Now that the iPhone ’s port wine is USB - C there is a whole new globe of wired earpiece available for iPhones .
If you have one of the iPhone 15 generation handsets , or a recently buy iPad Air , iPad Pro , iPad mini or iPad 10th - genertion then at the base of your machine is a UBC - C port , rather than Apple ’s Lightning port . This is estimable tidings if you are on the hunt for a pair of earpiece with a pumped connector because you now do n’t need an adaptor to use USB - C headphones .
There are a issue of welfare to using USB - blow headphone . wire connexion ( by and large ) deliver better audio lineament because the audio does n’t need to be compressed as much as with wireless , so near - lossless sound can be potential . However , you should still expect expensive , high - timbre wireless headphones to sound honest than a pair of trashy USB - C headphones . you’re able to only get straight lossless playback with a wired connection . The only issue really is that most of the streamers compress the medicine , so even if your headphones are capable of producing high - quality audio the audio files may not be high timbre .
Other benefit of USB - C headphones let in faster charge and the power to dally audio and burster at the same prison term . They get their tycoon from the gimmick so you do n’t have to charge them up separately and you do n’t need to vex about them running flat ( unless your iPhone or iPad does ) . However , you wo n’t be capable to charge your iPhone at the same time ( unless you charge wirelessly ) .
Some headphones have a DAC onboard that convert the signaling to digital and can enable high - Re playback . Not all DAC are adequate though .
Other benefits include the fact that the headphones are link up by a cable so you are less likely to miss one .
There are disadvantages though . Some multitude favour radio though because you’re able to get cable interference from when the cable rubs on your article of clothing . Another thing is that wired headphones do n’t incline to offer active noise cancellation . If you do want to usewireless earpiece with your iPhonewe have a separate account , and you may also like our comparison of theAirPods Max vs other over - ear headphone . We alsocompare all the AirPods .
phone that have USB - C should work with Macs that have USB - blow too – although most Macs do still have a standard 3.5 millimeter phone socket that will work with conventional headphones . One matter to remember is that some headphones use a USB - 100 connector for charging – but may not allow you to dally audio via a USB - vitamin C cable , so see on that before buying any new headphones .
honest-to-god iPhones and the monetary standard 10.2 in iPad feature a Lightning porthole . There are a small numeral of producer that still make headphones with a Lightning connector , which are specifically designed for habit with the iPhone . However , now that the European Union has forced Apple to move to USB - C for charging iPhones , it ’s unlikely that there will be many Lightning - power headphones useable in the hereafter .
There ’s one other choice as well . you may still use traditional phone that have a standard 3.5 mm audio connector with an iPhone or iPad – although you will require a suitable adaptor or cable that has a 3.5 millimeter connector for the phone and a Lightning or USB - C connective for your Apple devices . Apple sells 3.5 millimetre headphone jack adaptors with both Lightning connectors for$9/£9and USB - C for$9/£9 .
Other party trade adaptors too – most notably Belkin , with its Rockstar or Connect Lightning to 3.5 mm adaptors ( $ 39.99 at Amazon USor£29 at Amazon UK ) , which provide multiple ports and connectors so that you may charge your iPhone or iPad and listen to euphony at the same time . We look at even more adapter option here : Best Lightning earphone adapters for iPhone .
Updated April 2024 to sum up Sennheiser Accentum Plus and JLab Studio Pro .
Best Lightning and USB-C headphones
1. Sennheiser Accentum
Pros
Cons
Connectivity : Wireless or USB - C
Sennheiseris well - have it off for in high spirits - end phone such as its Momentum 3 Wireless , but it latterly released a much more affordable model called the Accentum . price at just £ 159.99/$179.95 , the Accentum ’s strong level-headed character and impressive battery sprightliness make it a great alternative to more expensive rivals such as the Beats Studio Pro ( or the wildly overpriced AirPods Max ) .
usable in black or white , the Accentum is a lightweight and comfortable lot of over - ear earphone , weighing 222 g and providing densely aggrandize phone and headband for prospicient listening session . The lightweight plastic design could , perhaps , be a piddling tough , but the Accentum should still be tough enough to cope with a few bumps in a backpack when you ’re out and about ( although one sign of cost - newspaper clipping is that there ’s no carrying case included ) .
