# I tested these $5 wired earbuds and they sounded better than expected – but I still wouldn’t recommend them

> It was just a typical Wednesday. I logged onto my work laptop, threw on my headphones and got typing about the flashy new tech I’d been testing. Everything was going great.

- **Source:** [TechRadar](https://www.techradar.com/audio/earbuds-airpods/usd5-challenge-i-tested-these-usd5-wired-earbuds-and-they-sounded-better-than-expected-but-i-still-wouldnt-recommend-them?utm_source=gearopen.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=689d04a676b4326859b65403)
- **Published:** 2025-08-13
- **Category:** Audio & Video
- **Tags:** #headphones #earbuds #laptops #better #expected #recommend #sounded #tested
- **Canonical:** http://localhost:4321/a/689d04a676b4326859b65403

---

_GearOpen's distilled summary. The full original article is published at TechRadar (source link above); GearOpen does not republish the source's full text._