Apple EarPods claim to rival high-end headphones

Apple EarPods

Apple has upgraded its infamously average earphones, unveiling the new Apple EarPods at the launch of the iPhone 5.

Apple EarPods teardown

Apple bullishly claims that the new EarPods' "audio quality is so superior, they rival high-end headphones that cost hundreds of dollars more".

The design of the new EarPod earphones claim to be "defined by the geometry of the ear", and will sit slightly further inside the ear than the old-style Apple buds.

Apple also claims that they have been engineered to minimize sound loss, which is a common complaint with previous models of the headphones.

The EarPods will come with the iPod touch and iPod nano or will cost you £25 for EarPods with in-line mic for voice calls and remote control.

The remote and mic are supported by all models of iPod, iPhone, and iPad (not all models support volume up/down functions). Audio is supported by all iPod models.

Requires software version 1.0.3 for iPod nano (4th generation), 2.0.1 for iPod classic (120GB), and 2.2 or later for iPod touch (2nd generation)

The remote and mic are supported by all models of iPod, iPhone, and iPad (not all models support volume up/down functions).

Audio is supported by all iPod models.Requires software version 1.0.3 for iPod nano (4th generation), 2.0.1 for iPod classic (120GB), and 2.2 or later for iPod touch (2nd generation).

We certainly can't wait to hear how they sound...

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Joe Cox
Content Director

Joe is the Content Director for What Hi-Fi? and Future’s Product Testing, having previously been the Global Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-Fi?. He has worked on What Hi-Fi? across the print magazine and website for almost 20 years, writing news, reviews and features on everything from turntables to TVs, headphones to hi-fi separates. He has covered product launch events across the world, from Apple to Technics, Sony and Samsung; reported from CES, the Bristol Show, and Munich High End for many years; and written for sites such as the BBC, Stuff, and the Guardian. In his spare time, he enjoys expanding his vinyl collection and cycling (not at the same time).