Apple would have you believe that your iPhone would be best paired with a set of AirPods. Call us cynical, but we think Apple might be biased.
Because while a couple of pairs of the best AirPods have made our list below, you may well be better served by a rival brand. Like Sony, Focal, Bose or Technics, for example, all of which have made the cut.
Of course, AirPods do have their pluses. They work seamlessly with iPhones, and their sound quality has improved greatly in the last few years. You also get some exclusive features that Android users won't get access to.
But the other pairs below at least equal AirPods, and in some cases best them, be it in terms of sound quality, value, noise cancellation, or something else.
At the very least, you can switch to an Android phone without losing any functionality in your headphones.
Each pair below has been selected from the hundreds of pairs we review. They've all been through our rigorous testing process and earned at least four stars out of five.
We've been reviewing audio products for almost 50 years, and have over 100 years of experience between us, so we know a great pair of headphones when we hear one, whether they're the highest of the high end or plucked straight from the bargain bin.
For a full rundown of how we test each pair, check out the how we test section further down this page.
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- Apple AirPods 4 vs AirPods 3: what's new?
I've been writing about headphones for 20 years, and using them for a lot longer than that. Apple's AirPods have improved greatly in recent years, but when it comes to iPhone headphones, you might be better served elsewhere, as our list goes to show...
The quick list
With brilliant sound and unbeatable usability, Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 are the perfect partner for your iPhone.
If you can afford them, these are the best premium over-ears that you can buy for an iPhone.
These on-ears make up for their plasticky build with an audio performance that’s easily in excess of the asking price.
Superb all-rounders, the Sony WH-1000XM6 are the best over-ear noise cancellers your iPhone will see for a long time.
The Bathys are easy to recommend for anyone after portability in a premium pair of headphones.
A slight upgrade on the C500 that preceded them, the Award-winning C510 are very cheap and very good in all areas. They also work equally well with iPhones.
Load the next product ↓
Bose’s latest wireless buds are a tad pricey, but they raise the bar for noise-cancelling in a pair of in-ears.
These Technics sound fantastic, and they're a joy to use when partnered with an iPhone. Non-Apple diehards should take note.
The best iPhone headphones we recommend in 2025
Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.
The best iPhone headphones overall
AirPods: good, but not great. For years, that was the story we told about Apple's wireless earbuds, and it was backed up by a string of four-star reviews. But then the AirPods Pro 2 along came and flipped the script.
With improved noise cancellation, longer battery life, new features aplenty and a more polished sound quality, they finally achieved the fifth star that had eluded all of Apple's in-ears.
All of this came with no increase in price as well. Given the tough few years everyone has had, that's nothing short of miraculous.
A new XS size of eartip makes them more versatile for a wider range of ear sizes, and they feel less intrusive than some rivals.
On-bud controls finally saw their AirPods debut as well, which makes them so much quicker and easier to control.
Prince among the new features is Adaptive Transparency, which dials down loud noises while still allowing through ambient audio like people talking, cars passing and station announcements.
The idea is you're still aware of your surroundings without being bothered by them.
That means you can enjoy the Pro 2's excellent sound quality (with added low end, more texture and improved dynamics) without being cut off from your environment.
In most situations, the Sony WF-1000XM5 are the best all-round wireless earbuds you can buy, but for use with an iPhone, the AirPods Pro 2 are the better bet. They're built for that use, after all, and the experience is so seamless, you'd be a fool to ignore them.
Read the full Apple AirPods Pro 2 review
The best premium over-ear iPhone headphones
Apple's first over-ears certainly aren't cheap but they don't put a foot wrong when it comes to sonics.
In fact, their detail and spaciousness puts them among the very best iPhone headphones we have ever tested.
They do work with non-Apple products but you’ll miss out on their most unique features, namely cinematic Spatial Audio, which provides a convincing virtual surround sound experience from 5.1, 7.1 and even Dolby Atmos content.
Apple's use of premium materials delivers excellent comfort but it does mean the AirPods Max are nearly 150g heavier than the Sony WH-1000XM5, which might be something to consider.
Some may find the design quirky but you can't argue with Apple's superb build quality.
Overall, these iPhone headphones are an absolute triumph, albeit a very expensive one.
At the end of 2024, they were refreshed with new colour schemes and USB-C charging, but those were the only changes.
Read the full Apple AirPods Max review
The best cheap on-ear iPhone headphones
Under-promise, over-deliver – it's often said that's a recipe for success. While Sony isn't shy of talking up the WH-CH520, for the £50 price you might expect to be underwhelmed.
