If you don’t want to deal with adapters to listen to music or podcasts on your new iPhone, there are tons of lightning earbuds available. From budget earbuds to higher quality headphones, whatever your needs there is a set of lightning earphones for you. We’ve rounded up some of the best from a variety of price points to choose from.
All the lightning earbuds in this article will work for all current iPhone models including iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone Xs, iPhone Xr, iPhone SE, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro max. You can also use them with iPads and iPad Pros.
5 Best Lightning Earbuds
Best Noise Cancelling Lightning Earbuds: Pioneer Rayz Plus
If you travel a lot or commute on a noisy train, these are the earbuds for you. Pioneer Rayz makes these high-quality earbuds that will delight audiophiles and commuters alike. Employing smart noise canceling, these headphones adapt to the noise around you and adjust the sound accordingly. Use the built-in remote to play, pause, and change music tracks without taking out your phone. The built-in microphone is perfect for calls and it automatically mutes when you’re not speaking to prevent excess noise. It also recognizes “Hey Siri” for easy hand-free usage.
One of my favorite features is Autopause. When you remove your earbuds, it automatically pauses whatever you’re listening to or watching and when you put them back in, it starts playing again. Pioneer Rayz Plus comes with a free companion app that gets free automatic updates and lets you customize settings for the perfect listening experience. If you’re worried about charging your phone, these earbuds come with an adapter built in so you can listen and charge at the same time.
All of these features come at a higher price though. If you want an upgraded alternative to the default Earpods with tons of cool features and fantastic audio quality, get the Pioneer Rayz Plus. If you’re on a budget, check out some of our cheap lightning earbud picks below.
Compatible with iOS11 or higher.
Available Colors: Bronze, Gray
Beats urBeats3 Earphones with Lightning Connector
If the Pioneer Rayz are too expensive for your budget, the urBeats3 earphones are half the price while still offering great audio quality and noise isolation. The ergonomically designed ear tips come in a variety of sizes, so you can get a comfortable custom fit that’s great for wearing all day. They also provide noise isolation to help you hear your music or podcast over background noise–perfect for train commuters. The back of the earbuds are also magnetic so they stick together and prevent cord tangling in your bag or pocket. The built in mic with button let’s you easily control your music on the go. Pick your favorite color and you’re good to go.
Available Colors: blue, yellow, coral, satin gold, satin silver
1MORE Triple Driver Lightning Earbuds
If you’re looking for high quality audio and a sleek modern look, 1MORE has an excellent model for you. These are the first triple driver headphones made with a lightning connector. Each earbud features two balanced armatures and a titanium dynamic driver for realistic audio delivery of your favorite music. They’ve been fine-tuned by audio experts for high quality and the DAC delivers high-definition 24 bit, 48 kHz audio. Plus there’s no hiss in the silence and loud music has no distortion. The headphones also feature a 5-in-1 controller to make clear calls as wells as activate Siri, adjust volume, and control your music without taking out your phone.
While the price for these earbuds is more expensive, it also comes with a stitched leather traveling case, a shirt clip and 8 ear tips of various sizes so you get the perfect, most comfortable fit. If you’re a traveler, the airline adapter makes sure you don’t miss out on the in-flight movie. As some of the best in-ear headphones on the market, they’re worth the price if you want premium lightning earbuds that deliver superb quality.
Available Colors: Silver, Gold
Apple Lightning EarPods
No surprise, Apple’s Earpods are some of the best headphones for iPhone. They’re designed to seamlessly work with all Apple products. The lightning connector is built in and the EarPods also feature a remote control and microphone for hands free calling and audio control.
Even with the affordable price, these EarPods still deliver excellent sound quality for music, podcasts, video, and phone calls.
Available in white only. Compatible with iOS10 or later.
Best Cheap Earbuds: PALOVUE Earflow in-Ear Lightning Headphones
If you’re looking for a pair of cheap lightning headphones to use with your iPhone, check out the Earflow from Palovue. These Apple MDi certified lightning earphones work perfectly with any iPhone or iPad. They have a built in remote to easily control music, make calls, and even talk to Siri. While they don’t offer noise cancelling, the rubber ear tips are available in three sizes so you can get a snug fit that isolates noise for clear audio.
Other cool features include a silicon traveling case and an earphone clip. One feature I love is the magnetic earbuds, they automatically stick together, keeping them around your neck when they’re not in use. Priced affordably, the Earflows are an excellent alternative to the default Apple Earpods, with more color options.
Available Colors: Black, Silver, Red