- Panasonic unveils new version of very affordable ErgoFit in-ear buds
- New model ditches 3.5 mm for USB-C
- Otherwise the same knobs
Panasonic has just announced a new model of their budget ErgoFit In-Ear wired earphones, affordable and colorful in-ears that have been on the market for a few years now and are designed for everything from exercise to commuting. The new offerings appear to retain the same drivers and design, but make one crucial change.
Now the Panasonic ErgoFit can be purchased with a USB-C connector, not just the 3.5mm flavor that the ‘original’ version used. You can tell the new model by its “(USB-C Compatible)” suffix, but otherwise online listings look the same.
The new earbuds cost $24.99 (about £20, AU$40), a slight increase from the previous models, which are listed online between $8 and $20. Currently they sell in white, black and blue; no bright orange or red or any of the other vibrant colors that the 3.5mm options come in.
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They have a 3.6 foot cable, three eartip sizes in the box, and playback buttons on the cable.
Who has a headphone jack anymore?
These aren’t Panasonic’s first pair of wired USB-C in-ears, but the reason it’s announcing spins on its popular buds is likely due to the slight comeback wired earphones seem to be making (at least in the public eye — I’ve yet to see any sales figures make such an argument).
While the 3.5mm jack is the traditional jack for personal audio, there’s a problem: How many phones have headphone jacks anymore? A short handful each year, and rarely from the big brands. If you want wired audio, you’ll generally need to buy an adapter or go USB-C in the first place.
That’s why USB-C headphones make sense: you can actually use them on your smartphone (and tablet, laptop, PC, whatever has a USB-C port). It’s a sad sign of the times, but USB-C is replacing 4.4mm as the connector of choice for non-audiophiles (and audiophiles probably aren’t buying $25 earphones anyway).
I like my wired audio, but I admit I barely use the 3.5mm. Most of the tech I’m testing is Bluetooth, my keyboard/guitar/amp setup is 6.3mm, and my PC and bookshelf speakers are both (gasp) USB-C. The only 3.5mm device I use with any regularity is a lapel mic, which requires an adapter to use.
Of course, Panasonic still sells its 3.5mm ErgoFits, and there are still plenty of people still using this type of connector. Laptops and the best portable music players still use them, and not all laptops and PCs have USB-C (or at least ports to spare). But increasingly, we’ll see new releases among the best wired earphones that use USB-C, at least as an option.
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