of their size.
In this case, earbud size is yet another factor that works in your favor as the limited space inside each earbud only enables drivers to be so large, which helps keep their overall cost down.
Realistically, it’s easy to find a good pair of earbuds as low as $30-$40 and as high as $300. On the other hand, it’s not out of the realm of possibility for regular-sized headphones to cost more than double the higher-end price of earbuds.
More importantly, in the case of earbuds, inexpensive doesn’t have to mean poor quality. Entry-level earbuds are a perfectly good option for general music and podcast listening without breaking the bank.
Reason #4: Noise Isolation/Cancelation
For far too long, there has been an idea that if you want the best noise cancelation/isolation around, you need to look at regular-sized headphones. This could not be farther from the truth as headphones like the AirPods Pro or Sony WF-1000XM4 provide outstanding noise cancelation that rivals other headphones on the market.
As earbuds can fit directly into your ears with adjustable silicone tips, you can create a fantastic seal that helps create noise isolation with just the tips and then with the included technology within each earbud.
Better yet, swapping out silicone for third-party foam tips with many earbud models creates an even more comfortable seal to help block ambient noise. Rest assured when you are searching for an earbud model, every brand will make it abundantly clear they offer active noise cancelation. This should make it super easy to tell if the earbuds you are considering are going to be able to truly immerse you in whatever you are listening to, whether it’s a movie, podcast, or a phone call.
©photoDiod/Shutterstock.com
Reason #5: Great Design Options
No matter your fashion sense, if you opt to go with a pair of wireless earbuds, you are going to have your choice of styles and colors. Wireless earbuds are available in all-white from the likes of Apple as well as a host of colors from other manufacturers like JBL, Sony, Anker, Bose, and Beats.
While color and design won’t influence overall performance, there is no doubt style plays a role, and for good reason.
If you want a minimalistic design for your earbuds, rest assured you are going to be able to find exactly what you need as well. Should you prefer a more industrial-looking all-black set of wireless earbuds, you’re also going to have a deep set of choices in this category.
Reason #6: Mobility Matters
As is the case with all wireless earbuds, you don’t ever have to worry about cords getting in your way or getting caught on a bag, shirt, or pocket. Corded earbuds certainly have their own set of advantages, but the days of corded products being popular are behind us as wireless earbuds are the future.
The ability to never have to worry about whether your device has a headphone jack is one less factor to consider before your next smartphone, tablet, or MP3 player purchase. Even your ebook reader has Bluetooth for listening to audiobooks, which is just one more reason to skip out on corded earbuds forever.
Reason #7: Charging Case
In an effort to maximize battery life these days, almost every pair of new wireless earbuds will include a charging case. By including this extra piece of technology, you are able to often triple or even quadruple the available battery life of your headphones.
Not only do you have around 8-10 hours of battery life for the most popular earbuds, but the charging case can often exceed 23-40 hours of additional battery life. This makes for a total of potentially forty hours without charging, which is a fantastic number no matter if you are traveling for a day or for a week and a place to charge might be far and few between.
Additionally, the charging case provides an easy place to store and protect your wireless earbuds. Placing wireless earbuds into their case makes it super easy to drop them into a bag and not worry about them getting misplaced. The last thing you want is to dig through a bag and try and find two separate earbuds, so having a charging case is the best way to avoid lost items.
Reason #8: Easy to Use When Working Out
One of the best ways to work out is with heart-pumping music, and doing so with regular-sized headphones can make things rather difficult. Wireless earbuds are the perfect solution for anyone wanting to listen to music while running, jogging, walking, biking, hiking, or even mountain climbing.
The size of wireless earbuds plus their water and sweat resistance is standard on many models, which makes them ideal for use during physical activity.
This reason also goes back to the idea of mobility matters as you don’t want to bother with cords while you are running as they can get in the way and become a distraction. Along with running, lifting weights and biking are two additional exercises where cords can easily become a headache, so going wireless with earbuds allows complete freedom of movement.
Best Wireless Earbuds
Best Overall: Sony WF-1000XM4
- IPX4 water- and sweat-resistance
- Up to 8 hours of battery life on a single charge
- Crystal-clear call quality with four built-in microphones
- Pair with two Bluetooth devices at the same time
Hands down the best earbuds available today, the Sony WF-1000XM4 wireless earbuds are a best-in-class experience, for a price.
