If your looking for earbuds for kids then you have come to the right place.
For most of us, working from home and video conference calls have become the norm. This brings a host of new problems: maintaining reliable WiFi, finding a nice quiet spot to video call, and more.
Your earbuds shouldn’t be one of those problems. It can be especially tricky to pick the best earbuds for kids. Why is it so important?
If your kids are attending school online, a good pair of earbuds will help them to focus, as well as giving everyone a measure of privacy. If you choose the wrong pair of earbuds, you could risk hurting your kids’ ears, exposing them to a higher level of noise than you’d like, and essentially wasting your money.
So, here are fifteen of the absolute best earbuds for kids.
Top 15 Best earbuds for kids
#1 – Kids Devil Horn Earphones (Overall winner)
SPECIFICATIONS
- Volume-Limited: No
- Build Quality: Wireless and lightweight, weighing 4g per earbud
- Ear Tips: Standard silicone, with three different tip size options
- Connectivity: Bluetooth
- Microphone: Yes
These are among the most popular earbuds for kids. Cute, stylish, and ergonomically designed, these earbuds offer a host of features. Not least of all is the fantastic devil-horn charging case!
It offers a noise-reducing function that helps when taking calls in a busy area. The earbuds can be controlled by smart touch, and their ergonomic design means that they sit securely in the ear canal. The ear tips come in different sizes, meaning they fit just about everyone. With a solid 6-hour playback time, these earbuds offer the option to charge just one earbud at a time, while still listening to music or taking calls with the other earbud. The charging case offers an extra 30 hours of playback time.
This is handy for a busy person who doesn’t have time to charge their earbuds twice a day!
Best Features & Reasons to Buy
- 1: Smooth, stylish, and ergonomic design (perfect for kids!)
- 2: Mono/binaural modes (you can charge one earbud while using the other)
- 3: Noise reduction and high-definition call quality
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#2 – Cute Cat Emoji 3.5mm in-Ear Stereo Earbuds Earphones With Mic Earphone (Runner-up)
SPECIFICATIONS
- Volume-Limited: No
- Build Quality: 4ft anti-tangle flat cable, 3.5mm jack, plus a rubber carrying case
- Ear Tips: Soft rubber earbuds
- Connectivity: Wired
- Microphone: Yes
Your children will love these cute, well-designed earbuds. The soft gel earbuds are designed for comfort, and also help with noise isolation. The handy travel pouch measures approximately 3 inches, providing a compact and convenient storage space. This helps to protect the earbuds from dust and water damage, improving durability.
Easy storage also helps avoid pesky tangles. While there is only one pair of earbuds provided, they are specially designed for small ears, making these ideal earbuds for you kids.
Best Features & Reasons to Buy
- 1: Noise-canceling features and microphone
- 2: Anti-tangle flat rubber cables
- 3: Cute rubber carrying case, comes in a variety of colors
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#3 – DTMNEP Unicorn Gifts Earbuds Earphones for Girls
SPECIFICATIONS
- Volume-Limited: No
- Build Quality: Approx. 120cm cable, 3.5mm jack, includes earphone bag
- Ear Tips: Silicon, 3 different sizes available
- Connectivity: Wired
- Microphone: Yes
Parents, take notes – this makes a perfect present for a unicorn-loving child. This set of earbuds is very good value, including three sets of earbud tips, a unicorn key chain, a travel pouch, and a pair of ear buds.
This isn’t just all decoration. The handy pouch and keychain all help your child keep their headphone set in order, preventing tangles and damage.
As something marketed towards younger children, there are some cons to these earbuds. They don’t have a volume limiting option, meaning that your child could access high volume. They can risk hurting their ears and even risking future hearing loss. So, it’s best to monitor young kids when they’re using these earbuds.
