Almost every third order for Apple earphones in the Onlíner Catalog is for regular wired EarPods. A year ago, their share was significantly smaller, and in the US, after five years of decline, the entire market for wired models has started to grow again. What is driving people to choose a cable in the era of wireless earphones? Let's find out.

What's happening in general?

According to the research company Circana, after five years of continuous decline, the market for wired earphones in the US has unexpectedly started to rise: in the second half of 2025, revenue grew by 10%, and in the first six weeks of 2026, it grew by 20%. And how are things in our country?

If we compare the number of orders for all earphones for the same periods in 2025 and 2026, the difference is within the margin of error. Therefore, it's too early to talk about significant market growth in the Onlíner Catalog.

But the situation with AirPods is more interesting. From January 1 to September 24, 2026, wired EarPods accounted for 28.6% of all Apple earphone orders in the Onlíner Catalog. Just a year ago, for the same period, the wired model was in third place with a share of 19.9%, significantly behind AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2.

How did it happen that after years of the "Apple" TWS boom, people are rediscovering wired "earbuds" from Apple? Let's find out.

The first reason: the wire is significantly cheaper

The most obvious argument is the price. In the US Apple Store, EarPods with USB-C cost $19, while basic AirPods 5 cost $129. The difference is almost sevenfold. In the Onlíner Catalog, prices are different, but the principle remains the same: wired EarPods with Type-C are sold from 75 rubles, while wireless AirPods 4 without ANC start from 589 rubles.

And it's not just about Apple. According to Circana's calculations, the average price of wired earphones in the US in 2025 was around $13, while Bluetooth models were around $99. Of course, for the extra money, the buyer gets more features: no cable, noise cancellation, and other functions. But if earphones are needed mainly for calls, travel, and a couple of videos a day, not everyone is willing to pay for all this.

Wireless earphones with a microphone, in-ear, portable, fully wireless (TWS), Bluetooth 5.3, fast charging, 4 hours of operation, 20 hours with a case, active noise cancellation

The second reason: they don't need to be charged

Wireless models have a dependency on batteries: one needs to keep track of headphone and case charge, and over time also consider battery wear. For example: in the first year after buying AirPods 4, you rarely think about charging, but then you end up checking the battery before leaving home each time.

With EarPods it's simpler: connect them to a smartphone or laptop — and they work. Therefore, a wired pair can easily lie in a backpack or on a desk as a backup. The downsides are obvious too: the cable may get frayed, and the USB-C port of the smartphone will be occupied during listening.

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Third reason. Microphone

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And choosing just one is not obligatory. Wired models are often purchased as a second pair - for the office, trips, or in case the wireless ones run out of power. Incidentally, the author of this article has exactly such a setup: AirPods 4 for trips/cooking, and EarPods are convenient to use during the workday or during an evening gaming session of Counter-Strike.

It seems that wired headphones have not been defeated by Bluetooth and are not going to be. Simply, ten years after the release of AirPods, it has become clear that the ordinary wire still has enough scenarios where it is more convenient.

The buyer's choice wireless earbuds with microphone, in-ear, portable, completely wireless (TWS), Bluetooth 5.3, fast charging, 5 hours of operation, 30 hours with case, active noise cancellation

The buyer's choice