If you purchased a new iPhone recently, you may have noticed something: it doesn’t come with a pair of EarPods anymore. This is mostly to reduce packaging waste and to get people to buy the AirPods. However, Apple AirPods aren’t the only true wireless earbuds that are compatible with iOS devices. Lots of other brands produce wireless earbuds and headphones for iPhone as well. Many of them even perform better than the AirPods. See our recommendations below for the best wireless earbuds and headphones for iPhone that you can buy right now.
Best Wireless Earbuds and Headphones for iPhone
- Jabra Elite 75t
- JLab JBuds Air
- Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2
- Sony WH-1000XM4
- Beats Fit Pro
- Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700
- Beats Flex Wireless Earbuds
- Bose Sport Open Earbuds True Wireless
- TOZO NC9
- Sony WF-1000XM4
- Anker Soundcore Life Q35
- Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus
- Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus
Also Read: 15 Best Over Ear Headphones for Audiophiles
- Active noise cancellation
- Sweat-, water-, and dust-resistant
- Secure fit
- Pleasing bass-heavy sound
- Supports multipoint Bluetooth connections
- Compatible with Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa
Against
- No wireless charging
The Jabra Elite 75t has been out for more than a year, but it’s still one of the best all-around wireless earbuds for iPhone. It has practically everything you need in a pair of earbuds. It features active noise cancellation so you can focus on your music without needing to turn up the volume too much. With a secure active fit and a special grip coating, you can move around all you want with these earbuds on, and they won’t ever budge. Plus, the audio accessories have IP57-rated protection, making them resistant to sweat, water, and dust.
These earbuds also boast a long battery life. With active noise cancellation on, the earbuds can last up to 5.5 hours on a single charge, and with the charging case, they can last up to a full day. When you turn off active noise cancellation, they’ll last even longer — 7.5 hours for the earbuds, and 28 hours with the charging case. And since these are Jabra earbuds, they support multipoint Bluetooth connections. That means you can connect them to your phone and your tablet or laptop at the same time. With the Jabra Sound Plus app, you can also customize controls and EQ settings, and even create an individual hearing profile for a better listening experience.
The Jabra Elite 75t earbuds allow for USB-C charging, but they aren’t compatible with wireless chargers.
Against
- A bit bulky
- Uncomfortable when worn for more than an hour
- You can only take calls using the right earbud
If you’re looking for a more affordable pair of wireless earbuds for iPhone, consider getting the JLab JBuds Air. For less than $40, you already get bass-forward audio and lots of cool features that only high-end earbuds usually have. With this pair of earbuds, you can choose among three EQ settings: Balanced, or the normal setting; Bass Boost, which is ideal for workouts; and Signature, which makes slight tweaks for better-sounding mids.
The JLab JBuds Air has an IP55 certification, which means it’s resistant to dust, dirt, oil, sweat, and heavy sprays of water. You can use these earbuds for over six hours on a single charge. With the charging case, you can squeeze out another 18 hours, totaling about 24 hours of listening time. The earbuds also come with extra ear tips so you get the perfect, secure fit. That said, the design of these earbuds is a bit bulky, so you might feel some discomfort if you wear them for a few hours.
- Great sound quality
- Sleek and lightweight design
- Active noise cancellation
- IPX4-rated (resistant to light splashes of water)
- Secure, comfortable fit
Against
- Expensive
- No wireless charging
Sennheiser’s second-generation Momentum Wireless Earbuds are a must-have for audiophiles. The sound quality they deliver is truly unrivaled. They bring dynamic and hi-fi audio that brings attention to every layer of your favorite tracks. They also have active noise cancellation, which makes listening to music all the more enjoyable even in noisy environments.
Besides delivering great sound quality, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 also offers a secure and comfortable fit, so you can wear them for hours without hurting your ears. Their battery life is great as well. You can use them for up to seven hours on a single charge and up to 28 hours with the charging case. Plus, they’re equipped with customizable touchpad technology. With this feature, you can control your audio hands-free through voice control. They also come with IPX4 certification, meaning they can withstand light splashes of water. Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 2 is truly one of the best wireless earbuds for iPhone. The only downsides are its 300-dollar price tag and that it doesn’t allow for wireless charging.
