Which wireless headphones for iPhone to choose, and what to consider when choosing, we described in this article. Our rating of headphones for iPhone includes models with good quality sound. Of course, the original ones are best for iPhone Airpods or Airpods Pro. If you can’t afford the original Airpods Pro, then choose more budget ones Sony WF-1000XM3, which will have higher sound quality. Remember that Apple products support the AAC audio codec, so there is no point in considering more modern and technological codecs.
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Which headphones are suitable for iPhone?
All headphones that use “Lightning” are suitable for iPhone, since all iPhone models, starting with model 7, do not have a standard 3.5 jack. There is an option to buy an adapter, but it doesn’t look aesthetically pleasing; the optimal solution would be Bluetooth headphones. They connect quickly to Apple devices and do not distort the sound. It would be wrong to think that only AirPods are suitable for iPhones. Of course, they connect much faster, but you can use any Bluetooth headphones that support the SBC and AAC .
All iPhones up to version 12 came with standard EarPods. The new models will no longer have a phone, as well as a charging unit.
Wireless headphones are a gadget that allows you to listen to music, radio and even make phone calls. Thanks to headphones, we can cut ourselves off from the world around us and devote ourselves entirely to the sounds produced by the membranes.
Properly selected headphones for iPhone allow you to listen to high quality music. However, not all models are capable of providing good sound. If you are planning to purchase high-quality headphones for iPhone, then it is important to know what criteria you should pay attention to and what is important to consider.
Wireless "magic"
Before the presentation of the 8th generation iPhone line, there were speculations online about what the headphones would be like, in particular, there was talk about the likelihood of smartphones being equipped with wireless AirPods. Expectations were not met for objective reasons (high cost), but this product is available for purchase as an additional accessory in the official stores of the corporation.
The manufacturer promises not only automatic music playback when you put the headphones in your ear, but also automatic shutdown when you remove the device from the place intended for its operation.
AirPods begin instantly syncing with nearby other Apple devices belonging to the same owner, without additional commands. The button for switching tracks, accepting or rejecting calls, activating Siri, in this model is replaced by touching the headphones themselves.
Types of headphones for iPhone
There are 2 types of headphones suitable for iPhone:
- Wireless . Any model is suitable, but for better use it is recommended to give preference to headphones that support the AAC codec, as well as without aptX.
- Wired . Many iPhones are compatible with any version of these headphones. You can find both professional and simple “consumer” ones. The cost of the latter is $20-100. For this money you can buy a very decent option. It is important to consider that not all iPhone models provide for the use of wired headphones (the design of new versions of smartphones does not include the usual 3.5 mm jack).
Each option has its own characteristics and advantages. This allows users to choose the best model based on their individual preferences.
What to consider when choosing headphones: sound quality, codec, compactness and comfort
Today, wireless models are especially popular. Taking into account consumer demands, Apple has focused all its attention on the development and creation of just such headphones. Initially, the brand only released in-ear headphones (TWS), but in 2020, vacuum models were released.
The first wireless headphones are True Wireless. Today their sound level has become much better, and their autonomy has also increased. TWS are easy to use and quite compact. A good option for iPhone owners who want to buy high-quality headphones with decent sound. The leading place in the ranking of the best TWS in terms of sound is taken by a model from Sennheiser, and in terms of ergonomics - by Apple.
It is important to note that Apple smartphones only support the AAC codec (and standard SBC) for wireless audio transmission. It is considered irrational to buy models with aptX or LDAC if their price is higher than headphones with only SBC or AAC.
Many iPhone users wonder why manufacturers have not yet implemented support for high-definition codecs. It's all about additional licenses that you have to pay for. The company does not see the need for this, since AAC provides sound no worse than aptX.
AAC codec: what is it and why is it needed?
AAC stands for "Advanced Audio Coding". It is the preferred audio codec format for lossy compression in the Apple ecosystem. AAC is a multi-channel audio coding algorithm that supports streaming. It is interesting to note that it is also used on YouTube and Russian television.
Thanks to conversion with the AAC codec, music transfer via Bluetooth becomes available. This algorithm is capable of dividing the transmitted signal into parts, then sending it to the headphones. Already in them, through the same codec, unpacking and digital-to-analog conversion of the signal into music is carried out.
