Apple EarPods Review

These are the wired earbuds from a bygone era. They score in the top 5% for comfort and build but are held back by average sound and a wire. Only buy them if you have a device with a headphone jack and a deep aversion to batteries.

Let's be real, these are the wired earbuds that came in the box with your iPhone for years. They're a simple, no-frills pair that somehow still sells like crazy. At their core, they're a 9-gram, water-resistant set with an in-line remote and mic, and they're designed to fit the geometry of your ear.

Our data shows they're a budget pick, scoring a 52.3 out of 100 in that category, but they're not great for commuting, landing in the bottom third of all headphones we've tested for that use case. They're a classic, but they exist in a world now dominated by wireless options.

Performance here is all about the basics. The sound quality is about average, sitting in the 42nd percentile. You get decent audio and bass, but nothing that will wow an audiophile. Where these things truly shine is in comfort and build. They're in the 96th and 98th percentiles respectively, meaning they're some of the most comfortable and well-built earbuds you can find. The microphone is solid too, ranking in the 77th percentile for clear calls. The big trade-off is connectivity, which is dead last in the 26th percentile because, well, they're wired. There's no battery to worry about, which is a plus, and no active noise cancellation to speak of.

The price is the weirdest thing about these. They list for around $14 to $20 at most retailers, which is fair for what you get. But our data shows vendors listing them anywhere from $14 to a laughable $549. Obviously, you should never pay more than about $20. At that price, you're paying for the Apple brand, proven comfort, and reliability, not for groundbreaking audio tech.

Stacked against modern wireless buds, these look ancient. Compared to something like the Soundcore Life Q20 with active noise cancellation, you're giving up a huge feature for the sake of a wire. Against basic wireless options like the Sony WH-CH520, you lose the freedom of movement but gain the reliability of never having a dead battery. The Apple EarPods win on pure comfort and build against most budget options, but they lose hard on convenience and features. It's a trade-off between timeless design and modern functionality.

Skip these if you have a modern iPhone without a headphone jack, if you commute on noisy trains or buses (their commute score is a dismal 27.2), or if you care about having the best sound quality. They're also a poor choice for gamers looking for a competitive edge, as they scored only 42.6 in that category. Basically, if your life involves anything more advanced than plugging into an old iPod, look elsewhere.

We can only recommend these if you have a very specific, simple need. If you want a reliable, ultra-comfortable pair of wired buds for an old iPod, a Nintendo Switch, or a laptop that still has a jack, and you absolutely hate charging things, these are a decent pick. For literally anyone else, especially folks using a modern phone without a headphone jack, there are better, more convenient options for the same money or less.