Wireless earbuds and headphones certainly have some conveniences, but there’s so much to be said for a great pair of wired earbuds. Wired earbuds have a lower level of compression for better-sounding music and a built-in microphone for calls and voice commands. They also don’t need to be charged, are immune to annoying pairing issues, and are far easier to keep track of (plus, you won’t run the risk of losing just one earbud).

On the whole, wired earbuds are more cost-effective than their wireless counterparts, and the perk of never needing to charge them means you won’t be stranded without your music, audiobooks, and podcasts on a long flight, camping trip, or commute. Bonus—you’ll never need to do the “stop and search” of shame if an earbud pops out during a jog or a frenzied morning (because, let’s face it, it always ends up in a place you really shouldn’t reach into).

What are the best wired earbuds right now?

Based on our testing and research, we’ve compiled some of the internet’s and ZDNET staffers’ favorite wired earbuds picks. Our pick for the best wired earbuds overall goes to

for their comfortable build, clear sound, and not-too-shabby price point.

The best wired earbuds of 2024

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Lin Soul TIN HiFi T4

Best wired earbuds overall

While we haven’t tried the Lin Soul TIN HiFi T4 earbuds ourselves, many users and other credible review sites call them the best of the best. One Amazon customer called the sound quality “superb” and praised the wide soundstage you get as you listen with these in.

The earbuds come with seven ear tips, sound-isolating features, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a durable cable. The ultra-pure silver-plated copper cable is reportedly strong enough to endure the twisting and folding that comes with frequent use, though some users have reported issues with it. At $100, the Lin Soul TIN HiFi T4 earbuds are in between a budget-wired earbud and a splurge-wired earbud. It’s a Goldilocks price for great sound: not too cheap, not too expensive, compared to other earbuds on the market.

Lin Soul TIN HiFi T4 tech specs: Battery life: N/A | Noise cancellation: No, but has sound isolation | Voice assistant: No | Build: Silver-plated cable

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As with all the products we spotlight on ZDNet, we diligently research and test the products we recommend to readers. We consider comfort, sound quality, battery life, mic quality, use cases, price, and other features when judging the best wired earbuds.

For more information on our testing process, check out our extensive headphones testing methodology.