Consider the price, the sound quality, the battery life, and more when buying
Because earbuds provide a personal sound experience, it can be tricky to know which ones to choose. This buying guide will help you decide what earbuds are best for you based on some general advice relating to your needs and lifestyle.
Earbuds are small headphones that you place inside your ear. They typically rest just inside the ear canal, although it’s useful to know the difference between earphones and earbuds—something where the line is much more blurred than it once was. Some people may prefer headphones, which go over your ears, but earbuds are useful when you’re more active or want to wear something lighter or more subtle.
Earbuds are available in wired and wireless form, with wired ones attached together (and sometimes to your phone or tablet) with a wire. Wireless ones are completely independent of each other and the device you’re using.
Wondering which wireless earbuds to buy? Any kind will provide you with private sound that others can’t hear, but it’s still useful to find the right type for your situation.
Earbuds can cost a little or a lot, with the choice of wireless and wired, also adding to your wealth of decisions. It’s useful to research the topic to find what is ideal for you.
Here are the five key things you should consider before deciding which earbuds to buy.
The range of prices for earbuds is vast. It’s possible to buy earbuds for $15, but you can also spend up to $300.
The more you spend, typically, the more features and better sound quality you gain. However, it’s down to your needs and budget as to whether you want to spend more or less. Here’s a quick overview of what your money is likely to gain you.
Price Range | What You Can Expect |
$15-$50 | You can listen to music privately. Sound quality is often quite weak. Don’t expect noise cancellation functionality or companion app support. Battery life can be short. Only really appealing if you rarely use earbuds. |
$50-$100 | These earbuds typically offer better sound quality and longer battery life, but they lack premium features like noise cancellation. |
$100-$200 | This is the sweet spot for most people. Sound quality is often great with excellent battery life, companion apps support, and ANC. Best for listeners who use their earbuds regularly. |
$200+ | The premium end of the scale. Sound quality will be exceptional here, but this price range is only best for anyone with a lot of spare cash or who plans on wearing their earbuds for extended periods of time. |
As with any purchase, it’s important to not overspend and stretch your budget too far. Similarly, you don’t want to spend too little if you plan on using the earbuds regularly.
Sound quality can feel quite subjective. Many people will be happy with a pair of earbuds that simply transmit sound clearly. Others may prefer to hear booming bass through their ears, and a third group may prefer crisp mids shining through.
It’s a tough call, given that it’s such a personal decision. But if you’ve previously listened to good speakers or a soundbar through your TV and you appreciate the sound, you probably need to invest in better-quality hardware than someone who just wants to keep costs down.
Related to that, how you plan on using the earbuds can also affect how important sound quality is. Just using them occasionally on rare travels? Sound quality will seem less important here than if you plan on listening to them for a few hours a day while you work or study.
Another factor is what you'll listen to. Sound quality is a little less important if you only listen to podcasts or audiobooks and don't do much music. In this case, you're probably safe not splurging.
At their simplest, earbuds are available in wired or wireless forms. Fewer earbuds are wired these days, but they offer the benefit of being harder to lose than a small, individual earbud that could fall down a drain on your walk (speaking from harsh experience).
You also need to think about the design of the earbuds. Most models come with differently sized tips so you can find the right size for your ear. Some simply slot into your ears, while others have a hook that goes behind your ear to keep them secure even if you’re running or they don't "seat" properly.
There’s no right answer here. It all depends on what feels right to you.
Battery life is highly variable depending on how you use your earbuds. Cranking up the volume and using features like active noise cancellation means shorter battery life.
However, it’s useful to know that your earbuds have reasonable battery life, however you plan on using them. Cheaper models may only offer 4 hours at a time, while pricier options can offer up to 15 hours before they need recharging. All use a case that can charge them before you need to connect anything to a power source, so it’s also useful to check its capacity, too.
High battery life isn’t essential for everyone, but it can be useful. If you only plan on using your earbuds a couple of hours at a time, it’s less of a consideration than if you want them for a long journey or throughout your working day.
Active Noise cancellation is one of the more popular features that earbuds can provide. Rather than simply blocking out environmental sound by turning up the volume, uses power and dedicated microphones to read the sound of your environment before filtering it out.
It’s clever technology, and it can be expensive. It also impacts battery life when you’re using it, so it’s not ideal for everyone.
If you want earbuds for your commute or because you regularly travel, ANC is very useful. It blocks out environmental sounds, like an airplane engine, traffic noise, or people chatting around you. Most earbuds with ANC have a transparency mode, so you can choose to listen in as needed, saving you from needing to remove the earbuds.
ANC is great for zoning out, but if you need to hear your surroundings, such as while running near busy roads, it’s not essential.
A few different groups of people will most benefit from buying earbuds:
Once you’ve bought some new earbuds, you need to pair them to your phone or other device. It’s simple enough to pair wireless earbuds to your phone.
Before you buy earbuds, there are a few other things to consider.
Read the original article on Lifewire.
2024-06-12T19:38:36Z dg43tfdfdgfd