Whether you’re looking for the right headphones or earbuds to enhance the quality of your music or a pair that provides clear, crisp sound as you take important calls, there are a multitude of options that meet your needs and your budget.
The AirPods 4 are revamped this year, and a higher-tier model—the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation—launched alongside the base model. Exercise enthusiasts will appreciate the durability of the AirPods Pro 2, plus the model’s new hearing-health features. And if you want to refresh the look of your AirPods Max in 2024, you can explore this model’s newest color options.
Headphones and earbuds are often used interchangeably. However, they are two different products. Headphones are meant to go over your head with earcups on each side resting on the outside of your ear, whereas earbuds go directly in your ear canal. The style you choose really boils downs to which style you find the most comfortable.
If you're an audiophile, you’ll want to pick headphones that enhance the quality of the sound of your music. For exercising or playing a sport, you'll want to look into wireless earbuds. Wireless sports earbuds come with an earpiece that goes around your ear to safely secure the headphones while you're active.
There are pros and cons to using wireless and wired headphones. Wired headphones don’t have to be charged. They are plugged directly into your phone ensuring that you have a clear and secure sound connection. Overtime, the wire that connects to your phone can become frayed and damaged, and you’ll need to buy a replacement.
Wireless headphones eliminate the need for a cord to connect your phone. They are connected to your phone using technology such as Bluetooth and NFC. That’s one less wire you’ll have to deal with. However, wireless sound devices require charging before you use them. Because they operate on a battery, you have to make sure your headphones or earbuds are fully-charged or you run the risk of them dying while you’re on a call.
Both wired and wireless headphones have controls that allow you to adjust your volume as well as answer and decline calls.
Don’t forget to pair your new phone with matching earbuds like Apple AirPods, Samsung Galaxy Buds and Google Pixel Buds.