The Accentum provides Bluetooth 5.2 for wireless audio , with support for the AAC codec for Apple devices and aptX HD for the Android side of the fence . There ’s also a USB - carbon connector on the right - manus earphone , which can be used both for charging and for wire audio connections when required – although , oddly , the cable television service in the corner is USB - ascorbic acid - to - USB - A , so you ’ll need to provide your ownUSB - blow cableor adaptor for Macs or iPads that only have USB - C.
level-headed quality is very good in both modes . The Accentum apprehend deeply for the slinky sea bass riff on Leonard Cohen ’s You Want It Darker , and really enamor the gritty grumbling in Cohen ’s deep - than - deep vocalisation . It ’s not just about the bass though , and the Accentum is still able to perpetrate out the sharp wiretap of the side drum drum and lends a silky smoothness to the synagogue choir on backing vocals . The noise - cancellation feature of speech are something of a mixed traveling bag , though . The Accentum deals very effectively with grim - frequency sounds , such as the grumble of an aircraft railway locomotive , but it ’s less successful at jam out part and high-pitched frequencies . And , somewhat queerly , you do n’t have the option of turning noise - cancellation altogether off – you may only flip between full noise - cancellation or the ‘ lucid ’ mode that lets in some screen background haphazardness when you require to hear what ’s going on around you . However , the real clincher for many hoi polloi will be the Accentum ’s 50 - minute battery lifetime , which is great for a earphone in this terms range and leave most of its contender chase after in its wake .
2. 1More Penta Driver P50
Connectivity : USB - one C or 3.5 mm
1Morehas been long been a champion of pumped earbuds , and was one of the few companies to uphold producing models with a Lightning user interface long after most of its challenger had switch to Bluetooth instead .
Its latest earbuds , call the Penta Driver P50 , are actually a bit of a reversion , as they go back to using a traditional 3.5 millimeter parallel connector , and even have in - communication channel controls for Pause / toy and adjusting loudness too . However , 1More also includes a USB - C adapter as well , so you could use the P50 with Macs , iPads and iPhones that have USB - century ( you could apply them with Lightning devices too , although you ’ll need to buy your own Lightning adaptor ) .
The wired earpieces are designed to glom back over your ear , which help to keep them safely in spot even when you ’re jogging or work out . There are no less than five sets of atomic number 14 eartips in dissimilar size , and even three sets of foam eartips too ( which I much prefer for a stiff fit and blocking out background noise ) , along with handy slight carrying pocket too .
price at $ 169.99/£169.99 , the P50 is great time value for money . Designed very much for demanding audiophiles , the earbuds manage to shove five separate equipment driver units into each phone – compare to just one for most earbuds in this damage range – and have Hi - Res Audio certification so that they can handle the highest tone audio formatting available on Apple Music and other streaming service .
And , as you might expect , the penta - driver design sound cracking . It launches into the 2018 reprinting of Sweet ’s glam classic , Ballroom Blitz with a frizzly , firm clunk on the drums . There ’s a warm , liquid tone to Brian Connolly ’s contribute vocal , but the P50 catches the camp flourish in Steve Priest ’s piercing falsetto as he declares – “ and she thinks she ’s the passionate one ! ” . The chop guitar between poetry is sharp and gritty , and then the P50 swoops lower for the catchy bass - and - drum interruption in the middle eight . Some masses might prefer wired headphone with a larger over - ear design and surplus features such as randomness - cancellation , but if you just want a lightweight and affordable curing of earbuds that supply eminent - quality speech sound when you ’re traveling then the P50 is difficult to beat .
3. Sennheiser Accentum Plus
Connectivity : Wireless , USB - Cand 3.5 mm ( cables included ) .
Sennheiser continues to shake off up its headphone range and , following the launching of its competitively priced Accentum last year , it has now added a slimly more expensive option squall the Accentum Plus , priced at $ 229.95/£199.99 . The external design of the Accentum Plus has n’t changed much , and the original Accentum is still usable for $ 179.95/£159.99 , so you should ensure that you choose the right model when buying .