For reference: AAC was originally created as a successor to MP3 with improved encoding quality. In 1997 it became the new, seventh part of the MPEG-2 family.
Key Features of AAC
High-quality implementation of AAC on iPhone gives a decent final result. By ear it is difficult to distinguish it from higher quality codecs (for example, aptX). However, it is important to understand that in case of encoding at a lower bitrate (Android smartphones), the sound quality will be worse. That is, Advanced Audio Coding works differently, depending on the phone's OP. If we compare this codec with SBC, the second one shows more stable operation. Thus, the opinion that for Android AAC is of higher quality than SBC is the most common misconception.
On some smartphones, SBC may perform better than AAC. This manifests itself not only in numbers, but also aurally. If you purchased headphones with AAC support, but you are not satisfied with the clarity and depth of the sound, try switching to SBC. Perhaps your phone model has a worse implementation of the AAC codec.
If we consider the implementation of AAC on the iPhone, then this is the best codec option. The sound is as close to CD quality as possible.
Rating of the best wireless headphones for iPhone
1
Apple Airpods Pro
Rating:5.0
- intracanal
- active noise cancellation (ANC) system
- Bluetooth 5.0
- dynamic
- operating time 4.5 hours (from the battery in the case 24 hours)
Average price: RUB 20,480
For lovers of clear sound without noise, we recommend Apple Airpods Pro. These are original wireless headphones for iPhone from Apple; they guarantee us high sound quality when listening to music, watching movies or talking on the phone. This also applies to the built-in microphone. When we start a conversation, the device mutes surrounding sounds and focuses on our voice. As a result, the interlocutor hears us very clearly.
How to choose Apple headphones and what to look for?
Before purchasing this rather expensive accessory, you should decide on such features as:
- presence or absence of wires;
- choice between AirPods and AirPods Pro;
- determining how to charge the case - wirelessly or via the Lightning connector;
- choice of headphone color.
When purchasing, it is very important to check the originality of the model and not purchase a fake.
The main differences between original models and fakes are :
- quite high price;
- original equipment and packaging in white “with droplets”;
- plastic case, pleasant to the touch, with a glossy shiny surface, which is easy to open and close;
- metal mesh speakers;
- neat, clear labels.
Best over-ear headphones for Iphone
1
Sony WH-1000XM4
Rating:5.0
- full size, closed
- active noise cancellation (ANC) system
- Bluetooth 5.0, NFC
- dynamic
- operating time 38 hours
Average price: RUB 29,990
The main features of these headphones are excellent noise reduction and crystal clear and pleasant sound.
Best signal-to-noise ratio, excellent sound quality and low noise, thanks to the high-quality amplifier built into the QN1 HD noise-canceling processor.
Powerful 40mm drivers with LCD cones produce rich bass and reproduce a frequency range from 4 to 40 kHz.
DSEE Extreme™ performs real-time audio enhancements on compressed files.
Bowers & Wilkins P5 Wireless
Photo: bowers-wilkins.com
Specifications:
- Resistance: 22 Ohm
- Sensitivity: 109 dB
- Frequency range: 10–20,000 Hz
- Harmonic distortion:
- Opening hours: 17 h
- Weight: 213 g
- Range: 10 m
- Bluetooth version: 4.1, class 2
On-ear wireless headphones provide excellent connectivity with iPhone 7 thanks to aptX Bluetooth technology. The elegantly tailored leather headband is accentuated by glossy aluminum accents. The foldable design is complemented by matte ear cups and soft black ear pads.
They're quite lightweight, 18g heavier than the corded P5 2. The extra weight comes from a powerful battery that can last up to 17 hours on a single charge, and electronic components for connecting Bluetooth headphones. On the back of the right ear cup there are buttons for volume control, answering calls and stopping music playback.
Owners of Bowers & Wilkins P5 note that the sound is not too aggressive, clear and balanced. The bass is rich and deep, the mids are slightly recessed, and the highs sound veiled. Noise reduction is passive - using headphones on the street or subway is not recommended.
