This ranking includes the best headphones for iPhone in 2026. We’ll cover both AirPods models and top picks from other brands. OnePlus, Huawei, Nothing, Sony, and more, some of which, spoiler alert, offer much better sound quality and some features. Noise cancellation, microphone, app, and so on. These are wireless earbuds and one wired model in four popular form factors: earbuds, on-ear, in-ear, and over-ear. These are the best headphones for iPhone for music lovers, audiophiles, and gamers.
First, let’s cover the 3 main pain points to consider when buying headphones for iPhone:
- Codecs: Apple is limited to the AAC codec, so LDAC/aptX HD and other high-resolution codecs won’t be available, even if the headphones support them. This ranking considers sound only via AAC. And don’t be upset; the sound loss with AAC compared to, for example, LDAC, is 10-15% on some top models, and sometimes the difference is minimal or non-existent on most budget models. Read about the impact of codecs on sound and their differences via the link in the description.
- Apple Ecosystem and its features. Not all features will be available. For example, reading notifications from Telegram and messengers. Instant switching between Apple devices, Mac, iPad, iPhone, nice pairing animations, calling “Hey Siri,” Find My, nodding your head to answer a call, etc. All this works with AirPods within the ecosystem. Some features are available on third-party models, but most are missing.
- App, which for iOS is sometimes simply unavailable, as is the case with Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. But this is more of an exception to the rule. For 99%, everything is available.
EMMA — Experts + Methodology + MyChoozers + Algorithm.
Every model goes through identical tests; the score is calculated automatically with fixed weights — a spot in the rating cannot be bought.
TOP-15: Best Wireless Headphones for iPhone – Ranking 2026:
The ranking of the best headphones for iPhone is influenced by: sound quality (50%), microphone quality (12.5%), noise cancellation and transparency quality (12.5%); controls, app, battery life (12.5%); comfort, design, and durability (12.5%). These are the main parameters for choosing the best Bluetooth headphones. Read more about how we rate headphones. The 2026 ranking of headphones for iPhone includes 15 models out of the 163 we tested, priced from $19 to $289.
Looking for headphones for iPhone 11 or headphones for iPhone 16? All models in the ranking are 100% compatible with your iPhone. Apple headphones like AirPods often lag behind cheaper models in sound quality, while being better in system integration and functionality. All Apple iPhones use the AAC Bluetooth codec, so don’t focus too much on codecs. See more detailed selection criteria at the end of the ranking.
Wireless headphones on a budget – separate TWS rankings: under $100, under $50, and under $30.
1. Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro 8.99Wireless Headphones for iPhone – with the Best Transparency Mode and Microphone
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro is a highly successful update to the 3 Pro. The main reason to buy: reference sound, reference functionality, and a very comfortable design. 3 out of 3. All this not only on flagship Samsung devices but on all Android and Apple devices. Reference transparency mode and excellent noise cancellation. Excellent microphone. It’s like AirPods, but with enhanced sound and for all ecosystems.
The downsides include artificial ecosystem limitations for non-Samsung devices: only basic codecs with a 15% quality drop, no low-latency mode, no translator or voice assistant, no spatial audio, Auracast, or seamless device switching. There are minor sound flaws in the highs. Everything else is simply TOP.
- Top-tier sound, reference-grade with the proprietary SSC UHD codec.
- Includes a translator, voice assistant, spatial audio.
- Reference-grade transparency, activation by saying your name.
- The SSC UHD codec, translator, voice assistant, and spatial audio only work on Samsung flagship devices.
- No companion app for Apple.
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 9.13 A wide soundstage, cool punchy bass, prominent vocals that separate cleanly from other instruments, and gorgeous detail retrieval. The main downside of the sound is perhaps the highs, which felt slightly lacking for me in both quality and quantity. The main plus of the sound is everything else, the soundstage is absolute reference material at 10 out of 10.Read more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 9.50 In quiet conditions: 10 In noisy conditions: 9 Gorgeous quality, it has gotten better than the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. It fell just a hair short of the Huawei reference.Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 9.25 Noise cancellation is excellent—9 out of 10, falling slightly short of the AirPods Pro 3 reference. It handles street noise, laptop hum, and PC fans well. Transparency is reference-level with a slight digital processing feel. Battery life in our tests on base codecs is 8-10 hours. Touch controls, plus voice control for the player and calls. The companion app is user-friendly and only for Android devices. Moreover, some features are only available on Samsung devices.Read more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 8.25 The earbuds are very comfortable, the case is compact. After a couple of hours of use, only minor fatigue. The build is sturdy and reliable, though the finish is a fingerprint magnet. Available in 3 colors: gray, white, and rose gold. Personally, I liked the design, while parts of our team didn’t. What about you?Read more.
2. Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless 9.09Best Over-Ear Headphones for iPhone – for Sound
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless — the best wireless over-ear headphones with three main reasons to buy: best sound under $300, top-tier noise cancellation, and a durable, reliable build. With aptX HD and aptX Adaptive codecs, the sound improvement is only 10-15%, as the sound system already delivers maximum performance. Among the drawbacks, the clamping force is above average, and you need to take a break after 1-2 hours of use.
