Tested: The Best Earbuds for iPhones (Wired and Wireless) (2024)

Apple’s own AirPods Pro are the absolute best wireless earbuds for any iPhone user — from an Apple newbie to a longtime brand follower who needs a sound upgrade. The true wireless earphones deliver a perfect mixture of instantly recognizable design, class-leading comfort and ergonomics, top-notch durability, great sound, and strong noise cancellation. I see people rocking glossy white stem earbuds everywhere, and the AirPods Pro couldn’t be more deserving of their popularity.

The audio performance of the AirPods Pro is excellent across the board. As my go-to iPhone audio sidekick, the earphones treated me to balanced sound and immersive spatial audio with optional head tracking for a lifelike listening experience with enhanced content. Their ability to tune out ambient noise is one of the best in the business, too.

Adaptive voice control is one of my favorite AirPods Pro features. Enabling it allows the earbuds to seamlessly switch between noise cancellation and transparency depending on the ambient noise around you. I found the mode incredibly helpful at the office and while commuting.

Like the latest iPhones, the AirPods Pro earphones have USB-C and MagSafe charging. Their water-resistant case is also compatible with Apple Watch chargers, bringing infinite possibilities for powering up the earbuds. The essential accessory also features a built-in loudspeaker and the same U1 chip as the Apple AirTag, making the earphones easy to find.

Review: Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) with Lightning Case

Regardless of which wireless earbuds you're using with your iPhone, it’s always a good idea to have a set of wired EarPods on hand in case your Bluetooth set runs out of battery or you forget it at home or the office. The earphones’ good sound, rock-solid iPhone link via a USB-C or Lightning port, three-button remote, and incredibly low price make them a must-buy for yourself or another user.

The AirPods’ white cable harks back to the wired earbuds that were shipping with every iPod at the beginning of this century, making them a stone-cold classic with timeless appeal. In a time when they are no longer bundled with every new iPhone, wearing these earphones is a telltale for an Apple faithful.

You can order the AirPods with a Lightning or a USB-C connector. A version with a standard audio jack whose remote works with every MacBook and iMac is also available.

Whether you're a casual gym visitor or a longtime workout warrior, the Beats Fit Pro wireless earbuds are the best for exercising. As their Fit moniker suggests, the earphones deliver a reliable fit via flexible wingtips, all but guaranteeing that they will stay in place even during the most intense activities. After using the Fit Pro during many workouts that included indoor treadmill runs, jumping jacks, and jumping rope, I can personally vouch about their uncompromisingly secure fit.

The audio performance and battery life of the earbuds are worthy of their name and price category. In addition to delivering the audio makers’ enjoyable sound and stellar noise cancellation, the Beats Fit Pro can stream spatial audio content with and without dynamic head tracking. Having the option to choose between two spatial audio modes is one of the reasons to spend more on the Beats Fit Pro over the Beats Studio +.

If you're torn between snagging the AirPods Pro on sale instead of the Beats Fit Pro, here’s why I’d choose the latter for working out: The Beats earphones’ wingtips give them a more secure fit for movement. In addition, their clicky buttons are easier to operate with sweaty hands.

There are several Beats Fit Pro color options to consider, each bundled with a matching charging case. The Volt Yellow variant pictured here is my favorite because it pairs perfectly with several pairs of Nike sneakers I own.

The Beats Studio Buds + are the iPhone-ready earbuds to get if you or the person you're shopping for prefer a more compact in-ear fit without a stem. A sequel to a fantastic product, the earphones are super compact, incredibly comfy, and capable of producing the brand’s signature sound and reliable noise cancellation, all at a great price. The Studio Buds + also have excellent battery life, especially considering how tiny the buds are.

Sound-wise, the Buds + earphones provide a good balance between bass, treble, and mid-range. Regardless of the content I played — from music and podcasts to videos — I enjoyed the sonic experience. Dolby Atmos-enhanced content was also presented faithfully when available.

