Apple In-Ear headphones
Starting at: $74.95
CNET Editors' Review
CNET Editors' Rating
- Reviewed by: Donald Bell
- Released on:
- Reviewed on:
- Updated on:
The good: The Apple In-Ear headphones offer great sound, stylish design, comfortable ear tips, a one-year warranty, a spare set of mesh caps, and an in-line microphone with an iPod remote control.
The bad: The all-white design will show wear over time, and owners of older iPods and iPhones will face compatibility issues with the integrated remote and microphone.
The bottom line: If you own a new iPod or iPhone 3GS, the Apple In-Ear headphones are a great value. Owners of older iPods and iPhones will have to decide whether the mic and remote compatibility issues are worth overlooking for the substantial boost in sound quality.
Editors note: The following review has been updated to reflect compatibility with the Apple iPhone 3GS.
If you've outgrown the fashion appeal of Apple's stock earbuds and you're ready to step up to a proper pair of headphones, Apple's $79 In-Ear headphones are a killer upgrade. They're not going to make everyone happy, however, as some of the features included with the headphones will not work with older iPod and iPhone models.
Out of the box, the Apple In-Ear headphones include a plastic carrying case with a cable wrap, three ... Expand full review
Editors note: The following review has been updated to reflect compatibility with the Apple iPhone 3GS.
If you've outgrown the fashion appeal of Apple's stock earbuds and you're ready to step up to a proper pair of headphones, Apple's $79 In-Ear headphones are a killer upgrade. They're not going to make everyone happy, however, as some of the features included with the headphones will not work with older iPod and iPhone models.
Out of the box, the Apple In-Ear headphones include a plastic carrying case with a cable wrap, three pairs of silicone ear tips (small, medium, and large) and a set of replacement mesh caps that come in handy when earwax inevitably builds up. The earpieces are very light, comfortable, and stylish, and the cable runs around 3.5 feet long.
Unlike Apple's standard-issue earbuds, which rest just outside the ear, the Apple In-Ear headphones are intended to fit literally in your ears, similar to wearing a pair of earplugs. The three pairs of interchangeable silicone ear tips included with the headphones ensure that the earpieces completely seal your ear canal, isolating you from ambient noise and delivering better sound quality at a lower volume. While the earplug-like sound isolation provides a quiet backdrop for music listening, we don't advise wearing them for a morning jog, or any activity requiring some awareness of your surroundings.
Because the ear tips are made from a white silicone, they will discolor more quickly than the black and gray ear tips we're used to seeing from brands like Shure and Etymotic. In fact, if you've ever used a pair of Apple earbuds, you know that the all-white cable and earpiece design also tends to show dirt sooner than later.
Compare to other headsets
Compare selected Donald Bell is CNET's senior editor for tablets and portable media players. He's also a musician, a hardware hacker, and a collector of vintage audio gadgetry. He appears every week on CNET's Crave video podcast. His band, Aloha Screwdriver, plays regularly around the Bay Area.
User Reviews
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Most Helpful User Review
stars 5 of 5 users found this review helpful
"Not worth it unless you plan to use motionless" By dbratsnyc
Pros Good sound
Cons You can hear every movement of the cheap rubbery cord - impossible to use while moving/jogging/etc. The pause/skip button clicks are very sensitive. Volume does not work with iPhone. Cord could be longer.
Summary Most annoying thing is the noise you get when the cord moves, I used to have Shure in ear headphones and they never had such a problem.
Most Recent User Reviews (Showing 2 of 51 reviews)
Specifications
See full specsQuick Specs
- Headphones Type: Headphones - Binaural
- Product type: Headset
- Design: In-ear ear-bud