You'd be surprised.
Now let's temper expectations a little here – they don't have a premium feel. But then they don't feel shoddy either.
They're definitely solidly built, and the earcups are comfortable enough to wear for long listening sessions.
Which you may well indulge in, given that the battery lasts an impressive 50 hours on a single charge.
Sonically they're balanced and deliver plenty of detail, making them easy to enjoy (of course, the usual 'for the money' caveat applies here).
The dynamics could use a bit more pep, but they provide an involving listen with plenty to like.
And features? These include Bluetooth Multipoint (which can be missing from pairs costing five times as much), Android Fast Pair, and Sony's Sound Connect app which gives you control over the equaliser and the ability to personalise the sound to your specific hearing profile.
All for £50. Your iPhone won't know what's hit it.
Read the full Sony WH-CH520 review
The best ANC over-ear iPhone headphones
Sony might have its own range of smartphones, but its headphones aren't restricted to them – they work just as well with iPhones as with any other phones. Which is good news for iPhone owners.
The XM6 recently replaced the Award-winning XM5, and they're another stunning pair of over-ears. With a killer combination of class-leading sound and supreme active noise cancellation (ANC), they're the best all-rounders around right now, and certainly the best ANC over-ears for your iPhone.
They're more comfortable than their predecessors, thanks to a flatter, wider headband. And they fold up into a ball (the XM5 only folded flat), which makes transporting them much easier.
They're bursting with features too, with LC3, LE Audio and Auracast support as well as 360 Reality Audio Upmix for Cinema, which adds Sony’s spatial audio processing to any content you’re watching in stereo.
They use sound technology from Sony's Walkman range of premium music players to deliver stunning audio quality. As we wrote in our Sony WH-1000XM6 review, they "deliver the most detailed, dynamic, precise and open sound we’ve heard from a wireless Sony flagship."
The ANC also impresses, coming very close to Bose's QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. Considering those are the current industry-leaders, that's quite an achievement.
If you can't find the extra cash for the XM6, the XM5 are still on sale, and are likely to see some sizeable discounts now that they're being phased out. They too would make a fine partner for your iPhone.
Read our full Sony WH-1000XM6 review
Like a lot of non-Apple brands, Sony’s mobile app works just as well with iPhones as Android phones. Sound Connect (previously known as Headphones Connect) is one of the better apps around, with lots of customisation options. And it works with lots of different Sony headphones, some much cheaper than the premium XM6 (see the WF-C510 further down this page).
The best audiophile over-ear iPhone headphones
Focal made a name for itself with its premium wired headphones, and it's applied the same attention to detail with this, its first Bluetooth pair.
They still sit at the upper end of the market, but not at the pinnacle – they're somewhere between the B&W Px8 and Mark Levinson No. 5909. Which is very good company to keep.
Unsurprisingly given the price, they're a very plush pair of headphones. And the wireless performance is among the most engaging we've heard – smooth, warm-bodied, with buckets of rhythmic ability.
They're more than comfortable enough to wear for longer listening sessions too – just plug in using the USB-C port (you'll need an adapter if you're using an iPhone 14 or earlier, as they have Lightning ports in place of the iPhone 15 range's USB-C).
Their wired performance is even better than their wireless, being tighter and more refined.
Oh, and they pack noise cancellation, too. It's not up there with Bose's finest over-ears, but it is still very effective, and doesn't impinge too much on the sound quality either.
Read the full Focal Bathys review
The best cheap iPhone earbuds
We're always a bit nervous when follow-ups to Award-winners are announced. When we're so enamoured with the original, how can a sequel ever match up?
Thankfully, once we got our review unit of the Sony WF-C510, we breathed a huge sigh of relief: it's another Award-winning effort from Sony.
They do feel a bit cheaper than the C500, but we can forgive that, given the quality of the experience they offer (they also launched at a significantly lower price than their predecessors).
Sonically, they're a clear step up, with all the musicality and detail of the C500 but with more richness and body – imagine a Michelin-starred sauce compared to a shop-bought version.
In our review, we described the sound as "solid, weighty and driven". For the money, it really can't be beaten.
If you do want a step up, you'll need the five-star WF-C710N, which also bring active noise cancellation (ANC) to the mix.
The WF-C510 may not have ANC, but they do have Ambient Sound Control. This allows in some outside sound while you're listening, to keep you aware of your surroundings.
It's usually only found on headphones with ANC, but it works very well here, and will be of particular use to runners wanting to stay safe or those wary of busy environments.
iPhone owners are treated just like those on Android, thanks to the superb Sony Sound Connect app (previously known as Headphones Connect).
