Apple still sells its classic wired EarPods for a reason. While AirPods turn 10 this year and have evolved with noise cancellation, health sensors, and live translation, EarPods remain relevant for specific use cases. Unlike AirPods, EarPods require zero maintenance—no battery means no charging, and they’re ready whenever you are.

The cord eliminates Bluetooth pairing issues and allows easy sharing without re-pairing. The built-in microphone delivers better voice quality than wireless audio, which still suffers from compression. EarPods come in 3.5mm, Lightning, and USB-C versions, ensuring broad device compatibility.

At just $19, they’re a fraction of the cost of even the cheapest AirPods at $129. While you can’t charge your iPhone while using Lightning or USB-C EarPods due to the missing headphone jack, a simple port-splitting adapter solves this. For those who value simplicity, reliability, and low cost over cutting-edge features, EarPods offer a sensible backup—or even primary—option.

They aren’t designed to be the best, but they’re unbeatable for the price and practicality.