Apple EarPods with 3.5mm Headphone Plug ​​​​​​​(2024)

I've used a lot of earphones over the years, including the AirPods 3 and several well-known wireless brands, and I honestly keep coming back to these Apple EarPods whenever I know I'm going to be on an important phone call. The sound quality for music is very good, but the real reason I bought these is the microphone quality. In my experience, nothing I've tried has matched them for voice calls. Friends, family and colleagues consistently tell me my voice sounds clearer, more natural and less compressed compared to when I use wireless earbuds. Background noise is handled well, and my voice comes through with excellent clarity. Because they're wired, there's no Bluetooth compression, no battery to worry about, no charging case to carry around and no risk of the connection dropping in the middle of an important conversation. I simply plug them in and they work every time. Call quality – the biggest reason to buy them This is where these EarPods really stand out. I've compared them directly with: Apple AirPods 3 Several premium Bluetooth earbuds from other brands Budget wired earphones For voice calls, these are still my favourite. The inline microphone sits much closer to your mouth than microphones built into true wireless earbuds, and in real-world use that makes a noticeable difference. My voice sounds fuller, clearer and easier for people on the other end to understand. If you spend a lot of time on Teams meetings, Zoom calls, FaceTime, WhatsApp calls or regular phone calls, I genuinely think these outperform many wireless alternatives despite costing far less. Audio quality The sound signature is balanced and clean. Vocals are clear, dialogue is easy to understand and podcasts sound excellent. Music also sounds surprisingly good with decent bass considering they're open-ear earphones. Because they don't seal your ears like in-ear monitors, they're also more comfortable during long listening sessions. I can wear them for hours without the ear fatigue I often get from silicone ear tips. Comfort Apple has used this design for years for a reason—it simply fits my ears well. They're lightweight, don't create pressure inside the ear canal and remain comfortable during long work sessions. Of course, ear shape varies from person to person, but if Apple's EarPods have fitted you before, these feel just as comfortable. Build quality The cable feels durable, the strain relief around the connectors is solid and the inline controls have the premium feel you'd expect from Apple. The buttons provide a satisfying click, and adjusting volume or answering calls is quick without needing to reach for your phone. What I liked ✔ Outstanding microphone quality for phone and video calls ✔ Clear, natural voice reproduction ✔ Better call quality than many wireless earbuds I've used ✔ No batteries or charging required ✔ Stable wired connection with zero latency ✔ Comfortable for extended listening sessions ✔ Clear, balanced sound for music, podcasts and videos ✔ High-quality inline remote that's easy to use ✔ Excellent Apple build quality Things to know These are open-ear EarPods, not noise-isolating in-ear earphones. That means you can still hear some of your surroundings, which I actually prefer for everyday use, but they're not designed to block outside noise like AirPods Pro or other ANC earbuds. Final thoughts Technology has moved towards wireless audio, but after trying multiple premium earbuds—including the AirPods 3—I still find myself reaching for these whenever call quality matters. They simply deliver clearer conversations, require no charging, work instantly and remain incredibly comfortable. Sometimes newer doesn't mean better. Apple has refined this design over many years, and it still excels at the fundamentals. If your priority is crystal-clear voice calls with dependable wired reliability, these remain one of the best options available, regardless of price. I would buy them again without hesitation and highly recommend them to anyone who values microphone quality above everything else.

This is my 2nd pair that I use with my laptop for Microsoft Teams meetings. The first pair I got with my iPhone years ago and they finally started to fail a week or two back. They are really comfy and I can wear them for hours. Not too loud, clear audio and for less than £20, a bargain for their quality. If I had a small gripe, I would prefer the connecting lead to be an extra 10-15cm longer if possible - but that's a minor issue. Well recommended.

Good product, works well. Quality

These work well with my iPod classic. Volume and remote both function. Sound is pretty good for budget earphones. The packaging looked a bit dodgy for Apple - blurred printing on the box - but the headphones seem fine 👍

Volume control doesn’t work with an adapter but the sound quality is amazing and it barely leaks sound.

Perfect for a plane ride to avoid having to use the awful free ones. Not an audio expert, but they sounded as good as my AirPods, just with a cable. Managed two long haul flights with quite a bit of being bashed by tray tables ect., no bother. For the price? Excellent.

Generally avoid all things Apple, but a recommendation lead me here. Obviously not crazy studio quality, but great comfort despite the lack of rubber, and sound quality shockingly good for the price, really hard to believe they're £20.

Ideal product after the previous were chewed by my dog!

Excellent écouteurs J'en ai déjà acheté 2 paires et franchement pas déçu Très solide et avec un bon son Ils sont parfaits !

Leaks sound like crazy and the buttons for volume don’t work. Better to get originals from a real Apple store

Works really well and amazing, get one for yourself, you won't regret it.

Klasyczne słuchawki na kablu od Apple. Mikrofon na kablu, +/- głośność. Polecam. Apple kiedyś dodawał takie słuchawki do swoich iphonów.

Los compré para guitarra eléctrica y me encanta como suenan y lo cómodos que son.