It’s a familiar scene: You’re riding the train, sitting in a waiting room or about to join a mandatory Zoom training when you realize that your spiffy wireless earbuds are totally out of juice.
Sure, you enjoy the ease of going hands-free and not being literally tied down. But as the baby next to starts wailing or your boss asks why there’s so much background noise, you think it’s probably time to get yourself a spare pair of headphones with a wire. You need a listening device that doesn’t need to be charged, ever. And you came to the right place.
To help you keep the music and podcasts going and to never again be called out in the group meeting, we’ve rounded up the highest-rated wired headphones for all your listening and calling needs. We included a selection of over-ear headphones and in-ear buds because we know that everyone has their own tastes. We even found some beloved pairs for kiddos, so you never need to listen to old episodes of “Paw Patrol” again.
Whether you generally prefer wired headphones or are just looking for a backup pair to keep in your bag when your wireless ones are dead as a doornail, we hope you find the wired device of your dreams, with no strings attached (except the actual cord itself).
HuffPost receives a share from retailers on this page. Every item is independently selected by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change.
Over-ear wired headphones
A pair of headphones that come in a range of colors and have multitudes of five-star reviews
Designed to be durable, practical and easy to use, these comfy headphones have soft ear cushions and a padded headband so you can wear them for hours with ease. They have an adjustable slider for the perfect fit along with a microphone, a strong cord and a lightweight, foldable silhouette.
Promising review: “I have been a musician for 25 years. This headphone was recommended to me by my piano teacher from broadcast who were recommended them. Everything’s is an amazing worth my money the appearance is fabulous and etc you pick own colors in what you like to have for yourself when playing pianos.” — Aj vdH
A pair of OneOdio wired DJ over-ear headphones
Score: 4.4 stars and 55,330 5-star ratings
You don't have to be an audio engineer to like these studio monitor headphones, but the sound quality on these babies will have you talking about "production value." The big pads provide comfort and noise isolation and the universal aux plug works with many devices without an additional adaptor.
Promising review: “Excellent sound quality, comfortable design, and easy to use. Perfect for listening to music, practicing guitar, and everyday use. Great headphones for the price!” — Edgar Emil Guzman
Sony wired on-ear headphones
Score: 4.5 stars and 74,173 5-star ratings
These Sony over-ear headphones come with a mic and a no-mic option, so you can find the perfect pair for your lifestyle. The swiveling ear cups are ideal for packing and travel, and the puffed muffs stay comfortable on your ears for hours of email replies.
Promising review: “These Sony ZX Series wired headphones are a great value! The sound quality is clear and balanced, and they’re lightweight and comfortable enough to wear for extended periods. I especially like that they’re wired, so there’s no need to worry about charging or pairing. The foldable design also makes them easy to store or take on the go. My daughters love the pink color, it’s really beautiful. Great option for everyday use, especially for the price!” — Emelyn R Paniagua Sánchez
A pair of soft and comfortable kids’ headphones
Score: 4.6 stars and 7,680 5-star ratings
A must for remote school or minimizing the noise a tablet makes, these over-ear kids' headphones have an option to limit the sound level, protecting little ears. They have a built-in microphone and ultra-soft muffs that are comfortable for long car rides. These come in a range of colors.
Promising review: "I am very happy with these headphones. They feature a lovely blue and red design that kids will love, and they are lightweight and comfortable to wear. The ear pads are soft and fit well without squeezing too tightly.
The sound quality is crisp, and they work wonderfully for music, videos, school activities, and games. I also like that they are wired, so there is no need to worry about charging or Bluetooth connections. The cable is a good length and feels durable.
In short, they are a fantastic choice for children and offer excellent value for money. Attractive, comfortable, and easy to use!” — Brigithe
Wired earbuds
A five-pack of earbuds that rival Apple’s
Shoppers are surprised by just how good these cheap earbuds sound, especially when handling bass. And for the quality, you “can’t beat the price”.
So many users are saying these earbuds are terrific solutions for anyone who constantly loses their wireless ones, especially because they come with five pairs. Some are even saying they prefer them to wireless ones so they don’t have to worry about charging batteries.
The buds have a built-in mic so you can take calls and voice notes on the go, and the USB-C plug means you don’t have to deal with annoying dongles or adapters to plug right into your smartphone or laptop.
Promising review: “I’m really impressed with these earbuds! The sound quality is fantastic, especially the bass – it’s deep without being overwhelming. I use them with my Android phone and tablet, and the USB-C connection works perfectly. The noise isolating feature is great, and I can enjoy music or podcasts without outside distractions. The built-in mic is clear for calls, too. The 3-pack is perfect for us – I keep one for myself, gave one to my wife, and we had a spare for when we’re on the go. These are definitely a solid choice for anyone looking for affordable, high-quality USB-C headphones!”” — gravy
Skullcandy Ink'd+ earbuds
Score: 4.5 stars and 6,291 5-star ratings
These Skullcandy in-ear buds have a noise-isolating fit that will let you listen to your music or podcast in peace while on the go. They have a built-in microphone and call and track control, so you can gab with friends or replay your favorite song with ease.
Promising review: "I bought 3 other headphones here on Amazon ranging from 30 to this one wich was 13. I had to return the other 2 because these headphones blew them out of the water great headphones, super reliable, great friken bass.” — Fidel Denis
Apple wired earpods with USB-C connector
Score: 4.5 stars and 16,438 5-star ratings
A classic with the ease of a built-in remote lets you adjust the volume, play music and videos and pick up the call without even touching your phone.
Promising review: “These wired USB-C earbuds are a practical and convenient option for everyday listening. I like their simple design, and the built-in microphone and control buttons make them useful for listening to music, watching videos, making calls, and enjoying other audio content. The wired connection is convenient because there is no need to worry about charging a battery or dealing with Bluetooth pairing. They are also easy to carry in a bag or pocket, making them a good choice for travel, work, or daily use. Overall, these earbuds look like a useful option for anyone who prefers wired headphones with a USB-C connection for compatible devices.” — Flor Hernandez
Apple wired ear pods with lightning connector
Score: 4.6 stars and 182,920 ratings
Ah, the classic Apple earbuds, now with the Lightning connector. Answer calls, play and pause music and speak to Siri with the built-in microphone and remote.
Promising review: "Prefer these earbuds to wireless. No worry about buds falling out and searching for it. Love it.” — June
JBL Endurance wired sport in-ear headphones
Score: 4.5 stars and 10,563 5-star ratings
With a flipbook two-way design, these babies can be worn both in-ear and behind the ear. They're sweatproof and intended for workout sessions and time in the gym. The one-button microphone lets you call hands-free, and they come in a range of colors to fit your style.
Promising review: "I love these things!!! iv’e had bluetooth wireless earbuds for quite a while now and always had a backup wired headphones just in case the wireless batts died on me. as of lately these JBL Endurance RUN wired headset is beating out my Boltune 24s! the only drawback [as in the product description] is that they don’t have a volume control nor a skip back button for the control button on the chord. however, when i say “hey google” my assistant comes online immeidately. my bluetooth headset doesn’t do that at all and they ‘guarantee’ that it will. i literally have to hold the phone to my mouth to use voice activation when wearing my Boltune headsets.
but anyways....
the JBL sound is super clean, both for phonecalls, music and other media. the bass is amazing, highs and mids and lows are fantastic. i love these things.” — Joe K