In the market for the best wired earbuds? Look no further. Here are the top wired earphones for 2022.

Wired earbuds, also known as in-ear headphones are fantastic for day-to-day listening without lugging around a headset. They’re comfortable, lightweight, easy to transport and reduce the lack of latency you often get with wireless earbuds.

There are tons of wired earbuds on the market to choose from. Whether it’s Sony or Bose, or another brand you may not have heard of, we have a ton of wired earbuds to recommend. Here are our top wired earbuds for 2022 to kickstart your studies.

How to choose the best-wired earbuds

Before investing in a pair of wired earbuds, you  need to look for the following information:

• Size
• Weight
• Material
• Type of wire
• Impedance
• Frequency
• Compatibility with devices (iOS, Android etc).

Wired vs wireless earbuds

Wired earbuds are earphones that require plugging into a device such as your phone or laptop. Whereas wireless earbuds are connected via Bluetooth with a compatible device. Wireless earphones are great for those who don’t want a wired connection running down them, but wired earphones, historically, provide better sound quality.

If you’re after wireless earbuds, check out our top wireless earbuds for every budget.

Sony vs Bose wired earbuds

Is Sony or Bose better? These are the top contenders for wired and wireless earbuds but they aren’t necessarily the cheapest out there.

Bose is known for having a more stable in-ear fit and is commended for its ANC capabilities. However, Sony has been credited for its better battery performance and comfort. It’s totally down to what you prioritise. 

But the most important question is…what are the best wired earbuds to look out for? Here are the best wired earbuds for 2022.

Best wired earbuds

Marshall Mode Wired Headphones — £49.99

Marshall is known for its amazing sound. Their Mode Wired Headphones are no exception either. They feature a tangle-resistant cord that is rubber-coated (no more unknotting!), and can plug into most Smartphones or MP3 music players, thanks to its 3.5 mm jack (though you may need an adaptor for the newer smartphones on the market).

Plus, the  Mode Wired Headphones sport the Marshall logo on the cable microphone clip and distinctive Marshall ‘M’ on the buds. Inside are high output, low distortion drivers, tuned for a smooth mid-range. Finally, it includes four different-sized sleeves for a comfortable fit.

What’s in the box

• 1 x Mode in-ear headphone
• 3 x Size sleeves (S, M, L)
• 1 x User Manual with Legal and Safety Information.

Technical specifications

• Dimensions: 18.49 x 9.7 x 5.2 cm
• Weight: 17 g
• Battery life:
• Material type:
• Dust and waterproof rating: None
• Bluetooth version: NA.

Audio specifications

• Noise-cancelling: No
• Driver diameter: 9 mm
• Sensitivity: 97 dB SPL
• Frequency: 34 ohms.

Pros

• Simple plug and play.

Cons

• Need an adaptor for modern-day Smartphones.

Get these Marshall earphones for less with our Marshall student discount.

QuietComfort® 20 Acoustic Noise Cancelling™ Headphones — £149.95

Some of the best wired earbuds with active noise-cancellation, the Bose QuietComfort 20 (AKA QC20) are perfect for commuting on loud modes of transport and crowded places. They’re durable but aren’t as robust sound-wise compared to the QC30 model above. The plus side though is you’ll barely get any audio leak, which can be a worry for some.

It’s super easy to control too. Their buttons are well spaced out that you won’t hit multiple buttons at once when you’re trying to answer calls or panic pause your music. It comes with basic yet useful functions such as track skipping, pausing and volume control too.

What’s in the box

• 1 x QuietComfort® 20 headphones—Apple devices
• 3 x pairs StayHear®+ tips (S, M, L)
• 1 x Clothing clip
• 1 x Rechargeable lithium-ion battery (built-in)
• 1 x USB charging cable
• 1 x Carrying case.

Technical specifications

• Dimensions: 132 cm
• Weight: 44 g
• Battery life: 16 hours (also has wired listening)
• Material type: Plastic
• Dust and waterproof rating: None
• Bluetooth version: 5.0.

Audio specifications

• Noise-cancelling: Yes
• Driver diameter: 9 mm
• Sensitivity: 97 dB SPL
• Frequency: 34 ohms.

Pros

• Strong noise cancellation
• Lightweight
• Excellent audio
• Technically wireless, it can be listened to plugged in.

Cons

• In-line mic is a bit bulky
• Optimised mostly for Apple users.

Get these Bose earphones for less with our Bose student discount.

Sony In-Ear Headphones — £8.40

Sony in-ear headphones for under a tenner? Count us in! These Sony in-ear headphones are incredibly lightweight, sport a 9mm driver and a decent frequency range for the price. Its 1.2m cord is long enough for you to store your device in your trouser pocket or bag, and it comes in a variety of colours like Black, Blue, White and Pink.

Plus, they actually have Active Noise Cancellation. Yes, for under a tenner, this packs a real punch.

What’s in the box

• 1 x  Sony In-Ear Headphones only.

Technical specifications

• Dimensions: 120cm
• Weight: 3 g 
• Material type: Plastic, silicone
• Dust and waterproof rating: Unknown.

Audio specifications

• Noise cancelling: ANC
• Driver diameter: 9 mm
• Sensitivity: 16 ohms
• Frequency: 8- 22,000 Hz.

