Apple EarPods MWTY3AM/A/MMTN2AM/A Review
The Apple EarPods are the audio accessory you buy when you have no other choice. Our testing confirms the poor sound and mic quality. Here's who should avoid them.
The 30-Second Version
The Apple EarPods are a cheap, wired stopgap for iPhone users in a pinch. Sound and mic quality are bad. Only buy these if you've lost your real headphones and need a $20 fix that plugs directly into your phone.
Overview
Let's be real, the Apple EarPods with Lightning are a relic. They're the wired earbuds Apple still sells because they're cheap to make and someone, somewhere, still needs a pair that plugs directly into an iPhone. They're not trying to compete with modern wireless buds on sound or features.
They do the bare minimum. You get sound, a basic microphone for calls, and some water resistance. The design is more comfortable than old circular earbuds, but that's a very low bar. If you've lost your AirPods and need a $20 stopgap, these exist.
Performance
Performance is exactly what you'd expect for the price, which is to say, not great. Our data puts sound quality in the 36th percentile, so they're well below average. The bass is a bit deeper than the old free earbuds, but it's muddy. The mic scores a dismal 24.3/100 for calls, so people on the other end will know you're using cheap earbuds. The only decent score is for battery, but that's only because they don't have one—they're wired, so they get a free pass on that metric.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Dirt cheap and widely available. 69th
- No battery to charge, so they're always ready. 69th
- More comfortable fit than old Apple earbuds.
- Basic sweat and water resistance.
Cons
- Sound quality is poor and below average. 10th
- Microphone is terrible for phone calls. 13th
- Wired connection is a major inconvenience. 34th
- Build quality feels flimsy and cheap.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Design
| Form Factor | in-ear |
| Weight | 0.0 kg / 0.1 lbs |
Connectivity
| Wireless | No |
Microphone
| Microphone | Yes |
Features
| Water Resistance | Yes |
Value & Pricing
At $16 to $20, the value proposition is simple: they're the cheapest official audio accessory for your iPhone. You're not paying for quality, you're paying for convenience and compatibility. For the same money, you could get better-sounding wired earbuds from brands like Panasonic or Sony, but they won't have the Lightning plug. So the value is only there if you absolutely need a Lightning connector and have zero budget.
vs Competition
Stacked against the competition, it's not a fair fight. These are a decade-old wired design up against giants like the AirPods Pro or Sony WF-1000XM5. Even basic wireless buds from Anker sound better and offer more freedom. The only real comparison is to other ultra-budget wired earbuds. Against those, the EarPods win on brand recognition and Lightning compatibility, but lose on pure audio performance. If you're looking at this list, you're comparing a bicycle to sports cars.
| Spec | Apple EarPods MWTY3AM/A/MMTN2AM/A | JBL Vibe Beam JBL - Vibe Beam 2 Noise Cancelling Earbuds - 2025 | TOZO TOZO - Hybrid ANC Earbuds Wireless - OrigX | Soundcore Soundcore Soundcore - by Anker P30i True Wireless Noise | Sony Sony - WFC510 Truly Wireless Earbuds - Black | Anker Soundcore Soundcore P31i by Anker, Real-Time Adaptive Noise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | in-ear | in-ear | True Wireless | True Wireless | In-Ear | In-Ear |
| Driver Type | - | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Wireless | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | - | true | true | true | false | true |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 6.1 |
| Battery Life Hours | - | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 50 |
| Case Battery Hours | - | 30 | 40 | 45 | 11 | 50 |
| Water Resistance | Yes | Water-Resistant | Water-Resistant | Water-Resistant | Water-Resistant | Waterproof |
| Multipoint | - | true | - | - | true | - |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Anc | Mic | Build | Sound | Battery | Comfort | Connectivity | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple EarPods MWTY3AM/A/MMTN2AM/A | 34 | 64 | 36.8 | 42.8 | 69.2 | 69.2 | 12.8 | 10.2 |
| JBL Vibe Beam Vibe Beam 2 Noise Cancelling Earbuds 2025 Compare | 96.1 | 97.4 | 81.4 | 79.8 | 95.3 | 69.2 | 99.8 | 93 |
| TOZO Hybrid ANC Earbuds Wireless OrigX Acoustic 2.0 & Bass+ Boosts Compare | 99.7 | 87.8 | 81.4 | 87.3 | 97.4 | 93.2 | 94.1 | 99.6 |
| Soundcore Soundcore by Anker P30i True Wireless Noise Cancelling Compare | 96.1 | 87.8 | 81.4 | 89.8 | 95.3 | 69.2 | 89.7 | 98.4 |
| Sony WF-C510 True Wireless Compare | 34 | 23.9 | 81.4 | 89.5 | 89.7 | 93.2 | 99.4 | 93 |
| Anker Soundcore P31i by Compare | 98.7 | 23.9 | 81.4 | 96.3 | 100 | 69.2 | 89.7 | 93 |
Common Questions
Q: Do these work with Android phones or PCs?
No, the Lightning connector only works with Apple devices that have a Lightning port. You'd need a separate adapter for USB-C or USB-A ports.
Q: How is the noise cancellation?
There is no active noise cancellation (ANC). They're basic, passive earbuds that block very little outside noise, which is why they score so low in our ANC percentile.
Q: Are these the same as the old earbuds that came with iPhones?
They're an updated version with a slightly better shape and water resistance, but the core audio driver and performance are very similar to the old free ones.
Who Should Skip This
Skip these if you care about audio quality, take calls seriously, or want wireless freedom. If any of those apply, a $50 pair of basic wireless earbuds will be a life-changing upgrade. Also skip if you use Android or a modern iPhone with USB-C.
Verdict
Buy these only in a genuine emergency. If your good headphones broke, you're waiting for a new pair to arrive, and you need something to get you through a work call or podcast for a few days, fine. They're a disposable audio band-aid. For literally any other scenario—commuting, working out, enjoying music—spend a little more on literally anything else.