Anker SoundBuds Digital IE10 in-Ear Lightning Headphones with Sound Mode Adjustment - Earbuds with High Resolution Sound, MFi Certified, IPX5 Water Resistant and Built-in Mic for iPhone 7, iPad, iPod

I'm one of the few remaining people who still prefer wired headphones over wireless. While wireless headphones are great, I hate that I have to charge them and I also have had a poor experience on calls with wireless headphones.Not satisfied with Apple's free headphones as they fall out too easily and don't block out sound, I wanted to get Lightning headphones that don't cost a lot of money. After browsing Amazon, I came across Anker's digital IE10 earbuds and had to give them a try based on Anker's solid reputation as one of the best third-party accessory makers.SoundSince the Anker IE10 earbuds use the Lightning port they transmit sound over a digital connection versus analogue (also known as the 3.5mm audio jack which no longer exists in iPhones). This allows the iPhone to transfer music with power which provides a very clear sound signature. It enables the IE10 earbuds to offer 3 equalizer settings with a push of a button the side of the in-line remote (in one of the pics I took). There's a small LED light that shows which eq setting you're using: White is balanced sound, Light Blue is Clear Voice, and Navy Blue is Super Bass. Having those three settings in the in-line remote is crazy for headphones that cost only $20. Crazy in a good way since it enables users to listen to music the way they want. For people who love bass, you will love the Navy Blue settings because it is truly bass heavy. I'm a fan of the Light Blue setting most as it dials back the bass a bit, balances out the sound and brings vocals forward. I listen to a lot of top hits, country (can't get enough of Darius Rucker), and alternative these days.Overall each sound setting is unique in their own way and I think one of the three will satisfy almost everyone.Build and ValueI can't believe these earbuds from Anker only cost $20. Anker includes a nice zipper case to protect them, as well as S, M, and L silicone ear tips, standard memory foam tips and S, M, and L ear flanges. It's important to include all of these accessories since getting the right fit is key to eliminating background noise and maximizing sound performance from the earbuds.The earbuds, in line remote, Lightning connector, and Y-Split (where the wires split into left and right) are all made of metal. This creates a great looking product, but one that can also withstand some abuse too. The wire doesn't transfer too much microphonics (where you hear noise if the cable bounces or touches things), although you might hear some if you drag your fingers across the wires.The remote is large enough to use without fiddling around with the controls and it's not so big that it feels heavy.OverallI don't know how Anker made such great earbuds for $20, but it did. If you're looking for great sound on a little budget, look no further and just get the IE10 earbuds. They're really freaking good.I hope my review and images helped your decision process.

Design problem with volume for cellular (not VOIP) phone calls. The volume is ok for playing music but when going to a phone call, both the volume of the headphone output and also the microphone are extremely too low - you have to increase the volume to max or just 1 bar below maximum to have an operable phone call. I had purchased 4 pairs of these and they all exhibit the same problem on iPhone X, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone 7. It also doesn't matter which of the 3 EQ modes is used - the volume is simply too low to use. This is a known problem that you can see in other reviews and also on the Anker support site. There is an Anker Play app that might be able to update the firmware of the headphones, but my headphones all state that they are up to date.This is a design issue that Anker needs to fix! I do NOT recommend these if you need to make phone calls.

For $23.99, it is a good value for phone calls and podcasts. It simply works.The item comes with an unnecessarily large box and package. The ear hook is interesting but not very useful. The inline controller is heavy and large. The microphone is on the left channel which is a bit unconventional.The sound quality is .... you get what you paid for. The background noise is obvious. The bass is not very responsive and overwhelming. I don't use my iPhone for music anyways so I will give that a pass.Overall, I am satisfied with this product for what I need.Update 08/06/2017: There is a bug with this headphone. When you are using it to listen to music etc and it is interrupted by a incoming call, after you decline the call or return from the call to your misc, the headphone will jump to the loudest level regardless your volume setting. This sudden change of volume can be scary and hurts your ears.Update 11/16/2017: Taking another star off as the random volume issue when calling is getting annoying. I frequently have issue when I plug it in to make/take calls. Sometimes the volume of people from the other end is very low despite the phone is at full volume. Sometimes, people can't hear me. Occasionally, unplug and replug several times can fix it. But this is not how this thing should work.Update 11/20/17: Anker contact me saying the issue I experienced may due to the unit is faulty. Anker provided a refund since this item is currently out of order. I appreciate the gesture.