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Buying Guide: The Best iPhone 7 Wireless Headphones
Goodbye Headphone Jack
The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are two of the world's most popular music players, packed with exclusive technology. One technology that's missing, however, is the good old 3.5mm headphone jack. That's driving a lot of iPhone owners over to wireless headphones, but not every pair will make the most of your phone's audio capabilities. These headphones are our best picks specifically for the iPhone 7.
Why Go Wireless?
Getting rid of the headphone jack on the iPhone 7 means that in almost all cases, if you're not using the earbuds that came with your phone, you'll have to use an annoying $9 dongle to connect your headphones to your iPhone. Wired headphones that use Apple's Lightning port exist, but they aren't very common. We've reviewed a couple of pairs of earphones so far, the Audeze iSine 20 and the Libratone Q Adapt Lightning.
Head over to the Bluetooth aisle, though, and you can use everything in the shop, from inexpensive sub-$50 pairs, to high-end noise-canceling options. Wireless headphones are now much higher quality and more reliable than they used to be, with less popping, longer battery life, and fewer seemingly random disconnections.
What's Different About the iPhone 7?
The iPhone 7 uses a special W1 Bluetooth pairing chip to make wireless connections easier, and it uses the AAC music encoding scheme to transmit high-quality audio. No Android phones have the W1, and the AAC situation is an iPhone thing.
The W1 is Apple's proprietary chip for easier Bluetooth pairing. Once they're set up, W1 headphones connect and disconnect from iPhones automatically, without fiddling with settings and without fail. That gets rid of one of the major complaints about Bluetooth headphones, which is that you may periodically, mysteriously have to dig into your phone's settings and manually connect.
We've reviewed all of the W1 headphones available: Apple's Airpods, and the BeatsX, Powerbeats3, and Solo3 from Beats. (It's worth noting that Beats is owned by Apple, so W1 compatibility looks to be an Apple-only feature for now.) The BeatsX stand out as our favorite, but you're definitely paying a premium for the easier pairing and improved range the W1 provides. Looking at the chart above, between the Beats Solo3 and the Bowers & Wilkins P5 Wireless, you're basically trading that W1 connection on the Beats for better all-around audio quality and a more comfortable fit on the Bowers & Wilkins P5 Wireless.
It's easier to find native AAC headphones. There are currently three ways to transmit music over Bluetooth. SBC, the most widely accepted codec, doesn't have as high a maximum level of quality as Apt-X or AAC. Most headphones support Apt-X, but iPhones don't. iPhones support AAC, but most headphones don't. Files purchased from iTunes tend to come in AAC format, and transcoding them from AAC to SBC may involve a slight loss of quality.
Dickering over AAC vs. SBC involves potentially imperceptible differences in sound quality. Recent high-quality SBC implementations are comparable with 192kbps AAC, according to the SoundExpert testing site. But audiophiles trying to eke the best quality out of their iPhone/Bluetooth combination are definitely going to want AAC headphones (if audiophiles deign to use wireless at all; many don't.)
All of our wireless headset picks above, except for the inexpensive Skullcandy Method Wireless, support direct AAC transmission.
Keep in mind, there are plenty of other great wireless headphones on the market that, and even without the W1 chip or AAC support, will sound just fine. For more top picks, check out The Best Wireless Headphones.
Featured iPhone 7 Wireless Headphone Reviews:
Pros: Fantastic audio performance with rich, articulate lows and crystal clear highs. Smart, handsome design with secure, comfortable fit. Wired, passive mode automatically shuts off battery.
Cons: Expensive. Included cable lacks remote control.
Bottom Line: The Bowers & Wilkins P5 Wireless is one of the more expensive Bluetooth headphone pairs on the market for good reason-it delivers brilliant audio in a smart, attractive design.Read Review
Pros: Affordable for wireless, noise-canceling headphones. Full, balanced audio. Solid noise cancellation.
Cons: Noise cancellation isn't quite on par with Bose.
Bottom Line: The Plantronics BackBeat PRO 2 headphones combine solid noise cancellation with Bluetooth connectivity, excellent sound, and a comfortable fit, all at a very reasonable price. Read Review
Pros: Powerful audio performance with rich bass and clear highs. Includes W1 chip for fast, seamless connection with iOS devices. Excellent wireless range.
Cons: No auto power-down or sleep mode. Sculpted sound signature not for audio purists.
Bottom Line: The BeatsX Bluetooth earphones from Beats deliver strong audio performance and excellent wireless connectivity, aided by Apple's W1 chip.Read Review
Pros: Powerful audio performance with strong, rich bass and well-defined, bright highs. Ships with plenty of ear fit options. Solid companion app offers customizable EQ.
Cons: Left and right earpieces are not labeled. Easy to misfire with remote control layout.
Bottom Line: The gym-friendly Jaybird X3 wireless earphones deliver high-quality audio in a comfortable, secure-fitting design.Read Review
Pros: Powerful audio performance with robust bass response. Comfortable, secure fit. Sweat-resistant design intended for workouts. Affordable.
Cons: Less crisp in the high-mids than some users will prefer. Light on accessories.
Bottom Line: The reasonably priced Skullcandy Method Wireless earphones delivers solid Bluetooth audio from an exercise-friendly, neckband-style frame.Read Review
Pros: Clear audio performance. Seamlessly pairs with multiple iOS devices on the same iCloud account. Carrying case doubles as backup battery.
Cons: Lack of ear canal seal means less bass response and potential ear-to-ear stereo image discrepancies. Limited onboard controls virtually require you to use Siri. In-ear fit could be more secure.
Bottom Line: The Apple AirPods feel like a big step for wireless in-ear audio-but it's more about innovations and features and less about audio performance.Read Review
Pros: Powerful, bass-forward (but balanced) audio performance. Apple W1 chip enhances experience with iOS devices. Detachable cable with inline remote for passive listening.
Cons: A bit overpriced. Headband can get uncomfortable during longer listening sessions.
Bottom Line: The Beats Solo3 Wireless headphones use Apple's W1 chip for easier connectivity with iOS devices and deliver a balanced Bluetooth audio experience for bass lovers, but feel a tad expensive.Read Review
Pros: Powerful audio performance for bass lovers. Uses Apple W1 chip for quick pairing, better connectivity with iOS devices. Sweat- and water-resistant design. Very secure fit.
Cons: Insanely boosted bass and sculpted highs aren't for anyone seeking an accurate sound signature. Expensive.
Bottom Line: The Beats Powerbeats3 Wireless earphones use the Apple W1 chip for superior Bluetooth performance and deliver a highly sculpted, bass-forward audio experience.Read Review
