The $79.99 In-Ear Headphones that Apple announced at the Let’s Rock Event back in September are finally available (two months late) at the online Apple Store, with a shipping time of “7 to 10 Business Days.” They feature dual drivers, a volume rocker/track control button on the cord, as well as a microphone. Strangely, however, they do not appear to work with the iPhone!
The compatibility segment of the store page (pictured) has a shocking lack of iPhone. A quick (half hour) call to Apple confirms that they are not compatible with the iPhone (though, that is NOT confirmation that they won’t work–only that nothing in the documentation mentions iPhone compatibility) and that the inclusion of the microphone is intended for voice memo apps that are available for the supported iPod types.
What’s the deal here, Apple? Are voice memo apps so popular that you need to integrate support for it into your hardware? Are these voice memo apps more popular than your biggest selling product, the iPhone? Most importantly, is there something in particular that keeps these headphones from working with the iPhone that could not possibly have been resolved?
My guess? I think they’ll work just fine on the iPhone, except for the volume rocker, which is the only integration feature of these headphones that isn’t on the ones that come bundled with the iPhone. There is probably just no way to control iPhone volume via the headphone jack.
If any of you happen to be planning on purchasing this for an iPod and also have an iPhone you can try them out on, let us know how it goes.
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December 2nd, 2008 at 7:12 pm
I just purchased these. I only have an iPhone. I will let you know if they work.
December 2nd, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Great, thanks!
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:51 am
Hi, I would like to use these new in ear headphones also on my iPhone 3G. I have had a lot of phone calls to Apple store, too. All answers the same: We don’t have any more informations than what is on Apple’s website. Audio will work. But no confirmed support for Mic or volume rocker/track control button.
What’s that Apple? YOU like to be called a premium brand!? Go on like this an Nokia N97 will rock you in a minute
I am really disappointed.
December 3rd, 2008 at 8:08 am
Sorry, it’s me again. I have found some very interesting information on Apple’s support website:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3310
“Compatibility of wired headset models with iPod and iPhone models”
Summary
Functionality of wired headsets can vary between iPod and iPhone models. All headsets work for audio playback, but some headsets have features such as a mic or switches to control iPod functions which work only on later iPod and iPhone models.
Products Affected
iPhone Accessories, iPod Accessories, iPhone, iPod
=> Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic
=> for iPhone and iPhone 3G
=> Mic and Center button supported; volume (+/-) buttons are not supported
Well. Maybe with a new Softwareupdate (e.g. Version 2.3) iPhone and iPhone 3G will be able to interpret commands from volume (+/-) buttons…
Hey Apple! Work on this!
December 15th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Just received my in-ear headphones today. I can confirm they “work” with an iPhone 3G as well as the included ear buds do. The volume control does not work.
December 16th, 2008 at 8:32 am
Thanks, Doug. Pretty much what I thought. It’s not much of an issue to me, because I find it pretty easy to use the rocker on the phone, even when it’s in my pocket but how do you like them so far?
I’ll be doing reviews of some different options for people looking for a high-end audio solution, so stay tuned!
January 9th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
I purchased them about a week ago, and enjoy them. While the volume controls don’t work on my iPhone, they DO work on my unibody Macbook Pro.
January 15th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
I just recieved my headphones in the mail today and to my disappointment I learned the volume doesn’t work. This seems kind of silly. Apple better fix this issue with the the software update.
March 21st, 2009 at 2:42 pm
I bought the headphones at the apple store about a month ago… i tried them and they work fine, except for the volume… the mic works, the play/pause next and previous button works too. Also they sound great. I talked to a represenative at the apple store and he said that a patch in the 3.0 OS might give you the volume control.
March 22nd, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Nick: This is the first good news I’ve heard from anybody on the issue, so thanks
I hope 3.0 does the job, too. I just picked mine up from Futureshop and though I was dumb enough not to pay attention to what it said on the box, the guy said they would work, and obviously they don’t. At least, if you think about it, they’re basically the same functionality as the stock pair, only better. Anywho, the whole thing’s redonculous, if you ask me.
March 31st, 2009 at 1:11 pm
We really liked your blog and this info on the ad-supported model…we believe in it enough to have just pushed out BETA 2 of our site!
Sincerely,
The Songnumbers Team
August 14th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
have a strange problem here: the in-ear worked perfectly fine on my 3G for me. Sound, Mic, Volume Control, Start/Stop
After upgrading to Firmware 3.0.1 suddenly the functions of the remote stopped working. Only Sound is working today
August 15th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
just got the in-ear headphone for my 3G iphone! sounds good, mic works, start/stop works but volume control DO NOT… this is so Apple’ish.. sigh…I have the v3.0.1 OS. I don’t think they will fix this in the firmware
They would like u to get the 3GS! ha!
August 18th, 2009 at 5:51 am
The In-Ear Headphones work for music listening with iPhone and iPhone 3G, but nothing else works; e.g. the microphone and remote/volume control. I didn’t read the compatibility fine print before I ordered, so I need to unplug the headphones to take calls now. Very annoying.
I ordered the headphones after I upgraded to v3.0, so I can’t say confirm Alexander Benker’s experience that they worked before the upgrade. If they did and this is only a software issue, it’s impossible to understand why they would removed the support.
August 22nd, 2009 at 6:30 am
Nice blog adding this to my twitter now