Best earbuds for iPhone

Even though most iPhone owners’ quest for the perfect earbuds begins and ends with the iconic AirPods, there are plenty of other alternatives you might be missing out on. Sure, when it comes to the Apple ecosystem, the AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) are the best earbuds for most people. But maybe you aren’t ‘most people’ and want to find something of better value to suit your needs. Regardless, we’re here to help you choose which set of earbuds is right for you.

Take SoundGuys’ quiz to find your best fit

Why is the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) the best iPhone earbuds?

With the release of the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen), choosing the best earbuds for iPhone users was straightforward. These earbuds seamlessly integrate with any iOS device, giving them a significant edge over competitors. But now, Apple has also launched a USB-C version of the AirPods Pro 2, catering to a broader range of compatibility needs.

Highlight features:

• Seamless integration with Apple devices
• Personalized Spatial Audio and Audio Sharing features
• Battery optimization that learns your listening habits
• Easy switching between iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Active noise canceling (ANC) is bolstered by Apple’s H2 chip, significantly reducing low frequencies. The new USB-C version ups the ante with an improved durability rating from IPX4 to IP54. It also promises to support ultra-low-latency, lossless audio. These are also some of the best noise canceling earbuds, effectively reducing loud and unexpected external noises like car horns or construction drills. Battery life is robust, and the case can be easily located through the Find My app, thanks to the integrated U1 chip and built-in speaker.

The EarPods (USB-C) is the best budget option for wired listening

Apple’s wired EarPods (USB-C) are an unexpected gem in the tech giant’s shift towards USB-C. For only $20, these EarPods challenge the notion that good sound and functionality have to come with a high price tag. They’re equipped with an inline remote, providing seamless control over playback and volume, and offer a zero-latency experience suitable for real-time audio tasks like video editing or music composing.

Despite their budget-friendly price, these EarPods don’t skimp on microphone quality. Voice recordings during tests yielded impressive results, making these earbuds valuable for anyone involved in frequent online meetings or calls. However, they lack ample noise isolation, so they’re not ideal for noisy environments.

Whether you’re an environmentalist concerned about the waste associated with true wireless earbuds, a professional needing a lag-free audio option, or someone just looking for a reliable, affordable backup, these EarPods offer substantial bang for your buck.

Hush your surroundings with the Sony WF-1000XM5

Sony thought the WF-1000XM5 through. The set of differently-sized foam ear tips brings excellent noise isolation, significantly improving the noise canceling performance and sound quality. The ANC is among the best available in wireless earbuds, so if top-notch noise canceling is your main criterion, you can’t pass up the Sony WF-1000XM5. Low frequencies are nearly one-eighth as loud with ANC on compared to not wearing earbuds at all.

The WF-1000XM5 has a fine frequency response with under-emphasized treble notes. While you might want to adjust the equalizer settings if you’re not keen on the loud bass levels, Sony’s Headphones Connect app (iOS/Android) makes that a breeze. Tidal, Deezer, and Amazon Music Unlimited users will enjoy surround sound with Sony’s 360 Reality Audio format.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 is a great pair of earbuds for everyday use. Its nearly 8-hour battery life will get you through almost an entire workday of nonstop listening, and the USB-C charging case can top you up two more times and some. You can even recharge the case wirelessly if you own a Qi power mat.

If you love taking your earbuds out and about for commuting, the Sony WF-1000XM5 won’t disappoint you. The IPX4 water resistance rating means you won’t have to worry when you get into a light rain, and wearing the Sony WF-1000XM5 while working out is no problem, either.

The Beats Fit Pro is a great pair of workout earbuds for Android and iPhone owners

The Beats Fit Pro is a great set of earbuds for listeners who want all the perks of the AirPods Pro with the athlete-focused design of the Beats Powerbeats Pro. Like the AirPods Pro, the Beats Fit Pro features active noise cancelation and full integration with iOS thanks to the H1 chip, and it even supports personalized spatial audio with head tracking.

Though it shares the same “b” logo as the Powerbeats Pro, the Beats Fit Pro is a more versatile set of earbuds as it works just as well on Android as it does on an iPhone (save for Spatial Audio). Listeners can download the Google Play Store’s Beats app to toggle listening modes, adjust the controls, and more.

