Can You Trust Online Reviews? My Earbud Buying Mistake

Recently, I needed a new pair of earbuds for everyday music listening. Like most people, I turned to the internet for help. I searched things like “best earbuds in 2025” and “top wireless earbuds under $200.” What I found was a flood of review articles — polished, persuasive, and all strangely similar.

Each post claimed to have ranked the best earbuds. The designs looked sleek, every product had glowing reviews, and many had perfect five-star ratings. Phrases like “industry-leading sound” and “unmatched battery life” were everywhere. After seeing the same models praised across different sites, I finally gave in and ordered a pair. It cost well over $100 — possibly closer to $200. I do not remember the exact amount, but it felt like a premium purchase.

Then something unexpected happened.

While shopping for groceries a few days later, I noticed a pair of wireless earbuds in the electronics section of a supermarket. The brand was unfamiliar. The packaging was simple. The price? Just under $30. Out of curiosity — and partly for fun — I bought them too.

When the more expensive pair arrived, I decided to compare them.

Here is the surprising part: yes, the premium earbuds were good. But so were the budget ones. For normal music listening, I honestly could not tell a big difference in sound quality, comfort, or battery performance. The cheaper earbuds worked just as well — and in some ways, were even easier to use.

That is when I started questioning the reviews I had relied on.

How many of those review sites were paid to promote certain brands? How many were ranking products based on actual testing, and how many were just writing affiliate content to make commissions?

I realized I had been influenced by well-crafted articles designed to sell. And while the expensive product was not bad, it definitely was not five times better than the budget one I picked up on a whim.

It made me think about how much we rely on “Top 10” lists and “Best of” guides without knowing who is behind them or what their real motivation is.

Next time, I might trust my ears more than the internet. And maybe, instead of searching for the “best” earbuds, I will just try what works — without assuming that a high price or fancy review automatically means better quality.