Apple's wired USB-C EarPods are only $19 and never need to be charged

Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 might be some of the best wireless ANC earbuds on the market, but they’re still susceptible to wireless Bluetooth issues and need to be charged. Although wireless earbuds and headphones are great, they aren’t the only way to listen to music. Not only are wired headphones still viable, but they’re back on an upswing. I’ve noticed more interest than ever.

I tested several different ones for PCMag and found one clear winner: Apple USB-C EarPods. They sound good, have a respectable microphone, and include a volume controller on the cable. Probably the best part is that they’re only $19—or less.

If you’re searching for a pair of wired earbuds, Apple’s are the best, no matter whether you use an iPhone or not. They work with any USB-C device. Here’s why you should consider picking up a pair.

The options for wired USB-C earbuds

To state the obvious, most phones and tablets don’t have headphone jacks anymore. So how are people plugging the earbuds into their devices? They’re using headphones and earbuds with a USB-C connector instead of the previous 3.5mm jack.

The biggest problem at the moment is that there just aren’t many USB-C earbuds to choose from. I’ve tried several different wired ones from Skullcandy, Belkin, and Amazon. These retail for under $30. Even if I wanted to spend more, there just aren’t many options.

The overarching theme I discovered was that most of them don’t sound good. They’re just cheap earbuds with a new type of connector. While Apple’s EarPods aren’t much different in being the same as the 3.5mm version, they do sound great for the price.

Directly comparing the EarPods to AirPods exposed how far Apple’s newest wireless earbuds have come. And frankly, if Apple ever wanted to sell higher-quality wired AirPods in the $59 to $79 range, I think they could sell a ton of them.

EarPods are worth considering beyond their sound and price

I think everyone should have a pair of Apple’s USB-C EarPods that they keep in their travel bag or in their car. The $20 price and sound quality are just too good not to have them as a backup.

Still, beyond the price and audio, there are a few other reasons to pick these over some others. Not all wired earbuds have an in-line volume and media controls. It’s easy to reach up and change the volume or skip tracks without grabbing your phone.

The EarPods also have a very solid microphone. One reason the microphone works better is that it’s closer to your mouth than most wireless earbuds, so it can pick up your voice better. I did some recording tests, and the EarPods sound pretty good.