The Beats Fit Pro has very good active noise canceling comparable to the AirPods Pro (2nd generation). This requires you to find a good fit with the three sizes of ear tips, which should be straightforward with the app’s ear tip fit test. We appreciate workout earbuds with noise canceling because ANC helps block out noises like droning treadmills, dropped weights, and other unpleasant background noise. Just enable transparency mode when you want to hear what’s around you.

You get a fairly bass-heavy sound on the Fit Pro, and to EQ it, you’ll need to mess around with your streaming service’s EQ settings. Alternatively, we recommend tinkerers download an EQ app for greater customization.

The Nothing Ear have something for Apple users

While the Nothing Ear earbuds don’t support advanced Bluetooth codecs like LDAC on iPhones, they still offer an excellent overall experience for Apple users. The earbuds have a sleek, eye-catching transparent design and are extremely lightweight and comfortable for extended listening sessions.

One of the key highlights is the sound quality delivered by the 11mm ceramic diaphragm drivers. The earbuds offer a wide soundstage and impressive clarity, which can be further fine-tuned using the advanced parametric EQ in the companion Nothing X app. The Personal Sound Profile feature is also handy, adjusting frequencies based on your individual hearing ability.

The noise cancelation performance is respectable, and the transparency mode works well for quickly hearing your surroundings. With around 8 hours of battery life per charge, the Nothing Ears are a very capable pair of wireless earbuds for iPhone users seeking premium sound, customization options, and a unique design at a relatively affordable price.

Music fans should try the Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless

For the person who wants everything without paying through the nose, the Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless cuts through the competition at under $200 (and, honestly, closer to $100). You get most of the fixings, including a good frequency response out of the box. The dedicated app supplies users with EQ to tinker if it’s not your preferred sound.

The battery lasts 5 hours and 44 minutes with ANC activated. You don’t get some of the fancier features like wireless charging, but it’s certainly current with a USB-C charger and two additional charges in the case. The noise canceling won’t beat out the Sony WF-1000XM4, but it still performs reasonably well for the budget-friendly price from one of the giants in audio. Sometimes you don’t need “the best,” and very good will do.

Like the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation), the CX Plus True Wireless comes with an IPX4 certification against sweat so that you can exercise with it. However, the 2nd generation AirPods Pro also has protection for the case, which the CX Plus True Wireless doesn’t ensure. The transparency mode means you can stay aware, whether on your outdoor jaunt or at the store if someone asks you a question. With Bluetooth 5.2, you know you’re getting the optimal connection with your iPhone over AAC. It’s an all-around competitor in providing great sound from the frequency response and optional EQ to the ANC to block out external noise. For a more premium experience, grab the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3.

The Beats Powerbeats Pro has the best battery life of any iPhone earbuds

If you like the idea of seamless integration with your iPhone but want a more secure fit when exercising, you should look into the Apple Beats Powerbeats Pro. The buds sport an ear hook design and nozzles that insert into the ear canal. This improves sound quality and stability. Oh, and the battery life is among the best we’ve tested.

Battery life comes in at an insane 10 hours, 48 minutes before the earbuds need to be recharged, and even that’s a snappy process: 5 minutes of charging yields 90 minutes of playback. Like AirPods Pro, battery life clocks in at more than 24 hours of listening.

AAC support and H1 chip integration ensure lag-free audio streaming. The updated chip allows hands-free Siri access, just like the new AirPods. The earphones have an IPX4 rating and can get through even your hardest workouts.

The Powerbeats Pro is loaded with sensors to streamline operation. Removing the buds from your ears automatically pauses playback, and accelerometers detect when you’re speaking to guide the microphone in a loud environment. There’s also a button and volume rocker on each earbud, too. If you’re a sporty iPhone owner, get the Powerbeats Pro.

Should you get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds?

However, if you use an iPhone, we still recommend the AirPods Pro over this set of earbuds due to their lower cost, better sound, and iOS-oriented features. Though it’s frustrating that the phone wars bleed over into audio, Apple is playing defense big time here, which means tending its walled garden. For iOS users, there aren’t many audio products that can touch the AirPods in terms of features.

