Best Wireless Headphones For iPhone
A pair of good headphones is essential to have on an iPhone. With the latest smartphones not equipped with audio jacks wireless earbuds are now the way to go.
The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) have better ANC, an IPX4 rating, and intuitive touch controls. They are also great for making calls and come with a case.
1. Encased Thore Headphones V200
If you're looking for headphones that feature a Lightning connection as well as an iPhone port, you might consider the Encased Thore V200 headphones. These headphones offer a nice listening experience at a low price. They are easy to fold and pack, unlike many other headphones. The headphones also have a padded, soft headband that's ideal for long listening sessions. Plus, the headphones come with a case to protect the headphones when not in use.
The headphones have a great look, with black and chrome accents that give them a chic modern and contemporary appearance. These headphones are light and comfortable enough to wear for long periods of time. The earcups are closed back which means they block out the sound of the outside however they aren't as efficient as a pair of noise-canceling headphones. The headphones come with an aux port on the left ear cup which is ideal to connect other audio devices. On the right earcup, you'll see controls for volume, power as well as an MicroUSB charging port. While we appreciate the fact that these headphones have an Lightning connector as well as an iPhone port, we're disappointed that they don't have USB-C support.
The headphones are designed for DJs and other professionals in music, so they're built with top-quality components that provide a great listening experience. The headphones come with neodymium audio drivers that create powerful and precise audio. They feature a broad frequency range, so you'll be in a position to enjoy the full spectrum of your music. They feature a huge, diaphragm which provides great bass response.
The Thore V200 headphones have many of the same features of Apple's AirPods. They also come in a small portable case that fits easily into your bag. The headphones come with an inbuilt microphone that can be used to make calls so you can keep in contact with your friends. The headphones have a Lightning connector to connect to your iPhone or iPad. They also come with an adapter so you can use them with older devices. The headphones have an impressive battery life of up to 40 hours. You can enjoy your favourite tunes for quite a while before you need to recharge them.
2. Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones
Sony's WH1000XM5 headphones offer an update to the flagship over-ears launched in 2017. The new model takes an uncluttered look with a slim and elegant headband, circular ear cups and a polished metal finish. These are lightweight and comfortable enough to wear for many hours.
The new model has the same great noise cancellation, but with four beamforming microphones that allow hands-free phone calls. A notable improvement is location awareness which adjusts ambient sound control settings depending on the location you're in. If you are sitting still at home, they can change to a more subtle noise cancellation level compared to those on the train. They could also add additional outside sound to help you be aware of your environment on walks around town.
Another feature is multipoint that lets you connect your headphones to two devices simultaneously. This can be extremely useful when you need to listen to music on your laptop and make calls from your phone. Multipoint isn’t enabled by default, but you can enable it in the Headphones Connect App's System tab. The downside is that once you enable multipoint you are unable to use the high-quality Bluetooth LDAC codec.
The Sony WH1000XM5 comes with the same touch controls as the WH1000XM4's. You can control music playback, as well as make phone calls. Swipe up and down on the touchpad to skip tracks or back and back and forth to pause or resume playback. The volume and power buttons are located on the right earcup.
If you have an iPhone, you can customize the headphones by using Siri commands. You will also have access to other features such as an individual assistant and a battery meter. Sony has also added voice prompts that will guide you through the various functions of the headphones. However I found them to be a bit noisy for many users.
The WH-1000XM5s' battery lifespan of 30 hours with noise cancelling on is comparable to the previous model, while 40 hours without it is just shy of the specs offered by competitors. The headphones come with a soft bag that shields the headphones from scratches, dust and impacts.
3. Shure Aonic 3 in-ear headphones
For professional-grade monitor earphones go, Shure has long been a trusted name in the audio industry. Their latest earphones - the Aonic 3, are no exception. These small, compact earbuds provide excellent sound quality and are easy to pair with your smartphone or music player. They come with a single balanced armature driver with a surprisingly large soundstage. They also provide exceptional noise isolation that allows you to focus on the music without distractions. They aren't as big however, they fit most users well and are comfortable for long periods of time.
The Aonic 3's most significant distinct feature from their competitors is their distinctive design. They are built to be a modular item that can be connected to a wireless adapter (sold separately). You can switch between the wired and wireless connection when your needs for listening change. This versatility is an excellent alternative to a pair of headphones that are already excellent.
Another notable feature is the Aonic's superb equalizer. Shure's manual equalizer panel is unique to other earphones that only provide preset equalizers. It displays detailed data on frequency as well as gain and bandwidth for both the high and low shelf bands, as well as two parametric bands. This lets audio professionals fine-tune their audio before saving their custom presets. The earphones in the Aonic 3 are connected through downward-facing MMCX connectors. They can rotate 360 degrees and accommodate a variety of ear tips to provide a secure, comfortable fit for the majority of users. They are also attached to one another with the strong locking snap.
Inside the box, you'll find the Aonic 3s wired 3.5mm communication cable, as well as an carrying case. The cable features an audio remote that controls playback and volume, and an audio microphone that allows hands-free calls. Also included is a fit kit that comes with a variety of sleeves and sizes to customize your Aonic 3's for the best listening experience. This kit includes black foam sleeves and gray flex sleeves in sizes ranging from small to large.
4. Sony WF-C500 Wireless Earbuds
The Sony WF C500 Wireless Earbuds provide a great alternative for those who wish to experience true wireless headphones but don't wish to spend an excessive amount of money. The earbuds come with a small charging case as well as excellent audio quality. They also have an elegant design, making it easy to pair them with a smartphone. They do not have the essential features required for a wireless pair, such as active sound-canceling, and transparency mode.
The earbuds are constructed of matte plastic. They have a somewhat bulky appearance that funnels downwards to drivers topped with silicone tips. The earbuds are equipped with an IPX4 rating for water resistance, making them suitable for running or cycling. They aren't as lightweight as other options, however they can still fit in pockets on shirts and are comfortable to wear for extended periods of time.
Control is handled through the aptX/AAC-compatible Sony Headphones Connect app. This is where you can alter the EQ settings and set the priority for Bluetooth connection quality (between latency and audio quality) and let the ear scanner function take photos of each ear for customization of the fit, and enable Sony's Digital Sound Enhancement Engine to enhance lower-resolution music files. You can update the firmware, and keep track of the use of the earbuds.
The earbuds can be controlled with an easy-to-understand system. link home on the left earbud increases the volume, two presses will skip forward or backwards through a song, and three presses launches your phone's voice assistant. While they do not have an active noise cancellation system, the earbuds can block out ambient noises thanks to a sturdy in-ear seal.
The earbuds can provide up 20 hours of playtime which is a decent amount for true wireless earbuds. The earbuds can be recharged within four hours after empty and are compatible with Sony Fast Fuel charging technology. The earbuds are also light which makes them comfortable for long-lasting sessions and the charging case is compact enough to be easily tucked into a coat pocket.