- Best sound under $300
- Top-tier noise cancellation and reference-level transparency.
- Detailed microphone
- Sturdy and reliable build
- Ear cups press too firmly
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 9.55 These headphones deliver the best sound quality of any over-ear model under $300. You get a pleasing bass-heavy sound with an intimate mid-range and moderately bright highs. The soundstage is spacious and full-bodied, completely free of artificial timbre or noticeable grain. Detail retrieval is sharp enough to catch micro-details. A few minor drawbacks include a slight excess in the bass, a shortfall in the highs, and a touch less transparency.Read more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 9.25 In quiet conditions: 9.5 In noisy conditions: 9 These headphones feature 4 microphones, with 2 in each ear cup. Vocals on recordings sound detailed. In noisy environments, quality drops a bit while staying clear.Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 8.83 Active noise cancellation is top-tier and leaves sound quality untouched. The transparency mode comes close to reference-quality. Up to 60 hours of battery life will easily carry you through a week of active listening. Controls are hybrid and mostly gesture-based on the right ear cup. Navigation feels convenient, though it takes a couple of days to get the hang of it. The app is useful: you can turn on the aptX codec on Android, tweak the EQ, and adjust the ambient mode.Read more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 8.33 Build quality feels sturdy and reliable, though the finish picks up fingerprints rather easily. The clamping force is above average, which is fine for 1 to 2 hours of use before you feel the need to take a break. The headphones look good and come in 5 colors.Read more.
3. Huawei Freebuds 6 8.06Best Wireless Earbuds for iPhone – for Sound
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
Huawei FreeBuds 6 are the best sports earbuds. The main reason to buy: the best sound among earbuds, a reference microphone among TWS models, and a unique design with a comfortable fit. The earbuds are almost unnoticeable in the ears from the first minutes of use. Only after 2 hours does slight fatigue set in. With the LDAC codec, we get up to a 20% sound improvement. The drawbacks are that some features are only available on Huawei phones with HarmonyOS: proprietary L2HC codec, translator, voice assistant, etc.
- Best sound among open-fit earbuds.
- Reference-quality microphone.
- Good noise cancellation for open-fit earbuds.
- Overly bright sound in certain tracks.
- Non-critical: No transparency mode, L2HC 4.0 codec, and many proprietary features are available only on HarmonyOS 4.3+ Huawei devices.
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 7.98 Top-tier level like the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 — just that here it is different, bright, narrow, precise. Excellent out-of-the-box sound. With the LDAC codec, we get up to a 20% boost in sound quality. The main sound pros are great natural timbre and detail retrieval, plus pleasant bass. Instruments and vocals sound clean, with virtually no digital harshness or coloration. The main sound shortcoming is a lack of soundstage scale; the presentation is quite closed-in and narrow, leaving you wishing for more space. In tracks packed with percussion or highs, the sound is harsh and frequently fatiguing. EQ tuning is required.Read more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 9.75 In quiet conditions: 10 In noisy conditions: 9.5 Reference-grade microphone among wireless earbuds.Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 8.11 Noise cancellation is at a good level for open-fit earbuds. There is no transparency mode, but even without it you can comfortably chat with someone without taking off the earbuds. Battery life is excellent, up to 6 hours of playback and up to 36 hours with the case. Controls are convenient and touch-sensitive, but take some getting used to. The app is great, and inside it I recommend selecting the LDAC codec and configuring the EQ.Read more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 8.17 The earbuds are barely felt in the ears from the first minutes of use. Only after 2 hours does minor fatigue set in. In terms of durability, everything is great; after a year, the model looks like new. The design is unique, but in real life looks better than in photos.Read more.
4. Technics EAH-AZ100 8.88Best Headphones for iPhone — for Sound
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
Technics EAH-AZ100 are the best-sounding wireless headphones among all TWS models under $350, and this is the main reason to buy them. 2nd place in sound among all TWS models and 1st in the sum of all parameters, in absolute terms: sound + features + build. The model has no critical flaws.
- Reference-quality sound among wireless earbuds
- Comfortable and pleasant build quality
- Average noise cancellation
- A few downsides include vocals lacking a bit of intimacy, minor issues with the app and build quality, and an average microphone.
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 9.31 Reference-level. The main highlights of the sound include its naturalness, soundstage, detail, and highs. The main drawback is the slightly recessed mid-range and vocals that result from this tuning. You also get a minimal shortfall in bass quantity and quality.Read more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 8.00 Better than the AZ80. In quiet environments: 8 In noisy conditions: 8Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 8.08 Noise cancellation is strong enough to block out road performance above average. Transparency is excellent, making conversations with a partner comfortable. Battery life is stellar at 10 hours, extending to 28 hours with the charging case, while using LDAC + ANC under the same conditions yields 7 and 18 hours respectively. Controls are convenient and touch-based, though they require some getting used to. The app is great; I recommend choosing the LDAC codec and tweaking the EQ inside it.Read more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 9.00 Comfortable, sturdy, and pleasing to the eye. For comfort, they fit well with a mild sensation of wearing earbuds. The case is compact. The build is reliable. IPx4 dust and water resistance applies only to the earbuds. The earbuds look nice, even if they aren’t out of the ordinary.Read more.