And with 11 hours of runtime per charge (and 22 hours using the charging case), you won't have to plug in too often.
For the money, these really are unbeatable, whether you're using an iPhone or not.
Read the full Sony WF-C510 review
The best ANC iPhone earbuds
It's a situation many of us find ourselves in: we want to cancel noise while listening to music on an iPhone, but don't want to cart around a bulky pair of over-ear headphones.
Bose has just solved your problem.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds replace the Award-winning QuietComfort Earbuds II, which were succeeded only a year and a bit into their shelf life.
As such, there's not a huge array of differences between the two, so if you see the QC Earbuds II on a deal, you should definitely consider them.
But in with the new.
Their design is very similar to their forebears, but there are some differences. The stems have a new metallic finish, and the stability bands lock in place more easily with the addition of an added notch.
They're more comfortable than the Sony WF-1000XM5, which is quite a feat.
Bose Immersive Audio is also new – it's Bose's take on spatial audio. It's a little hit and miss, working much better on some tracks than others, so we would advise experimenting with it.
It does eat into your battery life, mind, which we think will sway plenty of people to leave it off.
If you want wireless charging, you'll have to pay extra for the wireless case, and there's no Bluetooth Multipoint for switching between wireless devices.
But on the plus side, the noise-cancelling is the best of any wireless earbuds, and the sound quality is noticeably peppier than their predecessors – they're punchier, clearer, with a good sense of spaciousness.
With quality like this, who needs over-ears?
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Generation) launched recently – we'll have a full review soon.
Read the full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review
The best premium earbuds
Technics? Don't they make turntables?
It does, but less well known are the brand's range of headphones, the latest of which have caused a bit of a stir among the premium earbuds crowd. And yes – they work effortlessly with iPhones.
Because they're so small and light, you can wear them for hours and barely notice them. The touch controls on each bud are completely customisable, so you can set them up to work exactly how you want.
The Bluetooth connection didn't drop out once during our testing (using an iPhone 12), and the buds support SBC, AAC, LDAC and the LC3 codec (which supports LE (Low Energy) Audio), so they will get the best audio possible out of a whole range of sources.
The battery life (10 hours from the buds; 28 hours using the charging case) is also up there with the best at the money.
And the sound? "Wonderfully clear and open," as we wrote in our review. In terms of openness and spaciousness, it's even more impressive than the Sony WF-1000XM5, which is really saying something.
From highs to lows and everything in between, they're exact, with plenty of punch that never becomes overwhelming.
They excel in terms of noise cancellation as well. You can adjust it yourself, or leave it up to the buds to do, factoring in the amount of background noise in your surroundings.
It's not quite as effective as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, but it does the job with aplomb, and without the feel of sucking the air out of your ears, making it comfortable enough to use for hours.
True all-rounders, then. iPhone owners in search of premium earbuds, your search is over.
Read the full Technics EAH-AZ100 review
Also consider
The best iPhone headphones alternatives we've tested:
Sony WH-CH720N: A little pricier than the Sony WH-CH520 above, but with noise cancelling capabilities, these Award-winners are still excellent value.
Earfun Air: About as cheap as wireless headphones get, these sound phenomenal for the money and are surprisingly well-specced.
Apple AirPods 3: 'Only' a four-star product, but their seamless usability with iPhones make them worth considering.
Apple AirPods 4 with ANC: Another four-star effort from Apple. The ANC works very well despite the lack of eartips, but they don't quite match up to the quality on show in the main list. But if you can't afford the AirPods Pro 2, they're definitely worth a look.
Sony WH-1000XM5: They might have been replaced by the XM6, but these Award winners are still stunning. And they dropped to scandalously low prices in the recent Prime Day sale – look out for more discounts soon.
Sony WF-C710N: Pricier than the C510 but with added noise cancellation, these five-star 'buds are for you if you want to silence the world outside your iPhone without spending big.
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3: Typically B&W, these are beautifully crafted headphones that sound as good as they look. Not cheap, but then quality rarely is.
How to choose the best iPhone headphones for you
The first thing to consider is: are you going wireless?
We would recommend wireless headphones for iPhones – all of the above are wireless – because of their convenience, But if you prefer wired, there are plenty of great pairs available – check them out here.
You'll almost certainly need an adapter though, as modern iPhones lack a 3.5mm headphone jack. iPhones 7-14 have a Lightning port, and the iPhone 15 and 16 range USB-C.
