If you’re planning on getting the iPhone 7 and your current crop of headphones and earbuds are strictly the wired kind, you may need some assistance. Apple’s upcoming flagship smartphone has dropped the conventional 3.5mm headphone jack found on virtually every audio device on the market. Instead, new iPhone-compatible headphones will take one of two primary approaches: connect physically, via Apple’s proprietary Lightning port, or pair wirelessly, most likely via Bluetooth.
But just because the iPhone 7 doesn’t have an analog audio jack doesn’t mean you’ll have to sacrifice your Sennheisers. There will be a 3.5mm to Lightning adaptor bundled with every iPhone 7, but there’s also another wireless solution for your wired cans: a Bluetooth adapter. If you’re intrigued by the possibility of a bit of space between you and your phone, Bluetooth adaptors are a great solution. They confer not only freedom of movement, of course, but they also offer features like a playback controls and even mics on board for taking calls.
Below, we’ve rounded up some of the top choices in the burgeoning world of Bluetooth headphone adapters.
(Note: Audio quality is greatly reduced with Bluetooth connection. Also be aware that the cheaper you go, the more apparent the resolution issue will likely be.)
Anker, the folks behind reliable lines of USB chargers, smartphone cases, and cables make a pretty impressive Bluetooth adapter, too. The company’s 2-in-1 Bluetooth adapter is compact, sports an attractive two-tone matte-and-gloss metal finish, and packs an illuminated power button. Along with receiving audio from your phone wirelessly to send to your wired headphones, the Anker can also go the other way, transmitting audio to a Bluetooth device from a plugged-in source. That allows you to stream audio from your wired-in phone and send it to a Bluetooth speaker or pair of wireless headphones. Users should note, however, that the Anker has significant lag if you try to send wired sound from your TV or computer. Battery life for the Anker is estimated at 11 hours per charge in transmitter mode and six hours in receiver mode, thanks in part to a power-saving feature that automatically switches it to standby when compatible devices are out of range.
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