Last year, I lost my old AirPods in my apartment and relied on my old-school Lightning EarPods for months before upgrading to an iPhone 16. Honestly, aside from missing wireless connectivity, I hadn’t noticed much difference. That’s why I still think they’re a good investment in 2025, and why I’m considering picking up the newer USB-C EarPods now that they’re on sale for $15.99 ($3 off) at Amazon and Walmart. That’s the best price we’ve seen and a smart buy if you’ve lost your entry-level pair or simply miss the simplicity of wired earbuds.
Released in 2023, the USB-C EarPods are designed to work with Apple’s latest iPhones, which have ditched the Lightning port in favor of USB-C. Aside from that, though, they’re virtually identical to the Lightning EarPods that once came bundled with the iPhone (they even include inline controls for volume and playback). They may lack pretty much all of the bells and whistles found on Apple’s latest AirPods, but many of us at The Verge still swear by their mic quality, which, surprisingly, outperforms a couple of pricier wireless options — including older AirPods models. They deliver impressively clear sound, too, which is why some of my colleagues still reach for them during calls.
For me, though, what I love most is how low-maintenance they are. I never had to worry about unwanted lag or battery life on long commutes — I just plugged them in and I was good to go. Best of all, they’re dirt-cheap to replace when you lose them, which, given my track record, I most certainly will.