Best Features & Reasons to Buy
- 1: Adjustable volume and built-in microphone
- 2: Noise-canceling features
- 3: Includes adorable keychain and earphone bag for easy transportation
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#4 – LilGadgets BestBuds Volume Limited In-Ear Headphones with Mic for Children
SPECIFICATIONS
- Volume-Limited: Yes
- Build Quality: Flat rubber tangle-free wires, extremely durable
- Ear Tips: Silicone earbuds, 3 different sizes of ear tip available
- Connectivity: Wired
- Microphone: Yes
These earbuds are particularly highly rated. If you’re looking for good quality at a reasonable price, you might want to try LilGadgets BestBuds. Volume limited headphone sets can be difficult to find, and if you need good audio performance without risking your kids’ ears, you’ll need to carefully balance the volume levels.
LilGadgets BestBuds also come with plenty of accessories, including a splitter. Kids earbuds need to have adjustable earbud tips, to keep up with your children as they grow, and LilGadgets don’t disappoint. There aren’t many cons to these earbuds, as it even comes with a case to store your headphone set.
Best Features & Reasons to Buy
- 1: Volume limited
- 2: Noise-canceling features plus microphone
- 3: Includes earphone splitter and travel case
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#5- Symphonized GLXY Wood Headphones
SPECIFICATIONS
- Volume-Limited: No
- Build Quality: Genuine wood earbud cover, tangle-free nylon cable
- Ear Tips: Silicone ear tips, 3 different sizes
- Connectivity: Wired
- Microphone: Yes
These are beautiful earbuds, covered with genuine wood. These are good headphones for kids but also for adults. While they don’t have a volume limit, they do offer a variety of silicon tip options, meaning they will fit adult ears and little ears alike!
Designed for ease of use, the Plug and Play feature makes answering and ending calls much easier. They also come with a stylish and eco-friendly pouch. These aren’t just earbuds for kids; they’re a perfect choice for adults too. However, these may not be the best earbuds for very young children, as the noise level can get a little higher than is ideal for a child.
Best Features & Reasons to Buy
- 1: Beautiful genuine wood earbud housing
- 2: Universal compatibility
- 3: Noise isolating features
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#6 – JVC hafx38w Marshmallow Memory Foam Earbud
SPECIFICATIONS
- Volume-Limited: No
- Build Quality: Memory foam earbud, 3.3ft tangle-free cord
- Ear Tips: Memory foam, 2 sizes available
- Connectivity: Wired
- Microphone: No
If comfort is your focus, these are the best earbuds for kids. The soft, memory foam ear tips come in two sizes, and your kids are sure to love the beautiful colors. The audio cable is designed to be tangle-free.
However, there are some cons to these earbuds. There’s no audio clip or microphone, which may be a problem for older kids. Earbuds like the LilGadgets BestBuds, in comparison, offer much more in the way of quality and features.
Best Features & Reasons to Buy
- 1: 10.0mm neodymium driver unit for powerful sound
- 2: Memory foam earbuds (extremely comfortable)
- 3: Tangle-free cord
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#7 – L.O.L. Surprise! Wireless Earbuds for Kids
SPECIFICATIONS
- Volume-Limited: No
- Build Quality: 6mm earbuds, plus fashionable charging/carrying case
- Ear Tips: Multiple sizes available, ergonomic fit
- Connectivity: Wireless
- Microphone: Yes
If your kids are always getting tangled up in their headphone cables, you might want to consider wireless or Bluetooth earbuds. The LOL Surprise! wireless earbuds for kids are cute, colorful, and fun – all without compromising on quality.
It offers quick charging facilities, reaching a full charge within 45 minutes. The earbuds are designed for small ears, but they may pose a choking hazard for small children.
Best Features & Reasons to Buy
- 1: Full charge in 45 minutes, 5 hours of playing time plus an extra 25 hours with charging case
- 2: 3D stereo sound with noise-canceling features
- 3: Comfortable, fashionable design
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#8 – Cartoon Unicorn Headphones
SPECIFICATIONS
- Volume-Limited: No
- Build Quality: 1.2m anti-tangle cable, PVC
- Ear Tips: Cushion design, 3 different ear tip sizes
- Connectivity: Wired
- Microphone: Yes
This is another set of earbuds that are perfect for kids who love unicorns. Cute but servicable, these provide good value sound quality and a design that will appeal to kids.
However, there are some cons. These earbuds aren’t as highly rated as the DTMNEP Unicorn gift set, and they don’t include as many extras, such as the travel pouch and extra ear bud tips.
