Best Wireless Earbuds For iPhone 2021: Top Picks

Updated On February 16, 2021
By Dale Conerly

In Earbuds

Have you been wondering what the best wireless earbuds for iPhones in 2021 are? Are you looking for an affordable pair of the best true wireless earbuds which won’t leave you compromising on quality? Do you want the best set of wireless earbuds that will boast a better battery life, a better sound quality, and a better fit than your old school wired headphones?

If this sounds like you then make sure to keep reading because we have hand-picked ten of the best wireless earbuds for iPhone use, each with a detailed overview and a list of pros and cons. We’ve also made sure to include a buying guide to help outline which factors you’ll want to bear in mind; from battery life to sound quality, we’ve got you covered. At the end of this piece, you’ll find our answers to the most frequently asked questions when it comes to using the best wireless earpieces with an iPhone.

But first, let’s talk about what it is about wireless earbuds that makes them so appealing. After the headphone jack was removed from the more recent iPhones, users were left with the option of getting a plug-in dongle which acts as a 3.5mm jack for old, wired earphones or they could go wireless. As it happens, opting for wireless turns out to be a whole lot more practical and comes with the added bonus of not having to untangle the wires before each use, as well as some more advanced technical features such as active noise cancellation, improved durability, and even better sound quality.

Top 10 Best Wireless Earbuds for iPhones

The shift towards going truly wireless in recent years has seen the introduction of a whole range of new models to the market. While this can make finding the best pair for you a little challenging when you don’t know what you should be looking for, it also means that you can get the best pair of true wireless earbuds for a fraction of what they originally cost when they were first introduced.

The best true wireless earbuds for iPhone use in 2021 combine a compact, ergonomic design with impressive audio quality and the latest Bluetooth connectivity. Ideal for working out at the gym, listening to podcasts on your morning commute, or relaxing outside with your favorite playlists on, wireless earbuds come in a range of styles, with different features that are suited to every budget. We have chosen ten of the best wireless earbuds for use with your iPhone to help make it even easier for you to find the best pair for you.

1. DB DEGBIT Bluetooth Earphones

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First up, we have the DB DEGBIT Bluetooth Earphones. These are budget friendly without sacrificing on features; boasting the latest Bluetooth 5.0 technology, a built-in microphone, and impressive compatibility, these are a practical option which cover all the bases. The ergonomic design makes for long periods of comfortable wearing, while the simplistic one-step automatic pairing process is hassle-free so that you can start listening to your playlists and making hands-free calls with ease.

Providing 4-5 hours worth of play time after a single 1 hour charge, as well as an additional 35 hours by using the mini portable charging case, these lightweight earbuds are efficient and easy to operate. You’ll be able to listen to your music in one ear, in both ears, or you can even hand an earbud over to your friend to share in listening to your music. With 4.6 stars out of 5 from almost 1000 Amazon users, the DB DEGBIT wireless earbuds are some of the best, most affordable options you’ll find.

Best Features

  • Well balanced sound quality.
  • Easy to pair with your iPhone.
  • Very affordable.

2. TOZO T6

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The TOZO T6 are another great example of some of the best true wireless earbuds which happen to have an affordable price tag. Small, lightweight, and comfortable to wear for lengthy listening sessions, the TOZO T6 hold up to 6 hours of battery life from a single charge and their compact carrying case can provide an additional 24 hours.

Rated IPX8 for their waterproofing, these earbuds are water and sweat resistant, making them a reliable pair of sports earbuds for those who enjoy running, skiing, and working out in the gym. Running the latest Bluetooth 5.0 technology, connectivity and transmission are smooth, helping to provide a balanced sound profile. Unlike the majority of truly wireless earbuds on the market, the T6 earbuds are touch controlled rather than operated by buttons. An all round efficient pair of sports earbuds, these are among the best budget wireless earbuds for use with an iPhone.

Best Features

  • Ergonomically designed for comfortable wearing.
  • Affordable price.
  • IPX8 rated.

3. Bose SoundSport Wireless Earbuds

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Our third pick is the Bose SoundSport; with 4.3 stars from over 23,500 Amazon users, these are a tried and tested favorite among music lovers. Featuring Bose’s StayHear+, these truly wireless sports buds promise a secure fit while having a comfortable design which will conform to the natural contours of your ears. Designed using the best sweat proofing materials, the mesh combined with an IPX4 rating means that these earbuds are water resistant during even the hardest of workouts.

