Earphones make it easy to enjoy music, movies, podcasts, and more privately when out in public. They can be used with your smartphone, tablet, and personal computer. You are instantly met with many options, features, and brands when shopping for earphones. This can make the process of choosing very tedious. To make this easier, here we have listed five things you need to keep in mind when shopping for earphones.

Keep the form factor in mind
Before you get down to bagging deals and discounts on various popular brands of headphones, decide on the form factor of your headphones. Headphones are available in three main types. The first type is the in-ear headphones. These types of headphones fit inside the ear canal. They are the most portable of all the options available on the market. Due to the earbuds resting inside the ear canal, some individuals may find this uncomfortable. 

The second type is the on-ear headphones. These earphones rest on the outer portion of your ear. They are a great choice of headphones for those who do not like the in-ear option. They are also soft to wear, super comfortable, and offer better sound quality than in-ear headphones. The only downside is that it is quite large and therefore much less portable than our previous option. 

The last main type of earphone is the over-ear. This is the most comfortable one of all the options. They do not touch the ears. Instead, they have soft padding that rests around the ears. Over-ear headphones also offer top-notch sound quality.

Wired vs. wireless
This is the second thing that you need to decide on before you start shopping for earphones. Wireless headphones are currently very popular. They are super easy to use and offer a lot of conveniences. You do not have to worry about detangling wires. But, there is a trade-off that takes place here. While you get convenience, you may have to sacrifice the quality of the sound. Wired headphones, on the other hand, have better sound quality. You also do not have to worry about running out of charge with your wired headphones.

Don’t forget about the driver
The driver is an important component of your earphones. It vibrates the air based on the signals received, which in turn are converted into the sound that we hear. The headphones we use are just smaller versions of a speaker, and the driver decides the sound quality you will hear. There are many different types of drivers available in the market, and you need to choose one based on the quality of sound that you wish to hear. Note that some brands even have their own trademarked drivers.

Decide on the sensitivity
The sensitivity of your earphones refers to how loud they can get compared to their power. This parameter is usually measured in decibels. When purchasing a new headset, always look for one with a sensitivity of 90dB-120dBw for 1mW of power. Note that you do not want earphones that are very loud as they can lead to permanent damage and loss of hearing.

Maintain a fixed budget
Once you’ve decided on the other factors, you must set aside a fixed amount for your purchase. The prices of different headphones can vary vastly based on the brand, the driver, and other special features.

If you want to purchase a pair of earphones, you may want to check out Apple’s latest AirPods Pro 2. The new design was released on 23 September 2022 and cost roughly $249. It, of course, comes with some of the latest features, including top-notch noise cancellation and the Dolby Atmos spatial ratio for a better listening experience. Compared to the older models, this new pair comes with an increased battery life of 6 hours on a single charge, fast charging, and easy volume control.