Go back to basics with the best wired earbuds of 2026

If you care about sound and want a pair of wired earbuds to keep on hand at all times, then reach for the Marshall Mode USB-C earbuds. With dynamic drivers, the audio from the Marshall Mode is crisp, what you'd hope from a pair of high-end earbuds. If you're frequently taking calls or want to go hands-free, they also have a built-in mic and remote.

I never considered spending over $20 on a pair of wired earbuds until I tried the Marshall Mode, which are just luxurious. The wire is thick and sturdy without feeling bulky; it feels like it can handle plenty of wear without breaking down or fraying. Plus, they're supposedly tangle-resistant, which I do stand by. In the weeks I tested them, they basically lived in my everyday bag, and I never had to spend time untangling them.

I don't typically find earbuds comfortable, but I could wear these for hours without fatigue. With four different sizes of ear tips, the fit is customizable, so they're secure in the ear. The Marshall Mode also includes a USB-C cable that works with most smartphones, tablets, and laptops.

The audio quality is pretty impressive on the Marshall Mode, richer than you'd expect with a pair of wired earbuds. There are no tinny or fuzzy edges to the audio that you sometimes experience with cheaper earbuds. While the audio isn't as hi-res as high-end wireless earbuds, they get pretty close.

It's all about the finer details of the Marshall Mode wired earbuds. The built-in remote has a metal clip so you can secure it to bags or lapels to keep the wires tidy. It also has buttons to play/pause and turn the volume up or down.

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If you want a pair of wired earbuds to keep on hand as a backup and aren't super picky about sound quality, you can save money with the Skullcandy JIB earbuds. While the retail price on the JIB earbuds is $14.99, you can often find them on sale for just $9.99. And for under $10, these are an incredible pair of comfortable earbuds.

Skullcandy may feel like a staple of your emo adolescence, but the brand is still around and still making great earbuds. The JIB earbuds are the smallest we've tested, which makes them the most comfortable: they don't put any external pressure on the ears, yet they don't fall out. I found they were always snug, whether I was working at a computer or walking.

The sound quality was really solid, too. While it wasn't providing the excellence I'm used to in a pair of high-end wireless earbuds, I still thought it delivered clear sound without distorting the music or podcast I was listening to. Plus, with such a great snug fit in the ear, they offered decent passive noise cancellation.

The built-in remote was straightforward with play/pause and volume controls, and reminded me a lot of the remote on Apple's EarPods. I also liked that the remote has tactile cues, so I can use the controls without having to look directly at it.

My one complaint about the Skullcandy JIB earbuds is that the wires are a little skinny and flimsy. Not only did this mean they often got tangled, but it also gave me pause about their longevity.

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If you long for the days when iPhones still came with earbuds, you'll be pleased to hear Apple is still selling those same EarPods, but now you have to buy them separately. Fortunately, they're very affordable at just $19 and come in three different connector styles.

I tried to like AirPods, but unfortunately, they just don't fit my ears, so I lost two pairs before I decided to go old school with the EarPods. Not only have I never lost them, but they've been a huge lifesaver when my wireless headphones or earbuds are dead.

Plus, my colleague, Haley Henschel, agrees that Apple EarPods fit even better than AirPods.

Apple has really nailed the earbud design with a built-in remote for controlling sound and volume, plus a little clip to keep the wires neat. The earbuds come with three connector options: USB-C, Lightning, and 3.5mm aux.

EarPods have both an advantage and a disadvantage on this list, as I've been using them longer than any other product we've tested. They've held up pretty well for two years, but have started to show signs of wear with some wire breakage and occasionally patchy audio.

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Stop buying the in-flight earbuds and instead spend a little more on Audio-Technica's Sonic Fuel earbuds with an aux connector. For under $15, the Sonic Fuels offer pretty impressive sound, not entirely surprising considering Audio-Technica makes products for stage monitoring and DJ-ing.

If you're still listening on a device with an aux input, Audio-Technica's earbuds offer affordable, high-quality sound. For just $14.95, the Sonic Fuel earbuds feature a comfortable in-ear fit and 8.5mm drivers for clear, well-rounded sound.

Three different ear tip sizes are included with the earbuds: small, medium, and large. The small tips fit nicely in my ear and provide solid passive noise cancellation, even in a busy coffee shop.

The biggest disappointment about these earbuds is that they don't have volume controls on the remote, which I use even more than the play/pause function. The wires on the earbuds are also pretty skinny, which I find makes them tangle quickly.

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