5. Apple AirPods 4 ANC 8.05Best Earbuds for iPhone
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
Apple AirPods 4 ANC are the best earbuds for iPhone and Apple devices. You get good sound, spatial audio, and adaptive EQ. The earbuds have good battery life, a decent microphone, and noise cancellation.
- The sound is soft and musical, ranking top-tier for open-fit earbuds.
- Microphone of excellent quality
- Active noise cancellation and transparency mode are the best among open-fit earbuds.
- Comfortable and beautiful design.
- No volume control.
- The app is available only on iOS, leaving functionality stripped-down on Android.
- Battery life is only 4 hours with ANC enabled and 20 hours total with the case.
- Non-critical cons: the glossy finish scratches quickly, and there is no cable included in the box.
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 7.56 Among open-fit earbuds, this is first-class sound. Soft, voluminous, enveloping, and comfortable, allowing you to relax and lose yourself in your favorite music. I really liked the sound. If we take the current reference like the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 or the previous Huawei FreeBuds 6, those models edge ahead slightly in points. The main plus of the sound is the volume and overall harmony; it is soft and pleasant, you never get tired of it, and it draws you in. The main minus of the sound is that naturalness could be better, and vocals closer. However, this is not critical.Read more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 9.00 In quiet conditions: 10 In noisy conditions: 8Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 8.00 Noise cancellation is at a reference level for open-fit earbuds, feeling almost like in-ear earbuds. An unbelievable level. Transparency mode is perfect and reference-grade, making it feel as if you aren’t wearing earbuds. Battery life is poor: 5 hours and 30 minutes without ANC, and 4 hours and 20 minutes with ANC is low. Controls are convenient via stem pinches, but there is no volume control through swipes. The app is great for iOS, but there is no app for Android.Read more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 9.33 They are very comfortable for 2 to 3 hours without discomfort. Durability is fine overall, except the earbuds scratch very easily. The design follows the Apple style and looks beautiful. The charging case is the smallest I have ever seen, and the earbuds themselves are miniature. I have no complaints about the build quality.Read more.
6. HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 8.52Best Headphones for iPhone – for Sound and Features
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
Huawei Freebuds Pro 4 are the best wireless headphones based on the sum of 32 testing parameters on MyChooz, among all wireless in-ear models under $200. And the main reason to buy: a balance of sound, features, and build, plus a reference microphone. The drawbacks are that some features only work on proprietary devices with HarmonyOS: L2HC codec, spatial audio, translator, voice assistant, etc.
- Top-tier sound
- Reference-grade microphone
- Top-tier controls
- The proprietary L2HC codec, translator, assistant, and other features only work on HarmonyOS devices
- Minor: the soundstage lacks width layering, high frequencies occasionally exhibit grain
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 8.46 The earbuds feature excellent midrange frequencies and a transparent vocal presentation. A moderately natural sound for voices and instruments, free of distortion and digital artifacts. Detail retrieval is sufficient to enjoy live instruments. Downsides include a minor bass deficiency and a somewhat narrow soundstage.Read more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 9.75 In quiet conditions: 9.5 In noisy conditions: 10Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 8.52 A strong suit of the model and the manufacturer overall. Noise cancellation and transparency are sufficient for work. Battery life in our tests is up to 6.5 hours taking the codec into account. Convenient touch controls via pinches, swipes, and head gestures. The companion app is not overloaded with unnecessary features. On Android, however, the app must be installed manually after downloading from the Huawei website.Read more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 8.67 The earbuds feature a comfortable fit without noticeable discomfort. No complaints about build quality or materials. Only the earbud body is a fingerprint magnet, and scratches on the charging case are visible after a week of use. The earbuds look good, though the gold plating and brand name look a bit excessive. Available in 3 colors.Read more.
7. Apple Airpods Pro 3 8.64Best Wireless Headphones for iPhone – for Compatibility with Apple Ecosystem
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
Apple Airpods Pro 3 are the best TWS headphones for Apple devices. The main reason to buy: near-flagship sound; reference microphone, active noise cancellation, transparency, and controls. The model has no critical flaws – it might not fit everyone, and some features only work with Apple devices.
- Near-flagship sound quality — vastly superior to the 2 Pro.
- Microphone is a benchmark
- Noise cancellation and transparency mode operate at benchmark levels.
- Controls are benchmark-level
- Battery life increased by 2 hours, reaching up to 8 hours with ANC active.
- Comfortable and sleek design
- Comfort has improved across the model line, though it won’t suit everyone.
- The app and other features work exclusively on Apple devices.
- Minor drawbacks: the case scratches very quickly.