The noise cancellation of the Buds + isn’t on par with the silence generated by the costlier AirPods Pro, but I found the feature to be plenty reliable to keep me focused on work. Compared to the AirPods Pro, the Buds + earphones also lack support for dynamic head tracking while playing spatial audio-enhanced content. The Beats product’s much lower price tag more than makes up for the missing functionality, as well as the lack of wireless charging in the storage case.

You can order the Beats Studio Buds + in several colors, ranging from striking pink and silver hues to a decidedly high-tech transparent option.

Review: Beats Studio Buds +

Despite being on the shelves for almost half a decade, the second-generation Apple AirPods are still a great buy. The true wireless earphones deserve your attention for their iconic design that’s identical to the original AirPods from 2016 with quality sound, flawless Apple integration, and a wallet-friendly price. The $129 earbuds are frequently available for less than $100 — an amazing bargain for a product with a long track record of excellence and hundreds of thousands of five-star Amazon customer reviews.

The earbuds’ sound is a typical AirPods affair, presenting a balanced sonic experience with broad appeal. Their call quality is excellent, too. I have relied on these earbuds during phone and FaceTime calls, as well as virtual meetings on countless occasions since 2019.

Due to their unibody design sans ear tips and lack of noise cancellation, the AirPods will also reliably keep you aware of your surroundings at home, work, or while out and about.

When it comes to durability and battery life, the second-generation AirPods aren't on par with today’s finest wireless earbuds. That said, their low price and solid performance make the shortcomings acceptable.

Consider the Beats Studio Buds if you are looking for a similarly priced alternative with a stemless design, tougher build, and noise cancellation. The Studio Buds are also available in more colors.

Review: Apple AirPods (2nd Generation)

Like the Pro version, the third-generation AirPods offer an appealing combination of sleek design, great sound, and impeccable Apple integration in a lower-priced package without noise cancellation. By skipping the last-mentioned feature and not having silicone ear tips, the buds will allow you (or the gift recipient) to be connected to your surroundings naturally without the need to activate a dedicated transparency mode.

The AirPods’ sound is balanced and ideal for any content — I enjoyed listening to everything from audiobooks to music playlists. The earphones’ spatial audio capabilities include the option to activate dynamic head tracking for a lifelike listening experience.

Compared to the latest AirPods Pro, I found the third-generation AirPods to have a less secure fit due to their lack of silicone ear tips and a lower IPX4 durability rating. Having said that, if you plan to exercise with your new earbuds, consider spending more on the Pro or a set of Beats earphones. The product’s maximum battery life and Lightning-equipped charging case capacity are on par with those of the Pro version.

Volume controls in the buds’ stems aren’t available either, but their much lower price tag more than makes up for these shortcomings. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the non-Pro AirPods to anyone looking for Apple-ready earphones sans noise cancellation.

Review: Apple AirPods (3rd Generation)

The impossibly sleek NHB15 wired earbuds by Questyle are surely expensive but also the most acoustically proficient option on this list and perfect for enjoying Hi-Res content from Apple Music or other streaming services like Tidal and Qobuz. The in-ear headphones’ removable USB-C cable has an integrated unit with a built-in amp and DAC (digital-to-analog converter, which, together with their finely tuned audio 10.2-millimeter drivers, allows them to deliver audiophile-grade lossless audio with pristine quality. Their sound quality is worth investing in despite the lack of noise cancellation, playback controls, and a microphone for making calls.

Compared to the wireless earbuds on this list, the NHB15 is in another league in terms of audio fidelity. Revisiting my go-to playlists for testing audio gear was an eye-opening experience that revealed new layers of detail cheaper offerings couldn’t produce. Tracks I am deeply familiar with sounded livelier and palpably more vibrant on the NHB15.

Being a longtime gearhead, I really liked the transparent panel and built-in light indicator of the earbuds’ amp/DAC enclosure. The tiny lights informed me when I was streaming Hi-Res or lower-tier audio.

The perfectly giftable retail package Questyle NHB15 includes an additional audio cable with a standard audio jack, a set of silicon ear tips, a stylish leather case, and a cable organizer made from the same material. Questyle also offers NHB12 earbuds with a Lightning cable for older iPhones.