By Mari Sato
Throughout this semester, I’ve noticed a growing trend: the resurgence of wired headphones. More and more students stroll through campus with wires on full display. This shift paired with an increasing amount of TikTok celebrating wired headphones as the latest must-have accessory has made me wonder what all the hype was about. To test this theory I purchased wired headphones of my own for a mere $18 on Amazon, a bargain compared to the nearly $600 AirPod Maxs and $200 AirPod 4s.
Although I own AirPods, my primary strife is that the soundproofing is almost too effective. Walking through campus, I often find myself awkwardly holding my AirPod and subconsciously tilting my head when greeting a friend. At night they feel even less practical, as I can’t hear my surroundings well making it somewhat of a safety concern. While wired headphones can be inconvenient – prone to tangling and requiring you to keep your phone close, they offer a level of simplicity. I never have to worry about charging them, I can hear my surroundings, and pulling out an earbud to say hello is effortless.
The one time I consistently choose wired headphones over my AirPods is while I’m skiing. They’re perfect for chatting with friends on the lift and I don’t have to take my gloves off to skip a song or adjust the volume. Wires also have the added bonus of not being impacted by colder temperatures, so I never have to worry about battery life dropping significantly.
The cost-effective price and minimal design are other incentives to use wires. The AirPods are constantly updating and the hefty price is not always worth it. Crystal Smith, junior, shared her experience with the AirPod 4s.
“I like to wear AirPods on my runs and the newest ones aren’t that functional and don’t stay in my ear that well, especially when I am going on longer runs.”
Wired headphones evolve only with changes to the charging ports, which happen far less frequently than the annual updates to AirPods.
This change in headphone preference is not localized to the SMU campus. Apple AirPod sales have declined by 34 percent since 2020, with Apple selling 114 million units in 2020 and 75 million units in 2023. This trend suggests a broader cultural pivot, with many consumers embracing alternative listening devices that prioritize practicality, style or affordability over the latest tech.
Although I may never fully trade in my AirPods for wired headphones, I think that they offer a unique usability that AirPods or other types of wireless headphones cannot. That said, as a styling accessory they certainly add a touch of nostalgia and subversive charm to any outfit.
