There's more and more people wearing wires. We explained why

Uin the areas of consumer technology that has benefited most from innovations has been the world of audio, thanks to earphones or wireless headphones, noise canceling technology and consistent improvements in audio quality.

Nevertheless, the past few months have been marked by a curious tendency that is that more and more people are returning to earphones and headphones with wires – something that we see especially in younger age groups and also among public personalities, as actors or artists in the music world.

To what then is this trend due? After all, modern headphones and wireless headphones offer the convenience of not having to deal with wires (so many times tangle in backpacks and pockets) and, with more and more devices not counting on conventional 3.5mm audio input (as is the case with iPhone) it is clear that the world of technology clearly intends to move away from this element.

Well, the answer is simple and complex. On the one hand, wireless headphones and headphones are cheaper and many do not show a significant reduction in audio quality. In addition, wired models do not require users to be constantly concerned about battery autonomy, which means they can use them more quietly.

On the other hand, some feel “comfort” in this return to the past.

“I am a convert”, says Aryn Grusin, a social worker in the state of Oregon, in the United States, to BBC. “I find it comforting. I like to show people around me that I am hearing something”.

From Circana data, the publication suggests that this trend is reflected in the sales of headphones with wires that, after five years of falling, had a “rebirth” in the second half of 2026. According to this data, the revenue from these audio devices increased by 20% in the first six weeks of 2026.

One of the factors that seems to contribute to this trend is the feeling that the current headphones and wireless headphones are simply too advanced. 

“ It seems that people are turning against technology because it is becoming too advanced. I think there's a group mentality in which we find ‘I don’t like this feeling’ and we’re all going back to the last time we feel comfortable’, says Grusin, noting that this may be the reason analogue technology is becoming increasingly popular.

This view is corroborated by Chris Thomas (of SoundGuys) and Ailene Doloboff (dialogue editor in the film industry) who point to the BBC that, with some models of headphones and wireless headphones, there are some additional complications.

“ With wires, just seats and simply works”Thomas says. “ People say [wireless] is easier, but it never seems easy to me. With Bluetooth there is always an additional step”.

The good news is that, given the great diversity of brands and models in the world of headphones and headphones, consumers have more choice options than ever in buying these devices. Depending on the choice and once the pros and cons are weighed, many will be pleased to know that wired models remain as viable as wireless models.