The invention of the Bluetooth earbud was a nearly fatal blow for wired headphones. Following the release of the Apple AirPod, wired headphones became outdated almost overnight. What followed was several years of declining sales. Finally, in 2024, the popularity of wired headphones hit a near all time low, according to Forbes.

Since then, the technology has continued to improve. Battery life, connectivity, and design of wireless headphones have gotten better and better. And yet, starting in 2025, old-fashioned wired headphones are making a huge comeback. Gen Z is one group driving the trend.

People are fed up with Bluetooth headphones

Circana reports that wired headphone sales began surging in 2025. In the first six weeks of 2026, sales were up a massive 20%. That’s after years of plummeting toward obsolescence.

What’s behind the shift?

For starters, people are growing more and more irritated by spotty Bluetooth connections. The technology has improved a lot over the years, but you still never know when your Bluetooth will drop out in the middle of a song, a podcast, or an important work call.

Actress Zoë Kravitz, who has been spotted rocking wired headphones, said in an interview, “Bluetooth does not work. It’s ruining important moments.”

Bluetooth has been........

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