I recently purchased a pair of the latest model of the Apple In-Ear Headphones released by Apple in December of 2008. I have been very happy with this $79 purchase. There are four things I like about these headphones: they are comfortable, very functional thanks to a remote, they sound great, and they come with a compact carrying case.
Comfort. First, they are very comfortable in my ears. The headphones that come with the iPhone are okay, but I often feel myself adjusting them because they don't feel completely right for my ears, plus they sometimes fall out. Thus, for a long time now (with both my iPhone and my iPod) I have used the previous model of Apple's in-ear headphones. The soft rubbery earpieces always felt much better in my ears. I find this new version of the Apple In-Ear Headphones is even more comfortable. Like the previous model, these come with three different sized earpieces. This time, the spares are housed inside of an interesting tiny tube. I used the largest set with the prior model of the in-ear headphones, but with this latest model I prefer the feel of the middle-sized set. I can wear these for hours and my ears feel great, while the ones that came with my iPhone 3G hurt my ears if I use them for too long.
Remote and Microphone. Second, the new Apple In-Ear Headphones are very functional. Even though the headphones that came with my iPhone 3G were not as comfortable, I still frequently used them because they include a microphone and thus can be used to make calls. Also, I like the button that allows you to play / pause / FF / RW. These new Apple In-Ear Headphones have the best of both worlds -- the comfort of in-ear headphones, plus the functionality of a microphone and remote.
Note that there is one feature in these headphones that does not work with the iPhone 3G, at least not right now. The remote on the headphones has + and - buttons that are supposed to let you change the volume. That feature works with the newest iPods, but is not supported on the iPhone 3G. I don't know if that is a software issue that can be fixed in an update or a hardware issue that will not be fixed until a new model of the iPhone is released. It would be nice to have the ability to use the remote to change the volume, but I don't consider this a big deal. I can always reach down to the iPhone and change the volume using the buttons on the side -- something I can do without even looking at the iPhone. What I really appreciate is the ability to play / pause / FF / RW using physical buttons without having to take out my iPhone 3G, turn on the screen, actually look at the screen to find the virtual iPhone controls, and then tap the correct button on the screen. And the placement of the remote right on the cord is very convenient.
As a reminder of how the remote works, click once to start playing the iPod app (or if it is already playing to pause). Click twice to skip forward to the next track. Click three times to skip back to the beginning of the current track (or if you are near the beginning, to skip to the prior track). If your phone rings, click the remote to answer and click again to hang up. Note that the remote will not control apps other than the iPod or Phone. For example, if you are using your headphones while watching a YouTube video, you might instinctively click the remote to pause the video ... but that won't work. Instead, it will exit the YouTube app and start playing the iPod app.
Sound Quality. Third, these headphones sound great. I should disclose that while I like to listen to music, I am not an audiophile. I know that there are a lot of people out there who swear by their headphones from companies like Shure, Sennheiser, Etymotic, etc. that cost $300, $500 or more. I'm sure those sound wonderful, but my ears are not sophisticated enough to really appreciate the difference in price. I want something that sounds great but costs under $100. Apple points out that these headphones actually contain two drivers -- a woofer to handle base and mid-range sounds and a tweeter for high-frequency audio, something that you rarely see in headphones that cost less than $100. Perhaps that is why they sound so good to me.
iLounge posted a very comprehensive review of these headphones last December. The iLounge reviewer doesn't like the sound as much as I do because he wants more bass out of a pair of headphones. For the type of music I listen to, I think the bass sounds just fine. I still encourage you to look at the iLounge review, if for no other reason because they have some awesome close up pictures that really show you every detail of the headphones. But keep in mind that other reviewers, like me, really like the sound. For example, Ryan Block (former Editor in Chief of Engadget, now of gdgt) said "they sounded really good — way out of their price range. Having two drivers makes a big difference."
Compact Carrying Case. Fourth, I love the carrying case. The large and boxy case that came with the former version of the in-ear headphones was nice to have but felt too large in my pocket. This new case is much smaller and more compact and I don't hesitate to toss it in a pocket. Sometimes it is a little difficult to get the headphones to fit just right in the case so that you can close the plastic cover -- it is a snug fit -- but I consider this an acceptable tradeoff to have a very tiny case.
Finding the right headphone or earphone is a very personal decision. We all have different ear shapes and are impressed by different tonal qualities. Thus, it comes as no surprise that many reviewers really like these headphones while others hate them. Nevertheless, if you are looking to get something better than the headphones that came with your iPhone or iPhone 3G, want to keep the functional remote and microphone, and don't want to spend a fortune, I encourage you to consider these. Upgrading your headphones is a good investment that will help you enjoy your iPhone even more.
Click here for the Amazon page for the Apple In-ear Headphones with Remote & Mic
UPDATE on 2/18/09: Alex Watson of Bit-Tech has a review of six replacement headphones for the iPhone, including the Apple ones I review here. Alex doesn't like the bass on the Apple headphones, but the other headphones he reviews either don't have a microphone and remote or have them but they seem to me to be less functional then what Apple gives you -- plus they are much more expensive. I respectfully disagree with parts of of Alex's review; for example, he considers the remote too small to be functional, but it works great for me and I consider it a plus that the remote is small and unobtrusive. Nevertheless, I still recommend that you read his review to get a different perspective before you decide what to buy.