Available in ignominious or white , the Accentum Plus has the same lightweight design , with thickly padded headband and earphone , and it only weighs 227 K , so it ’s light enough to wear for long full stop at base or when you ’re travel . The supernumerary cost of the Accentum Plus entail that you get a tough carrying case as well , and the impressive 50 - 60 minutes barrage life makes it a particularly good selection for long journey .
And while the external design of the Accentum Plus has n’t changed much , it does let in a number of newfangled feature hidden away on the interior . A new central processor Saratoga chip provides improved stochasticity - cancellation feature film , which we definitely found more effective than those of the original Accentum , and strong enough to dispute more expensive rival such as the Beats Studio Pro . Strangely , there ’s no simple On / Off control condition for the noise - cancellation feature , but the Sennheiser app provides a slider control so that you could adapt the level of noise - cancellation , or set it to ‘ transparent ’ mode if you need to hear what ’s going on around you .
Bluetooth support has also been update – it still supports AAC for Apple machine , but now adds aptX Adaptive too ( which I like to habituate with Apple Music on my iPad , along with Sennheiser ’s handy little BTD 600 aptX adaptor ) . There are advance to the wired features too . Along with the subsist USB - C port – which is used for charge and digital audio recording – there ’s a new 3.5 mm connector for good old - fashioned analog audio , or for use with a high - timber DAC ( digital - to - analog - converter ) , and USB - C and 3.5 millimetre cable are include in the box too .
The Accentum Plus seems to have a more atmospheric sound as well , creating an eerie rumbling quality for the electronic effects onYou Should See Me In A Crownby Billie Eilish , and a sinewy pulsing effect for the deep bass that complain off the refrain . The bass is n’t enlarged , though , and the Accentum Plus also manages to pick out lighter details very clearly , such as the speedy tick percussion that gives the racetrack its spooky , manic vigor .
4. Apple EarPods
Connectivity : USB - C , Lightning , or 3.5 millimeter models useable
Applestopped including the EarPods with new iPhones years ago – which was annoying for iPhone owner , but not bad for headphone manufacturers who could step in with their own alternatives . But the Internet says that the cool kids are wearing pumped earphone again these days – it ’s a retro thing , apparently – and the EarPods are still available for citizenry who prefer a simple and low-cost set of wired earbuds .
There are actually three versions uncommitted , each costing just $ 19/£19 , with either a USB - C connecter , a Lightning connector or a standard 3.5 mm audio connector for older iPhones or iPad model that still have ye olde earpiece connecter . That 3.5 millimeter connection will work with other audio machine too and , of grade , a wired connection mean that you do n’t have to concern about the battery run down in the eye of a long journey .
The aim of the EarPods was update a few years ago , with a more ellipse - shaped earphone that is design to repose more easily inside the capitulum . However , they still have the same one - size of it - paroxysm - all design of the original EarPods , with no alternative to use Si tips in unlike size of it , so they ’re plausibly not the best pick for people who need a good , firm convulsion for figure out out or even up around the car park .
You ’re not live on to get Hi - Fi quality headphones at this damage , but the pumped connective fend off the compromises make by the limited bandwidth of Bluetooth , so the EarPods still allow for respectable sound quality . The bass sounds nice and unwavering , and our only ailment is that higher relative frequency can sound a little sparse at times .
5. Belkin SoundForm
Connectivity : Lightning or USB - C selection
Lightning headphones are normally pretty expensive since manufacturers have to make a special reading of their standard headphones that use the Apple - only connective just for iPhone possessor . However , Belkinsurprised us by releasing its SoundForm Headphones With Lightning Connector , price at $ 39.99/£29.99 . There is also a USB - degree centigrade version of the SoundForm headphones for $ /£14.99 .
Despite their humiliated Leontyne Price , the SoundForm earphone – which used to be called Rockstar , but have been rebranded – are sturdily built , with a chunky , matted cable’s length that reduces tangles when you shove them into your pouch .
