The iPhone 13 Doesn’t Come With Headphones or a Charger – These Are the Ones You Should Get

Apple is removing these accessories for the first time ever, but our alternatives are a lot better

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

Popular on Rolling Stone

The Apple iPhone 13 is officially here. Apple has made significant changes to the iPhone in 2021 including reducing its notch, building in a far better display, updating it with new color options, and improving its camera system.

But, like the iPhone 12 before it, the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro will ship without a charging adapter or earbuds. Apple will include a Lightning to USB-C cable in the box, but that’s the only accessory that will ship with your new phone.

If you’re thinking about getting a new iPhone (or already picked one up) we’ve collected the best power adapter and headphones to get with it below. These accessories will also work with previous generations of the iPhone, so you can use them even if you’re not planning on upgrading.

What Is the Best iPhone 13 Charger?

Anker Nano II

Anker’s Nano II is the best power adapter to use with the iPhone 12. It has a maximum power output of 30W (watts), so it’ll charge your phone at its fastest possible speed. The power adapter outputs enough juice that you can also use it with the Nintendo Switch, iPad Pro, or even a 13-inch MacBook Air.

This power adapter is larger than the traditional 5W charger Apple has included with the iPhone, but it’s still small enough to fit in a pocket, purse, or backpack. Because of its power and size, Anker’s Nano II is the only power adapter we’re going to recommend if you’re getting the iPhone 13.

Trending

Anker Nano II
$23.99

What Are the Best iPhone 13 Headphones?

AirPods Pro

If you want to use earbuds with your iPhone 13 or 13 Pro, your best bet is to get a pair of AirPods Pro. Apple’s totally wireless earbuds are still the best ones we’ve tested so far. They get five hours of battery life per charge, and will automatically recharge each time you put them in their case.

They support Active Noise Cancellation, which means microphones built into the buds will automatically filter outside noise before it hits your ears. This feature allows you to listen to music at lower volumes, which can potentially save your hearing over time. The AirPods Pro will automatically connect to your iPhone using Apple’s W1 chip rather than standard Bluetooth, which will conserve battery and lower latency (lag) for a better experience.

These technical features are all impressive, but we’re primarily recommending the AirPods Pro because they sound great. They produce an impressive amount of bass for earbuds, but it doesn’t muddy the mid-range or treble. I’ve used a pair as my primary earbuds for several months, and never had a problem with them. Because it’s also made by Apple, expect pairing with your new iPhone 13 to be a breeze.

AirPods Pro

Klipsch T5 ANC II

If you want a pair of earbuds geared more toward audiophiles, we recommend Klipsch’s T5 II ANC.

We’ve tested the T5 II ANCs extensively, and have continually been impressed with how they sound. We haven’t found a song, podcast, or audiobook that’s sounded anything less than perfect. While we like the way they sound out of the box, you can play with their EQ to find your personal sweet spot using Klipsch’s mobile app.

The earbuds support active noise cancellation, which has been top notch in our experience. If you work in a loud environment, you won’t have to crank the volume up on your phone to block it out. Klipsch uses custom hardware and software to enable this feature, so you won’t get the same exact level of performance with any other headphones.

Klipsch isn’t forthright about how the T5 II ANCs’ battery life, but it’s been pretty solid in our experience. We’ve been able to listen to music or podcasts at medium volume for several hours without running out of juice. The earbuds will tell you their battery status when they’re paired to your iPhone, and you can check it at any time using Klipsch’s app. When the buds do need a top up, their battery case does the job quickly.

The iPhone is a premiumsmartphone, and it deserves to be paired with headphones that match its high bar of performance and aesthetics; The Klipsch T5 II ANCs are those headphones.

Klipsch T5 II ANC
$164.48

Bang & Olufsen HX

If you prefer using over-ear headphones with your iPhone, Bang & Olufsen’s HX are among the best-sounding pairs we’ve tested.

Bang & Olufsen’s Beoplay HX headphones were designed to be extremely comfortable, and the company succeeded (and then some) based on our testing. All over-ear headphones have a padded headband and earcups to maximize comfort, but B&O also considered the HX’s clamping force, which is how tightly they press against your head. If the clamping force is too high, you’ll get an ear ache after wearing them for a while; if the clamping force is too low, the headphones will fall off your head easily.

The HXs found the perfect middle ground, so we could listen to music far longer than we’d have been able to with the average pair of over-ear headphones. It doesn’t hurt that music, from Laura Nyro to Lorde sounds excellent when listening through them. B&O even managed to balance powerful active noise cancellation and all-day battery life with these headphones.

We typically recommend pairing your iPhone with earbuds because over-ear headphones are a pain to wear on-the-go, but the Bang & Olufsen’s HXs are an exception to that rule. You’ll never have to worry about them falling off your head if you’re in a rush, and they’ll provide far better noise cancelling and audio quality performance than earbuds.

If you’ve traditionally steered clear of over-ear headphones, Bang & Olufsen’s HXs may change your mind.

Bang & Olufsen HX
$596.08