Everyone’s Showing Off Their Wired Headphones

Last year, I struggled to find a surprising and delightful Secret Santa gift under $25, but I think I’ll be gifting these to everyone this December. Compared to many of the other earbuds I tried, which have colorful cords, these take plain old white earbuds and dress them up with hand-wrapped embroidered thread that reminds me of the friendship bracelets I made as a tween. I’ve noticed that like any beloved friendship bracelet, the thread will fray with time and consistent use, but it doesn’t worsen the sound quality, which is solid for a pair of wired buds. I appreciate that the thread also adds some bulk and stiffness to the wires themselves, which prevents them from getting as tangled as your average wired headphones. There are a few color options available, but I’m into the light-pink version that would pair nicely with the pink Lululemon wristlet all the teens carry around.

These Sony earbuds are a happy medium between sound quality and color options. I’ve been using the blue ones, which pair nicely with my favorite navy-blue cardigan and add a subtle pop of blue to otherwise neutral outfits. There are also pink and black versions. The headphones are complete with thoughtful details, including protective casing where the cord meets the USB-C plug to prevent the cord from snapping or fraying. There’s also a fully functional control center and microphone on the left cord that allows you to adjust the volume, pause the music, and skip songs. As someone who’s always worried about my earbuds falling out, I appreciate that these come with three ear-tip sizes — the medium is perfect for me.

Chroma gave the Apple EarPods silhouette the chrome treatment, and I think the silver version would pair nicely with the wavy phone case that’s a staple in our gift guide for girlfriends. But if you’d like to match your headphones to your gold jewelry or find some buds that are your favorite color (should it be pink or blue), there are chrome versions for you, too. These are the least durable of the headphones I tried; the cord tangles easily and creases at friction points, like the edge of the control center and the base of the USB-C port. The chrome cover for the port also occasionally comes loose when I pull it out. But if you’re using these more for their looks than for prime engineering and sound quality, that shouldn’t be a problem. The fact that you can customize the port — there’s USB-C, Lightning, 3.5-mm. — is a nice plus, too.

I find it hard to resist a pop of red. I travel with a poppy-red suitcase, carry around a cherry-red wallet, and save my true red Le Bon Shoppe socks for the most special of occasions. These fire-engine-red headphones are the perfect addition to my collection, but there’s also a black version should the stereotypical New York uniform be more your style. They cost more than the aforementioned Le Bon Shoppe socks, but they’re less expensive than your average pair of wired earbuds, so I don’t feel the need to be as precious with them. Skullcandy didn’t cut corners — there’s a control center with basic capabilities (adjusting the volume, pausing the music, and skipping songs), and there are three ear tips to optimize the fit. They make for a surprising accessory for office attire and Saturday stroll outfits, and the sound quality is comparable to several of the other pairs I tried despite the cheaper price.

Unless purple is your favorite color, I’d skip this pair, which is available only in a very Olivia Rodrigo Sour shade. The headphones themselves are great quality — there’s no tinniness in the sound, and the three ear-tip options allow for an optimal, fuss-free fit. However, as someone who appreciates using the on-wire remote to control volume rather than getting sucked back into my phone, I couldn’t get past the limited capabilities on this one. The control center is just a microphone that can pause and skip — no volume control. At that point, why add one at all?

Unless you’re an avid gymgoer, you probably don’t need these headphones, which have two fits: in-ear and over the ear, the latter of which provides even more security should you be worried about your earbuds falling out during a run or other workout. The headphones themselves are some of the most comfortable to wear — they have three ear-tip sizes and a bulkier, ear-sealing base that gives the illusion of noise cancellation even though these buds don’t have that capability. The cord itself is also sturdier than most, making the wires less tangly than some of the others I tried (notably, the Chroma and Sony buds). There’s even extra support where the cord meets the USB-C port, which is often where I see signs of wear first. I also appreciate that the buds are magnetic, so they stick to each other rather than contributing to a tangled mess. Only the black and navy-blue versions are available now, but I spotted a gross green and purple version in the spec sheet that I hope JBL will restock.