The inline control are middling basic – just a trivial mike for spokesperson calls , a distich of button for volume allowance , and a Play / intermission clitoris that keep in line music and telephone set calls . And , at this terms , there ’s not a lot in the way of add supernumerary either – there ’s no carrying font , and just three sizing of silicon ear - tips , although that should be enough to provide a honest , comfortable paroxysm for most multitude .
Belkin also says the headphones are water supply - tolerant – although it does n’t quote an IP rating – so they should be a good , low-cost choice for jogging around the parking area or working out at the gym .
levelheaded lineament is a pleasant surprisal too , given the low terms . The SoundForm delivered the multi - superimposed claptrap of Bohemian Rhapsody with clarity and detail . Smaller , less expensive earbuds such as these often support from weak bass , but the SoundForm also managed to dig down to the deep , sinister electronic sea bass on Prime Evil by The Orb .
Our only concern is that the sound quality is very dependent on getting a near , stiff fit inside your ears , but as long as the ear - tip provided by Belkin equip you properly then the SoundForm is the best set of budget - price Lightning headphones we ’ve interpret so far . Belkin also makes some ready to hand and affordable Lightning adaptor , which let you use existing 3.5 millimetre phone with a late iPhone , or even unite an iPhone to a car medicine system of rules .
There is also a USB - C version of Belkin ’s SoundForm headphones . See : Belkin in - auricle USB - C Headphones w / Mic Control , USB - C Earbuds , $ 29.99 on Amazon.com .
6. Bowers & Wilkins Px8
Connectivity : Wireless , USB - C , 3.5 millimetre
Hi - Fi specialistsBowers & Wilkinshave been using USB - degree Celsius to leave lossless and high - res audio with their PX scope of headphones since 2017 .
It ’s a little pricey – at $ 699/£599 it ’s even more expensive than the AirPods Max – but the design and sound quality are immaculate . Available in black or tan , the padded headband and earpieces find utterly luxurious ( although the leather covering might not become everyone ) . The adjustable cast - aluminum armature take care very smart and are sturdy enough to deal with life on the road when you ’re locomote , and there ’s a hard - shell carrying guinea pig let in as well .
The 40 mm drivers indorse Bluetooth with support for both Apple ’s AAC and aptX Adaptive for Android user . As mention , there ’s a USB - C port for wired connections and lossless audio , and a 3.5 mm adapter is include for good old - fashioned analog sound recording as well . The healthy quality is as good as you ’d expect from a society with B&W ’s hi - fi inheritance . There ’s an glacial clarity to the steel guitar on You Ca n’t Trust Violence by Low , and the band ’s musical harmony are still as silk , even as they replicate the shivery chorus of “ no , you ca n’t believe ferocity … ” . There ’s a courteous bass sound too , bounce along with a firm , infectious speech rhythm on Bad Guy by Billie Eilish , and contrasting well with the sharp , precise digit snaps that set the pace and drive the track forrad .
The interference - cancellation features work very well too , and with 30 60 minutes of battery life when using Bluetooth and racket - cancellation the Px8 is a great selection for frequent broadside or commuting on a train . The gilded design and sound quality of the Px8 are deserving every centime , but if you ’re on a sozzled budget then you’re able to still ascertain the previous Px7 S2 theoretical account usable online with a late price cut to £ 299 , which makes it a tangible bargain
7. Moshi Avanti C
Connectivity : Wireless , USB - C , Lightningor 3.5 mm manikin uncommitted
Moshi’sAvanti on - spike headphone are fairly dear , at around $ 259/£220 . The Moshi Avanti C come with USB - C , but Moshi also make a 2d model , call the Avanti LT , that include both a detachable Lightning cable for older Apple devices and a formal 3.5 mm cable that ply compatibility with a wider range of smartphones and other audio devices .
The headphone themselves are smartly designed , and available in a variety of dissimilar colors . The on - auricle design means that they ’re quite compact , and the earpieces fold inwards so that you’re able to well slip them into the carrying instance that ’s provided for when you ’re traveling .
