The Best Wireless Earbuds for iPhone and iPad of 2024

Apple removed the iPhone's headphone jack in September 2016 and followed up by announcing AirPods. But AirPods aren't the only wireless earbud option for iPhones or iPads. Here are our top picks for some that pair perfectly with Apple devices.

Wireless earbuds have taken over in the years following Apple's decision to omit a headphone jack on the iPhone 7. We've not only had several revisions of AirPods but also a flood of affordable, third-party wireless earphones, many of which parrot the AirPods design.

The truth is that AirPods will always deliver a superior user experience to non-Apple branded headphones when paired with an Apple device. The same is true for Beats, which Apple purchased in 2014. These earbuds pair effortlessly with your iPhone or iPad and can be used across devices seamlessly. You can also locate them using Find My if they go missing.

Unfortunately, AirPods are also expensive. You're paying for a user experience that no other earbuds can provide since Apple controls the ecosystem, but it can be a hard sell for those on a budget. Fortunately, plenty of good alternatives exist for the cash-strapped and AirPods-averse.

Features like active noise cancellation, where ambient sounds are stripped out of the mix using microphones and software, are now much more commonplace and available on third-party earbuds. Many earbud models also support wireless charging, and some can take advantage of fast charging to quickly provide an hour of listening from a charge of only a few minutes.

If listening to music in the highest possible quality is what you're most concerned about, wireless earphones might not be the best choice. Or, rather, music on your iPhone, in general, may not be the best choice. The iPhone doesn't currently support high-resolution audio codecs like LDAC, which means any music sent to your earphones will be compressed.

For that reason, wired headphones still provide the best listening experience for audiophiles or anyone interested in streaming lossless music.

With that settled, let's get into which wireless earbuds can give you the best experience on your iPhone and iPad.

While the standard Apple AirPods are now in its fourth generation, these earbuds still can't dethrone the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation). The AirPods Pro might initially seem like an incremental upgrade from the first generation, considering they look nearly identical to the original. Inside, Apple improved several key components for better sound, and the new H2 processor makes for the best noise cancellation in a set of AirPods to date.

Apple's pace-setting Transparency Mode is better than ever, with Adaptive Transparency lowering the volume of loud sounds to let you hear your surroundings. Thanks to the H2 chip as well as more and more Dolby Atmos mixes hitting streaming services, Apple's Spatial Audio sounds much better than on the original AirPods Pro.

The charging case has some stealth improvements as well. It's IPX4-rated water-resistant, as the AirPods Pro are, making for better weather resistance. The case also features a built-in speaker, making it much easier to find your AirPods if you set them down and forget them. Then, there's a lanyard loop for secure carrying and MagSafe charging (USB-C) when you run out of juice.

There's only one real downside. While other companies are adding more color variations, and Apple is even doing this in other products, the 2nd-generation AirPods Pro is still only available in white.

Best Earbuds Overall

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)

$190 $249 Save $59

This second generation of the AirPods Pro 2 comes with USB-C charging, takes everything that was great about the original, adds superior ANC, and tweaks the transparent mode with a new feature that helps protect your hearing from sudden loud sounds.

See at Apple Buy on Amazon See at Best Buy

If you're looking for budget-friendly earbuds that work great with your iPhone or iPad, the EarFun AirPro 3 is a great choice that won't break the bank. Priced at $49.99 (usually $79.99), it's a much cheaper alternative to the AirPods Pro 2 (with USB-C) and performs way better than most low-cost earbuds that often suffer from issues like bad sound quality, frequent disconnects, and weak battery life.

The EarFun AirPro 3 not only looks and feels premium, but it's also incredibly comfortable. You can wear them all day without worrying about ear fatigue, which is hard to find with earbuds in this price range. Whether you're making calls, listening to music, or just catching phone notifications, the sound quality is crystal clear and impressive for the price.

Its Multipoint Connection and Bluetooth 5.3 technology allow you to stay connected to your iPhone and iPad simultaneously. No more hassle when switching between devices. Plus, the low latency makes it great for streaming videos or playing games without annoying lag.

