Are Apple's wired EarPods still worth buying?

There's a certain irony in the fact that we now need to defend the existence of a $19 pair of earbuds. For over a decade, the tech industry has aggressively pushed a wireless-only future, removing headphone jacks and treating cables as design failures rather than functional components. Engadget's piece on the wired EarPods (https://www.engadget.com/2251050/apple-wired-earpods-still-worth-buying/) serves as a useful counterweight to that narrative, arguing that the humble wired earbud still holds distinct advantages: no battery degradation, no Bluetooth pairing hiccups, and zero audio latency—a critical factor for gamers and video editors alike. What makes this conversation interesting is the economic angle. The AirPods lineup has ballooned in price, with Pro models pushing well past $200, while the wired EarPods remain a budget staple. For many users, especially students or those who simply want a reliable backup pair, the value proposition is obvious. The article correctly points out that you're not sacrificing much in terms of raw audio quality for casual listening—the EarPods' open-ear design has always been perfectly serviceable, even if audiophiles will rightly reach for something better. There's also a sustainability argument hiding in plain sight here. In an era of planned obsolescence and e-waste scandals, a wired product that doesn't require a battery replacement every two years is arguably the more environmentally responsible choice. Apple doesn't market it that way, of course, because it doesn't drive upgrade cycles. But the longevity of wired earbuds is a quiet rebuke to the disposable culture that the tech industry has cultivated. Ultimately, the Engadget piece lands on a sensible conclusion: wired EarPods aren't a relic, they're a pragmatic option for a specific set of needs. The real takeaway is that "obsolete" is a marketing term, not a technical one. As long as there are headphone jacks (or Lightning ports) and people who value simplicity, the wired earbud will have a place—even if it's no longer the star of the show.