Is This the Best Apple Store Bargain?

Recently, my $129 AirPods 4 reached the end of their natural lifecycle. They met their maker during an unexpected hot water wash after I forgot them in the pocket of my gym shorts.

One AirPod and its charging case remain fully functional, even after being washed and dried. And we’re not talking about these high-efficiency washing machines that barely use water. According to Maytag, this was an old-school “deep fill” that fully submerges your clothes (and AirPods). Pretty impressive.

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Still, one AirPod doesn’t cut it. I didn’t quite realize how often I use my AirPods until they were gone.

While $129 isn’t necessarily overpriced considering their daily use between work, gym, dog walks, and personal phone calls, it’s still far from cheap. It’s hard to stomach another $129 knowing they’ll probably eventually meet a similar fate. I also have a pair of Sony’s WH-1000XM4 noise-cancelling headphones, which compete with the AirPods Max, albeit at a far more digestible $199. They’re great for deep focus sessions and flights, but far less practical than the AirPods 4 or AirPods Pro 2. They’re heavy and make your ears sweat.

After checking Apple Support, I learned you can actually replace a single right or left AirPod. However, the starting price is $69, unless you have AppleCare+. That’s too much of a crapshoot, considering the other AirPod could fail soon as well.

I hopped onto the Apple Store website fully prepared to pull the trigger on the AirPods 4. I even considered splurging on the AirPods Pro 2 for $249, but both felt too painful. I thought to myself, “I wish I had a pair of wired headphones like the ones that used to be included with a new iPhone.” Remember those days?

Apple stopped including wired headphones with new iPhones starting with the iPhone 12 in 2020. Apple stated that this decision (along with not including power adapters with new iPhones) was based on the company reaching its environmental goals and reducing its carbon footprint. I love Apple as much as anyone, but are we sure this decision has nothing to do with me being on my third set of AirPods in six months?

I searched the Apple Store for wired headphones, fully expecting zero results. I was wrong! Apple still sells wired headphones, and they’re available for just $19.

Wired headphones with a USB-C, 3.5 mm headphone plug, or Lightning connector are all the same price. All come with volume control, a microphone, and a built-in remote to control music playback, video playback, or answer calls. I did the only logical thing: I bought 2 pairs and saved $90.

Sadly, in the throes of my excitement, I neglected to check Amazon, where the same Apple-branded wired headphones are available for $15.96 with a Lightning connector, $16.99 with a 3.5mm plug, or $16.99 with a USB-C connector. You’re welcome.