Best Features & Reasons to Buy
- 1: Cute cartoon earphones
- 2: Microphone and volume control
- 3: Anti-tangle wiring
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#9 – Voguish Kids Pink Headphones
SPECIFICATIONS
- Volume-Limited: No
- Build Quality: Unique ear hook design, soft cable to secure earbuds
- Ear Tips: 3 adjustable sizes, plus ear hooks for security and comfort
- Connectivity: Wireless
- Microphone: Yes
If your kids always have their earbuds falling out of their ears, maybe even losing their wireless ones, these are a great product. They might even work for parents, too! The earbuds themselves have magnetic backs, meaning that when they aren’t being used, they will stick together.
While these earbuds are wireless, they are connected by a cable, minimizing the risk of getting lost. The ear hook keeps the ear buds firmly nestled in the ear canals, improving comfort and the quality of sound and music.
Best Features & Reasons to Buy
- 1: Bluetooth connectivity
- 2: Magnetic earbuds and unique ear hook design
- 3: Wireless and lightweight
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#10 – JustJamz Kidz 2.0 Color Call with Mic Stereo Earbud Headphones
SPECIFICATIONS
- Volume-Limited: No
- Build Quality: 6 x 3.5 x 1.6 inches dimensions, 3ft flat anti-tangle cord
- Ear Tips: Silicone ear tips, one size only
- Connectivity: Wired
- Microphone: Yes
Buying decent earbuds on a budget can be tricky. JustJamz Kidz are a reliable brand, providing bulk packages of multicolored headphones. There are several choices of packages, meaning you can buy headphones for the whole family.
Of course, there are some cons, but a 10-pack of headphones for $24.99, coming out at around $2.50 per pair, is not to be sniffed at. There aren’t any different ear tip sizes, so perhaps these might not be the best earbuds for small ears.
Best Features & Reasons to Buy
- 1: Noise isolating features
- 2: Microphone and call options
- 3: Reasonable price and bulk options available
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#11 – QearFun Donut Earbuds for Kids
SPECIFICATIONS
- Volume-Limited: No
- Build Quality: Tangle-free flat cord, plus donut-style storage case
- Ear Tips: Silicone ear tips, one size
- Connectivity: Wired
- Microphone: Yes
Now, these are absolutely adorable. If your kids have a sweet tooth, they’ll get a kick out of these ones. Complete with cable clip, audio controls, and a quirky donut-styled travel case, these are great earbuds for your kids.
But don’t let the cute design fool you. These earbuds provide high-quality audio, and they also come with a 30-day warranty.
Best Features & Reasons to Buy
- 1: Fashionable and unique design, plus a convenient carrying case
- 2: Lightweight and ergonomic design for maximum comfort
- 3: Microphone features
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#12 – Amazon Basics In-Ear Wired Headphones
SPECIFICATIONS
- Volume-Limited: No
- Build Quality: Smooth PVC 3.9 ft cable
- Ear Tips: Standard silicone, 3 sizes available
- Connectivity: Wired
- Microphone: Yes
Sometimes, simplicity is best. If you’re not sure about what earbuds for your kids will suit best, it’s good to go with a tried and tested brand. Amazon offers a 1-year warranty, three ear tip options, and a straightforward, easy to use set of earphones.
However, there have been some issues with the past with product durability. This may be a bit off-putting for a first-time buyer, but the price is reasonable.
Best Features & Reasons to Buy
- 1: 1-year warranty available to guarantee durability
- 2: Built-in microphone
- 3: Compatibility with virtually all devices
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#13 – QearFun in Ear 3D Cute Cartoon Animal Unicorn Horse Earbuds with Mic
SPECIFICATIONS
- Volume-Limited: No
- Build Quality: PVC cable plus unicorn carrying case
- Ear Tips: Soft ear gel tips, one size available
- Connectivity: Wired
- Microphone: Yes
Unicorns are definitely in fashion right now. This is the cheapest option out of all of the unicorn-style earbuds, and provides the most value. A cute travel case is included, as well as solid product quality.
Highly rated on Amazon, these earbuds provide attractive and useful headphones for kids.