Bluetooth enabled and designed to maximize the connection of a wireless signal, these reliable true wireless earbuds won’t let you down. The Bose SoundSport have five hours of battery life and, by keeping them in their protective case for periods of recharging, they will provide an additional 10 hours of use. One of the more premium options on our list, these fitness earbuds are packed with impressive features and are consistently rated highly by their users.

Best Features

  • Comfortable fit.
  • Can withstand challenging exercise sessions thanks to their sweat resistance.
  • Rated IPX4 for water resistance.

 4. AUKEY EP-T21

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The AUKEY EP-T21 are an affordable set which, despite the low price tag, are built to a high standard and have a strong wireless connection. The EP-T21 provide a clear, crisp sound quality which, when paired with Bluetooth, transmits efficiently and with enviable stability. Unlike some of the other best true wireless earbuds which retail for up to 10x the price, the EP-T21 come with silicone tips for a customized fit which also helps to improve sound isolation. The battery life gives the wearer five hours of continuous listening time and, by using the charging case, you’ll have an extra 20 hours of play time.

As with the SoundSport from Bose, the AUKEY EP-T21 have an IPX4 water-resistance rating, making them ideal for gym-goers, runners, and cyclists. These buds feature controls on both ears; double-tapping will either play or pause your songs and manage incoming calls, while long-pressing the left takes you back to your previous track and long-pressing the right skips on to the next track. Overall, the EP-T21 are contenders for some of the best budget true wireless earbuds available at the moment.

Best Features

  • Excellent price-to-quality ratio.
  • Strong connection providing well balanced audio.
  • Average of 4.3 stars out of 5 from over 8000 Amazon reviewers.

5. VANKYO X180

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Our fifth choice is the VANKYO X180. With a compact earbud design, these are a comfortable set which come with a choice of 3 ear tips to ensure they fit the wearer securely. As these are soft touch operated, you can skip through songs and answer calls while on the go. An impressive IPX7 rating means that the X180 can be submerged under water so they’ll be sweat resistant when you wear them while working out.

A spring-loaded charging case provides an additional 20 hours of playtime in addition to the initial five hours you’ll have from one charge. The case itself is charged using a USB-C cable and takes only 90 minutes to fully recharge the battery. Providing a binaural mode, a monaural mode, and a sharing mode, you’ll be able to listen to your playlists however it best suits you. Living up to VANKYO’s reputation for creating high quality products, these are a good pick for those seeking a wallet-friendly pair of truly wireless earpieces.

Best Features

  • Rated IPX7 for water resistance.
  • The option of 3 different tips means that these can be customized to the wearer.
  • Good battery life.

6. Boltune BT-BH020

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Next up we have the Boltune BT-BH020. As these feature active noise cancellation, you’ll be able to listen to songs and answer your phone without the noise of fellow commuters or gym-goers interfering. The ergonomic design makes for comfortable wearing, while the three choices of different sized ear tips prevents the earbuds from falling out.

By using Bluetooth 5.0, your connection will be stable and will help in improving the overall longevity of the BT-BH020’s battery life. Offering 6 hours of battery life, plus an additional 34 hours by using the wireless charging case, you’ll be able to go a number of days without the hassle of plugging these in to charge. These earphones produce stereo sound quality which users often praise for being clear and immersive. In summary, these are yet another example of some of the best budget wireless earpieces; the Boltune BT-BH020 perform well without putting a big dent in your wallet.

Best Features

  • Comes with an 18 month warranty from Boltune.
  • Great battery life.
  • Customer service praised as one of the best.

7. Axloie Earbuds

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The Axloie Wireless Earbuds are ideal for those of you who have trouble finding wireless earphones which will stay put; the flexible rubber ear hooks surround your ear to keep the buds securely in place. As well as this, you’ll receive three different sets of silicone ear tips to help you find the best fit for your ears, something which improves their comfort and their overall noise isolating abilities. The outer hook has bright LEDs which are used to indicate whether the buds are in use or whether they’re charging up, as well as a control button on each ear for operating the music, answering your phone, and activating the voice assistant on your iPhone.