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 8.50 With EQ tuning, you can push the score up to a 9. You get excellent sound quality on par with top models from Sony, Sennheiser, Bose, and others. The strong suit is a significant boost in detail retrieval, soundstage, and naturalness. The tuning closely resembles the AirPods Pro 2, but it’s as if the window you’re looking through has been enlarged and thoroughly cleaned. Finally, you get a sound profile you don’t have to feel ashamed of. That’s a huge leap of +1.5 points compared to the Pro 2. It still doesn’t quite reach the level of the Realme Buds Air 7 Pro, Huawei Freebuds 4 Pro, or the reference Technics EAH-AZ100, but it’s getting close.Read more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 9.00 In quiet conditions: 10 In noisy conditions: 8 The microphone delivers simply stunning quality, setting a new benchmark. At first, I thought I had accidentally recorded sound using the iPhone instead. The “voice isolation” feature is available, which improves voice quality in noisy conditions by cutting out background sounds.Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 9.00 Active noise cancellation, transparency mode, and controls all match reference-quality. Battery life reaches up to 8 hours for the earbuds and up to 24 hours with the charging case when you turn off ANC and spatial audio. There is no app; all features are built directly into the OS, so Android users will need to configure the earbuds through third-party apps.Read more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 8.43 The earbuds offer an ideal fit with zero fatigue even after 5 hours of use. However, the design won’t suit everyone, so it’s a good idea to try them on before buying. Build quality is flawless just like previous generations, but the glossy plastic scratches immediately. You’re better off putting a case cover on right away. The design is minimalist with nothing extra.Read more.
8. Realme Buds Air 7 Pro 8.47Best Wireless Headphones for iPhone – for Sound
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
Realme Buds Air 7 Pro are the best budget wireless headphones for sound. The main reason to buy: THE BEST sound among TWS under $300, with live and synchronous translation not tied to the phone manufacturer. The drawbacks: a large earbud design that might not fit everyone, and many complaints about the model’s reliability on our social media. Although the model is #1 in popularity among our social media users.
- Best sound in true wireless earbuds under $300
- Live and simultaneous translation
- Reference-grade battery life
- User complaints regarding reliability
- Average active noise cancellation (ANC) and transparency
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 9.00 With the LHDC 5.0 codec — on par with some models priced up to $300. The earbuds offer an optimal frequency balance. A spacious soundstage with width and depth. Moderately detailed and natural sound. Early batches of the Chinese version have an excess of high frequencies, but the global version lacks this issue.Read more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 8.00 In quiet conditions: 9 In noisy conditions: 7Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 7.75 ANC and transparency are average. Battery life in our tests reached up to 10 hours depending on the codec. Touch controls handle basic media playback and calls. The companion app is user-friendly and features an equalizer, personal sound tuning, and a translator.Read more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 8.20 Earbud fit is decent. 2-3 hours of use without discomfort. Build quality and materials are flawless. They look good; I liked the design. Available in 4 colors.Read more.
9. OnePlus Buds 4 8.47Best Wireless Headphones for iPhone Under $120 — Quality Low-Frequency Sound
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
OnePlus Buds 4 are the best bass-focused wireless headphones in 2026. The main reason to buy: top-tier bass sound out of the box that doesn’t require EQ tuning. They are slightly inferior to Realme Buds Air 7 Pro in sound, but compensate with features and build. The model has no critical flaws. LHDC 5.0 codec support and a Snapdragon mobile platform source are desirable, as sound is noticeably worse on MediaTek.
- Top-tier bass sound without needing EQ tweaks
- Comfortable fit
- Sound improves with the golden hearing profile
- Minor downsides: translator only works on OnePlus phones
- LHDC 5.0 codec support is recommended
- Sound quality is worse on MediaTek devices compared to Snapdragon
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 8.58 Features a warm, bass-forward sound signature with an emphasis on the highs. Top-tier sound, reasonably natural without noticeable artificiality or grain. There is enough detail retrieval to pick apart instrument textures, even in busy tracks with complex arrangements. The soundstage is spacious with clean separation between vocals and instruments. Downsides include an abundance of bass that overly crowds the stage and reduces transparency in the mids. There is also a slight lack of detail and texture in the sound.Read more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 8.50 In quiet conditions: 9 In noisy conditions: 8 No changes from the OnePlus Buds 3 version, identical to the Oppo Enco Free 4. An additional wind test (the 3rd one) was included per request.Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 8.33 ANC effectively suppresses background noise, and you can chat comfortably in transparency mode. Earbud battery life reached up to 11 hours in our tests, and up to 56 hours with the charging case depending on the codec. Touch controls support 5 actions per earbud, including swipes. The companion app is user-friendly without fluff, featuring a 22-language translator for OnePlus phones.Read more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 8.40 Your ears do not get tired with the stock ear tips after 2-3 hours of use. The construction is sturdy and reliable, and the matte finish gives the earbuds a nice look. That said, there is nothing groundbreaking about the design, and the initial excitement fades by the second week of use.Read more.
10. Nothing Ear ( 3 ) 2025 8.44Beautiful Wireless Headphones for iPhone — with Microphone
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
Nothing Ear ( 3 ) 2025 are beautiful wireless headphones with a top-tier build and functionality. The main reason to buy: top-tier sound (important to update firmware first), balanced frequency response out of the box, and a directional microphone in the case for communication in noisy places. The drawbacks are average noise cancellation and transparency.