Running under $300 puts the Sony’s near the top end of the earbud price spectrum, but for the price you get plenty of features. Highlights include an Integrated V1 Processor that enables category-leading noise cancelation. The same processor also helps produce some of the best sound quality around with excellent highs, mids, and lows. Call quality is equally strong with a built-in beamforming microphone to provide crystal-clear voice quality, regardless of the ambient noise around you.
The Sony’s are great for multiple activity types with their included IPX4 water resistance, so you can use them for jogging just as well as biking without worrying about sweat. Plus, battery life won’t be a concern as Sony’s 8 hours of battery life with noise cancelation turned on can quickly turn into 24 hours of battery life with the charging case.
Best for iPhones: AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)
- Apple-designed H2 chip
- Low-distortion, custom-built driver
- Up to 2x more Active Noise Cancellation than the previous AirPods Pro
- Personalized spatial audio
- Up to 6 hours of battery life or 30 hours with the charging case
For the Apple fans in the room, there is no better set of earbuds around than the Apple AirPods Pro 2nd generation.
Using the Apple-designed H2 chip, connecting the AirPods Pro to your iPhone (or iPad) is about as seamless as it gets. Apple has delivered the ideal connection solution with you only needing to open the charging case near your iPhone and the AirPods instantly connect.
Another strong highlight is the 2nd generation of AirPods Pro delivers up to 2x more active noise canceling than the previous model while still improving battery life. The noise cancelation feature also benefits from four available silicone tip sizes to help find the ideal fit.
The AirPods Pro 2nd generation provides up to six hours of battery life on a single charge, 33% more battery than the previous model. You can up your total battery life to right around 30 hours with the included charging case. Plus, the case can be charged using an Apple Watch or MagSafe charger, making it easy to carry one less charger around when you’re on the go.
Best Budget Option: JBL Go Air Pop
- Earbuds offer 8 hours of battery life on a single charge
- Charging case provides an additional 24 hours of battery life
- Earbuds can be used independently or together
- Built-in microphone enhances call clarity
- Sound profiles are adjustible
Don’t let the budget price tag of the JBL Go Air Pop fool you, these headphones can deliver big sound without a big price.
Available in eight different colors, the Go Air Pops immediately stand out thanks to their 8 hours of battery life and 24 hours of additional battery through the charging case. A total of 32 hours of battery helps make them among the better options for anyone who values battery life above all else.
The earbuds themselves, regardless of which color you choose, are able to fit in a case that is smaller than a credit card so they can easily fit in your pocket. Plus, you can choose from one of three different silicone tips to find the right amount of ambient noise blockage and comfort.
Another hint the price of the Go Air Pops is to be ignored is the inclusion of an app-less equalizer that is adjusted directly on the earbuds themselves. You can choose from balanced or bass-heavy modes using the built-in equalizer to find the right sound for you. In addition, the Go Air Pops make it easy to adjust volume, play/pause, answer calls, or even activate your smartphone’s voice assistant with the touch of a button.
Summary Table
| Reason | Description |
|---|---|
| The Size | Earbuds are small, discrete, and easy to carry around. They can easily fit in a pocket or small bag. |
| More Comfortable | Earbuds are more comfortable to wear over a long period of time. They come with multiple silicone tips for a better fit and can be swapped with foam tips for better comfort. |
| Price | Earbuds are generally less expensive than larger-sized headphones. They offer good quality sound at a lower price. |
| Noise Isolation/Cancelation | Earbuds offer excellent noise cancelation and isolation. They fit directly into your ears and create a seal that blocks ambient noise. |
| Design Options | Wireless earbuds come in a variety of styles and colors to suit your fashion sense. |
| Mobility Matters | Wireless earbuds offer the convenience of not having to deal with cords. They are ideal for use during physical activities. |
| Charging Case | Most wireless earbuds come with a charging case that extends the battery life and provides a convenient place to store and protect the earbuds. |
| Working Out | Wireless earbuds are perfect for listening to music while working out. They are water and sweat resistant and do not get in the way during physical activities. |
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Marykor/Shutterstock.com.
