At three dollars, the conversation about whether these are the best earphones ever made becomes irrelevant. These are Apple EarPods — the wired Lightning version that used to ship in the box with iPhones, before Apple decided the box was getting too heavy. The fit is familiar, the sound is more than adequate, and the microphone handles calls well enough that nobody on the other end will complain.

For people who still use Lightning devices and want a no-fuss wired backup — for the gym bag, the travel kit, the drawer where things go when they need to exist without being precious about it — these are exactly what they are. No pairing, no charging, no surprises.

The Emporium found a supply at $3 and decided that was worth sharing. Some things are just useful.