They sound great too , thanks to a frequency cooking stove of 15Hz – 22kHz . That allows them to supply a really decent , firm freshwater bass on saltation tracks such as Prime Evil by The Orb , while also reaching right up to the glass - cutting falsetto of Roger Taylor on Queen ’s Lap Of The Gods .
High - timbre sound , portable excogitation and useful accessory ensure that the Avanti LT headphones can really earn their keep both at home and when you ’re traveling – and , unlike most Lightning headphones , you may use them with non - Apple devices too .
An option from Moshi you might be interested in is the Moshi Mythro Lightning In - Ear Headphones , which are $ 99.99 fromWalmart . There ’s also the Moshi Avanti C On - auricle USB Type - C Headphones , which are $ 259.95 fromAmazon .
8. Master & Dynamic MW75
Connectivity : Wireless , USB - C , 3.5 mm and 6.3 mm adaptors
Master & Dynamichas a report for impressive craftsmanship and sound timbre of earpiece and the MW75 are no elision . price at $ 599/£539 , and uncommitted in a variety of colors , the MW75 oozes character , constructed out of lightweight aluminum and tempered glass , and with a cushiony headband and earpieces wrapped in soft leather ( although , of track , the choice of leather may not be to everyone ’s taste ) . The headphone are comparatively low for an ‘ over - ear ’ earpiece , though , and some multitude might find the conniption a bit snug . The fiddling command buttons on the earpieces are also rather small as well .
It ’s got a swish design on the inside too , with 40 mm drivers that are manufacture out of Beryllium – a very rigid material used in many high - close Hi - Fi system to bring down quivering and distortion that might sham the profound calibre . The MW75 hold up Bluetooth with both AAC for Apple devices and aptX Adaptive for Android , and there ’s a USB - C port for pumped up connections with support for lossless and high-pitched - rhenium audio formats up to 24 - bit/96KHz .
There ’s also a USB - A adapter included for older information processing system , a 3.5 mm adaptor for parallel input , and a 6.3 millimeter adaptor for exercise with gamy - final stage hi - fi equipment . Travelers will also appreciate the smart , fabric - address hard - shell carrying case and airline adaptor , as well as hefty battery life that lasts for 28 hours when using Bluetooth and disturbance - cancellation together ( or 32 hours without randomness - cancellation ) .
The noise - cancellation features are very effective and , like most headphones these days , the MW75 admit an ambient mode that let in some of the desktop noise when required . However , there ’s also an additional ‘ articulation ’ mode that help to pick out the great unwashed ’s phonation if you ’re in an billet or perhaps wait for a flight of stairs announcement in an aerodrome .
But , as always , the heavy timbre is key , and the MW75 provides excellent clarity and detail right across the spectrum . It provides a thick , baleful gang fight for the electronic bass on Max Richter ’s Shadow Journal , but it does n’t allow the bass to sweep over the thrust clarity of the violin , or the gentle ambient auditory sensation - cloud of electronic loops that purl softly through the line .
9. Austrian Audio Hi-X25BT
Austrian Audiois a well - known name in Hi - Fi circles , nominate high - end headphones and microphone for musicians and audiophiles . However , it also gain some more affordable headphones , such as the Hi - X25BT , which provides impressive sound timber for a very affordable $ 179/£135 .
As the name propose , the Hi - X25BT does include Bluetooth to provide a wireless option when required , with an impressive 30 hours of battery life in Bluetooth way . It ’s not at its good with Bluetooth , though , as it does n’t support either Apple ’s AAC or AptX for Android , trust on the more canonical SBC codec for wireless audio .
The emphasis , therefore , is more on using the Hi - X25BT as a set of wired headphones via its USB - degree Celsius connexion . Austrian include two cable with the headphone , with a USB - C - to-3.5 millimeter connector that provides standard analog audio , or a straightforward USB - C line that render digital audio from an iPad , Mac or other devices that have USB - C. There ’s also a USB - A adapter include too , and I had no bother using the Hi - X25BT with both USB - A and 3.5 mm connecter on my get on office iMac . I also found a Lightning audio frequency adaptor from Belkin in my desk draw , which allowed me to apply the Hi - X25BT with a Lightning link on my iPhone as well – although , of course , this is n’t included with the headphones , so you ’d need to render your own adaptor for an iPhone .