The EarFun AirPro 3 is super easy to use and customize. You can adjust settings for each earbud individually, use one or both, and manage features like noise cancellation, ambient sound, and power saver mode, all through the app or touch controls.

And when it comes to battery life, you're set. Just 10 minutes of charging gives you up to two hours of playtime, and a full charge lasts up to nine hours. With the wireless charging case, you can stretch that to almost two days, which is perfect for anyone who uses their earbuds for long stretches. For the price, the EarFun AirPro 3 offers serious value. It's a steal for what you get.

Best Budget Earbuds

EarFun Air Pro 3

7 / 10

The EarFun AirPro 3 is a fantastic budget-friendly alternative to pricey earbuds like the AirPods Pro 2, offering impressive performance for cheap. These earbuds stand out among low-cost options, with superior sound quality, reliable connectivity, and a comfortable fit.

See at Amazon See at EarFun

If you're looking for the perfect travel earbuds for your iPhone or iPad, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are a solid pick. Right out of the box, these premium earbuds feel incredibly comfy, thanks to the included Fit Kit, which lets you mix and match different soft ear tips and stability bands for a snug fit, ideal for long trips.

Traveling by car or plane can be noisy, with sounds like tire hum, wind, or in-flight chatter ruining your listening experience. That’s where the Bose QuietComfort Ultra truly shines. These earbuds are built for cutting out all that background noise, thanks to Bose's class-leading noise-cancellation tech.

With CustomTune technology, you can fine-tune the noise cancellation to suit each ear. You’ve got multiple listening modes, each designed for different needs. Quiet Mode blocks out everything around you so you can focus. Immersion Mode wraps you in sound from all angles, giving you that spatial audio experience. And Aware Mode lets in just enough external sound so you can stay aware of your surroundings, which is perfect for walking in busy areas.

One of the cool things about the Bose QuietComfort Ultra is that you can choose to use one or both earbuds for calls or listening. Plus, it seamlessly switches between your phone, laptop, and other connected devices. Just keep in mind that most of the controls, including device switching, are managed through the app.

When it comes to battery life, these earbuds don’t disappoint. You’ll get a full charge in about two hours, giving you six to eight hours of listening time. And with the USB-C charging case, you can stretch that to a solid 20 to 25 hours, plenty for long-haul travel. The only downside? There’s no wireless charging, which is a miss at this price point.

Available in black, lunar blue, moonstone blue, and white smoke, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra not only performs well but looks sleek too.

If you’re looking for a similar experience but at a slightly lower price, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is a great option. They share many features, though the Ultra model is a bit more comfortable and comes with more advanced noise cancellation. You could also consider the Jabra Elite 85t for an even cheaper option, but it’s less comfortable for long-term wear and has a shorter battery life, though it does offer wireless charging.

Best Earbuds for Travel

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

8 / 10

QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are the ultimate wireless noise-canceling earbud experience. Bose Immersive Audio pushes the boundary of what it means to listen by taking what you’re hearing out of your head and placing it in front of you. It sounds so real it’s almost like you could reach out and touch it.

$299 at Bose $299 at Best Buy $299 at Amazon

Beats has been a subsidiary of Apple since 2004, so headphones like the Beats Fit Pro are effectively Apple headphones. They use the same integrated H1 chip as Apple's AirPods, so you only need to pair them once to work with all of your Apple devices since they sync over iCloud.

The Beats Fit Pro design relies on an adjustable ear hook to anchor the headphones in place, preventing them from slipping out even during vigorous exercise. They are much smaller than workout headphones with a clip design, making them and the charging case pocketable. Since they're designed for exercise, the headphones also have an IPX4 sweat and water resistance rating.

Like the AirPods Pro, the Beats Fit Pro earbuds have onboard active noise cancellation, which means they can remove much background noise. They also have a transparency mode, which allows you to hear the world around you without taking them out of your ears—though you'll still need to pause the music to work properly.

