Nearly two decades ago, LeBron James wore Beats by Dre headphones around his neck at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and practically overnight launched the brand into the pop-culture mainstream. Today, almost 20 years later, a new generation of sports and music stars is again choosing something completely different – ordinary wired headphones.
From Anthony Edwards to Steph Curry, more and more NBA players wear wired headphones before games and in the tunnels. And they are not the only ones. Drake, Zendaya, Harry Styles, Lily-Rose Depp and Emma Watson are just some of the famous names that have publicly renounced Bluetooth in favor of the classic 3.5 mm connection.
Back in 2023, Emma Watson told Vogue that she just likes “those old, classic corded headphones.” Similar scenes were seen in popular Vogue segments with Dua Lipa and Ariana Grande, while the cover of New York Magazine’s December issue featured celebrities sharing wired headphones on the New York subway.
The return of the cable as a stylistic and cultural message
One of the early adopters of this trend is Shelby Hull, founder of Wired It Girls, an Instagram profile that has been documenting and celebrating the return of wired headphones since 2021. She was inspired by an article in Vogue that highlighted Bella Hadid as a symbol of that “unencumbered” style – a person who can afford the most expensive technology, but chooses something simple and old-fashioned.
As Hal explains, wired headphones have become a symbol of relaxed style and a kind of resistance to the constant race for the latest gadgets. They are also significantly more affordable: Apple’s wired headphones cost about $25, while AirPods start at $159, and the Max versions go for over $600.
CNNIn the world of NBA fashion, where the corridors of the halls have become a kind of catwalk, this detail gains additional weight. Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, as well as NFL and NBA players such as Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook and Kawhi Leonard, openly prefer wired models. The reasons are often practical: no battery drain, no falling out of your ears, no disconnection.
An analogue escape from the digital world
Although wireless headphones still dominate the market, accounting for about 66% of sales in 2025, the return of the cable carries a deeper message. It is a broader trend that is often described as the “analog lifestyle”. Younger generations are increasingly looking for physical, tangible experiences in a world flooded with artificial intelligence, algorithms and screens.
From the renewed interest in knitting, film cameras, VHS devices and DVDs, to the growing popularity of the so-called of “dumb phones” with limited functions, fatigue from constant digital connectivity is visible. In this context, wired headphones become a symbol of something familiar, reliable and real.
As Shelby Hull concludes, people still like the convenience of modern smartphones, but increasingly want balance. A touch, a cable, a physical object, and all that provides a sense of control and intimacy that wireless, always-connected technology often loses. And that’s exactly why cable seems to have returned, not just as a technical solution, but as a cultural message, writes CNN.