Buy Ethical Tech: 5 Best Wireless Earbuds (That Aren't AirPods)

13 March 2020

Yes, Apple has released AirPods Pro with noise-canceling technology. They will cost $250 and a portion of your soul. But contrary to what you'd think after gazing into Tim Cook's bottomless stare, you don't have to be a slave to Apple products. Wireless bluetooth earphones are available from trusted and reliable brands that don't exploit Chinese laborers or commit the unethical labor violations that the $1 trillion company does.

Wired believes that "ethical tech will require a grassroots revolution," but so far, "despite the criticisms from both the left and the right, people are hardly marching by the thousands to protest Big Tech. But...leaders say maybe they would, if they only understood the way these tools are tailor-made to make addicts of all of us." The very first step is to become responsible consumers. So instead of yet another Apple product, check out these wireless earbuds.

LSTN has been praised as a leader of ethical tech companies. A portion of each sale goes to the Starkey Hearing Foundation. LSTN partners with the foundation to send a team across the world to provide hearing aids to individuals who otherwise don't have access to them. The company's mission is to "create change through the power of sound and music."
Purchase a pair of The Bolt earbuds here. They're constructed with anodized aluminum and given a sweat-proof coating for optimal performance while working out or just trying to catch a train in an overheated subway station.
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Named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies, Sony offers noise-canceling wireless headphones without Tim Cook and his gross monopoly over modern technology. With an Ambient Sound mode and a Smart Listening function to adapt to your surroundings, Sony's earbuds can hold a 9-hour charge and a cleaner conscious.
Check out the specifications here.
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While Samsung isn't a perfect company, it's still a better alternative than being trapped on the Apple cycle in which devices aren't even designed to last for long in order to force customers to return. Samsung's True Wireless Earbuds are water resistant and use smart technology to adapt to ambient noise. And your money won't line Tim Cook's mattress at night. Just kidding, he probably just blows his nose with your hard-earned cash.
Check them out here.
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Bose is also not perfect, but as far as a private company mostly owned by M.I.T, the pricey brand is mostly designed by and for tech nerds who just love shiny gadgets. As per Bose's website, "These headphones have an unmatched combination of comfort and stability. That's because we engineered the nozzle of our StayHear+ Sport tips to spread contact evenly around the inside of your ear, while the fin conforms naturally to the shape of the upper ridge of your ear. They won't fall out, but they will stay comfortable. And you can focus on reaching new heights in your workouts."
Shop for a pair here.
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For some of us, we just shouldn't have nice things. Our earbuds will inevitably go through the washer and dryer, and our phones will be left on a bench somewhere. For us, there are brands like Skullcandy. Affordable and simple, the company also flips the traditional profit-first business model on its head.Fast Company recounts its business approach "to rebuild the base–the people, values, and culture–which would then result in remarkable products and an emotional, authentic connection with consumers."
For under $70, they have wireless Bluetooth technology, water-resistance, unique touch controls, and up to 16 hours of battery life.
Check out a pair here.
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