If you want to explore more about this brand, here are the best Sennheiser headphones of all time.
- Excellent sound quality
- Superb noise cancellation
- Supports multipoint Bluetooth connections
- Comfortable even when worn for long periods
- Long battery life
Against
- Expensive
- Doesn’t look that different from the Sony WH-1000XM3
The Sony WH-1000XM4 is a great pair of wireless headphones for the iPhone. It delivers excellent sound quality that is made even better with Adaptive Sound Control, which personalizes your listening experience. You can also manually select how much noise cancellation you get with these headphones or enable adaptive noise cancellation, which adjusts according to your surroundings.
Like the Jabra Elite 75t, the Sony WH-1000XM4 supports multipoint Bluetooth pairing, making switching between your phone and PC or tablet so much easier. The voice call quality of these headphones is also much better than the earlier Sony WH-1000XM3 model, thanks to its Precise Voice Pickup technology. That said, it isn’t as stellar as the call quality of other brands, like Bose.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 sports other unique features as well. For instance, its speak-to-chat technology automatically lowers the volume when you talk. It also has wearing detection technology, which pauses playback when you remove your headphones. Plus, it has an incredibly long battery life; it can last up to 30 hours, and a quick ten-minute charge can give you five hours of playback.
Against
- Expensive
- Shorter playing time versus the Powerbeats Pro
When picking the best wireless earbuds for the iPhone, it’s almost imperative to consider releases by Beats. Why not? The brand is also owned by Apple, thus its products tout the use of impressive technology from the latter. Take for example the Beats Fit Pro, one of the brand’s latest and best wireless earbuds.
The Beats Fit Pro earbuds adopt Apple’s H1 chip, which makes earbud connection to the iPhone and other Apple gadgets seamless. Besides that, they support active noise cancellation when you want to block all unnecessary sounds, and transparency mode in case you still want to hear your surroundings.
That’s not all that the earbuds have to offer. Appearance-wise, they have short protruding tips instead of ear hooks for a more comfortable fit all day. Even without full ear hooks, the earbuds do not fall off easily during workouts. They’re also IPX4 water- and sweat-resistant.
The only mediocre feature that the earbuds have is their music playing time of up to six hours per charge, which is a bit shorter than the listening time provided by some previous popular Beats models (e.g. Powerbeats Pro). Nonetheless, you can get a total of 24 hours out of the Fit Pro earbuds if you use the backup power from the charging case.
- Top-notch voice call quality
- Sleek design
- Compatible with Siri, Google Assistant, Alexa, and other voice assistants
- Adjustable active noise cancellation
Against
- More expensive than its closest competitors
- Not foldable
- A bit heavier than its predecessor (Bose Quiet Comfort II)
The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are the perfect headset for making calls. Their voice pickup is better than most headphones in this list, thanks to their eight microphones that effectively adapt to noisy environments. Also, they let you choose among 11 levels of active noise cancellation so you can go on calls, watch videos, and listen to music and podcasts without distractions. These headphones also deliver supreme audio quality. They don’t go as loud as their competitors, but they do produce output that’s more crisp and precise, with deep, full bass.
Aside from that, the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 give you easy access to voice assistants like Siri and Alexa. They also have intuitive touch controls so you can adjust the volume, pause and play media, and skip tracks without the need for your phone. Their battery life is reliable as well, giving you up to 20 full hours of listening time on just a single charge.
One gripe that people do have about this model is its build. The stainless steel headband makes these headphones sturdier and sleeker, but it also makes them a tad heavier than their predecessor. The stainless steel headband also doesn’t have hinges, so they aren’t foldable. They do come with a protective case, though, so you won’t need to worry about how you’ll store it or carry it around while you’re on the go.
