No need to invest crazy amounts of money to treat yourself to Apple headphones. The manufacturer has models in its catalog that are much cheaper than its famous AirPods, with excellent sound and plenty of practical advantages.
Since their appearance; In 2016, AirPods became real benchmarks in the audio accessories market. Easily recognizable with their white color and their characteristic stems, these wireless headphones have won over millions of users around the world with their qualities and functions. And, as they are signed by Apple, they also serve for many as an external sign of wealth or, at least, as proof of good taste, the apple brand still being very appreciated for the design of its products.
However, if they do not lack advantages, like most high-end wireless headphones, the AirPods have several disadvantages which can put off more than one person. Starting with their high price, as is often the case with Apple. Even if they are found at lower prices from many distributors, especially during promotions, they are sold between 199 euros in their latest version – 149 euros for the previous generation models – and even 279 euros in their Pro version on the manufacturer’s online store.
However, it is not essential to invest such sums to have headphones from Apple. Because the manufacturer has much more affordable models in its catalog: the EarPods, sold for only… 19 euros! And for good reason: unlike AirPods, these are wired, “old-fashioned” headphones. And although they do not offer the freedom of movement of the models, they do however have many advantages, in addition to their very low price which puts them within the reach of all budgets.
First, excellent sound. Indeed, not only do they have very good transducers – the mini speakers placed in their earpieces – but, in addition, their cable ensures sound transmission without any conversion and therefore without distortion. This is not the case with the Bluetooth of AirPods which induces conversions with losses in quality. It is no coincidence that audiophiles, lovers of high fidelity sound, prefer wired headphones to wireless models… Another advantage, with a wired connection, there is no latency as is the case with case with Bluetooth, where conversions systematically cause delay.
Furthermore, the EarPods are equipped with a microphone placed on their wire, and which is thus naturally much closer to the mouth, unlike the AirPods where it is placed in the earpieces, near the ears and far from the lips. And this is a very clear advantage for using them during telephone conversations, because the voice is much better captured, which is not always the case with wireless headphones where the voice is often muffled and therefore incomprehensible.
Finally, like all wired models, EarPods have no battery life problems, because they do not have a battery that discharges. You can use them without counting, and without going through the recharge box. Better yet, provided you take care of them, you can keep them indefinitely: which is not the case with AirPods which will inevitably end up in the trash, the day their tiny battery is out of use – and impossible to repair as specialists like iFixit have already noted. More sustainable products, and therefore better for the planet. not to mention that thanks to their wire, there is less risk of losing them unlike Bluetooth models which fall out of ears very easily.
To top it all off, EarPods are available with Lightning jacks (for older iPhones and iPads), USB-C (for many newer devices), and stereo minijack (for all kinds of devices). Very curiously, these headphones are not promoted by Apple and you have to search the site to find them – we wonder why… But this discretion does not detract from their qualities. And if you’re worried about appearing out of date by using headphones in 2024, remember that these accessories have become very “trendy” again in recent years, as proven by the many artists and influencers who appear with them on social networks!