Credit: Thomas Triggs / Android Authority
The headphone market is a forever-changing and difficult place to navigate. In addition to over-ear headphones and true wireless earbuds, in-ear monitors (IEMs) are becoming an increasingly popular choice. With our ears bombarded by the cacophony of modern life, it makes sense that people are eager to isolate their music.
However, it’s confusing that IEMs and earbuds share a lot of similar features. It’s for that reason that some earbuds are now billed as IEMs, and vice-versa. It’s understandable. They look exceptionally alike and are small enough to store in your pocket. They both also prioritize noise cancelation and rest closely in the ear. On the surface, in-ear monitors and earbuds appear exceptionally similar. In order to truly realize the difference between IEM vs earbuds, you have to delve a little deeper into the details.