- Affordable
- Comfortable and secure fit
- Quickly and seamlessly pairs with iOS devices
- Bass-rich sound profile
Against
- No noise cancellation
- No IPX certification (not sweat- or water-resistant)
The Beats Flex is a budget-friendly pair of wireless earbuds for iPhone. They’re actually not true wireless, but this type of earbuds has its merits, especially if you’re prone to dropping your AirPods and losing them. Since it has a neckband, you can just wear your Beats Flex Wireless Earbuds around your neck when you aren’t using it instead of having to put it back in a case.
The earbuds are lightweight and have a comfortable, secure fit, making them the perfect companion for movie marathons or non-stop music listening. Their battery life also doesn’t disappoint and gives you up to 12 hours of listening time. Equipped with a W1 chip, they pair almost instantaneously with iOS devices and are immune to latency problems. The earbuds are also magnetic and your media automatically pauses when they’re connected and plays again when they’re pulled apart. Plus, they’re great for making calls, thanks to the wind reduction in the built-in mic. However, they don’t have a noise cancellation feature, and without an IPX certification, they aren’t sweat- or water-resistant.
Against
- Expensive
- Ear hooks may be uncomfortable for some people
- Underwhelming bass
The Bose Sport Open Earbuds are a pair of wireless earbuds for iPhone that’s made for athletes. They fit securely in your ears, and because of the ear hooks, they’ll stay on you no matter how intense your movements are. That said, the chunky, plastic ear hooks can be uncomfortable for some after around an hour of wear. These earbuds also have an open-ear design, which means they rest on your ears instead of being inserted into your ears. As a result, you get to enjoy your music while still staying aware of your surroundings. Plus, you can use them for eight straight hours when they’re fully charged (which takes two hours). They’re also IPX4-rated, meaning they’re sweat- and water-resistant.
If you’re a fan of bass-heavy audio, the Bose Sport Open Earbuds might not be for you. You’ll still hear the bass in your music, but they don’t pack as much punch as in-ear earbuds. Despite the underwhelming bass, they do tick all the other boxes in the sound quality department. They produce clear, crisp, and well-balanced audio. They’re a lot like bone conduction headphones, but with better sound quality.
TOZO NC9
Against
- Actual battery life is not as long as advertised
Here’s another budget-friendly true wireless earbuds pick for your iPhone — the TOZO NC9. The said earbuds are not as mainstream as the other releases featured here, but they can compete features-wise.
How come? Firstly, the earbuds are good for use during physical activities, thanks to their secure fit and IPX6 rating for water resistance. Secondly, they also offer noise cancellation and transparency modes that are perfect for whatever way you want to enjoy your music (noiseless or a bit tuned down). Lastly, pairing the earbuds to your iPhone is a breeze because of Bluetooth 5.0.
If there’s something not so impressive about these earbuds, it would only be the battery life that is said by some reviewers to be two to four hours shorter than the advertised 8-hour play time. Nonetheless, the product makes up for that via the charging case.
- Superb sound quality
- Powerful bass
- IPX4-rated
- Long battery life
- Stylish design
- Comfortable fit
- Powerful noise cancellation
Against
- Poor call quality
- Expensive
The Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds are another great pair of wireless earbuds for iPhone. They’re the improved redesign of the Sony WF-1000XM3, and they offer a more stylish look, a more comfortable fit, and a handful of cool features. The sound quality of these earphones is exceptional, with rich bass and highly detailed mids and highs, making listening to music and watching movies much more enjoyable. They also block out background noise incredibly well.
The battery life of these earbuds is also impressive; you can get up to eight hours of listening time even with active noise cancellation. Just like the WH-1000XM4, it has the speak-to-chat feature, which lowers the volume when you talk out loud. They’re also compatible with Qi chargers and can withstand water splashes from any direction. The only thing that’s disappointing with these earbuds is the call quality, which was also an issue with the previous model. Even with beamforming mics in both earbuds, they still pick up a considerable amount of ambient noise and make your voice sound muffled during calls. That said, it shouldn’t be much of a problem if you’re making calls in a quiet environment.
Against
- Noise cancellation isn’t very effective
- Bass booster can be overbearing
Not a fan of Anker’s wireless earbuds for iPhone? You might like its headphones better, particularly the Soundcore Life Q35.