- Top-tier sound
- Detailed microphone with excellent voice isolation
- Reference-quality proprietary app
- Average noise cancellation and transparency
- Bright sound before firmware update
- Inflated price on certain marketplaces
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 8.38 The main plus of the sound is the mids and naturalness, offering close and transparent vocals. The sound is slightly unnatural, but free of artificial timbre, paired with good, detailed bass.The main downside of the sound is bright highs. This kind of sound causes fatigue, particularly on tracks with abundant percussion. Therefore, updating the firmware is important because it makes the sound balance more pleasant.
Read more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 8.80 In quiet conditions: 8.6 In noisy conditions: 9 In quiet conditions, the balance drifts a bit, and noise cancellation removes background noise. At the same time, your voice is easy to understand. In noisy conditions, you get excellent voice isolation and complete noise blocking. At times your voice sounds a bit muffled, though speech is not hard to parse.Read more.
Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 8.28 Noise cancellation and transparency are barely usable, making them the weakest side of the earbuds. Playback time in our tests reaches up to 9.5 hours, and up to 38 hours with the case, taking the codec into account. You get convenient pinch controls on the earbud stem and a reference-quality app for usability and features.Read more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 8.83 The earbuds are comfortable, fatigue sets in after 2 hours. The build is sturdy and reliable, with no defects. The appearance is excellent and stands out from competitors.Read more.
11. Sony WH-1000XM6 8.11Best Over-Ear Headphones for iPhone – for Noise Cancellation and Features
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
Sony WH-1000XM6 are good large Bluetooth headphones and the latest model in the series. The main reason to buy: reference noise cancellation and transparency, low-frequency sound, and a convenient proprietary “Find My EQ” feature that simplifies sound tuning to a couple of clicks. With the LDAC codec, we get up to 10-12% improvement in overall sound quality. The drawbacks: the earcups press on the ears, causing discomfort from the first minutes of use, and the hinges are not durable and require careful handling.
- Reference-level noise cancellation and transparency
- Detailed microphone
- Low-frequency sound without excessive bass
- Earcups press against the ears
- Hinges require careful handling
- Lack of detail retrieval
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 8.48 Low-frequency sound, similar in signature to the WH-1000XM4. Vocals sound close, timbres of low and high-frequency instruments are distinguishable. Soundstage processing is mostly in width, with no noticeable artificiality or distortion. Comfortable sound without significant downsides. There is only a slight excess of bass, a lack of transparency in the mids, and a shortage of brightness. Although even this can be fixed in the built-in equalizer in a “couple” of clicks.Read more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 7.40 In quiet conditions: 7.8 In noisy conditions: 7Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 8.68 The headphones feature reference-level active noise cancellation and transparency among over-ear models. Battery life in the series remains unchanged – 30-40 hours with noise cancellation enabled. Controls are mostly touch-based for music and calls. The companion app is useful, though the multi-level menu structure is awkward, and with the “find your EQ” feature it’s easier to tune the sound out of 4-5 options of different tonality. The signal is stable at distances up to 10 m using the LDAC codec and best-effort bitrate.Read more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 6.33 Awkward, the headphone clamping force is stronger than the previous generation. My maximum time in the headphones is an hour, then I need to take a break. Build and materials have no flaws. The weak spot of the headphones is the hinges, which break under heavy use. Design is nice and neat. Choice of 3 colors.Read more.
12. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 8.10Best Headphones for iPhone — for Noise Cancellation and Comfort
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds — the best noise-canceling headphones of 2025 among in-ear TWS models and a benchmark on mychooz.com. The main reason to buy: reference noise cancellation, pleasant bassy sound, comfortable fit for sports, and the best spatial audio mode. With the aptX Adaptive codec, sound quality improves by up to 15%. The drawbacks are poor microphone noise cancellation and an inconvenient proprietary app.
- Reference-quality active noise cancellation (ANC) among true wireless earbuds
- Top-tier low-frequency sound
- Best Spatial Audio performance
- Comfortable fit for running and sports
- Poor microphone active noise cancellation (ANC)
- Clunky app
- IPx4 dust and water resistance. No case protection.
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 8.26 The low frequencies feature a slight excess of bass and mids. You can tweak the sound in the app EQ to get a comfortable listening experience. Vocals and instruments are clear, with no noticeable digital processing or grain. The soundstage only feels somewhat enclosed, just a bit wider than your head. Still, you get width and depth with good instrument separation.Read more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 6.50 In quiet conditions: 9 In noisy conditions: 4 Each earbud has 4 microphones and features active noise cancellation (ANC). In a quiet room, recordings are detailed and clear, with a slight echo. In noisy conditions with a handheld vacuum cleaner, the voice is unintelligible, as the ANC struggles. An additional road noise test will follow later.Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 7.92 The earBuds FEature reference-quality active noise cancellation (ANC), and the transparency mode is on par with the reference. Claimed battery life is 6 hours and 24 hours with the charging case. Controls are convenient, allowing you to perform basic playback actions. The app is clunky, and features are duplicated 2-3 times. Connection stability is solid, though with aptX Adaptive, occasional dropouts happen at a distance of 8-9 meters.Read more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 8.00 The earbuds fit snugly in your ears and do not fall out while running or working out. After 2-3 hours of use, minor fatigue sets in. Materials and build quality have no flaws, except for the glossy finish which is a fingerprint magnet and gets dirty quickly. The earbuds look good, though they do not spark any particular excitement.Read more.
