EarPods Rule
I was originally going to tack this onto the end of my products I swear by post but it felt out of place so I've decided to do a whole new post.
In October 2025, I had the sudden realisation that Apple's EarPods have a variant with a USB-C connector. It's been available since 2022 but you have to forgive me as I'm not an Apple person. At first, I just thought it was interesting. Then, I remembered that EarPods have a built-in microphone.
EarPods (yes, the wired ones) are, now, my go-to for voice calls in many situations. No, I don't have a secret iPhone. I use them, primarily, with my Android phone and Steam Deck where, previously, I used the awkward IEM plugged into a 3.5mm-to-USB-C adapter setup.
While I do use my phone like a normal phone, there are occasions where I need to jump on a video conference through Microsoft Teams (🤮) and the likes and I can't use the built-in microphone. Actually, I can and have done so with it working well at times but other times it's disastrous. EarPods are an elegant solution to that situation.
Similarly, there have been occasions where I want to do multiplayer gaming on my Steam Deck. For example, when I'm visiting family with a semi-proper setup with a monitor. Like the earlier example, the built-in microphone of the Steam Deck has been sufficient sometimes. Again, EarPods solve that and everything just works thanks to standards! USB-C means that I don't even need a splitter as was needed, previously, with a 3.5mm connector.
They're simply fantastic in terms of audio quality (both input and output) for their price point and you don't have to go far out of your way to buy them; you can get a pair from most stores that sell electronics. I wouldn't use them over a proper headset if I'm gaming at home but, if it was my only option, I wouldn't hesitate.
I love that they're wired. It means you can easily move them from device to device without any pairing nonsense and you don't have to charge them since they don't have a battery.
From a privacy standpoint, they're excellent as they're not emitting any radio waves that make you trackable as you go about your day in a public space. They also have that iconic look that's everywhere to help you blend in if that's your thing. (Since buying mine, I've been more observant at what others use and I'm surprised by how many people use EarPods even in 2025.)
Finally, observant readers might realise that there are a number of blog posts on the internet with the same title (see here and here). Despite coming to the same conclusion independently, I have intentionally matched the post name.