Ready to spend big? Get the Apple AirPods Max noise canceling headphones

The Apple AirPods Max is the company’s debut over-ear noise canceling headphones, and Apple is confident you’ll want to buy it. So confident, in fact, that it costs $429 at Amazon. While this is certainly cost-prohibitive for many shoppers, those locked into the Apple ecosystem may find the H1 chip conveniences justify the high price. This hybrid noise canceling system outperforms the Sony WH-1000XM4 and Bose QuietComfort 45, Apple’s main competitors in the ANC headphones space.

You also get features like Adaptive EQ and spatial audio with head tracking. The former is a technology we’ve seen from the Apple AirPods Pro, and it makes real-time adjustments to the sound profile depending on how well the headset fits. On the other hand, Spatial Audio is Apple’s take on surround sound and supports 5.1, 7.1, and Dolby Atmos content, which is great for movie playback.

The cost is hard to swallow, but if you want noise canceling headphones that operate seamlessly with your Apple devices, perhaps the AirPods Max is worth the purchase.

Keep it anonymous with the Sony LinkBuds S

Sometimes, the right choice is the most discreet. Enter the Sony LinkBuds S, with its visually anonymous design and good sound and features. These Sony buds have effective ANC capabilities and a battery life of 5 hours and 41 minutes. The touchpad follows the similarly good functionality of other Sony products.

Use the LinkBuds S with the Sony Headphones app to access a suite of EQ options, ANC adjustments, and other luxuries. It’s not “the best” Sony earbuds (that title goes to the WF-1000XM5), but it might be the best for you and your iPhone.

The best iPhone earbuds: Notable mentions

• Anker Soundcore Space A40 ($79 at Amazon): This relatively inexpensive set of earbuds offers excellent noise canceling, a pretty good sound, and the AAC codec you’ll need.
• Apple AirPods Pro (1st Gen) (on the product’s website): The first-gen AirPods Pro shares many of the same features as the second-gen. You get noise canceling, Adaptive EQ, seamless device switching across Apple devices, and more. It uses the H1 chip rather than the latest H2.
• Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) ($195 at Amazon): It has come a long way since the first model back in 2017. The fit is still loose with basically no isolation, but sound quality has improved, and you now get spatial audio and a suite of other features. We still recommend the AirPods Pro over the AirPods (3rd gen), but at least this unsealed headset has an IPX4 rating.
• Beats Studio Buds ($99 at Amazon): Apple packed great sound quality into these great-fitting and compact earbuds. The Beats Studio Buds also support quick pairing with Android devices and charge via USB-C. The downside is that you don’t get any H1 chip with it, and the ANC is not very impressive.
• Beats Studio Buds Plus ($169 at Amazon): The updated version of the original Beats Studio Buds now has much-improved noise canceling. These lack the H1 and H2 chip and an equalizer, but they sound decent for the price.
• Bose Sport Earbuds ($165 at Amazon): This is one of the latest wireless earbuds Bose has to offer, featuring a sleek design, IPX4 water-resistant build, and intuitive touch controls.
• Denon AH-C830NCW (£139 at Amazon Site): This set of noise canceling earbuds connects over AAC, which suits iPhone users just fine, and it looks the part with long stems reminiscent of the AirPods Pro. It comes in black too.
• Grell Audio TWS 1 ($216.81 at Amazon): Designed by former Sennheiser engineer Axel Grell, these buds have a great frequency response and a ton of features, including SoundID and noise cancelation.
• Jabra Elite 7 Active ($179 at Amazon): Jabra ups the game with this one aimed at the fitness crowd. It supplies a very nice frequency response, grippier ear tips, and a robust IP57 rating. Jabra also ships with a no-fuss replacement warranty, which, if you’re going to test the Elite 7 Active IP rating, it’s nice to have.
• LG TONE Free FP9 ($103 at Amazon): When these initially came out, they were kind of expensive for what they do. Now that the price has decreased, they’re a good deal with pretty decent ANC and a familiar, lightweight AirPods-style shape.
• Nothing Ear (a) ($99.99 at Nothing): If you have $100 to spend on earbuds, the Nothing Ear (a) are a good option. These jack-of-all-trades earbuds don’t excel in any particular way, but also don’t have any major drawbacks.
• Nothing Ear 2 ($149 at Amazon): Besides a more trebly default frequency response, Ear (2) bests the previous Ear 1 in every way. You get better ANC, a smaller package, IP54-rated buds, and squeezable stems.
• Sennheiser Sport True Wireless ($99 at Amazon): For the active folks out there who want a set of good-sounding and reliable earbuds without noise canceling. These compact earbuds offer an IP54 rating with secure in-ear wings in a compact package.
• Skullcandy Mod XT ($48 at Amazon): If you’re searching for some more affordable earbuds to mate with your iPhone, the Skullcandy Mod XT is hard to beat. Its sound has a lower end than our ideal, but not by a lot. It also isolates rather well, even if it lacks ANC. It does all of the basic stuff fairly well at this price point.
• Sony LinkBuds WF-L900 ($178 at Amazon): If you must have earbuds that don’t seal to your ears, check out the LinkBuds. Sony’s donut-shaped earphones leave your ear canals completely unoccluded, so you can enjoy music while hearing your surroundings.
• Sony WF-C500 ($98 at Amazon): For people who just want good-sounding, functionally effortless earbuds, the WF-C500 is a great all-around choice.

