Are Online Reviews Tricking Us? My Earbud Buying Experience

Recently, I found myself searching for a good pair of earbuds to listen to music. Like many people, I turned to the internet. And like many, I quickly realized that most of the results on the first few pages were either sponsored posts or review sites that seemed suspiciously glowing about every product they mentioned.

You know the type. “Top 10 Best Earbuds in 2025,” “Best Earbuds Under $500,” and so on. Every product has five stars, glowing feedback, and fancy photos. After browsing for a while, I gave in. One particular pair was recommended across several sites. Flattered by all the praise, I bought it online. It cost me over 100 dollars — possibly closer to 200. I do not remember the exact figure, but it was not cheap.

Then something unexpected happened.

A few days later, I was in a supermarket. There, sitting quietly in a plastic box, was a pair of wireless earbuds from a brand I had never heard of. It cost just under 30 dollars. Out of curiosity, I bought it too.

When the expensive pair finally arrived, I tested both.

Here is the twist — yes, the expensive one was good. But so was the cheaper one. In fact, for daily music listening, I could not find a real difference in sound, comfort, or battery life. The cheaper one worked just as well.

That is when it hit me. I had been pulled in by polished reviews and paid promotions. The expensive choice was not bad — it just was not better. And definitely not worth five times the price.

Maybe next time, I will trust my ears, not the internet.

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