13. Apple EarPodsWired Headphones for iPhone – with Type C / Lightning / 3.5mm Connection
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
Apple EarPods are universal wired headphones for iPhone. They are excellent $19 earbuds that have virtually no competitors in their category. Buying new Apple EarPods Type C wired headphones makes sense only if you have an iPhone 15 or will connect the headphones to a Type-C port on your laptop, phone, tablet, etc. Through a third-party USB Type-C to Lightning adapter, my headphones did not work on an iPhone 14 Pro.
The sound of Apple EarPods is open, more voluminous and spacious, more spacious than in Apple Airpods Pro 2. The advertised 24-bit/48 kHz is supported, but the difference with 16-bit/44 kHz is practically unnoticeable; these are not the headphones where this quality plays a big role. Therefore, information about 24-bit/48 kHz and Lossless quality is more marketing. The sound is roughly the same as in Apple EarPods with Lightning or 3.5 mm.
See full review — Apple EarPods.
See the ranking of the best wired headphones.
- Low frequencies are balanced and practically do not dominate the mids and highs.
- Mids are slightly recessed, with vocals somewhat hidden behind the lows and highs.
- Highs are not bright; they are balanced and don’t stand out.
- Soundstage, detail retrieval, and naturalness are wide, with much more space than in Airpods Pro 2. Positioning is also at a good level, with discernible close-far, left-right. Instruments in the mix are easily discernible, with clear bass, drums, and guitar. Vocals are not lost, and additional percussive effects are also discernible.
- Good and balanced sound for $19
- Excellent microphone
- Convenient controls
- Comfortable build
- Attractive design
- Thin cable and construction seams
14. Sony WF-1000XM5 7.98Bluetooth Headphones for iPhone – with Best Noise Cancellation
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
Sony WF-1000XM5 – these are the best wireless noise-canceling headphones of 2026, although the model was released in 2023. The sound is low-frequency, with slightly recessed mids and lacking highs. The main drawback of the model is its uncomfortable design.
- Top-tier low-frequency sound
- Top-tier active noise cancellation and transparency
- Battery capacity hasn’t changed in 2 years
- Without properly fitted ear tips, noise cancellation works worse
- The bud form factor may not fit everyone
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 7.97 Low frequencies are moderately bright, voluminous, and soft. They predominate without overpowering the mids and highs. The bass is tight, pleasant, and velvety. Vocals are easily readable and require no effort; everything sounds upfront, natural, harmonious, and pleasant. High frequencies lack a bit in quantity. Detail retrieval is excellent, making every instrument easy to distinguish. The soundstage is wider than your head, and the sound is natural with no artificial timbre or grain.Read more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 7.00 In quiet conditions: 8 In noisy conditions: 6 Good, same as in Sony WF-1000XM4, with zero sound differences.Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 8.00 Active noise cancellation is on par with top models, and with the right ear tips, these earbuds can compete with reference models. The transparency mode is convenient, making it comfortable to chat while wearing the earbuds. Battery life in our tests reached up to 10 hours with the codec enabled and 29 hours with the charging case. Touch controls offer 4 actions for the left earbud and 5 actions for the right earbud. The app is feature-rich with useful settings, though the menu structure is illogical and takes time to learn.Read more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 8.00 The earbuds are comfortable, and a couple of hours without discomfort is guaranteed. That said, it is important to choose the right ear tips since the primary fit in the ears relies on them. Build quality is flawless, though the finish is a fingerprint magnet and scratches easily. The earbuds look nice, without being particularly exciting. Available in 3 colors.Read more.
15. Marshall Major V 6.96Best On-Ear Headphones 2026 Under $150 – Most Comfortable
Drivers are the drivers in your headphones that are responsible for creating sound.
DD + PM + BA – means that there are several different types of drivers in these headphones.
DD – “Dynamic Driver” dynamic driver (deep bass, natural sound).
PM – “Planar Magnetic Driver” planar driver (wide soundstage and fast response).
BA – “Balanced Armature Driver” armature driver (accuracy and detail retrieval).
BC – “Bone Conduction Driver” or bone-conduction driver, which transmits vibration to the body of the headphones, transmitting sound through the bone/cartilage to the inner ear.
LDAC – high quality, high speed (Sony).
SBC is the basic Bluetooth standard, low quality.
AAC – Apple standard, good quality, low latency.
aptX – Qualcomm standard, good quality, low latency.
LC3/LC3plus – new Bluetooth LE Audio codecs, efficient compression.
Codecs are audio compression formats that affect sound quality and latency.
Headphone battery life is the playback time without recharging, measured in hours. Manufacturers measure without active noise cancellation (ANC), at medium volume (50-70%) and usually with the AAC codec, as these parameters affect battery consumption. Actual time may vary from 1% to 50%, depending on volume, active noise cancellation features enabled, codec (LDAC or other) and environmental conditions (cold, hot). It is important to consider not only the claimed playback time, but also the charging time and fast charging support.
