Whether you’re listening to music and podcasts or making calls, the wireless earbuds will keep you free of cables. The best wireless headphones for iPhone use Apple-supported Bluetooth technology, offer at least four hours of playtime per charge, and are comfortable to wear. Depending on how much you want to spend, some earbuds have extras including active noise cancellation, while others are cheap with basic features.
To connect with your iPhone seamlessly without creating audio lag, most of the wireless earbuds below support Apple’s default AAC Bluetooth codec. However, some budget headsets often use the SBC codec. Although supported by iPhones as well, SBC may offer lower sound quality and you may experience audio lag. However, these earbuds should work perfectly fine for casual listening and phone calls.
If you opt for more expensive headphones, some have an active noise canceling mode perfect for blocking out background noise, or you can use transparency mode to hear what’s going on around you. Some are even voice-enabled with Siri.
For convenience, any price range earbuds usually come with multiple sizes of ear tips so you can choose the best fit. And for an even more secure fit that you might enjoy during workouts or other active movements, you might prefer a pair with comfortable ear hooks.
As for battery life, most wireless earbuds offer between four and nine hours of playtime per charge, depending on whether you’re talking or listening. Note that using active noise cancellation and transparency mode tends to drain the battery faster. Additionally, the earbuds can be charged in the case between uses, extending battery life up to 30 hours before charging the case.
Finally, an IPX water resistance rating indicates how well your earbuds will withstand rain and sweat. An IPX4 rating means they can withstand the occasional splash while the IPX8 rated earbuds can be submerged in water for a short period of time without damage.
Check out the best wireless headphones for iPhone below, all of which have tens of thousands of positive reviews.
1. The Apple earphones with a near-perfect rating
In addition to getting a near-perfect 4.8-star overall rating after over 49,000 reviews, these AirPods Pro have garnered praise from Inverse editor Cristina Sanza, who states, “The AirPods Pro connect to my phone so quickly and I find the silicone. earphones much more comfortable than the previous generation of AirPods. A feature I love: when I listen to something with the earphones, Siri gently activates when I receive a text message or a phone call. “
The earbuds have active noise cancellation and a transparency mode that lets you hear background noise, and you can easily switch between them by pressing each earbud. They also support the AAC codec. The earbuds come with three sizes of silicone grommets and have an IPX4 water resistance rating, according to the brand, so they’ll be resistant to sweat and light rain. You’ll have approximately 4.5 hours of continuous listening when Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency modes are activated, and with the included MagSafe Charging Case for powering on between uses, you’ll have more than 24 hours of total listening. Additionally, the earbuds are voice-enabled with Siri.
A Lightning to USB-C charging cable is included, and the case is also compatible with a wireless charger (sold separately). For a more affordable option that doesn’t include active noise cancellation, check out these second generation Apple AirPods.
A positive review: “The audio quality is great. The carrying case not only helps with fast reloading, but also keeps buds cleaner than if they were floating in a pocket or bag. They sense when they are in the ear, so they don’t even need to be paired or turned on. They connect seamlessly to your iPhone and pairing with other non-Apple devices is simple (using a button on the case). “
2. The ones with ear hooks for a secure fit
The adjustable over-the-ear hooks of these Beats wireless earbuds will give you a secure fit even during strenuous activity and come with four-size silicone grommets so you can choose the most comfortable and snug option. They are also sweat and water resistant and have an IPX4 rating. The earbuds offer up to nine hours of continuous listening per charge and up to 24 hours of battery life with the included charging case. Plus, if your battery is running low, you can get another 90 minutes of playback with just five minutes of charging in the case.
Each headset has built-in audio controls so you can adjust the volume and play songs without needing the phone in your hand. The earbuds use the AAC codec, pair quickly with your iPhone, and are compatible with Siri for voice commands, but don’t have an active noise canceling feature. They come in six colors, come with a Lightning to USB-A charging cable, and have garnered over 55,000 five-star reviews.
A positive review: “I use these headphones exclusively for exercise and have paired them with an iPhone 12. For my use, they are almost perfect. I sweat a lot when I do cardio, and these stayed firmly in place and had no issues with humidity. “
3. The best budget earphones
While these wireless earbuds don’t offer the great sound quality of other picks on the list, they are a great basic option at an affordable price. They are also highly rated with a whopping 189,000 five-star reviews. The earbuds support the SBC Bluetooth codec, so you may experience a slight lag when streaming from your iPhone, but reviewers note that the earbuds quickly pair with their iPhones every time and provide decent sound quality.
The earbuds offer approximately six hours of listening per charge, and the case provides an additional 30 hours of playback time. They also have an IPX8 water resistance rating, the highest on the list, and can be submerged in water up to 1 meter deep for up to 30 minutes. They also feature touch control for audio adjustments.
While these earbuds don’t have active noise cancellation or voice command capability, they do include plus-sized silicone earbuds and come with a USB-C charging cable. You can also use a wireless charging pad (sold separately). Choose from five colors.
A positive review: “The sound quality is very good for the price range. You can hear all the highs, mids and hear the pounding of the bass in your ear. Voices sound clear and undistorted. Immediately and paired with my iPhone XS it took less than a minute.
4. The earphones with the best active noise cancellation
These Bose earbuds are designed for active noise cancellation and are highly rated by reviewers for that feature, with a fan writing, “If you want the best noise cancellation on a headset, these are the set to get. Period.” The earbuds also have a transparency mode that lets sounds in around you, and you can switch between modes with a tap on each earbud. Additionally, they support the Bluetooth AAC codec for low-latency audio when streaming from your iPhone and are compatible with Siri for voice commands. You’ll get up to six hours of listening per charge and an additional 12 hours of playback with the charging case. Three sizes of silicone grommets are included and the earbuds are water and sweat resistant with an IPX4 rating.
They come in three colors, come with a USB-C charging cable, and have earned over 15,000,000 five-star ratings. The case is also compatible with a wireless charging pad (sold separately).
A positive review: “Bose doesn’t disappoint with these headphones. The sound quality is incredible. The noise cancellation is top notch. Battery life is long lasting. And they actually stay in your ear.