Wired Headphones

In this article, Josh will explore the rise in popularity of corded headphones in comparison to Apple's AirPods.

Wired Headphones: A rise in popularity

By Josh Feskens

One of Apple's most popular products are its wireless headphones: AirPods. Although they were first released in late 2016, they did not rise to popularity until 2019. Since then, over 108.9 million sets of AirPods have been sold, and an estimated 12 billion dollars has been collected in revenue. This product is a status symbol among the wealthy middle-upper class population of America, as well as many other countries. It has made a significant impact on how people interact with technology and many people own a pair of these headphones. What Apple could never have anticipated is the return in popularity of wired headphones.

Image: Apple AirPods Pro

AirPods have certain aspects to them that seem to deter people. They are considered a common piece of tech in American culture. An author for The Wall Street Journal writes, "In short, AirPods have become too widespread to be cool." Another issue with AirPods is the debate that AirPods can cause radiation, linking them to cancer. This is false, though, according to Healthline. Daniel Yetman, a writer for Healthline, claims, "At this time, there’s no evidence that using Apple AirPods or other wireless headphones increases your risk of brain cancer." AirPods have also lost popularity because of the rich-kid stigma surrounding them. When people see AirPods, some imagine a Patagonia vested individual who projects "Daddy's Money" vibes. These people are categorized by many as conformists and are avoided at all costs by the more individualistic owners of corded headphones.

Image Credit: Kyle Fitzgerald

Owners of wired headphones are often not concerned with the newest iPhone or most recent tech; they appreciate the aesthetic and practicality of the product, as well as the stark contrast in price when compared to AirPods. They pride themselves in not conforming to trends and do things their own way. The corded portion of wired earbuds put off more unwelcoming vibes, according to Rory Satran, a writer for The Wall Street Journal. She writes, "A cord also projects a 'you can’t sit with me' factor that some people find appealing." On the other hand, AirPods are notoriously easy to remove and take less than a second to put back in. Corded headphones are also practical in the sense that they do not need to be charged and can easily be wadded up in a pocket and taken anywhere.

A less practical and more superficial reason that corded headphones are making a comeback is that they go perfectly with the early-2000's Y2K aesthetic that has recently become popular. Tiktok influencers praise these headphones for the grunge look that is ever so popular in today's culture and endorse them as a vintage fashion accessory. Celebrities are hopping on this trend, as well. According to Bustle, the trend first became popular in a fashion forecast on Tiktok. "The re-entry of wired headphones into celebrity streetwear has gained newfound traction since TikToker @thedigifairy posted a viral 'trend forecast' video on the topic at the end of September." Lily-Rose Depp was photographed walking down a busy street with corded headphones plugged in and wearing dark shades, secluded in the world of whatever she was listening to. Bella Hadid, Zoe Kravitz, and Hunter Schafer all own and have been photographed with corded headphones.

Although the AirPod craze lasted for two years, it appears it might come to an end. The teen and young adult population, as well as many celebrities, have confirmed the fact that yes, wired headphones are back and favored over the $120-250 bluetooth headphones created by Apple. Wired headphones sell for $19.00 on Apple and sell for even less from other companies. Endorsed by celebrities and praised by Tiktok users, wired headphones have made a comeback since their humble beginnings in 2010.

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