The handy cable remote offers quick shuffling between music tracks, as well as volume control and a play/pause feature.
Best Features & Reasons to Buy
- 1: Cute and quirky design, plus handy traveling case
- 2: Microphone and volume control
- 3: Eartips designed for comfort
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#14 – Picun W20 Pink Wireless Headphones In-Ear
SPECIFICATIONS
- Volume-Limited: No
- Build Quality: Lightweight, ergonomic earbuds, designed to be worn without discomfort
- Ear Tips: Standard silicone, 3 sizes available
- Connectivity: Bluetooth
- Microphone: Yes
As wireless headphones for kids go, these are probably your best option. There are three silicon ear tip options, lightweight and ergonomically designed for maximum comfort. Once connected via Bluetooth, the connection will start again automatically when you remove the earbuds from the charging case.
The Picun W20 Wireless headphones are IPX8 waterproof, adding an extra layer of durability (haven’t we all accidentally dipped our earbuds into our tea?).
Best Features & Reasons to Buy
- 1: 36 hours playtime with charging case
- 2: Water resistant
- 3: Microphone feature and easy Bluetooth connectivity
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#15 – Skullcandy Set in-Ear Earbuds
SPECIFICATIONS
- Volume-Limited: No
- Build Quality: Smooth PVC cable, unique ear hooks for extra security
- Ear Tips: Standard silicone, 3 sizes available
- Connectivity: Wired
- Microphone: Yes
These are another set of earbuds designed for comfort and ergonomics. The smooth ear-hook design means that the earbuds sit snugly in the ear canals, giving an extra feeling of security. The comfortable fit enhances the noise isolation features.
There’s also a 2-year warranty available. Skullcandy is a popular and well-established brand, putting the Skullcandy Set in-Ear Earbuds right at the top of the list of best earbuds for your kids.
Best Features & Reasons to Buy
- 1: Unique in-ear hook design to ensure your earbuds sit more securely
- 2: Water and sweat resistant
- 3: Noise-isolating
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Wireless vs True Wireless Earbuds: is there a difference?
Surprisingly, not all wireless earbuds are equal. You might hesitate to try wireless earbuds, having heard horror stories of lost earbuds, connection frustration, and poor sound quality. Fortunately, those days are gone. But now we have a plethora of “wireless” options to choose from. Which is the best style for you?
Wireless
This essentially means that your earbuds don’t need to be physically connected to a music device for a person to listen to their music. However, standard “wireless” earbuds often do have a connecting wire, keeping the earbuds themselves connected. This wire usually goes around the back of your neck and gives an added layer of security.
Another option you may be familiar with is on-ear earbuds, which is designed for those whose active lifestyle makes wearing earbuds a little tricky.
True Wireless
These may be the kind of “wireless” earbuds you’re familiar with. Completely separated from each other and your device, each earbud stands alone, wireless. They’re often ergonomically designed to sit comfortably and securely in your ear canal.
What’s the Difference?
Yes, there are differences between these styles of earbuds. Essentially, you can narrow down your search by focusing on three key elements: price, sound quality, and comfort.
Price
If you’re shopping on a budget, the price for both wireless and true wireless earbuds will vary. However, budget in-ear true wireless headphones can often offer the most value, combining quality with affordability.
Sound Quality
Once again, this can depend on the model and price of your earbuds. While wired earbuds aren’t necessary for high sound quality anymore, true wireless earbuds and headphones can be susceptible to interference from other devices. This can mean that your sound quality suffers.
It’s also important to take your device into account when choosing wired or wireless earbuds. Make sure your device is able to connect to your earbuds and transmit high-quality sound. This is especially important if you’re using true wireless earbuds. These need a strong Bluetooth connection to work properly.
In-ear styles of earbud often provide better sound quality and noise-cancelation.
Comfort
It stands to reason that a good set of earbuds will sit comfortably and securely in your ear canal, without any pain or the threat of falling out.
What feels comfortable might differ from person to person. If security is something you’re focused on, why not try a style of earbuds that hooks or clips around your ear, or over-ear headphones?