Bluetooth is a wireless data transmission standard.
Support for new audio technologies.
Improved connection stability.
Reduced power consumption.
Marshall Major V are the best on-ear headphones for sound, price, and comfort. The main reason to buy: top-tier sound among on-ear models, comfortable fit, and stylish, recognizable design. The headphones have no significant drawbacks; only basic codecs limit their sound, particularly detail retrieval. Also, there are many counterfeit Marshall products on sale, so it’s important to buy headphones from certified stores.
- Balanced sound
- Lightweight — 186g
- Stylish signature design
- Only basic codecs
- Needs EQ adjustment
- Earcup pressure
The final sound score is calculated using this formula:
Frequency balance + Detail retrieval + Soundstage + Natural timbre / 4 = Final Sound Score.
. 7.04 With moderate bass, pronounced mids, and muted highs. The soundstage is average with minimal width and depth. The headphones noticeably lack detail when using basic codecs. At the same time, the sound is natural, free of artificial timbre, and has minimal grain.Read more.
Microphone – We assess speech transmission quality by testing the microphone in two main scenarios: quiet and noisy environments.
Quiet environment – This involves recording indoors with minimal background noise. Noisy environment – This means recording outdoors near a six-lane road with maximum traffic noise.
. 7.25 In quiet conditions: 8 In noisy conditions: 6.5Overall feature score — this is the overall score for all device features. This score comes from individual feature ratings (battery life, controls, app, connection stability, and others) and shows how easy and smart the device is for daily use.
. 6.17 The headphones don’t have active noise cancellation or transparency mode. You get up to 100 hours of battery life, with both fast and wireless charging supported. Control is handled by buttons, and a joystick lets you manage calls and music, including skipping tracks. The app is straightforward, with an equalizer being its only truly useful feature.Read more.
Final build quality score is the overall score for build quality and materials: comfort, durability, and design. It shows how nice the device is to hold and use, and how long it will last.
. 7.93 The headphones are lightweight, but the earcups press on your ears, and discomfort sets in within the first 30 minutes. Build quality and materials are flawless, with no defects. They look great; I liked them. Available in 4 colors.Read more.
⚖️ Which Wireless Headphones Are Better to Buy for iPhone? 5 Important Points:
- Which wireless headphones are compatible with iPhone? Any with Bluetooth connectivity, more about headphone compatibility with iPhone.
- AAC Codec. Apple developed its own AAC codec to improve Bluetooth audio quality. In the Apple ecosystem, iPhones only support the AAC and default SBC codecs. Buying wireless Bluetooth headphones with support for codecs like AptX or LDAC is pointless; you’ll just overpay for features you don’t need.
Why does Apple refuse to implement support for high-resolution codecs? The answer is simple: licenses cost money, and Apple sees no point in it; AAC implementation provides sound no worse than aptX. - TWS Form Factor. True Wireless headphones sound decent, on par with full-size wireless headphones. Therefore, it’s preferable to choose fully wireless TWS headphones for iPhone; they are: compact, convenient, with comfortable battery life (average 24 hours), and in no way inferior to larger models.
The TOP includes interesting TWS earbuds for iPhone. Best for Sound – from Sennheiser, best for ergonomics – from Apple. If you prefer larger over-ear headphones, I’ve included the best of these models for iPhone. - Apple’s Wireless Headphones Prices Are High: from $150 for AirPods 2 and $300 for top-tier models AirPods Pro. And overpriced AirPods Max at $550 – not worth the money.
Original headphones from Apple work best with iPhone in terms of convenience and stability. The Apple ecosystem is good and convenient. But you can choose better options for sound. - I want to warn you against buying Chinese counterfeit AirPods copies. They are cheap, look like Apple headphones, but the quality is even lower than the small price they sell for. The stingy pay twice. It’s better to buy headphones for $40-50 and enjoy them for 2-3 years than cheap stuff from AliExpress for $10 and throw them away in a month due to breakage.
If you’re looking for affordable and high-quality headphones for iPhone that look like AirPods but cost 5 times less, check out our ranking of the best Airpods copies under $50. No junk there. “Not only all” 😉 can be quality and cheap headphones.
⚖️ Which Apple Airpods Pro Alternative is Better to Choose?
Are there genuine alternatives to AirPods Pro (+ regular AirPods) or superior models? The TWS (true wireless stereo) headphone market is perpetually expanding, and the selection is rather broad, reaching well past Apple’s offering. Searching for “earplugs,” athletic earbuds, compact and practical ones, or earbuds akin to AirPods? All of these can be found. And entirely without wires.
Which AirPods are better? AirPods Pro. Is it easy to buy an AirPods alternative without worrying about quality? Yes, it’s not difficult anymore.
In recent years, alternatives to AirPods Pro have improved in sound quality and battery life. It’s no longer a meager 2-3 hours with sound like $2 wired headphones. Modern fully wireless models last an average of 4-6 hours on a single charge, which can be considered comfortable. There are “long-lasting” models that can play music for 9-10 hours straight. However, listening to music for 9 hours non-stop is not easy.
