Wireless Bluetooth earbuds are a great idea — but the homework matters

Wireless earbuds are a great gift idea in theory — they’re useful, they feel premium, and every tween wants a pair. But the category is a minefield of bad options, so the homework matters a lot. Battery life varies wildly, some pairs have terrible latency that makes watching videos frustrating, and the fit matters more than you’d think (earbuds that keep falling out will just stay in the case). Don’t just grab the first pair you see on a shelf. Read reviews, check the battery claims, and consider whether the charging case feels solid. A cheap pair of bad earbuds is worse than no earbuds at all.