Best headphones for iPhone owners: Think outside the (AirPods) box

Read our full review of the AirPods Pro.

We know we're supposed to be giving you other options, but the truth is that iPhone owners will simply want these. Lucky for them, they're an excellent choice. (They're just not the only choice. But more on that later.)

Apple's AirPods were good the first time around but their updated iteration — the AirPods Pro — are even better. Much of that is thanks to their impressive noise cancellation, which we raved about earlier this year. They're far from the cheapest set of truly wireless earbuds, but if you travel often, you want to enjoy comfort and great levels of noise cancellation at the same time. The Apple AirPods Pro provides both of these important factors while looking pretty stylish. They also include useful gestures and take seconds to set up on your iPhone. Apple creating an ear tip test exclusively for these is an inspired choice in the path to comfy earbuds. Take advantage of a rare 20% off their retail price for Black Friday here(opens in a new tab).

More from Senior Tech Reporter Karissa Bell:

"The things that make AirPods so popular — their size and simplicity for iPhone owners — have proven almost impossible to match. Not to mention, no other company has the full power of Apple's branding machine behind it, which has helped transform the buds into a veritable

"The things that make AirPods so popular — their size and simplicity for iPhone owners — have proven almost impossible to match. Not to mention, no other company has the full power of Apple's branding machine behind it, which has helped transform the buds into a veritable

"The things that make AirPods so popular — their size and simplicity for iPhone owners — have proven almost impossible to match. Not to mention, no other company has the full power of Apple's branding machine behind it, which has helped transform the buds into a veritable

status symbol

"The things that make AirPods so popular — their size and simplicity for iPhone owners — have proven almost impossible to match. Not to mention, no other company has the full power of Apple's branding machine behind it, which has helped transform the buds into a veritable

status symbol

."

Read our full review of the AirPods.

If you're new to wireless earbuds, AirPods are a no-brainer and 100 percent worth it. Hands-down, they are the best wireless earbuds to get if you use an Apple device. The regular charging case for AirPods 2 is  identical to the dental floss-shaped AirPods 1 case: Same materials, same LED on the inside, same pairing button on the backside, and same Lightning charging port on the bottom. Upgrades come in the form of the new and improved H1 chip ("H" stands for headphones), which enables things like faster switching between Apple devices while listening to music, lower audio latency for some games where the graphics and audio would be out of sync on AirPods 1, hands-free "Hey Siri" voice controls, and an extra hour of talk time. With all these upgrades, it's a bummer to discover  that sound quality and battery life isn't much better than the first generation, though they're still a solid buy.

Editor's note: Product information has been synthesized from a review previously published on Mashable.

More from Senior Tech Correspondent Raymond Wong:

"Despite the new chip, sound quality on AirPods 2 is virtually unchanged from AirPods 1 and sound as good as EarPods, but not as good as other wireless earbuds that produce deeper bass and clearer mids and highs."

Read our full review of the Beats Solo Pro.

At work, you want to be able to effortlessly switch on active noise cancellation when you're in the zone and need to block out your co-workers, and then easily switch it off when you need to tune in. The Beats Solo Pro(opens in a new tab) headphones do a great job with both modes, and the sound quality is just as high too. We've found them to be a bit of a snug fit and there's no cable bundled in so they're best for wireless users, but for when you need to be able to switch back and forth between your music and your co-workers, there's little better out there. 

More from Senior Tech Reporter Karissa Bell:

"Definitely try before you buy. But if you're a Beats fan looking to upgrade, the addition of noise cancellation alone could make the upgrade worth it. Just make sure you like the way they fit."

On your commute, the last thing you want to hear is the distracting sounds of others or the noise of subway trains. The Bose QuietComfort 20(opens in a new tab) headphones are the best active noise cancelling headphones out there for blocking out those unwanted sounds. iPhone owners need to make sure they buy the dedicated iOS variety, and newer iPhone owners will require a dongle as these aren't wireless, but they're near unbeatable when it comes to noise cancellation while remaining comfortable and providing great sound quality. They're small enough to toss into your bag or jacket once you make it to work, too.

Regularly run and want a device that lets you listen to music while also tracking your route at the same time? The Jabra Elite Active 65t headphones are made for you. With a built-in accelerometer, you can use these to track your run via the supporting app. More importantly though, these truly wireless earbuds are a perfectly snug fit. There's no risk of them falling out of your ears as you run and they're pretty durable too. Sound quality is great no matter what you're listening to, with a form of noise cancelling available that makes crossing roads safer and simpler. 

When working out, truly wireless earbuds can feel a little too easy to knock out. The Bose SoundSport Wireless earbuds(opens in a new tab) offer the best of both worlds. They have a wire between the two earbuds but are wireless otherwise — no need to be tethered to your iPhone. The earbuds sound great too, thanks to Bose offering consistently great audio with all its products. These earbuds are particularly great for helping you focus on your routine while tuning out surrounding sounds. You can also sync them up with workout apps to further track your exercise, and there's a built-in mic for taking calls mid rep. 

Whether you're listening to music in a room full of people or you're at home and want some privacy, the Sony WH-H900N(opens in a new tab) are the best headphones for absorbing the music and relaxing. For pure sound quality, they offer a great benefit in the form of being able to upscale compressed audio files on the fly, as well as cancel out surrounding sound when you want them to. The accompanying app is also great for tweaking the sounds and creating a totally personalized experience. They're a little bulky for activities like working out, so we wouldn't recommend them for that, but if you're commuting or simply chilling out, they can't be beat.

Many headphones and earphones can become uncomfortable after extended periods of time using them. The Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2(opens in a new tab) buck that trend by being immensely comfortable to wear, no matter how long you're listening. While they're not the newest of headphones out there, their sound quality is still great for the price and they offer active noise cancellation to further improve what you're listening to. There's an option for listening to them via wires but you're best off using the wireless mode here when connecting them to an iPhone, given many iPhones now lack standard headphone jacks. Whatever the method, the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 sound great while cushioning your ears.