In today’s day and age, very few people put their phones up to their face to make calls—whether they’re just using the built-in speaker or they have earbuds in. However, choosing the best Bluetooth earbuds for iPhone calls can be quite difficult with the metric ton of options that are out there. Also important, if you’re wondering why your Bluetooth earbuds don’t sound great for iPhone calls, we’ve got you covered.
To make the choice a little easier, we did some of the legwork for you, by doing hands-on testing and research for some of the best options out there. Our top pick may not be all that surprising, as the third-gen AirPods Pro 3 have strong software compatibility and Apple’s truly top-tier experience in the space. However, we’ll have something for everyone including the mid-tier Liberty 5s from Soundcore, the premium-designed Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 earbuds, and our Sony pick may just surprise you a bit!
Best overall call quality: Apple Airpods Pro 3
There’s just no getting around that the AirPods Pro 3 are some of the best earbuds for iPhone calls, and while their audio quality and noise cancelling are impressive in their own rights, this is an article about call quality. So what makes the AirPods Pro 3 great for calls? First, the Bluetooth 5.3 technology ensures stable connection so that you aren’t dropping calls or dealing with as much Bluetooth interference.
Apple has also loaded in dual beamforming microphones as well as an inward-facing microphone, which work in tandem to offer what Apple calls “studio-quality” sound recording. This translates to an impressively clear baseline for all your audio calls. When you combine that with Apple’s impressive H2 headphone chip that offers instant connectivity and a direct line into Apple’s audio processing on the iPhone, you’ve got a really compelling total package. Admittedly, the price tag is a little high, and the AirPods Pro have that specific hanging-stem design, which may not be great for everyone.
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Best for all-around sound quality: Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2
While this roundup is primarily focused on iPhone call quality, a pair of premium, flagship earbuds are quite the expense. Therefore, finding some that can offer everything you might want in an earbud is important. While the AirPods Pro 3 would still likely top the list, the sound quality and noise cancellation on offer with Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds Ultra 2 can still punch in the same weight class.
On display here is Bose’s impressive attention to design detail, with a premium build quality and multiple color options to match your personal look and aesthetic. Bose is notorious for making marketing promises without a clear description of how it works underneath for their products, but one of the main promises with their 2nd-gen earbuds is how solid the talk quality is. They don’t seem to offer multiple microphones like Apple, but their Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity and solid A2DP audio streaming make for an excellent connection. And of course, you know they’ll sound good with tons of noise cancellation and custom-designed drivers that offer a rich, Bose-like sound.
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Best budget pick with solid microphones: Sony WF-C510
If you’re looking to save a little money on your earbuds, but don’t want to sacrifice too much call quality, then look no further than the Sony WF-C510. It may surprise you that I’m not choosing the WF-X series from Sony here, but while the WF-1000XM5s are really great earbuds, they sit at a similar price point as my previous two picks. I actually really like the WF-C510s because for under $50 you get nearly everything you would want specifically for call quality.
First their sound tech also features a “Voice Focus” mode, so if you get a call, it’ll give you a clear line of hearing on the person’s voice on the other line. Then there’s the two-point connectivity that allows them to work between devices. There’s a single microphone, which is a far-cry from the multi-mic arrays on more expensive headphones, but Sony promises this mic is crystal clear with a focus on directional clarity. The Bluetooth chip in play here is also a dual connection between both headphones (rather than a conventional left-to-right relay, which ensures a stable connection to both earbuds). While the sound quality does leave something to be desired, there’s no active noise cancellation to speak of, and the build quality isn’t the most premium, I love the features on offer, and the push-button controls (refreshing in a sea of clunky touch controls) allow for a no-nonsense call experience.
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Best value: Soundcore Liberty 5
If you’ve been shopping in the Bluetooth earbud space recently, you know that Soundcore is a great way to find a pair of earbuds that offer flagship features without a flagship price. While our top two picks sit in the $200-300 range, you can snag a pair of Soundcore’s latest Liberty 5 earbuds for just around $130 (or even less if they’re on sale). And what do you get with this? A truly next-level iPhone calling experience.
First, there are 6 mics on-board that employ AI processing and customized HearID 4.0 tech to ensure crystal clear calling that’s tailored to the environment you’re in. There’s also Bluetooth 5.4, which is an upgrade by one minor version of the rest of the Bluetooth versions on this list. This amounts to clear audio but also solid connectivity.
So what are the trade-offs? Well you won’t get the premium H2 chip connectivity of the AirPods line, and Soundcore isn’t quite the premium brand name as Sony or Bose. I also don’t love the design of the Liberty 5s, as I prefer some of the smaller, less assuming options of previous Liberty earbuds. But I really can’t deny how truly capable these earphones are for iPhone calls.
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What to look for in earbuds for iPhone calls
If you’re having trouble with how your Bluetooth microphone sounds on your iPhone, consider checking out our primer on why you’re having issues. The key when looking for a pair of earbuds for iPhone calls is to consider both the software and hardware side of things. Make sure the earbuds you’re buying support recent Bluetooth connectivity with AAC and A2DP codecs and profiles. Also consider AirPods or Beats, as they offer H2 chip connectivity.
Then there’s the hardware. While the number of microphones isn’t a direct indication of quality, multiple microphones can ensure a clearer picture when you’re speaking on a phone. AirPods Pro 3, for example, employs three microphones, while the Liberty 5s from Soundcore offer 6. However, be sure that even if there’s only one microphone, it’s in a position that clearly points toward your mouth for directional clarity in noisy environments. Believe it or not, this physical position can really help to choose the right earbuds for your personal iPhone calling needs.
