How Convenience Killed Wired Earphones on Phones and They Desperately Need to Make a Comeback

There was a time when smartphone users did not have to worry about accidentally dropping one of their premium earbuds and rendering them useless. This is when wired earphones existed, before Apple removed the headphone jack from the iPhone 7, citing "courage" as the primary motivator. Brands were quick to mock the move, but soon followed suit, stripping the port from most of their phones.

And they had a convincing reason, or at least that's what they thought was the most believable reason? That is the need to make internal space for larger batteries and better waterproofing. But there was something deeper at play, and users are now slowly and finally waking up to it. This is the story of how convenience killed wired earphones and why they desperately need to return.

The fidelity gap: Why Bluetooth isn't enough

But why did it all start? The real incentive was that the departure of the headphone jack from phones birthed a multi-billion-dollar market for truly wireless earbuds, or TWS. We traded the reliability of a couple of hundred rupees wired earphones for the convenience of Rs 20,000 disposable earbuds.

Before we get started, I have mad respect for Bluetooth technology, but not when it comes to transmitting audio signals via the same. This has mostly to do with me being an audiophile, but I do believe everyone should give "high-quality" music a good listen (pun intended).

We are currently living in a paradox where streaming services like Apple Music and now Spotify offer Hi-Res Lossless audio, and yet the vast majority of consumers listen to it via Bluetooth.

The problem is, Bluetooth isn't very good at carrying this dense bandwidth. Even the best Bluetooth codecs like LDAC or aptX rely on compression. This makes wired headphones the only way to experience the true, uncompressed audio quality that modern artists and engineers are producing. It's essentially like upgrading your subscription to 4K resolution, when the screens are capped at 720p.

Besides, the rapid shift to Bluetooth earbuds has led wired earphones to become a niche tech category. Take it in this way: while a 4K screen could be great for watching 4K content, the display panel's quality will also define the experience. Therefore, the quality of audio equipment matters. Luckily, there are good enough audio tech that give you a solid entry point into true lossless sound.

Wireless earphones are disposable

Convenience is not just bad news for the general audience but also for the environment. Wireless earbuds are fundamentally disposable because their tiny lithium-ion batteries degrade over time. A perfectly functioning pair of AirPods or Galaxy Buds becomes e-waste in 2–3 years because the battery can no longer hold a charge.

Google has surprisingly tried to address this issue with its latest Pixel Buds 2a, which has an easily replaceable case. But the battery on the buds isn't, which is strange because it's likely to degrade faster than the case.

Manufacturers like Fairphone, with its Fairbuds, have already shown us that it can be done, and it's about time the big manufacturers worked on solving this tech crisis. But do they want to? That's the real question. 

In contrast, a high-quality pair of in-ear monitors (IEMs) effectively has an infinite lifespan. Plus, other perks include that you don't suffer from battery anxiety, no firmware updates, and they don't become paperweights because there's no battery in them. More importantly, you're less likely to lose them because they're always connected to your phone physically.

Besides, most high quality IEMs feature user removable and replaceable cables. Unlike your AirPods that are essentially useless after the battery dies, all you'd need is Rs 500 to get a new cable and replace it yourself.

Latency and mic check

While general consumers have accepted the lag that comes with Bluetooth, gamers and content creators have to be given credit for keeping the wired flame alive out of necessity.

Any wireless framework introduces latency, which is a slight delay between the action on the screen and the sound in your ear. This delay affects competitiveness, especially in games where sound plays a hypercritical role and can turn the match around. 

Besides, the microphone quality on even the most expensive wireless headphones remains robotic and thin due to Bluetooth's bandwidth limitations. A simple wired inline microphone offers vastly superior voice clarity, which is not only great for gaming and talking to your buddies but also essential in this era of endless online meetings.

Which brings me to Pairing Hell, which is still real. Bluetooth is convenient until it isn't. We've all had that moment where the buds connect to the iPad in the other room instead of the phone in our hand. And although pairing technologies like Fast Pair and Quick Pair have made switching easier, wireless buds struggle to achieve the 100% uptime like wired headphones. No pairing modes, no "forget device," no glitches.

Silent resurgence: How wired earphones are making a return

Beyond the brainrot and 6–7 memes, if there's one thing I appreciate about the bubbling GenZ culture, is its emphasis on how old technology makes much more sense than new ones.

Choosing old Toyotas and Mazdas over the new tech-cramped vehicles, recognising the capabilities of old point and shoots and ditching wireless headphones because they don't evoke the same feeling as wired ones. It has led to the silent resurgence of wired earphones.

The skyrocketing popularity of Chi-Fi (High-quality, affordable Chinese Hi-Fi) IEMs and portable USB-C DACs (Digital-to-Analogue Converters) proves one thing – people are willing to carry a wire for better sound.

While phone brands may never bring back the 3.5mm jack to the chassis, the market is screaming like Linkin Park's Chester Bennington in Crawling that the wire is not obsolete. It is a premium feature for those who value quality over mere convenience.