If you are going wireless, check which version of Bluetooth the headphones support.
Newer headphones support Bluetooth 5.0 or later, which has much greater range than version 4, so you can stray further from your music source without tunes dropping out.
Noise-cancelling can shut out the outside world and let you hear your music more clearly without cranking it up, saving your hearing, but it can impact battery life – the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100, for example, last a staggering 100 hours with ANC off, but that drops to 60 hours with it turned on.
That's still a long time, but you can see the effect ANC has.
All of these pairs have built-in microphones and controls, too, so you can skip tracks and take calls without fishing your phone out of your pocket or bag.
If you will be using them for calls a lot, dig into our reviews and see what the call quality is like.
Usually those with noise cancellation have better call quality, as the noise-cancelling mics can be used to neutralise wind noise.
How we test iPhone headphones
Between us at What Hi-Fi? we've used every iPhone since the first model (before it even had 3G), and we've tested thousands of pairs of headphones over the years.
As such, we're ideally suited to recommending the best iPhone headphones.
Each pair is subject to our rigorous reviewing process, which involves testing their every feature in a variety of environments and situations.
We use them as if we had bought them ourselves, listening on the bus, train, at work, while out for a stroll and – if we can – on a plane.
If they have active noise cancellation (ANC), we listen with it both activated and deactivated to see how it impacts sound quality (headphones usually sound a little better with it switched off).
And of course we try the ANC while both listening to music and when not, to gauge how effective it is.
We also try the various modes that use the ANC, like talk through and Adaptive Transparency.
We never review in isolation – rather, each pair is tested against its nearest price rivals to see how they stand up and where your money is best spent.
Our stock room is full of our favourite headphones from the last few years, so each pair is pitted against the best in the market.
Review verdicts are agreed upon as a team, rather than one person. Not only does this avoid any personal bias, it also makes sure we haven't missed anything.
We have over 100 years of reviewing experience between us, with experts in each field, so you can rest assured our reviews are the most thorough around.
Over nearly 50 years, we've built a reputation as the home of unbiased reviews, and pride ourselves on helping you, the consumer, make the best decision with your budget.
To find out more about our reviews process, check out our dedicated how we test page, and specifically, how we test headphones.
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Read our iPhone 16 review
And find out what the iPhone 17 rumours say
F.A.Q
What headphones are good with the iPhone?
Apple's AirPods work seamlessly with iPhones, as you would expect. But plenty of other headphones also work well, and while they might miss out on some features only Apple can create, their own feature sets and performance often make them the better choice.
Can I use any headphones with my iPhone?
No. Apple stopped including the 3.5mm headphone port on its phones with the iPhone 7 in 2016. Now most people listen wirelessly using Bluetooth headphones.
If you want to listen wired, you'll need a pair of Lightning headphones (or more commonly, a Lightning adapter) for iPhones 7-14, and USB-C headphones (or adapter) for the iPhone 15 and 16.
Can you plug normal headphones into iPhone?
The iPhone doesn't have a 3.5mm headphone jack (the most common headphone connection), so no, "normal" headphones can't connect directly to an iPhone.
But they can with an adapter. iPhones 7-14 use Apple's own Lightning connection, while the iPhone 15 and 16 use USB-C.
Check which you have before you buy an adapter.
Recent updates
14th July 2025: Replaced Sony WH-1000XM5 with Sony WH-1000XM6 in the main list. Moved XM5 to 'Also consider' – also added Sony WF-C710N and Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 to that section.
21st March 2025: Added new intro with mention of the iPhone 16e. Broke up copy into more paragraphs to make it easier to read on a mobile device.
16th January 2025: Rewrote intro. Added Technics EAH-AZ100 to main list, and AirPods 4 with ANC to 'Also consider'. Replaced Sony WF-C500 with WF-C510.
10th September 2024: Rewrote intro. Added links to new AirPods models launched alongside iPhone 16. Deleted duplicate headings in 'The Quick List' section.
29th July 2024: Updated intro. Deleted Jump Menu and 'Test results' tables. Added more images to the AirPods Max slideshow. Bolded advisory text within the 'How to choose' section.
13th May 2024: Updated intro. Added Top Tip.
8th March 2024: Swapped Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II for the newer Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. Added Also Consider, F.A.Q. and Recent Updates sections.
5th October 2023: Dropped first-gen AirPods Pro.
25th August 2023: Dropped JBL Live Pro 2 TWS.
7th June 2023: Added new images, reformatted tech specs.
Today's best iPhone headphones deals
