Now that the iPhone has a USB-C port, Apple is selling wired EarPods with a USB-C connector that can be used with new smartphones and, thankfully, a number of Apple devices.
according to Apple’s USB-C EarPods page, works with iPhone, iPad, and Mac with a USB-C port. However, you must use a recent operating system to be compatible with updated headphones. in particular:
Mac models with USB-C running macOS Monterey 12.6 or later.
iPad models with USB-C running iPadOS 16.4 or later.
iPhone models with USB-C running iOS 17 or later.
Although the software limitations are a bit annoying, I’m very happy that Apple has finally released a USB-C version of the EarPods. When I need to make good-sounding calls on my iPhone, I connect my Lightning EarPods because they sound much better than my wireless AirPods. Hear the superior EarPods microphone quality. This video of Becca Farsace.
However, for most of my Mac calls, I rely on cheap wired headphones that plug into the MacBook Air’s 3.5mm headphone jack, and the microphone performance is pretty terrible. I want to use Lightning EarPods, and well, they have Lightning in them. And yes, you could get his EarPods with a 3.5mm connector (or any other decent headphones with his 3.5mm connector), but in a situation that probably only applies to me, the laptop’s his 3.5mm Jack is very inconvenient to access. Determined based on where your computer is on your desk.
All I’m saying is that I’m probably going to spend $20 at the Apple Store and buy some USB-C EarPods so I can get better sound on those important calls at work. And when I eventually upgrade to an iPhone with a USB-C port, I’m looking forward to using my headphones there as well. I wish the EarPods were still in the box.