You can now listen to music on such headphones not just in the background, but with genuine enjoyment. Technology is advancing rapidly these days. There are headphones that are cheaper and sound better than AirPods. And there are quite a few of them.
A couple of years ago, buying “AirPods for Android” was problematic: either too expensive, or cheap but with poor sound, or terrible battery life… Now it feels like regular wireless headphones (the ones with a wire 😉 ) will soon go out of circulation.
💸 Features of Choosing AirPods Alternatives
True Wireless (Truly Wireless) – these are completely wireless headphones: those that have no wires, not only between the source and the headphones, but also between the right and left earpieces. This technology has been around for several years, and no, AirPods were not the first. This segment is characterized by increased comfort of use (no wires at all), short battery life on a single charge (not much space to place a large capacity battery, around 5-6 hours), the presence of a charging case (which extends the “life” of the headphones, sometimes significantly, usually 2-4 times), and mediocre sound: the focus is on comfort.
Fully wireless headphones (“AirPods-like headphones” 😛 ) are of two types from a technological standpoint:
- Models with sequential headphone connection. There is a master headphone that connects to the source, and then to the second headphone. Such models have more problems with playback artifacts and overall connection quality, but they are still the majority – implementation is simpler.
- Truly Wireless Stereo (TWS) models – parallel connection of both headphones. Accordingly, both headphones are simultaneously connected to the source. The technical implementation of this principle is a bit trickier, but there are fewer connection quality issues.
However, there is no longer a clear distinction between the terms. And the manufacturer is free to call their model TWS even if the connection is sequential. Many simply settle for the term “AirPods – type of headphones.” 😀
Which models were the first true wireless?
Earin and Bragi Dash can be called the first fully wireless headphones. If AirPods hit the market in the fall of 2016, both mentioned models were presented to the public significantly earlier.
Earin – a startup that raised money for headphone production on Kickstarter. The model itself was released in early 2016, and presented a year and a half earlier. The headphones look very interesting, even the charging case is unusual. The model delivers decent sound, but the main drawback is that it’s just headphones; there’s no microphone, nor any additional “features.” By today’s standards, this is unacceptable for True Wireless headphones.
Bragi Dash – headphones from a talented team that worked at Jabra and Harman/Kardon. Initially presented in 2015, the model was positioned as a mini-computer with a bunch of sensors and capabilities. That’s how it turned out; Bragi Dash can track steps, heart rate, calories burned, and much more. You can swim with them; water resistance: immersion up to 1 meter. It’s a sports model.
It is now produced in two variants. Pro has all the specified functions, plus real-time translation from 40 languages via an app, control not only through the touch panel but also by head movements, 4GB of built-in storage allowing you to use the headphones as a player without a smartphone, and an excellent app. The second model, The Headphone, focuses on sound, without sensors or even touch controls, and the charging case isn’t a charger; it lacks a separate battery, but it’s significantly cheaper and plays decently.
However, these headsets have serious problems with Bluetooth connection quality, they are expensive, and in fact, they weren’t the first to hit the market. 😉
🀄 Chinese Apple AirPods Copies
Sometimes the search for the best AirPods alternatives leads to choosing “Top AirPods Copies” from China. Oh, that series of nameless (or almost nameless) AirPods clones that cost pennies and work for an hour on a single charge. And after that, they literally fall apart in your hands. 😀
However, by 2026, more or less reliable AirPods clones have appeared; they even have names. And it’s no longer just the Apple look for $10, but full-fledged headphones you can actually listen to. The most decent models in this segment, by the way, are presented in our ranking of budget TWS.
Don’t chase the Apple design from Chinese no-names. It’s obvious. And it’s true. If you want to buy good wireless headphones affordably, don’t get fixated on the external resemblance to AirPods. There are now many decent TWS models in the budget segment that, while not looking like the “reference,” sound really good.
Popular Questions:
What headphones are compatible with iPhone?
Any wireless headphones with AAC and SBC codecs are compatible with iPhone. Xiaomi, JBL, and any other brands will work. There’s no such thing as “licensed headphones for iPhone.” In essence, any headphones designed for modern phones will work (i.e., function in principle) with an iPhone.
Can I connect iPhone headphones to a computer and use their microphone?
Yes, you can. Connecting AirPods to a computer usually doesn’t cause problems. Not just to a MacBook, but also to a Windows PC. This is explained in detail in our special article. The microphone of any Apple headset for iPhone will, of course, also work when connected to a PC. Most likely, without additional settings. But even if problems arise, they are all easily solvable.
What apps are available for headphones on iPhone?
AirPods and other headphones from Apple do not require additional apps. All headphone settings are built into the phone’s settings. For headphones from other manufacturers – Sennheiser, Sony, Marshall, etc. – there are proprietary apps for iPhone, as well as for Android. Installing the app is optional, but it offers convenient and useful features: customizing controls, managing noise cancellation and transparency modes, etc.
How to connect wired headphones with 3.5mm?
All iPhones from the 7th generation lack a 3.5mm jack. To connect wired headphones, use an adapter from Lightning to 3.5mm or from USB-C to 3.5mm.