And , as you ’d expect from a fellowship with Austrian ’s Hi - Fi background , the sound quality is big , thanks to 40 millimetre driver with impressive 12Hz – 24KHz frequency response . The cymbal crash that begin Blondie ’s raptus call up out crisp and clear , with a loose relaxed feeling on the jangling rhythm guitar . The Sung ’s bouncing bass wrinkle works a treat too , and never gets fall back in the mix as can sometimes happen with less accurate phone .
10. JLab Studio Pro ANC
Connectivity : Wireless , USB - C , USB - C - to-3.5 mm adapterincluded
Active noise - cancellation ( ANC ) is a mutual feature on many earphone and earbuds these days , but it still tends to fight the price up a spot , with most interference - cancel headphones cost at least $ 150/£150 , while some of the better models can cost twice that damage . In contrast , JLabs ’ Studio Pro ANC provides a basic degree of noise cancellation for just $ 99.99/£99.99 .
The Studio Pro is neatly contrive , with hinged phone that fold bland when you ’re move , with a cushioned material carrying pouch also include . The earpieces and headband are padded with foam , and the Studio Pro only weighs 222 g , so it ’s light enough to fall apart all day when you ’re out and about . Battery life is undecomposed too , quoted at a uttermost of 45 hours , or 43 time of day when using noise - cancellation .
The low price does involve some compromise though – most notably on the Bluetooth side of the fence , as the Studio Pro only sustain the basic SBC codec , with no support for either AAC or aptX. There is n’t even an app to go with it , so you have to try out with the button controls on the ripe - bridge player earpiece to figure out how to select the different noise - cancellation modes or select one of the EQ presets .
This means that sound tone when using Bluetooth is relatively low – it ’s readable enough but sounds a short distant and lacks immediateness . But , of path , our stress here is on wired headphones , and the USB - light speed port on the Studio Pro can be used for both charging and to provide a wired connexion ( with a USB - ascorbic acid to 3.5 millimetre adapter also let in ) . trade to a wired connection on my MacBook Pro improved the legal timbre quite noticeably .
The Studio Pro might not win any awards , but there ’s a fluent , quick musical note to Madonna ’s voice on Frozen , and a delicate mite to the electronic effect that float through the air . There ’s also a nice demarcation between the slow swaying beat of the string and the astute , dramatic pleximetry that resile from side to side across the headphone .
I ’m pleased to find that the noise - cancellation feature work in both Bluetooth and pumped-up modes , but the Studio Pro only provides small stochasticity - cancellation and , in finicky , it tends to let through quite a lot of higher - frequency sounds . If you want really effective noise - cancellation for long journeys by train or plane then there are more expensive headphones available that will be suitable . Even so , the Studio Pro will still be a adept , low-cost alternative for general use when you ’re cheat around town – especially if you stick with its wired modality to get the best effectual quality .
Recommended
These headphones that have previously been in this chart . You may be able to get a unspoilt deal on them .
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
Can I just use an adapter?
If you prefer to stick with an existing readiness of 3.5 mm wired headphones that you really like then it is possible to buy an adapter . And , in fact , Apple did include a Lightning adaptor with the iPhone 7 , 8 and 10 when they were first found . Unfortunately , that ’s no longer the font with current iPhones .
you could still buy Apple ’s Lightning To 3.5 millimeter Headphone Jack Adapter for £ 9/$9from the Apple Store , but it ’s also potential to bribe non - Apple choice from audio specialists , such as Fiio ’s i1 , which provides superior sound quality , butcosts around £ 69 . Some manufacturers , such asAudezeandBowers & Wilkinsalso make their own Lightning cables for use with their own headphones .
Serious audiophiles can also opt for a portable DAC – digital / analogue converter – such as the pop iFi mountain chain or theChord Mojoto really give their audio quality a boost .
For buying advice touch on to other types of headphone , see ourBest wireless headphonestest .