What you should know about the best Apple earbuds

There are a few things to consider when picking out the best iPhone earbuds. It is not rocket science, but minimal attention to detail goes a long way with your iOS audio headset.

What is Apple Spatial Audio?

Not all Apple earbuds and headphones support Apple Spatial Audio, which offers surround sound to specifically mixed tracks on Apple Music and Amazon Music Unlimited. Spatial audio is similar to Sony 360 Reality Audio and Samsung 360 Audio, all of which essentially cast each sound as an object that can move 360 degrees around your head. When paired with an iOS device, Apple’s technology can track your head movement and adjust the sound accordingly, making for a more realistic experience.

What Bluetooth codec matters most with iPhones?

Although plenty of Bluetooth codecs are supported by various devices, the only one you need to care about regarding the best iPhone earbuds is the AAC codec. Apple doesn’t support aptX or LDAC, so AAC is your only option. And while AAC isn’t CD quality, it performs best with Apple devices. It’s rare to find earbuds that don’t support AAC but double-check.

As Apple is Apple and loves proprietary hardware and software, the AAC codec is the only one compatible with the company’s products. If you’re looking at headphones that support aptX, aptX HD, or LDAC, that’s all well and good but it won’t be much help in your quest to find the best iPhone earbuds.

While AAC is the best codec for iPhones, some users might want earbuds that support other codecs for use with non-Apple devices

How much does battery life matter with iPhone earbuds?

How should your iPhone earbuds sound?

We here at SoundGuys can type until our fingers go numb about the importance of neutral frequency response, but that isn’t what’s most pleasing to everyone. If you want to hear the audio as the audio engineers intended, you should use studio headphones because those products will have the closest thing to a platonic, “flat” response. But most of us want our headphones to be fun and reproduce an “energetic” sound, not necessarily analytical. Our preference curve has the best of both worlds for most listeners.

When deciding on the best Apple earbuds, the importance of slightly emphasized low-end and treble was taken into account as the former denotes “liveliness,” while the latter facilitates a perceived increase in clarity; to get a better picture of this, read up on the equal-loudness contour.

Fit is crucial for sound quality and comfort. Some users might find alternatives more comfortable than AirPods, especially those who struggle with the fit of non-Pro AirPods models

How we test the best iPhone earbuds

We subject each candidate and pick to our battery of objective testing, which includes isolation, frequency response, and battery life. We respect that listening is a subjective experience while acknowledging that sound can be measured and discussed objectively simultaneously.

Yes, our trio of tests are fundamental, but they analyze what consumers care about the most as it applies to the best iPhone earbuds and wireless earbuds in general. Regarding battery life readouts, your mileage will likely vary depending on how loudly you listen to your music. To combat this variance, we subject each unit to constant music playback that peaks at 75dB(SPL). Additionally, in most cases, you can improve isolation by using third-party ear tips.

Why you can trust SoundGuys

Working at SoundGuys serves as each of our day jobs; yes, it is a dream. We get paid to listen and test as many products as possible while constantly researching, so our opinions aren’t influenced by the companies manufacturing them. If we don’t like something, we say it. Simple as that. Additionally, each of us has several years involved in the audio community. After keeping up with the audio industry for years, we can quickly tell the gimmicks from the goldmines. If you have the time or desire, please read our full ethics policy.

Frequently asked questions about iPhone earbuds