As these are a little larger than your regular true wireless earbuds, they also come with a slightly larger charging case. Measuring 4.9 x 4 x 1.9″ and weighing 7.2 ounces, the case is still small enough to fit into your bag, just without the hassle of spending ages digging around trying to find it. Lasting around five hours with an additional 35 hours by using the charging case, these Axloie earphones have what can only be described as a competitive battery life.

Best Features

  • The hooked design and good build quality makes for a secure fit.
  • Excellent battery life.
  • Larger-than-usual charging case reduces the chances of losing your earbuds.

8. iTeknic IK-BH004

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The iTeknic IK-BH004 run on Bluetooth 5.0 and offer up to 7 hours worth of play time, with an additional 33 hours when you use the charging case. Rated IPX8, these are ideal for workouts and general everyday usage. As the IK-BH004 have a stalk protruding from the earpieces, the mic is closer to your mouth so you won’t find yourself shouting to be heard, something which can unfortunately be the case with other truly wireless earbuds out there.

More than capable of performing noise isolation and active noise cancelling, you won’t be able to hear external ambient sound that would otherwise interrupt your music or impact on the quality of your phone calls. Incorporating four microphones, each ear features dual-microphone noise reduction technology so that the wearer can enjoy vocal enhancement and ambient noise suppression. Each bud has touch controls and are suited to both single and twin modes. Thanks to their low price and good sound quality, the iTeknic IK-BH004 are perfect wireless sports buds for those who want detailed, crisp audio on a budget.

Best Features

  • Over 1500 reviewers have provided 4.6 stars out of 5 on Amazon.
  • Good at isolating from noise as well as active noise cancelling.
  • Great battery life.

9. OKG Bluetooth Earbuds

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The OKG Bluetooth Earbuds share a number of similarities with high-end buds, just without the expensive price attached. To start with, these IPX8-rated buds produce a quality of sound unmatched by comparably priced pairs; the 6mm dynamic driver delivers a detailed, immersive musical experience. You’ll have your pick of three sizes of silicone ear pieces to help isolate the sound too. The integrated microphones which are positioned in both earbuds make sure that your call quality is always clear and prevent external noise from impacting on your conversations.

Running on Bluetooth 5.0 makes these compatible with iOS, while connecting to your iPhone is hassle-free and done automatically when you take the buds out of their carrying case. All in all, if you’re looking for optimal sound with reliable connectivity, then OKG’s true wireless headphones are well worth considering.

Best Features

  • Rated IPX8.
  • Well balanced audio and call quality.
  • Premium 6mm dynamic stereo drivers are great at delivering strong bass.

10. AKUDY Rainbow Pods AK7

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Our final pick is the wallet-friendly, colorful AKUDY Rainbow Pods AK7. Coming in either pink or white depending on your taste, these are among the most affordable sets we have selected for you in our list. Pairing is fast and easy; open the charging case and they’ll connect automatically with your iPhone in just a couple of seconds.

Aiding in noise isolation while creating the best audio experience, the silicone ear pieces included with your purchase come in small, medium, and large so that you can fit them to the contours of your ear. These Rainbow Pods offer a battery life of 5 hours and an additional 10 hours battery life by using the charging case. Averaging an impressive 4.8 stars on Amazon, users often report that these earpieces perform as well as higher-end, high-cost products.

Best Features

  • Budget friendly.
  • Customization in terms of color.
  • Quick and easy to pair.

Considerations Choosing Best Wireless Earbuds for iPhones

Now that we’ve talked you through our top ten best wireless earphones, you’ll want to take a look at the following considerations when choosing your new iPhone-compatible wireless buds.

Battery Life

Battery life is an important factor to take into consideration when choosing the best wireless earphones for iPhone owners. How you intend on using your earphones will play a big role in determining the length of battery life you’ll want from them so make sure to read the specification of each product to check it’s suited to your needs. As a tip, be aware of the fact that most wireless earbud manufacturers will list the overall battery life as the combined playing time after a single charge and the top-up charges you’ll have access to through the charging case.

Controls

As you may have noticed while reading through our ten best wireless earbuds for iPhone owners, truly wireless earbuds are operated differently depending on their design. While some models will have on-ear controls which allow the user to tap to increase the volume, skip tracks, and take phone calls, others may lack any controls at all and require the wearer to control the audio via their iPhone. You may have noticed that some of the best, higher priced wireless earbuds can even pause automatically when they’re removed from your ear.