You'll also get support for spatial audio since the Beats Fit Pro uses sensors to track your head position, which makes listening to Dolby Atmos music, movies, and TV shows even more immersive. You'll get around six hours of battery life on a single charge, with an extra 18 hours in a fully charged case. You can fast charge them for 5 minutes to get an hour of playback in a pinch.

One alternative to the Fit Pro is the Powerbeats Pro, which uses the same Apple H1 chip for simple pairing and switching between devices. Instead of an adjustable hook, a clip secures these in-ear headphones in place. They're quite a bit larger, and they lack active noise cancellation and support for spatial audio, so they fall a bit short of the Fit Pro, but they may still be a good option.

Best Workout Earbuds

Beats Fit Pro

$159 $200 Save $41

Beats Fit Pro earbuds are great for working out with their built-in hooks, active noise cancellation, and IPX4 water and sweat resistance.

$159 at Amazon See at bestbuy See at Target

For years, Sony has sat at the top regarding noise cancellation in headphones and earbuds. Recently, the original king of the hill, Bose, has been aiming to get back on top, but Sony’s overall offerings are so good that Bose hasn’t quite managed to top them yet. If you’re looking for excellent sound and effective noise cancellation, the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds are the current true wireless earbuds to beat.

Sony’s ANC tech in the WF-1000XM5 tops the already great feature in the Apple AirPods Pro, while it stands roughly toe-to-toe with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II. This technology also comes into use when you’re making calls, as the microphones use beamforming to dramatically reduce background noise. To ensure your voice comes through loud and clear, the XM5s supplement the microphone with bone conduction for even better call quality.

The drivers in the Sony WF-1000XM5 are 8.4mm, which is noticeably larger than the 6mm drivers in the WF-1000XM4. This makes for an even better sound than the preceding model, with the larger drivers capable of delivering more bass frequencies. It’s not just the bass either, as the overall sound of the earbuds feels larger than much of the competition.

Somewhat unusually, while the drivers are larger, the XM5s are smaller than its predecessors. These earbuds are 25 percent smaller than the previous model, which helps make them easier to fit and prevents them from weighing down and falling out of your ear.

Battery life could be an issue on the WF-1000XM4, with buyers finding it difficult to predict how long the battery would last. That doesn’t seem to be an issue with the XM5s, which offer up to eight hours of playback time on a single charge, with 16 more hours in the charging case. If you’re in a hurry, a three-minute charge can get you up to an hour of additional listening time.

The XM5s are available in Black and Silver color varieties. For more information, see our review of the Sony WF-1000XM5.

Best Noise-Canceling Earbuds

Sony WF-1000XM5

The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds offer excellent noise cancellation, superior audio quality, and easily sync with Nintendo Switch. Consider giving them a closer look if you want the best audio possible for your hybrid console.

$298 at Amazon See at Best Buy See at Sony

FAQ

How do I pair my wireless earbuds with my iPhone?

Your earbuds will have instructions for putting them in pairing mode, but in most cases just power them on and hold the power button until you hear a notification that they're in pairing mode. On your iPhone, open Settings, tap on Bluetooth, then select your earbuds to pair them.

How do I pair my wireless earbuds with my iPad?

Follow your earbuds manufacturers' instructions to enter pairing mode or hold the power button after turning them on until you hear a notification. Open the settings app, go to the Bluetooth section, then select your earbuds to pair them with your iPad.

How do I charge wireless earbuds?

Wireless earbuds usually come with a charging case. To charge your earbuds, simply place them in the case. To charge the case, plug it in via the port usually found on the bottom, or place them on a wireless charging pad if the case supports wireless charging.

How do I clean wireless earbuds?

Wipe down the outside of the earbuds using a soft cloth and rubbing alcohol. You can clean the inside with something soft like a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol. A can of compressed air can also help clean dust off of earbuds. We have a guide on how to clean your earbuds if you need additional information!