Choosing the right type of personal device for daily use may seem like an easy task, but we know that it’s not. There are so many varieties of headphones and earbuds for sale in the market that it’s almost impossible to shop and get done instantly. Instead, you have to spend a good part of your day researching brands and how one offers good audio equipment than the other.
Luckily, this short blog will speed up the process or at least, cut the time spent in half to help you figure out whether you want the best wireless earphones or headphones. As far as most people are concerned, there’s a slight misconception about the use of terminologies like earphones, earbuds, and headphones. Let’s clear the air over that first!
Headphones vs. Earbuds vs. Earphones
While lots of tech lovers use the terms interchangeably, there are slight differences. You see, headphones generally refer to an overhead band that is connected to an audio driver at each end. For your information, headphones with attached microphones are often referred to as “headsets”.
You may hear people saying, “oh, we just got the best wireless earphones”. It helps to know that “earphones” is used subjectively. However, earbuds refer to small audio devices that fit straight in the outer ear canal.
Solving The Enigma – Earbuds or Headphones?
We’ll keep the answer short and direct, but at the same time, we’ll present you with the pros and cons of both types of audio devices.
If you want something compact, portable, and not a hassle to carry around, the best choice would be earbuds, which are often available in the market in the form of Apple Bluetooth earphones or wireless earphones for iPhones.
On the contrary, if you plan to purchase a set of audio devices for recreation and the highest sound quality with utmost comfort, you might want to go for headphones (the ones with the overhead band).
Headphones are bigger compared to earbuds and due to advanced tech fitted inside bigger audio drives, you get better sound quality. However, it all comes down to your budget, preferences, and most importantly, the purpose of buying such equipment.
Pros/Cons of Wireless Earbud Headphones
Earbuds are small and fit inside the ear easily. They’re easy to carry around, recharge, and keep using during physical activities such as gym and fitness. Here’s a slightly detailed breakdown of the pros and cons of wireless earbuds.
(+) Convenience
Whatever your fitness regime is, earbuds make the best workout companions. They fit in the ear easily without adding weight to your height, as would occur in the case of headphones. They fit perfectly, whether you run or lift. They can also withstand rain and sweat!
(+) Subtlety
Have you tried shouting someone’s name from the other side of the street or road only to realize they’re not responding because they have got the best wireless earphones on? It’s a rare occurrence, but it happens! Wireless earbuds are hard to notice and won’t be a distraction as you go by your daily routine.
(+) Affordability
Since they’re small and compact, they’re readily available at affordable prices. Although renowned brands do sell expensive sets of earbuds such as Apple (e.g., AirPods), Sony, and more, cheaper alternatives are easily available.
(-) Battery Life
The downside to having smaller audio devices made to fit perfectly in the ear is that they have shorter battery times. You get less playtime and standby time compared to bigger headphones. Still, it’s relative to your use as some sets work flawlessly through a 1–2-hour workout routine.
(-) Noise Isolation (not Noise Cancellation)
They don’t feature a foolproof noise cancellation but rather a noise isolation feature. It works by fitting fully so reduced environmental noise enters your ear.
Pros/Cons of Wireless Headphones
Headphones are relatively larger and feature earcups. They offer better sound quality and noise cancellation for a fully recreational or focused experience. However, it also has some cons to it along with the pros that we’ll discuss briefly below:
(+) Sound Quality (and Noise Cancellation)
There’s no debate about the sound quality produced by headphones, i.e., audio drivers connected via an overhead band. The relative difference in digital components of headphones and earbuds producing sound leads to differences in quality. Many modern headphones feature flawless noise cancellation, such as the Sony WH series and so on.
(+) Traditional Use
Many people still love jamming to their favorite tunes and melodies in a traditional style, whether they’re writing, reading, or running. The feeling of complete silence thanks to over-ear cups (headphones that cover the ears completely) is priceless to some people. Therefore, the popularity of headphones remains unchallenged in some market segments.
(+) Extended Battery
Unlike wireless earphones for iPhones (i.e., earbuds), headphones feature bigger batteries that have a longer life. It means they grant more playtime and have an outstanding standby time. Some even have fast-charging features which save consumers time and electricity!
(-) Weight/Convenience
Although they have superior sound quality, extended battery life, and a sense of old-school music experience, it does get a bit hectic getting on with headphones. They’re large, and even if they cover the whole ear with over-ear cups, they’re not always lightweight.
(-) Pricey
The finest brands, providing the highest-quality audio equipment, are more expensive. They’re powerful, and sometimes come with additional components such as buds, charging kits, and holders. Still, they’re not as affordable as the best wireless earbuds for sale.
Final Takeaway
The enigma of choosing between earbuds and headphones is a highly subjective one! Therefore, we advise that you consider your preferences and purpose of using – because these two will be the most influential factors in your purchasing decision!
Our opinion is that if you want something a little subtle, compact, and non-disturbing during physical activities such as working out or running, you should go for the best wireless earbud headphones. However, if you’re going to move less and engage for long hours, we advise going for wireless headphone sets.
