10 Best Earbuds for iPhones

Wally Nowinski
editor

Our personal audio experts used the PerfectRec decision engine to comb through our database of headphones and earbuds to find the best earbuds for iPhone available in 2024. Here are the top 10 picks.

Our criteria for the best earbuds for iPhone:

  • Wireless: Since iPhones do not have headphone jacks, we prioritized products with a wireless connection. * Earbuds: We limited our search to earbuds and excluded headphones. * Apple: We limited our search to earbuds that work well with the iPhone iOS opperating system.
To consider others factors, try the PerfectRec decision engine to get your personalized Earbuds or Headphones recommendation
Get your personalized recommendations

10 Best Earbuds for iPhones

1
"Nothing" Brand

Ear (2)

BEST RATING
Battery Life:
4.9
Optimized for Apple




Expert Summary
The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) earbuds are a midrange priced, closed enclosure option with a stemmed form factor. They boast a very good overall sound quality, comfort, and build quality, which makes them suitable for listening to music, and they have features like active noise cancelling, making them excellent for air travel and portability. Their low latency mode is ideal for gaming and watching TV, and they're sweatproof and dustproof, appropriate for exercise. With a dynamic driver and support for AAC and LHDC codecs, they deliver high-fidelity audio. They're optimized for both Android and Apple devices and offer around 6.7 hours of battery life, extendable to 30 hours with the charging case, which also supports wireless charging. They come with an integrated microphone but do not feature virtual surround sound. Their app allows for equalizer settings and controls customization. If you want versatile, durable earbuds with active noise canceling and low latency, these could be a good option, unless you're specifically looking for features like virtual surround sound.
Pros
  • Wireless with low latency mode
  • Very good overall sound quality
  • Good active noise cancelling
  • Comfortable and secure fit
  • Water and dustproof certifications
Cons
  • Fair soundstage may affect immersion
  • Ear detection can be finicky
  • Battery life limited to 6.7 hours
  • Limited app audio controls
2
BEST RATING
Battery Life:
5.0
Optimized for Apple




Expert Summary
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 earbuds offer a very good overall sound quality and noise isolation, making them suitable for enjoying music in various environments, including during air travel. They're also praised for build quality and have an integrated microphone of very good quality, which is useful for calls. They're compatible with AptX Adaptive, ensuring compatibility with high-quality audio streaming and lower latency. Notably, they excel in gaming and TV due to their low latency. The earbuds are sweatproof, so they can be used during exercise. They are not, however, dustproof, and they do not offer wireless charging. The battery life lasts for approximately 7 hours, with a case providing an additional 28 hours. The Sennheiser app provides equalizer and control customization, enhancing the user experience. Their midrange price point makes them an appealing option for those looking for a balance between quality and affordability.
Pros
  • Very good overall sound quality
  • Excellent build and control quality
  • Effective noise isolation feature
  • App offers equalizer and controls customization
  • Good battery life with fast charge
Cons
  • Fair performance for calls and meetings
  • Not the best fit for gaming or TV
  • Not sweatproof for exercise use
  • Lack of wireless charging capability
3
Creative Labs

Outlier Pro

BEST RATING
Battery Life:
5.0
Optimized for Apple




Expert Summary
The Creative Labs Outlier Pro earbuds offer an overall good sound quality with particularly strong performance for calls and meetings, which is complemented by a very good microphone quality. They are also designed to be comfortable for extended periods and come with a robust build quality and excellent built-in controls. These earbuds are excellent for book and podcast listening as well as use during exercise and air travel. If you engage in gaming or watch a lot of TV and video, these may not be optimal due to their poorer scores in these areas. They feature active noise cancelling and are sweatproof, but they do not support lossless codecs for audiophile-grade sound. The earbuds are somewhat large but offer portability and a fair amount of noise isolation. They come with a convenient wireless charging case that can provide up to 10 hours of typical use, with a total battery life including the case being 45 hours.
Pros
  • Good overall sound quality
  • Very good mic quality
  • Excellent for air travel
  • Good comfort
  • Active noise cancelling
Cons
  • Poor music score
  • Poor for gaming and TV
  • Heavy at 7.2 grams each
  • Large earbud size may not fit all
4
BEST RATING
Battery Life:
5.0
Optimized for Apple




Expert Summary
The JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless earbuds are a budget-friendly choice with strong characteristics in certain areas. They're especially suitable for calls and meetings thanks to excellent microphone quality, and they're also well-built with reliable controls. They offer good portability and are sweatproof and dustproof, which makes them well-suited for exercise. However, they're not the best option for a rich sound experience while listening to music or for an immersive TV and gaming experience due to a low soundstage/imaging score. Although they're fairly comfortable, they may not be the best for long listening sessions, and they lack active noise cancelling. They're serviceable for casual book or podcast listening and have a fair noise isolation capability. These earbuds come equipped with app equalizer and app controls customization options, which could enhance their usability. They also have a decent battery life but do not support wireless charging.
Pros
  • Good overall sound quality
  • Very good mic quality
  • Sweatproof and dustproof
  • Very good portability
Cons
  • Poor soundstage and imaging
  • Fair comfort
  • No active noise cancelling
  • Poor use during exercise
5
BEST RATING
Podcasts & Audiobooks:
4.7
Optimized for Apple




