Philips Wired

Cheap, bassy, and built for the back of a drawer. A fine emergency pair, but not your daily driver.

The built-in DAC is a nice touch at this price, and the 10mm drivers do push out some genuinely punchy low-end. But the overall sound profile sits in the bottom third of our database. It's fun for pop and hip-hop, but clarity takes a backseat when the mix gets busy. The mic and connectivity are also pretty mediocre, so calls sound passable but not great.

Stacked against the JLab JBuds Pods ANC or the Anker Space A40, the Philips Wired gets absolutely smoked on sound, build, and features. Those are wireless with ANC and far better scores. But they also cost significantly more. If you're comparing wired to wired, the Philips is fine. If you can stretch your budget even a little, the Soundcore P31i is a much better daily driver.

For the price, it's hard to complain too loudly. You're getting a functional pair of USB-C earbuds with a remote and mic for less than a fancy coffee in most places. But value isn't just about being cheap. The low total score of 22.6 out of 100 tells you this is a stopgap, not a long-term solution.

The Philips Wired USB-C earbuds are the definition of a budget grab. You're getting a 10mm dynamic driver, a built-in DAC, and a 3-button remote for pocket change. The one thing to know? They're cheap, they work, and they lean hard into bass. Just don't expect them to survive a gym session or impress an audiophile.

If you're looking for workout earbuds, skip these entirely. The fitness score is a disaster. Go grab a cheap pair of wireless buds with ear hooks instead. And if you care about sound quality, this isn't it. Save up for the Soundcore P31i or Anker Space A40.

Buy these if you need a cheap pair of USB-C earbuds for a backup or a kid who loses everything. They're not good, but they're good enough for the price. If you care about sound quality or durability, save your cash for something better.