Regardless of sound quality and price, if your earbuds aren’t comfortable enough for you or your kids to wear happily, they’re a waste of money.
Considerations for Choosing the best earbuds for kids
Choosing good earbuds takes more than just ordering the cheapest set online. A good set of earbuds needs to be comfortable, within your budget, delivering good sound quality and durability. There are so many different styles, prices, and features of earbuds available that making an informed choice might take a little research.
Choose the Right Headphones for You
If noise isolation is your top priority, traditional headphones might be your best bet. However, if you want a lightweight, wireless earbud for when you’re on the go, a hefty headphone set is not going to meet your needs.
Think about in what circumstances you or your kids will need your headphones. Check out online reviews and recommendations, especially if you’re planning an expensive purchase. Try and choose a style that worked well for you in the past.
For example, perhaps you’re going to wear your headphones on your commute, or when you’re out and about, or even at the gym. Chances are, you’ll want something compact and lightweight. Wireless in-ear headphones might be your best bet here.
However, if you’re looking for something to wear at home while you work, you probably won’t need to focus on lightweight convenience. In fact, you might even prefer over-ear headphones that have great noise isolation features. This can help you focus without being distracted by background noise.
How to Pick the Best Earbuds for Kids?
Why is it so difficult to choose the best earbuds for kids?
Many earbuds are geared towards adults, not kids. This means that the ear tips may be too large, which will hurt kids’ ears. Aside from this, durability can be an issue. Kids can be rougher with their things, and this can lead to expensive broken earbuds.
There are other safety concerns you should think about when buying earbuds for your kids.
Volume-Limiter
This is something adults tend not to worry about when shopping for earbuds. We know that high volume can damage our hearing, so we keep our sound to a sensible level.
This can be an issue with kids’ headphones. Kids often don’t understand the dangers of high volumes, but it can cause serious damage to their hearing. Especially if you’re buying earbuds for a very young child, look into getting a volume-limiter. Simply setting the volume low isn’t enough, as your kids will just turn it up again as soon as your back is turned.
Many earbuds and headphones marketed towards kids have volume limiters, meaning that you as the parent can keep your child from exposing their ears to dangerous levels of sound. Alternatively, adapters are available, if your earbuds don’t already have a volume limiter.
Size and Material of Ear Tip
As mentioned earlier, many earbuds are marketed towards adults, and therefore the ear tips for in-ear headphones are too big for kids’ ears. This can cause pain. Regardless of your age, you should always wear an ear tip that fits you best.
Many earbud sets contain at least three sizes of ear tips: small, medium, and large. Your kids will likely fit the small size but make sure this is comfortable for them.
Silicone is the standard material for ear tips. Smooth, soft, and generally comfortable, this is a popular material. However, if your kids are struggling with discomfort, you might want to try memory foam ear tips. These are softer and squishier than even silicone and offer the best comfort you can get while wearing earbuds.
Durability, Water Resistance, and Build Quality
We’ve all gotten our earbud wire caught on something, or accidentally dropped one of our wireless earbuds on the floor.
Accidents happen, but kids do tend to be a little more clumsy. If you buy cheap earbuds, that’s exactly what you’ll get. Snagged wires might lead to ruined sound quality, or wireless earbuds run out of charge far too quickly.
Choosing a set of headphones or earbuds for kids can be the best bet. Often, these kinds of earbuds are extra sturdy, perhaps with tangle-free wires and ridges of rubber (in case they slip from small, sticky fingers).
Many earbuds are advertised as water-resistant. While water-resistant is a little different from waterproof, it’s still a very handy feature in earbuds for kids. You can’t take your earbuds in the shower with you, but if your kids accidentally spill water on their headphones, chances are, they’ll be just fine.
Wired vs. Wireless
For an adult, choosing between wired and wireless is just a matter of preference, price, and quality. For kids, it’s a little different.
First of all, it’s important to be extremely careful if you’re giving wired earbuds to young children. The cables can be very long and can present a strangulation hazard. Wired earbuds for kids tend to have shorter cables, but it’s still wise to be careful.
Some true wireless earbuds can even present a choking hazard for young kids. There’ll often be an age recommendation on the packaging of your earbuds. This is an important guideline that you should stick to.
