Thinking of buying some Apple headphones? We round up the top models you should consider, including Beats over-ears and true wireless AirPods.
Not too long ago, the words ‘Apple headphones’ would conjure up images of those wired EarPods you’d find in the box of a new iPhone – which were fine for casual use but were sub-standard compared to the best headphones around. But these days the tech giant is well and truly on its way to becoming a credible audio brand that can stand up to the likes of Sony and Bose in its own right. The reason why Apple has started to excel when it comes to audio tech is partly down to its acquisition of Dr Dre’s Beats headphones in 2014, which expanded Apple’s portfolio to include colorful, fashion-forward on-ear headphones, wireless over-ear headphones, and slick running earbuds. Apple’s first true wireless earbuds, the Apple AirPods were launched in 2016. Then, in 2019 came the upgraded Apple AirPods, complete with Apple’s own H1 chip. This advanced chip allows for many cool features, like the ability to summon Siri hands-free, super-fast pairing with iPhones, and increased battery life when it comes to taking calls. The H1 chip now comes with all new Apple headphones, from the AirPods Pro to the Beats Powerbeats Pro, and beyond. In 2020 things changed again when Apple released its highly-anticipated over-ear headphones without Beats branding. The Apple AirPods Max offer noise-cancelling, exceptional audio performance and a slick design that’s as comfortable as it is stylish. However, at an eye-watering price of $549 / £549 / AU$899 they might not have the mainstream appeal that the AirPods do. Choosing between headphones that share many of the same specs can be tricky, which is why we’ve put this handy guide together. Before we dive into our top picks however, we’ve answered some common questions about Apple headphones to make your buying decision even easier: Are Apple headphones worth buying? It depends on what you’re looking for – if you want easy pairing with your iPhone, you can’t go wrong with Apple or Beats headphones. Looking for pure audio fidelity? You’re better off looking at competitors like Sony and Bose, though more Apple headphones like the AirPods Pro sound very good indeed. How much are Apple headphones? Prices vary, but Apple headphones tend to sit at the pricier end of the mid-range. For example, the Beats Powerbeats 3 cost $199.95 / £169.95 / AU$259.95 at launch, while the AirPods Pro cost $249 / £249 / AU$399. Meanwhile, the new AirPods Max over-ear headphones cost an eye-watering $549 / £549 / AU$899. Can I work out with Apple headphones? Yes. The best Apple headphones for working out at the Powerbeats Pro, thanks to their earhook design and sweatproof IPX4 rating. Other models, like the AirPods Pro have no such rating, though Apple says that they’re water and sweat-resistant. Are AirPods noise-cancelling? The only noise-cancelling AirPods are the AirPods Pro and over-ear AirPods Max. Otherwise you’ll have to look to Beats headphones like the Studio 3 Wireless and the Solo Pro to block out environmental sound. Can AirPods connect to Android phones? Yes, they can. You might find they’re marginally slower to pair than they would be with an iPhone, but the difference is negligible. However, if you are using AirPods with an Android, you’ll miss out on features like auto-pause or the ability to customize noise cancelation. Do Beats work better with Apple? Again, Apple headphones – and therefore Beats headphones – are designed to work seamlessly with Apple’s ecosystem. That doesn’t mean you can’t use Beats headphones with other operating systems, but you may miss out on some features if you do. Apple’s best headphones of 2021, the AirPods Pro, bring active noise cancellation, a much better fit, and an improved design to the company’s previous true wireless earbuds. They’re not quite the best true wireless earbuds out there (that honor goes to the Sony WF-1000XM3), and at $249 / £249 / AU$399 they aren’t cheap, either. That said, if you’re an iPhone user looking for some well-fitting earbuds with strong sound quality, you could do a lot worse than the latest AirPods – the redesign means they’re far less likely to fall out, and the additional microphones provide strong noise-cancelling (particularly when commuting), as well as a useful Transparency mode, which really does let the outside world in.
