Why Are Wireless Earbuds So Expensive?

These days, it seems that everyone is in search of the best wireless earbuds available. Be it for exercise, for work, or for just around the house, many of us want to be able to listen to the audio produced by our devices without the hassle of constantly untangling wires.

But why is it that these earbuds seem to be so much more expensive than other earbuds?

Wireless earbuds produced by companies like Apple and Beats tend to be expensive because of manufacturing costs and high markups. These companies sell excellent goods, but also mark up prices because of their brand prestige. However, there are wireless earbuds available at much cheaper prices.

The rest of this article will answer other questions related to wireless earbuds such as why some wireless earbuds are more expensive, whether or not “off-brand” wireless earbuds are worth purchasing, and what are the best selling wireless earbuds.

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Why Are Some Brands of Earbuds More Expensive Than Others?

When it comes to purchasing wireless earbuds, there is a wide variety of prices available across the market.

Some earbuds, such as the V-Moda Crossfade Wireless Earbuds, can cost several thousands of dollars, while other earbuds, such as the GO Air POP True Wireless Earbuds, go for much lower.

What accounts for this massive price difference?

Some brands of earbuds are more expensive than others because prices are often determined by the quality and branding of the earbuds themselves.

Earbuds that are higher quality and from popular, premium brands are more expensive, while lower quality earbuds from less well-known brands are cheaper.

The changes in quality might be slightly different, but this does not mean cheaper earbuds are always poor quality.

Let’s take a look at some of the quality requirements for most wireless earbuds and explain the differences in the quality of earbuds based on their price.

Quality Requirements

Branding Iphone

In recent years, technology has developed at a neck-breaking pace.

At the time the brand new iPhone 1 (referred to as “the iPhone”) was released in 2007, was, it was considered to be so technologically advanced that it very well might have been magic.

With one of the first-ever touch screens, the ability to search the internet, and the ability to stream videos from applications like YouTube, it simply could not be beaten.

Now, years later, the original iPhone is so obsolete it could be used as a paperweight.

The same can be said in terms of the development of wireless earbuds. In the past, the concept of being able to listen to a phone or computer’s audio without needing to be holding it, or perhaps, without having to even be near it, was unthinkable.

Now, Bluetooth technology is a normal occurrence in everyday life, and when purchasing wireless earbuds, we often expect more than just the ability to connect to a device from a distance.

It is in these expectations that prices of earbuds tend to rise exponentially.

While the technology needed to produce these earbuds is expensive, making most wireless earbuds at least somewhat expensive, when we are okay with earbuds that might have fewer features available than some of the more expensive brands, prices tend to fall dramatically.

Branding

Another reason for the high price of many wireless earbuds is that companies utilize their brand to mark up prices.

Apple, for example, is a well-known company that has a documented history of producing high-quality products.

It was initially this reason that drew so many people to buy Apple products. Now, however, part of Apple’s appeal is the fact that they are a “cool” company.

Go ask the average teenager in your life if it’s cool to own an Apple product.

Will they say that owning one makes you cool, maybe not, but does not owning one make someone “uncool”? That seems to be the case.

While we may not be able to explain it, many of us seem to agree that having the newest technology makes us feel good.

It is, for this reason, that big-name technology companies can sell their wireless earbuds for much higher prices: they know people will buy them.

It doesn’t matter if they are more expensive than many of their competitors, people will still spring for big-name wireless earbuds such as Airpods or Powerbeats just to claim the prestige of owning them.

Are “Off-Brand” Wireless Earbuds Still Worth Purchasing?

Are “Off-Brand” Wireless Earbuds Still Worth Purchasing

With high-quality wireless earbuds, such as Airpods or Powerbeats, costing even more, many people are looking for a cheaper alternative that still promises high-quality audio.

With many “off-brand” wireless earbuds having reputations for having poor audio quality and ultimately breaking in a short period of time, many people are wondering if purchasing “off-brand” wireless earbuds is worth purchasing.

Off-brand wireless earbuds are worth purchasing if you’re on a budget and aren’t bothered by their appearance.

Although most off-brand earbuds won’t provide the same audio quality and aren’t as stylish as branded ones, they’re still practical for everyday use, such as listening to music or podcasts.

Websites such as Tom’s Guide and Cnet provide lists of some of the best, and most affordable, wireless earbuds. Their evaluations can serve as a guide as to how much you are willing to spend on wireless earbuds.

For example, if being able to connect to a virtual assistant such as Siri or Bixby is important to you, spending money on a more expensive set of wireless earbuds might be worth it.

However, if you are looking for wireless earbuds that just have a pause feature or volume control, an “off-brand” set of wireless earbuds is worth looking into.

What Are the Best-Selling Wireless Earbuds?

What Are the Best Selling Wireless Earbuds

With so many wireless earbuds, both by major technology brands and by smaller “off-brand” companies, deciding what set of wireless earbuds works for you might be difficult.

Often, deciding how much you are willing to spend on wireless earbuds and then looking at what others recommend based on your price limits is the best way to decide which set of wireless earbuds is best for you.

With this in mind, what are the best-selling wireless earbuds?

Some of the best-selling earbuds are the TOZO T6 Wireless Earbuds Bluetooth Headphones from Amazon.com. These earbuds provide both high-quality audio and maintain a 5-star customer rating.

If that isn’t exactly what you are looking for, here are three other top-rated wireless earbuds to consider (all available on Amazon.com):

TOZO T10 Bluetooth 5.0 Wireless Headphones


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These earbuds, coming in five different shades and colors, are some of the best wireless earbuds on the market.

With a strong Bluetooth connection providing an interruption-free listening experience, waterproofness, and a long listening time, they are certainly worth the praise they have received.

Apple AirPods


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Apple’s AirPods, known for their quality, are certainly a safe bet for anyone looking to purchase wireless earbuds.

With a shape that provides for universal fitting, access to Apple’s virtual assistant, Siri, and automatic pausing when taken out of one’s ear, the features are what every listener would want.

Plus, owners will be sure to receive the aforementioned “wow factor” that comes with owning the instantly recognizable earbuds.

AEDILYS Wireless Earbuds


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These wireless earbuds, similar to the others listed, provide features most other earbuds do not.

Made for exercise, these earbuds are sweat-resistant, meaning that sweat will impact the sound, will not make these earbuds fall out, and will not cause any damage to the earbuds.

Additionally, with touchless technology, these earbuds are perfect in every situation.

Final Thoughts

Wireless earbuds truly sell for a wide variety of prices depending on the brand and quality of the earbuds.

The variation of these prices comes from a combination of both the different manufacturing costs, as well as the markup various vendors charge in order to incur a profit.

Ultimately, deciding which wireless earbuds to purchase of the hundreds for sale depends on the quality and features you wish to pay for.

Purchasing “off-brand” earbuds is certainly worth it, but in order to make sure you are getting the type you want, you must conduct your own research.

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