Depending on price and brand, wired earbuds can offer better sound quality, and are harder to lose than wireless earbuds. Regardless of style, earbuds for kids are often designed to fit ergonomically in the ears and to be difficult to lose – or break!
Battery Life
At first glance, wireless earbuds for kids may seem to have fantastic battery life. However, you’ll still need to recharge your earbuds in the portable charger to benefit from that battery life.
If you don’t want your kids to spend too much time with their earbuds in their ears, try choosing a decent set of earbuds with lower battery life. This means they will need to be recharged frequently, giving the kids a chance to relax their ears.
However, if your kids are going to be using earbuds for a long period (for school, perhaps), then you would need something with longer battery life. Alternatively, some earbuds offer the option of charging one bud at a time, while still using the other one.
Active Noise Cancelation
It’s difficult to focus on anything with too much background noise. If your kids are easily distracted, it might be a good idea to get earbuds or headphones with high noise cancelation features.
In-ear headphones can be brilliant for active noise cancelation. The more snugly the ear tip fits into the ear canal, the less background noise gets through.
Over-ear headphones are also very good for noise cancelation and tend to provide a more whole, rounded-out sound quality. However, over-ear headphones can “leak” noise, meaning that people around you can hear low levels of sound from your headphones. This rarely happens with earbuds, but it can be distracting for others.
Controls
Most earbuds offer a remote on the cable, usually with up to four control options:
Hang up/Answer Call
You can answer or end calls on the go.
Volume
Volume buttons allow you to control the noise levels. Volume level is a very important consideration, especially with young children whose hearing may be damaged.
Play/Pause
Usually your music or content will pause when a call comes through, but you should also have a manual pause button.
Next/Previous
This allows you to shuffle through your music collection from the remote on your earbuds.
Microphone
A microphone is a standard feature on many earbuds, but not all. If you or your kids will be making frequent calls via your earbuds, it’s important to consider voice-call quality. It’s also worth noting the earbuds for kids may not have high-quality microphones.
For the best quality sound, two microphones per earbud are your best bet.
Cabled Backup
Some earbuds offer detachable cables. Earbuds for kids don’t often have this feature, but it gives a little extra security. You know that if the wireless or Bluetooth feature of your earbuds fails, you’ve got a backup in the earbud cable.
Comfortable Fit
What is comfortable tends to vary. Some children find in-ear headphones unbearable, whereas adults or kids with glasses might struggle to comfortably wear over-ear headphones.
Finding comfortable earbuds is often trial and error, but there are some basics you should consider.
Ear Tips
The ear tips should fit comfortably in your ear. Kids need smaller ear tips.
Security
Whether you’re wearing in-ear headphones or over-ear, the fit should be snug and secure. You shouldn’t need to worry about your earbuds falling out at a moment’s notice.
Volume level
Poor quality earbuds offer poor quality sound. This can result in you turning up your volume level higher than it needs to be, and this can be uncomfortable.
Sound Quality
It’s expected that what we hear from our earbuds should sound great, right? Unfortunately, cheap or poor quality earbuds won’t deliver great sound. It can sound staticky, tinny, or even too quiet. Earbuds for kids should offer good quality sound, otherwise, your children will turn up the volume higher than it should be.
The best earbuds offer good noise cancelation, filtering out background noise. Regardless of what you’re listening to or where you’re listening, you should hear clear, crisp, sound.
FAQ
Which are the best earbuds for kids?
There are many great brands of Bluetooth headphones here, but without a doubt, the Kids Devil Horn Earphones came first.
This set of headphones offers so many great features:
- Touch control
- Long battery life (up to 30 hours)
- Voice assistant (hello, Alexa!)
- Attention Mode (a quick gesture to turn down music)
- Foldable, lightweight design
If you’re looking for quality, value, and durability, this could be the ideal set of headphones for you and your kids.
Which are Better, Wireless or Bluetooth earbuds?
When it comes to choosing between wireless and Bluetooth, it very much depends on the brand and price of your earbuds.
However, Bluetooth connections can be a little harder to set up than wireless connection.
