Wired Headphones Make a Surprise Comeback Amid Convenience and Cost Appeal

Sales of wired headphones jumped 20 percent in the first quarter of 2026 – the first increase in five years – as consumers rediscover an accessory they once happily abandoned.

Research firm Circana's latest figures show the reversal is real. And the reasons aren't hard to understand: no charging, no pairing, no searching under the couch cushions at 7am.

Price is doing a lot of the work. Apple's EarPods run 149 yuan (US$21). AirPods 4 start at 999 yuan. The noise-canceling version costs 1,399 yuan.

The style calculus has shifted too. Jacob Elordi, Bella Hadid, and Jennie have all been photographed wearing wired earphones – repositioning a once-generic accessory as a deliberate, low-effort aesthetic choice.

Some users also note that a visible cable functions as an informal do-not-disturb signal – something wireless earbuds cannot replicate.

The trend has clear limits. Most newer smartphones no longer include a headphone jack, requiring users to carry adapters or forgo wired options altogether.

Online reactions have been mixed. "I'd switch back – if my phone still had a port," one user wrote.