Written by Ariel Connell, Staff Writer
Headphones and earbuds have been a topic of debate for decades, but which do Poly students prefer?
Ever since earbuds were invented, people have been debating whether or not they were better than the headphones that have served us since the late 1950s. Some complain that earbuds hurt their ears, others complain that they cannot wear their ear jewelry when they wear headphones, but which do Poly students prefer?
Senior, Emma Franco, explains that she “loves headphones because they are more fashionable,” stating that she “wears Beats headphones, which are super comfortable as well”. Students argue that when they wear over-ear products, such as like Beats or Apple Airpod Max’s, they feel they look cuter. Sydney Smith (12) and many students get their outfit inspiration from social media and claim they “match [their] headphones to [their] outfit, or the other way around depending on the day”.
However some students, like Olivia Vassale (10), explain that “Airpods and earbuds just look cooler and are less in the way”. Sometimes, students notice that their long hair gets caught in their headphones, and can get tangled. “It is also much nicer to listen to music, when no one knows that you are,” explains Olivia. Students also claim that it’s easier to hide their Airpods, so people are unaware they are listening to music. Not only that, some claim that it feels like the music is in their head better with in-ear devices, because it’s actually inside of their ears.
Wired earbuds have come back in fashion with the recent surge of “performative male” style that has come to popularity in recent years. Furthermore, the nostalgia trend of 2026 has influenced people to opt for older technology which has also surged the popularity of these types of listening devices. Due to these fads, more people have bought and worn wired earbuds in the past few months and there is a notable rise in Poly students and people around America wearing them.
Overall, it largely depends on the individual and their activities for which one is the right choice. For those wanting convenience, in-ear devices offer a more seamless look that also is better suited for outside activities. However for at-home listening headphones may be the better choice as they tend to offer a more robust sound. Due to the nature of school, students need to be able to quickly stash and retrieve their items; earbuds, either wireless or wired, are thus quite appealing as they can quickly and safely be slotted into a case or just thrown into a pocket. In contrast, headphones tend to be a bit more fragile due to their size, and their rigid bulk often makes them an awkward fit into backpacks. Due to these reasons and the explanations above, it is quite clear that most students will prefer earbuds over headphones.