Choosing headphones

Summary

Think what your aim is

This is the most important thought. Where are you going to use these audio devices? Outside? On the bus, or while walking or jogging? And what for? To answer the phone quietly in public places, or to listen to music, podcasts, or play games? These decisions make a big difference to what kind of device you may want

Choose the general type of ear/headphones

Over‐ear and on‐ear types are easier to use, but bulky and expensive. Wireless is less hassle to wear, but easy to loose and not as good value etc. See our guide

Pick a price point

Honestly, this is silly. You could pay between £6 and £500, and that’s before the luxury gear. If you like music, you probably know how much you’re willing/able to pay. But to start, wired earphones, £8–£20. Wireless earphones start at maybe £25—don’t expect much for that, but you may be happy enough. The wireless headphones you want will cost $200. On‐ear/over‐ear headphones start round £30–£60

Considerations

Wired headphones will work in Apple phones, but need an adaptor!

That’s the whole story. In 2016, in the iPhone 7, Apple removed the built‐in wired headphone adaptor. And they’ll never offer one again. No, you won’t ‘break’ your phone by plugging an adaptor in. Apple even make an adaptor for you. For an Apple phone, you need the ‘Lightening’ headphone adaptor. This site reviews the USB adaptor, intended for Apple iPads and similar.

I want to use the phone?

Fine, you need ear/headphones with a switch and microphone built‐in. For an Apple phone, it must be an Apple‐type switch. Apple devices are wired differently to everyone else. Many earphones, especially, are marketed with a version for Apple devices.

Any compatibility problems?

Not at less than a couple of hundred pounds. If it has wires, it will plug in the hole. If it is wireless, nowadays there should be some way of registering it with a device.

Is the extra money worth it?

You many get better sound. May get better facilities. This particularly applies to wireless head/earphones designed to work on mobile phones. They need extra gear—batteries, battery chargers, the wireless connection and touch controls. All this pushes the price up—good ones don’t start at less than £80.

But…

Read the page About Headphones.