Headphones sit over or on your ears. They have a headband connecting two large cups—closed-back, open-back, or semi-open. Think Beats Studio Pro, Sony WH-1000XM, or a pair of Sennheiser HD 600s. You wear them around the house, in a studio, or at a desk. They tend to be bulkier, but you get better soundstage and often more comfort for long sessions. The term covers everything from budget gaming cans to high-end audiophile gear.

Earphones go inside your ear canal or just sit in the concha (the bowl of your ear). Most people call them earbuds or in-ears. Apple EarPods and AirPods are earphones. So are the wired Sony MDR-EX15s and any IEM like Shure SE215s. They’re portable, leak less sound in public, and don’t mess up your hair. Quick rule: if it has a headband, it’s headphones. If it tucks into your ear and leaves your head bare, it’s earphones. Nobody will correct you if you call AirPods “headphones” in casual chat, but technically? Earphones.