Price: from 14,490 rubles
pros
- Excellent build quality
- Balanced sound
- Removable ear pads
- Two built-in microphones
Minuses
- High price
Inexpensive wired headphones for iPhone
1
Xiaomi Mi In-Ear Headphones Pro 2
Rating:4.9
- with microphone
- intracanal
- reinforcing + dynamic, number of drivers: 2
- sensitivity 100 dB
- impedance 32 Ohm
Average price: RUB 1,966
The headphones come in a small white box with a picture of the In-Ear Headphones Pro 2 and its technical specifications. Once opened, we see the classic transparent Xiaomi box that hides the headphones along with three additional pairs of silicone earbuds in sizes S, M and L. The headphones were placed in a rubber protective mold and, as is usually the case with Xiaomi headphones, were “decorated” with a plastic scent. The smell is not very strong, so it doesn’t try to choke us, and the whole thing always smells more interesting than cheap rubber.
The bass on the In-Ear Headphones Pro 2 is well defined, especially in the mid-range. In addition, the bass has good dynamics, so it is tight. However, it's worth remembering that when we go down to the lowest registers, the Pro 2 below 50Hz shows a clear reduction in quality compared to the mid-bass. However, this does not mean that the sub-bass is not readable - it has simply been reduced to a supporting role for the rest of the sound, and thanks to the aforementioned versatility, Xiaomi headphones usually present no problem when choosing music.
The headphones deliver vocals brightly and clearly, bringing them forward a little and emphasizing them, making them sound natural. This is due to a slight increase in the upper mid frequencies, so excess sibilance in this range was avoided, and female voices remained smooth. The male singing, on the other hand, has been tightened up a bit, but again the change from natural sound in everyday listening is small and negligible as the vocals are still strong and rich.
Peculiarities:
- workmanship;
- good ergonomics;
- bright and naturally presented vocals;
- very good value for money.
2
Knowledge Zenith ZSN
Rating:4.8
- intracanal, closed
- reinforcing + dynamic
- sensitivity 112 dB
- impedance 24 ohms
- mini jack 3.5 mm connector with detachable cable
Average price: RUB 1,590
Knowledge Zenith, better known as KZ, has quickly risen from being a largely unknown headphone manufacturer to becoming a trend-setter in affordable headphones. It is no exaggeration to say that the ZSN model gives us a very large selection of budget hybrid designs.
Mid tones are somewhat closed, but to a lesser extent than was the case, for example, in the Honor Magic Earbuds. However, in keeping with the sound philosophy that Knowledge Zenith continues in its subsequent hybrid projects, the midrange also enhances the transition to the soprano, but is not as aggressive as in its predecessors. The sounds they produce are expressive, the timbre is close to natural, and the lack of richness can be largely corrected by the source.
KZ ZSN are probably the first headphones from this manufacturer that I really like. They offer "entertaining" sound, typical of Knowledge Zenith. In addition, ZSN is convenient, has a durable design and allows you to replace the cable if the original one is damaged.
Peculiarities:
- Interesting design;
- Good ergonomics of earbuds;
- Good workmanship;
- There is a replaceable cable.
AKG N60NC Wireless
Photo: UPCitemdb.com
Specifications:
- Resistance: 32 Ohm
- Sensitivity: 111 dB
- Frequency range: 10–22,000 Hz
- Maximum power: 30 mW
- Working time: 15 h
- Range: 10 m
- Weight: 199.4 g
- Bluetooth Version: 4.0
The AKG N60NC wireless headphones work well with the iPhone 7, have balanced sound and active noise cancellation. A soft headband with a metal base at the crown of the head transitions into a hard one, providing an unusual fit.
The ear cups rotate and fold. The outer part is made entirely of durable plastic with the AKG logo located in the middle. The shiny edging adds sophistication. The ear pads are covered with artificial leather. The controls are ergonomically located along the perimeter of the right side.
The AKG N60NC delivers powerful low-frequency response that's worthy of wireless headphones at this price point. The middle level falls a little, the top lacks shine. The active noise cancellation function works acceptably, but the noise of the engine or room air conditioner easily penetrates the ears.
The model is completely aimed at people with an active lifestyle or travelers. The set includes a convenient carrying case; the headphones sit comfortably on your head for 4-5 hours and suppress a large amount of noise.
Price: from 15,990 rubles
pros
- Compact design
- 15 hours of battery life
- Active Noise Cancellation
- There is a wired mode
- Clear mids
Minuses
- Non-standard charging cable
