Handsfree
Wired Handsfree
A small and deliberately simple category. Wired earphones with a microphone, for anyone who wants zero latency, no battery and no pairing.
- Wired earphones with a microphone for calls and music
- Zero latency — critical for video and gaming
- No battery to charge or replace
- 3.5 mm and USB-C plugs
When wired is the better choice
Latency: every wireless link adds at least a few milliseconds. On video that shows as lips out of sync, and in games as delayed sound. A cable does not have this problem.
Reliability: nothing to forget to charge, no lost connection in a crowd, no cutting out mid-call. That is why many people keep a pair permanently in the bag as backup.
Cost: for the same sound quality, wired costs far less.
Mind the connector
Most current phones have no 3.5 mm jack. You have three options: earphones with a USB-C plug that connect directly, a USB-C to 3.5 mm converter so you can use the pair you already own, or wireless.
A note on converters: cheap ones without a built-in audio circuit do not work on every device. If your phone produces no sound through an adapter, that is usually why.
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Frequently asked questions
- My phone has no headphone jack. What now?
- Choose handsfree with a USB-C plug, or get a USB-C to 3.5 mm converter from the cables and adapters.
- Why does the adapter I bought not work?
- Many current phones require an adapter with a built-in audio circuit (DAC). Simple passive converters are not enough on those devices.
- Is the sound worse than wireless?
- At the same price, usually better — there is no wireless compression. You only lose the convenience.
- Do they work with a computer?
- 3.5 mm ones do, on any computer with a combined jack. USB-C ones need a USB-C port with audio support.
This is the option that never lets you down: no battery, no pairing, no latency. If you prefer no cable, see the wireless headphones.