Ear Tips

Ear tips are another of the most important design features to look out for when it comes to the fit of the earbuds. If your silicone ear pieces are too small in size, they won’t be capable of forming a seal with your ear and you’ll have to put up with background ambient noise interfering. We would recommend choosing a product which comes with a selection of sizes so that you can choose the ones which best fit to your individual ear shape; you want your earbuds to sit comfortably and firmly within your ear so that they don’t drop out when you’re using them.

Charging Case

Unique to true wireless earbuds is their charging case. Used for storing and recharging the earbuds, the case needs to be compact as well as sturdy in its design to allow for portability. Most cases will take around 2 hours to charge in full and this is usually done by connecting it to a computer or a wall charger by using a USB cable. Make sure to read through the user manual which comes with your wireless earbuds for a step-by-step guide on how to charge your earbuds in their case and how to charge up the carrying case itself.

Noise Cancelling

There’s nothing worse than background noise interfering with your audio quality so make sure that your earphones are, at minimum, capable of noise isolation and, budget dependent, able to perform active noise cancellation. True wireless earbuds which can carry out noise isolation will create a physical barrier between your ear and external sounds, preventing you from hearing any outside noises. Active noise cancelling is much better yet more technical; a small microphone inside the earbud picks up on external sounds so that the earbuds can produce the opposing sound wave to actively cancel out the noise.

FAQs

We’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions which pop up over and over again when looking for the best wireless earbuds compatible with an iPhone.

Can you use any wireless earbuds with an iPhone?

As all iPhones are able to run Bluetooth, the vast majority of wireless earbuds will be compatible with your iPhone. Newer iPhone models no longer feature a 3.5mm jack and so this has meant that the market for wireless earbuds has grown enormously in recent years. Consequently, the best wireless earpieces are, more often than not, designed with iPhones in mind.

Just to make things that much easier and to prove how straightforward it really is, we’ve included a step-by-step guide on how to pair your iPhone with your Bluetooth true wireless earbuds.

Step 1.

Open your iPhone’s Settings.

Step 2.

Tap on Bluetooth on your Settings menu.

Step 3.

Activate your Bluetooth.

Step 4.

Turn on your wireless headphones. Ensure that they are in Discovery or Pair mode as this will allow for them to appear on your iPhone’s Bluetooth Menu. Refer to the instructions manual which come with your purchase if you are unsure of how to turn them on when you first receive them.

Step 5.

Select your earbuds when they pop up on the Bluetooth Menu. This will connect them with your iPhone.

What are the best wireless earbuds for iPhone?

Although this is one of the most frequently asked questions, the answer is heavily subjective. If a pair of earphones are compatible with your iPhone, then it’s going to come down to what it is that you want from your earbuds. If you want a budget-friendly pair, then we’d recommend looking at the AKUDY Rainbow Pods AK7 as they cost under $30. Similarly, the OKG Bluetooth Earbuds are another affordable option which are packed with features you’d expect to see from the best true wireless earbuds. On the other hand, if you’re looking for something a little more premium, then perhaps the Bose SoundSport would be best suited to you.

At the end of the day, the best wireless earbuds for one iPhone user aren’t going to be the best for another. Before purchasing, decide on which factors you want to prioritize and make sure to read through Amazon’s users reviews to make the best buy for you.

Is it worth buying wireless earbuds?

Of course this is going to come down to personal preference but if you have an iPhone and you don’t want the hassle of buying a headphone adapter to plug your old wired earphones into, then wireless earbuds really are the best way forwards.

One of the main reasons people can be a little apprehensive about buying truly wireless earpieces is that they’re worried about the battery life. We hope that we have convinced any of you who were undecided that battery life is unlikely to be an issue thanks to their rechargeable carrying cases. If you travel a lot or if you’re into fitness, wireless earbuds will give you greater freedom of movement while being portable, tangle-free, and space-saving. As more and more wireless earbuds have come onto the market, the price tags of each model has drastically reduced, making them all the more affordable.

What is the difference between wireless and true wireless earbuds?

What is it that makes earbuds “wireless” versus “true wireless”? Well, despite both being termed “wireless”, wireless earphones are indeed different to true wireless. The crucial distinction is that “true wireless” won’t have a cable or a connector between each earpiece. Alternately, “wireless” are still connected by either a cable which goes around the back of your neck, or a connecting piece which sits over the top of your head. While neither require a headphone jack, they are different.