The Soundcore Life Q35 headphones have improved Bluetooth connectivity. They adopt LDAC technology that makes the audio transmission lossless. The headphones also feature AI beamforming for clear sounds during calls.
We’re not done yet with the headphones’ smart features. Did you know that when you take off the Soundcore Life Q35 headphones from your ears, they will automatically pause your music? Amazing, right? And for you to enjoy all the perks longer, they’re equipped with a fast-charging battery good for 40 hours of use after each power-up cycle.
However, the Soundcore Life Q35 isn’t perfect. Like one of its predecessors, the Q20, it has an average noise-cancelling feature (although multi-mode this time), and its improved bass output might be too much for audiophiles.
- Long battery life
- Rich sound quality
- Improved voice call quality
- Comfortable and secure fit
- Compatible with wireless chargers
- EQ settings and controls are customizable through the Galaxy Buds Plus app
Against
- No noise cancellation
- Only IPX2-rated
- Doesn’t have a built-in voice assistant
- Subdued bass
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus is another good pair of wireless earbuds for the iPhone. They’re the perfect pair of earbuds for movie marathons since they can last up to 11 hours on a single charge and up to 22 hours with the charging case. Plus, they’re lightweight and comfortable, so you can wear them for hours on end. Their sound quality is also impressive, thanks to the added woofer and tweeter, which help produce richer and clearer audio. They do cut back on the bass, though, so you might find bass-heavy tracks a bit lackluster with these on.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus are also great for voice calls. They have one internal and two external mics that pick up your voice and isolate it from background noises, making it sound clearer during calls. You can customize their EQ settings and controls as well using the Galaxy Buds Plus app on iOS. However, they don’t come with a built-in voice assistant, which is a feature that most true wireless earbuds have. They’re also only IPX2-rated, which means they’re not as sweat- or water-resistant as other earbuds in their price range.
- Superb sound quality
- Long battery life
- IPX5-rated
- Comfortable and secure fit
- Lightweight
- EQ settings and controls are customizable through the Melomania app
Against
- No noise cancellation
- Poor call quality
The Melomania 1 Plus earbuds are Cambridge Audio’s second successful attempt at designing wireless earbuds for iPhone. They perform exceptionally well in terms of sound quality, which is expected from one of the world’s leading makers of high-end audio equipment. These earbuds include High-Performance Mode, which optimizes sound the same way that Cambridge Audio’s hi-fi CX stereo amplifiers do. But even in normal mode, they still produce stellar audio with their 5.8 mm Graphene-enhanced drivers and support for aptX, AAC, and SBC codecs.
The battery life of these wireless earbuds for iPhone will last a long time as well. On a single charge, you can get up to nine hours of listening time. But with the charging case, they can last up to 45 hours. They’re also extremely comfortable to wear, thanks to their lightweight design and selection of memory foam and silicone tips. In addition, since it’s IPX5-rated, you can wear them in the rain or during intense workouts. With the Melomania app, you can customize the controls and EQ settings, as well as upgrade the earbuds’ firmware.
A few things are missing from these earbuds, though. They don’t have active noise cancellation and their passive noise isolation feature doesn’t block out background noise that well. The call quality is also disappointing, as the mics don’t effectively isolate your voice from ambient noises. But for their superb audio performance and long battery life, they’re still a top choice for true wireless earbuds.
How to Choose the Best Wireless Earbuds and Headphones for iPhone
Choosing the best wireless headphones and earbuds for iPhone can prove to be difficult. A lot of stores offer an endless number of options, and they all claim to be the perfect pair for you. In that regard, here are some factors to consider before deciding which pair of wireless earbuds for iPhone you should buy.
In-Ear vs Over-Ear
Before anything else, you first need to decide the type of wireless earphones you want. There are two very common choices: in-ear and over-ear. In-ear earphones, more commonly known as earbuds, are the type of earphones that you insert into your ear canal. They’re very small and light, making them ultra-portable and easy to store. They’re also perfect for working out or doing outdoor activities as they usually fit securely in your ears; some even come with ear hooks. Another great thing about earbuds is their lack of a headband. That means nothing interferes with your glasses, messes up your hair, or restricts your range of motion or form when you work out. Plus, most good in-ear earbuds are sweat- or water-resistant.