Pros

• Excellent value for money
• Noise-cancelling.

Cons

• No volume control.

Get these Sony earbuds for even less with our Amazon student deals.

Best wired earbuds with mic

1MORE Triple Driver In-Ear Earphones — £49.99

Some of the best-wired earbuds with a mic on the market, they’ve been compared to Sony models, but are cheaper to get hold of and have similar audio quality. 

Their in-line mic sits closer to your mouth compared to other wired earbuds out there. This helps with mic audio quality and it’s even been commended for making the voice sound clear in a crowded place.

These buds have a balanced mid-range, so speech sounds detailed. Want to listen to music? Their bassy sound is great for dance, drum and bass and other similar genres. They come with basic button controls too that let you end calls and adjust your audio’s volume. Finally, they come with nine different pairs of ear tips, so you know you’ll get the best fit.

What’s in the box

• 1 x 1MORE Triple Driver earphones
• 8 x extra sets of ear tips (5 silicon, 3 foam)
• 1 x Dual-prong airline adapter
• 1 x Leather traveling case
• 1 x Wire clip
• 1 x User manual.

Technical specifications

• Dimensions: 120cm
• Weight: 22.7 g 
• Material type: Plastic, silicone, metal
• Dust and waterproof rating: Unknown.

Audio specifications

• Noise-cancelling: ANC
• Driver diameter: 9 mm
• Sensitivity: 16 ohms
• Frequency: 8- 22,000 Hz.

Pros

• Solid metal earbuds
• Affordable
• Great sound quality to price ratio.

Cons

• Cheap build
• Tangles easily.

Get these 1MORE Triple Driver In-Ear Earphones for even less with our Amazon student deals.

Barcelona wired earphones — £19.99

Need a pair of wired earphones for both music and phone calls? These budget earphones are the ones for you. The in-ear earbuds offer a close fit that stays securely in place as you go about your day. Plus, they isolate noise from your surroundings (despite not having active noise cancellation). 

Compatible with iOS, Android and Windows devices, you’ve got a pair of wired earbuds that are versatile no matter what device you own.

What’s in the box

• 1 x  Barcelona wired earphones only.

Technical specifications

• Dimensions: 120cm
• Weight: 16 g 
• Material type: Plastic, silicone, metal
• Dust and waterproof rating: Unknown.

Audio specifications

• Noise-cancelling: Unknown
• Driver diameter: Unknown
• Impedance: 16 ohms
• Sensitivity: 95dB
• Frequency: 20-20.000Hz.

Pros

• Hands-free with a microphone
• Compatible with almost all devices.

Cons

• Needs an audio jack for iPhones.

Get these Urbanista Barcelona earphones for less with our Urbanista student discount.

San Francisco wired earphones — £19.99

Sick of tangling your wired earphones simply by putting them in your pocket? The San Francisco wired earphones sport a tangle-free flat cable which both look good but offer a hassle-free solution. The remote fitted into the earphones allow you to take calls, pause and play your tunes or skip between tracks, just like the Barcelona model. There isn’t much difference between the models, but some may prefer a flat wire compared to a standard round wire. 

What’s in the box

• 1 x  San Francisco wired earphones only.

Technical specifications

• Dimensions: 120cm
• Weight: 16 g 
• Material type: Plastic, silicone, metal
• Dust and waterproof rating: Unknown.

Audio specifications

• Noise-cancelling: Unknown
• Driver diameter: Unknown
• Impedance: 32 ohms
• Sensitivity: 95dB
• Frequency: 20-20.000Hz.

Pros

• Hands-free with a microphone
• Compatible with almost all devices
• More impedance than the Barcelona model.

Cons

• Needs an audio jack for iPhones.

Get these Urbanista San Francisco earphones for less with our Urbanista student discount.

And those are the best wired earbuds on the market! There’s a ton to digest, but we hope the various price ranges and features of these wired earbuds give you a well-rounded idea of what’s out there.

Which wired earphones are best?

Below is our rating for the best wired earphones. We based this on value for money, features and overall quality.

1. QuietComfort® 20 Acoustic Noise Cancelling™ Headphones — £149.95
2. Marshall Mode Wired Headphones — £49.99
3. 1MORE Triple Driver In-Ear Earphones — £49.99
4. Sony in-ear headphones
5. San Francisco wired earphones — £19.99
6. Barcelona wired earphones — £19.99.

Wired vs wireless earphones: which is better?

Wired and wireless earphones each have their disadvantages. There’s no real answer to this because it comes down to lifestyle and personal preference. However, wired headphones have been preferred from a lack of latency point of view, whereas wireless means hands-free and the freedom to use other devices without having to plug/take out the earphones from a device. 

What is the difference between wired and wireless AirPods?

Wired and wireless AirPods are also known as EarPods and AirPods respectively.  The main difference between the EarPods and AirPods is that EarPods are wired earphones whereas the AirPods are wireless earphones. People opt for wireless due to how easy they are to take on the go and enjoy their Bluetooth connectivity, whereas some may prefer the EarPods due to the slight lack of latency (delay in sound/visuals).

Whether you’re after noise cancelling, earbuds, headphones, or on a budget, check out our headphones hub for everything you need.

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