Expert Summary
Apple Airpods Pro 2 offer a premium listening experience, particularly suitable for Apple device users, with improved noise handling and spatial audio. They boast low latency, making them a strong choice for watching videos and gaming. The built-in active noise cancelling is best-in-class for earbuds, ideal for air travel and noisy environments. They are sweatproof and have a very good sound quality. The battery life is solid, providing 6 hours of typical use, and 24 hours with the case, which also supports wireless charging. Designed with portability in mind, they lack an app equalizer or controls customization, but provide ear/head detection for convenience.
Pros
  • Very good overall sound quality
  • Excellent comfort
  • Active noise cancelling
  • Good for calls and meetings
  • Optimized for Apple devices
Cons
  • Fair built-in controls
  • No lossless codec
  • Not detachable cable
  • No app equalizer customization
6
BEST RATING
Music:
4.6
Optimized for Apple




Expert Summary
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds offer excellent overall sound quality, with superb noise isolation which makes them perfect for air travel and use in noisy environments. They also have a high comfort score, ideal for extended listening periods. These earbuds are wireless, supporting AAC and AptX Adaptive codecs for better sound, and they are sweatproof, enhancing their suitability for exercise. However, calls and meetings might not be optimal due to the earbuds' fair mic quality. Designed for durability, they come with stability bands but the poor gaming score suggests they may not be the best choice for gamers due to possible latency issues. They provide an impressive 6.5 hours of battery life, with a case offering an additional 21 hours, though they lack wireless charging. The earbuds are optimized for both Android and Apple devices, and they come with an integrated app that allows equalizer and controls customization for a personalized experience.
Pros
  • Excellent overall sound quality
  • Very good comfort
  • Best in class noise isolation
  • Good for air travel
  • App customization available
Cons
  • Fair microphone quality
  • Poor for gaming usage
  • Only fair for calls and meetings
  • Non-detachable cable
7
BEST RATING
Air Travel:
4.6
Optimized for Apple




Expert Summary
The Sony WF1000XM3 earbuds offer a midrange price and are known for their excellent noise cancellation and sound quality, making them ideal for immersive music listening in noisy environments. They're stemless with a closed design, provide good comfort, and support Sony's 360 Reality Audio for an enhanced experience with compatible apps. They also boast very good battery life with up to 24 hours of total playtime including the charging case. However, they may not be the best choice for watching TV or gaming due to their poor latency performance. If you need a good microphone for calls, note that these earbuds offer fair call quality.
Pros
  • Good overall sound quality
  • Excellent noise cancellation
  • Very good microphone quality
  • Comprehensive app controls
  • Supports AAC codec
Cons
  • Not suitable for gaming
  • Poor performance for TV/video
  • No sweat or dust resistance
  • No wireless charging
8
Bang and Olufsen

Beoplay EQ

BEST RATING
Podcasts & Audiobooks:
4.7
Optimized for Apple




Expert Summary
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ earbuds are a midrange-priced option well-suited for music listening, with active noise cancelling that enhances the listening experience for air travel and noisy environments. They have very good build quality and battery life lasting 6.5 hours per charge, extendable to 20 hours using the charging case, which also supports wireless charging. The earbuds are sweat and dustproof, making them suitable for exercise, and they come with a companion app that allows EQ customization. However, they're better for music and calls than for gaming and TV due to Bluetooth latency, and the soundstage may not be as expansive as some other options.
Pros
  • Excellent build quality
  • Good overall sound quality
  • Active noise cancelling included
  • Comfortable for long periods
  • Supports AptX Adaptive codec
Cons
  • Fair score in gaming performance
  • No headphone jack available
  • Battery life could be longer
  • Large earbud size may not fit all
9
Soundcore

P20i

BEST RATING
Battery Life:
5.0
Optimized for Apple




Expert Summary
The Soundcore P20i earbuds offer good overall sound quality, with a closed enclosure type and a stemmed form factor. They're wireless but do not support a wired connection. Comfort and mic quality are both good, while they are rated very good for build quality and built-in controls. If you prioritize battery life, the Soundcore P20i has a solid 9 hours of typical use, extending to 20 hours with the case. Plus, they have wireless charging capabilities. For exercise enthusiasts, they are sweatproof but have only a fair score for use during exercise. Active noise canceling is included, which enhances listening experiences in noisy environments. However, they are not the best choice for calls and meetings or gaming, where their performance is rated as poor. An integrated microphone is present for calls, and they feature app customization options, equalizer, and audio controls, being optimized for both Android and Apple devices. They are lightweight at 4.5 grams per earbud and come with a medium-sized carry case. Keep in mind, though, that they lack low latency features, which could affect gaming and TV/video syncing.
Pros
  • Good overall sound quality
  • Comfortable fit
  • Very good build quality
  • Excellent built-in controls
  • Active noise cancelling available
Cons
  • Poor soundstage and imaging
  • Fair music listening experience
  • Calls and meetings quality rated poor
  • Noise isolation is fair
10
BEST RATING
Portability:
5.0
Optimized for Apple




Expert Summary
Apple Airpods Pro are midrange-priced, stem-formed earbuds designed for closed-ear listening. They offer wireless connectivity with good overall sound quality and are particularly suited for calls and meetings, as well as air travel with their excellent noise isolation capabilities. They are optimized for use with Apple devices, providing features like adaptive sound, improved spatial audio, and lower latency which make them ideal for Apple users. They are sweatproof, have active noise cancelling, and come with a wireless charging case promising 24 hours of battery life. While they aren't the best for gaming or watching TV due to their poor scores in those areas, they are very portable and suitable for exercise. They also have integrated mic functionality, though without virtual surround sound.
Pros
  • Active Noise Cancelling
  • Compatible with wireless charging
  • Optimized for Apple devices
  • Good for air travel and portability
  • Good call and meeting quality
Cons
  • Poor gaming and TV score
  • No app equalizer customization
  • Not optimized for Android devices
  • Lack of lossless codec support