However, some people don’t like the feeling of having something in their ears. If you’re one of those people, you might want to opt for over-ear headphones instead. Over-ear headphones are much bulkier, with wide headbands and large ear cups that surround your ears. Because they’re much bigger than in-ear earbuds, they usually pack a more powerful bass and better audio. Music that’s heard through over-ear headphones sounds richer and more natural since there’s space between the speakers and your ears. Over-ear headphones with active noise cancellation are also better at blocking out sound than ANC earbuds. Also, their battery life is much longer than earbuds.
Sound Quality
Sound quality is another important thing to consider when buying wireless earbuds for your iPhone. The best wireless earbuds and headphones deliver the richest and most well-balanced sound. However, testing the audio quality of a pair of headphones or earbuds can be tricky, especially if you’re shopping online. If sound quality is something you’re picky about, look out for these three things: drivers, frequency response, and support for codecs.
Drivers are the ones that create the sound in earbuds and headphones. Normally, you’ll see a description of the drivers among the specifications of earbuds. For instance, Cambridge Audio’s Melomania 1 Plus earbuds have 5.8mm drivers. The driver size of earbuds usually ranges from 5 to 15mm, while headphone drivers are between 20 and 50mm in diameter. Generally, the larger the drivers, the better the sound quality. But other than the size, you should also take note of the drivers’ material. Earbud and headphone drivers that are made of graphene or titanium usually produce the best sound.
Frequency response tells you the range of sound frequencies that the device can reproduce. Good wireless earbuds and headphones can reproduce frequencies in the range of 20Hz to 20kHz, which is the range of human hearing. However, other earbuds and headphones can deliver sound that’s beyond that range. If you like feeling the bass in heavy-bass tracks, go for earbuds that offer low bass frequency, say 5Hz.
Lastly, you should also check what Bluetooth codecs the earbuds or headphones support. Essentially, these determine how your phone transmits Bluetooth to your earbuds. There are a number of codecs out there, like aptX, SBC, and LDAC. For iPhone, though, you should look out for support for AAC, as this is Apple’s preferred codec and will give you low-latency and high-res audio.
Battery Life
Going wireless means relying on Bluetooth to listen to music. It also means your listening time is limited by your earbuds’ or headphones’ battery life. On average, the best wireless earbuds can last six to eight hours. Some, like Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Plus, can even last up to 11 hours on a single charge. Wireless earbuds often come with charging cases too. So, with that fully charged, you can go a full day (sometimes longer) without needing to plug them in again. But if you want the best battery life, consider going for wireless headphones instead of earbuds. The headphones’ bigger build allows for bigger batteries that pack a lot of juice. Also, check how fast they charge. Some headphones and earbuds only need five to ten minutes of charge, and they’ll already last a few hours.
Portability
Portability isn’t really an issue with wireless earbuds. They normally come with a charging case, so you can place them there when you aren’t using them. Or, if they don’t have a charging case, which is usually the case with “wired wireless” earbuds, they’re small enough so that you can tuck them in a pocket in your bag or in a protective case.
Over-ear headphones, on the other hand, are a lot heavier and bulkier, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t portable. If you want a pair of wireless headphones that you can easily travel with, choose the foldable ones. Some even have rotating ear cups so you can wear them around your neck without limiting your head movement. Other headphones also come with protective cases. However, if yours doesn’t have one, you can easily buy a carrying case from online shops. Just make sure the dimensions match those of your headphones.
Final Thoughts
You’ll never run out of options for wireless earbuds for iPhone, which can make choosing the best one pretty challenging. Lots of earbud and headphone models have it all: superb sound quality, long battery life, comfort and security, and great call quality. However, these are usually extremely expensive. So, when you’re shopping for a pair of wireless earbuds for your iPhone, make sure to consider which features are essential for you and which you can do without.
We hope this guide helped you decide which wireless earbuds or headphones are right for you. Have you tried any of the products on our list? Let us know in the comments!