We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-23 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
You want earbuds that just work with your iPhone and never need charging — that's the EarPods. If you want to block out the world on a flight and go wireless, the EarFun Wave Pro wins. For most people shopping the "headphones dx vs wave" question, the deciding factor is simple: do you want a wire or do you want silence? I'd pick the Wave Pro for anyone who commutes or travels, and the EarPods for anyone who lives on calls and hates charging.
• Headphones Dx — best if you want zero charging, a Lightning connection, and a mic that makes you sound clear on calls.
• Wave — best if you want active noise cancellation, wireless freedom, and long battery life for travel or noisy rooms.
This is the Apple EarPods with Lightning Connector. It's a wired in-ear earbud, so the whole appeal is that it does one job without asking anything of you. No pairing, no battery, no app. You plug it into the Lightning port and it plays.
The defining design choice here is the shape. Apple built the EarPods around the geometry of the ear rather than a plain circular bud, which in practice means they sit in more ears comfortably for longer stretches. That matters if you wear earbuds for hours of calls or podcasts. The audio side is a dynamic driver tuned to push output up and sound loss down, so vocals and speech come through cleanly.
The built-in remote is the part I actually care about most. You get volume, playback, and call controls right on the cord, plus a microphone that Apple says captures your voice for phone calls, FaceTime, and Siri. For anyone who takes a lot of calls, that's the real value.
The trade-off is obvious: it's wired, and it's Lightning-only. If your phone has USB-C or a headphone jack, this isn't for you. There's also no active noise cancellation — just sound isolation from the fit, which won't touch airplane drone or a busy café.
The EarFun Wave Pro is the opposite philosophy. It's a wireless over-ear Bluetooth headphone with active noise cancellation rated up to 45dB using EarFun's QuietSmart 2.0 tech and five ANC microphones. That's the headline: it actively fights the noise around you instead of just sealing it out.
Sound is handled by 40mm DLC composite dynamic drivers with LDAC and Hi-Res Audio support. EarFun claims LDAC transfers roughly three times more detail than standard Bluetooth. One caveat worth knowing up front: LDAC only works with Android devices and has to be switched on in the app. iPhone users won't get that benefit.
Battery is the other big story — up to 80 hours with ANC off, 55 hours with ANC on, and a 10-minute quick charge for 10 hours of playback. There's also a 3.5mm AUX cable in the box, so you can keep listening wired when charging isn't an option. Five mics with AI and ENC handle calls, and the app lets you tune EQ and controls.
The trade-offs are real. It's over-ear, so it's bulky compared to a pocketable earbud. Multipoint and LDAC can't run at the same time — enabling one turns off the other. And LDAC can cause playback interruptions if you stray past about two meters.
Space and portability. The EarPods win outright. They're tiny, light, and slip into a pocket. The Wave Pro is a full over-ear headphone with memory foam pads, rotating ear cups, and a foldable design plus a carrying case. It travels fine, but it takes up room.
Noise and focus. This is the Wave Pro's territory and it isn't close. Up to 45dB of active cancellation versus passive isolation. If you're on a plane, in an open office, or near traffic, the Wave Pro is the only one of these two doing anything about it.
Charging and upkeep. The EarPods never need a charge, which is genuinely freeing — you can't get caught with dead buds. The Wave Pro needs charging, but 80 hours is long enough that most people charge it roughly once a week, and the quick charge covers forgetful mornings.
Versatility. The Wave Pro does more: wireless, wired via AUX, multipoint between two devices, app EQ, touch controls, and call mics on both ears. The EarPods do less but do it instantly, with physical controls on the cord and no setup.
Calls. Both are built for voice. The EarPods have a single well-placed mic and simple cord controls. The Wave Pro throws five mics and AI noise reduction at the problem, which should hold up better in a noisy place. If you take calls in a quiet room, the EarPods are perfectly fine.
Cleanup and durability. The EarPods are plastic, white, and easy to wipe. The Wave Pro uses memory foam earpads that will eventually need replacing and are harder to keep fresh. Neither is a ruggedized product, so treat both with a little care.
For most people, I'd recommend the EarFun Wave Pro. If you want wireless freedom, real noise cancellation, and battery that lasts through a work week, it's the more capable product and the better fit for travel, commuting, and noisy environments.
The one case where the other type wins: if you're on an iPhone with a Lightning port and you want zero charging, zero pairing, and a reliable wired mic for calls, get the EarPods. No batteries means no dead-battery mornings.
The Apple EarPods with Lightning Connector (model MMTN2AM/A) is the wired pick. It's an in-ear design with a dynamic driver, a sensitivity of 94dB, and a built-in remote for volume, playback, and calls. The integrated microphone handles phone calls, FaceTime, and Siri.
Compatibility is the key spec to check: it works with devices that have a Lightning connector and support iOS 10 or later, including iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, plus iPad models running iPadOS. It's wired over Lightning only, with no wireless mode and no active noise cancellation — just sound isolation. It ships with a one-year limited warranty and weighs about 22.68 grams. In my opinion, this is the right pick if you want a no-fuss wired earbud and your phone still has a Lightning port.
The EarFun Wave Pro (model HP200) is the wireless pick. It's an over-ear Bluetooth headphone with 40mm DLC composite dynamic drivers, a 20Hz–40,000Hz frequency range, 32-ohm impedance, and 100dB sensitivity. It supports LDAC and Hi-Res Audio, though LDAC is Android-only and must be enabled in the app.
Noise cancellation runs up to 45dB via QuietSmart 2.0 and five mics. Battery life is up to 80 hours with ANC off and 55 hours with ANC on, with a 10-minute quick charge giving 10 hours. You also get multipoint connection, app-based EQ and touch controls, and a 3.5mm AUX input for wired listening. It comes with a carrying case and an 18-month warranty, and it weighs about 266 grams. Remember that LDAC and multipoint can't be enabled at the same time, and LDAC works best within about two meters. My recommendation: this is the pick if you want travel-grade noise cancellation and long battery life.
No. You can pair and use it without the app. The app is only needed if you want custom EQ, to switch noise-canceling modes, adjust touch controls, or enable LDAC.
No. These use a Lightning connector. They're built for devices with Lightning and iOS 10 or later. If you have USB-C or a headphone jack, look elsewhere.
Yes — that's one of its strongest use cases. Active noise cancellation up to 45dB and up to 55 hours with ANC on make it well suited to long flights.
Both handle calls. The EarPods use a single integrated mic with cord controls and work well in quiet settings. The Wave Pro uses five mics with AI and ENC noise reduction, which should perform better in noisy places.
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