The massive arrival of the AirPods and all the other wireless earbuds has brought us into the future, but let's be honest, the past really never ended. First of all, wired earbuds are trending again, thanks to the early-2000s aesthetic revival — just look at profiles like @wireditgirls, where the wired look flaunted by Dua Lipa or Charli XCX has become the essence of cool. It stands in stark contrast to today’s dominant aesthetic: the grotesque image of the tech or finance “bro,” forever walking around with a single wireless bud in his ear.
Wired earbuds are easy to keep in your pocket, need no batteries or charging cases, and, frankly, are harder to lose. And then some wired headsets have very high audio quality-we talked about them here. Ultimately, whether they are "better" or "worse" than wireless models is subjective, but having a pair with you at all times remains a good move.
So, which wired earbuds should you buy today? Belkin, the California-based company known for its tech accessories, has a rather convincing answer. The latest version of its SoundForm ANC Earbuds integrates a few clever updates that make them surprisingly current. Otherwise, they’re just a normal pair of earphones, with decent sound—they won’t thrill audiophiles, and there are some build quirks (the sample I tested, for instance, tends to lose its ear tips easily). But that’s not really the point.
For just under $30, these SoundForm are the first USB-C earbuds with a cord and no internal battery to offer Active Noise Cancellation.
The point is that, for just under $30, these SoundForm are the first USB-C wired earbuds and with no internal battery to offer Active Noise Cancellation. Don't imagine the ANC of the Sony headphones or the AirPods Pros: here we're mostly talking about reducing background buzz, not major noise. But they still isolate you better than any "open" model.
The inline remote hosts a multifunction button that controls ANC, switches to transparency mode (which sort of works, but it’s there), and manages music and calls. Three EQ presets offer a touch of customization, and the USB-C connection makes them plug-and-play with almost any recent smartphone or laptop. They’re also IPX5-rated, so rain isn’t a problem.
All this in a pair of lightweight, inexpensive earphones that put the cable exactly where it belongs: in your pocket—ready when your phone hits 1% battery, or when you simply don’t feel like managing yet another device to charge.
In a segment stuck in the early 2000s, these Belkin ones represent a small but real step forward. If you must have a pair of corded headphones with you at all times, these should probably be it.
All images: Belkin's new SoundForm ANC Earbuds. Courtesy Belkin