Best wired earbuds to buy for reliable audio in 2023

We get it, sometimes you just need a pair of budget buds that are going to survive being crammed in your jeans pocket but will still deliver comfort, call quality and adequate sound. You can’t go wrong with this Panasonic pair that goes for under a tenner, fits well, and gives you a fine (albeit unexciting) reproduction of your music. We’ve happily squished a pair of these into our Nintendo Switch carry case and found they did well for our gaming needs. It’s possible to nitpick about the little details, but we’ve got no major complaints at this super affordable price.

• Ear tip sizes: Small, medium, large
• In-line mic: Yes
• Cable length: 1.2m

If you were to ask us to recommend a pair of buds that deliver on sound, call quality, value and comfort, these are the ones we recommend. Their audio is competitive with buds three times their price, while they come with a convenient hard carrying case and a range of foam and silicone ear tips that offer far more fit options than you’ll need. We’ve owned ours for over a year and can guarantee they’ve got excellent build quality and we love the convenient in-line remote that houses the microphone, call controls, playback and volume adjustments. Overall, if you’re after a sound upgrade over your wireless buds and want something that sounds crystal clear over your Teams calls, this is the one all-rounder we’d suggest.

• Ear tip sizes: Five different sizes of silicone; three sizes of foam
• In-line mic: Yes
• Cable length: 1.2m

There’s not much difference between these and the Panasonics, but they’re yet another lightweight, affordable and decent-sounding pair that will deliver all the basics – including a customisable fit and solid call quality. As with the Panasonic model, the thin cable may not be the most robust, but it’ll be more than good enough for keeping in your pocket as a backup pair if you’re worried about your wireless buds running out of juice.

• Ear tip sizes: Small, medium, large
• In-line mic: Yes
• Cable length: 1.2m

We’ve got a bit more quality here, delivering more than just the basics with a focus on several different custom ear tip sizes and a slick kevlar-reinforced cable that Soundmagic says is robust enough for some serious abuse, while not tangling when in use. We like how this one comes with handy accessories like a hard carrying case and a cable clip, and they’ve also got a focus on accurate and well-balanced, rather than overly bassy, audio. The only downside is that they don’t have a built-in mic, although Soundmagic makes an E50C that includes a mic and all the same accessories, for £56.99.

• Ear tip sizes: Small, medium and large (silicone); small, medium, large (foam), one pair of double flange ear tips too
• In-line mic: No
• Cable length: 1.2m

After something small and convenient that delivers a thumpy and energetic bass on a budget? These are the buds you’re after. We’re not about to promise that these deliver a lot of detail or clarity, but what they will do is enhance and boost the bass in a way that can be a lot of fun depending on the music you prefer. Another affordable pair, these go for under £8 if you pick the white or black versions and they have a built-in mic and a single in-line button for play/pause and call control.

• Ear tip sizes: Small, medium, large
• In-line mic: Yes
• Cable length: 1.1m

It’s no exaggeration to say that the Zero is one of the most hyped-up in-ear monitors available at the moment, especially given its low cost and audiophile-friendly tuning. In fact, this pair is actually a collaboration between Linsoul and Crinacle, one of the most respected audio reviewers around. If you’re looking for a superb and balanced sound profile at a low price, this is a terrific option. Like a lot of audiophile buds, they fit with the cable bending behind the ear, and the cord is detachable if you want to switch it out for an upgrade or replacement in the future. Those looking for audiophile quality at a low cost won’t be disappointed. And, if you’re after a great-sounding competitor that comes with a built-in mic on the cable, you could always either change the cable on these or consider the Moondrop Chu for £22.

• Ear tip sizes: Six pairs of varying depths and sizes
• In-line mic: No
• Cable length: 1.2m

For anybody hunting for decent sound, it’s worth knowing that Sennheiser is a safe bet. These buds include a wide range of ear tips so you’ll get a good fit, they have a handy in-line mic and we like their pocketable protective pouch. They have a straightforward and uncomplicated design, they’re available in white, black or red, and the sound is good enough for most listeners, with decent imaging, an accurate and clean presentation and a bit of thump to the bass.

• Ear tip sizes: Extra small, small, medium, large
• In-line mic: Yes
• Cable length: 1.2m

If you don’t get along with silicone or foam ear tips (not everyone does), then you’ll want to look at the basic Apple EarPods, which are a far better product than you’d expect for earphones that used to come bundled in with new iPhones. They’re well-built and engineered for a reasonably balanced sound while delivering an excellent mic performance that will make them ideal if you want earbuds for calls from your phone. They’re not for everyone, though. Personally, we can’t really use these without feeling a bit of discomfort after a couple of minutes.

• Ear tip sizes: n/a
• In-line mic: Yes
• Cable length: 1.2m

For a good balance of quality materials and decent audio, we’d recommend looking at these House of Marley earbuds. We’ve had this pair for a few years and they’re still going strong, so we can confirm that the fabric cable and the wood around the aluminium housing hold up well after a lot of use. They don’t come with that many ear tips or much in terms of in-line controls, but they’ve got a built-in mic that works well for calls, and the sound quality is surprisingly well-balanced and clear. They’re a solid option when it comes to long-lasting and well-built wired earbuds.

• Ear tip sizes: Small, medium
• In-line mic: Yes
• Cable length: 1.3m

Own an Android phone like the Nothing phone (1) or the Google Pixel 6? Our recommendation is to pick up the Apple USB-C to 3.5mm dongle. We use it with our own Pixel 7 and have always found it robust and reliable when delivering music through wired headphones. As a bonus, it’s ideal for use with iPads and other USB-C-only tablets.

Yes, it used to come in the box with new iPhones and now it doesn’t, but the Lightning to 3.5mm adapter goes for less than £9, is tiny and portable, and delivers clean audio without any fuss. We’ll be honest, we’ve got at least three or four of these banging around at home or in our bags, connected to various corded buds or wired over-ear headphones.