Key Takeaways
- Wired headphones have made a comeback for lossless audio, but Bluetooth introduces latency and OS-specific issues.
- Apple’s iPhones struggle with Bluetooth audio quality when compared to Android’s support for Hi-Res codecs.
- Despite the Bluetooth issues, Apple may address issues matching Android’s audio performance with the iPhone 16.
Considering the speed at which audio technology is advancing, one can conjure up a dramatic scenario in which the cable is ripped from its power source, leaving an invisible Bluetooth signal floating in the air. In reality, Bluetooth has changed the way we enjoy audio entertainment, but it has also introduced new problems that most consumers are unaware of: OS-specific latency and connection issues due to different levels of codec decoding.
Wired headphones are making a comeback, but what is lossless audio?
Wired earphones are becoming popular again, ushering in lossless audio, which brings CD-like quality to the streaming age.
For example, if you’re using the new Sonos Ace Bluetooth headphones with your smartphone, a codec is the compression and decompression process used to deliver data from your smartphone to the headphones. Different codecs provide different levels of compression and latency, and different operating systems, such as Android and iOS, use different codecs.
But we’ve already embraced Bluetooth over wired connections (which provide the highest level of audio quality), and therefore we’ve accepted the increased latency, so why bother with the additional degradation? Because we want the best of both worlds: listening to the highest quality audio possible without the hassle of cables.
Bluetooth Battle: iOS vs. Android
My mom always used to say “honesty is best” or “close the door, there’s an air conditioner on outside!” but the former makes a lot more sense today. I’m not necessarily an audiophile if I can tell the difference between a wired and wireless connection when playing the same music file over Bluetooth (regardless of compression rate). But it’s a lot easier to tell the difference, especially when comparing lossless (FLAC) to something like MP3 or AAC.
But let’s be honest: it’s really hard to tell the difference between audio quality on Android and iOS. I’m not sitting in an ivory tower of subwoofers shouting grandiose precepts about audio purity. But there is a big difference in Bluetooth quality between the two operating systems, and not noticing it doesn’t make you a lesser audio user.
iOS phones cannot decode any Hi-Res codecs other than their own AAC codec.
Here’s the problem: iOS phones can’t decode any Hi-Res codecs other than Apple’s staple AAC codec, which gives you sound resolution on par with that of a CD, which is technically Hi-Res but obviously lower-resolution. Android phones, on the other hand, can handle any Hi-Res codec, so lossless music from streaming services like Tidal or Qobuz will sound better on Bluetooth headphones connected to your Android device.
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CDs are a versatile option that sits somewhere between physical and digital media.
Apple has its own lossless format (ALAC), but switches to AAC over Bluetooth. This means that aside from regular wireless audio fidelity, Android does a much better job at compressing and delivering lossless hi-res audio. TechRadar has a great analysis of what hi-res quality means and how well the human brain can actually perceive it. The bottom line is that we either care or we don’t, but if we do care, hi-res is always better.
iPhone/Pocket-lint
iPhone 15 Bluetooth disaster
Android’s ability to handle high-resolution audio files already makes it the best choice for listening to music on the latest Bluetooth headphones, but the iPhone’s relationship with Bluetooth has been sour.
According to a 42-page response to what appear to be community-wide complaints about Bluetooth and the iPhone 15 on Apple’s discussion forums, the iPhone doesn’t seem to play nicely with Bluetooth.
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So even though the iPhone 15 has Bluetooth, you won’t get the highest quality audio.
From random disconnects to lag issues to issues that don’t work at all, Apple messed something up. This will likely be fixed in a future iOS update, but it’s there anyway. Imperfections in smartphone technology are so commonly accepted that you might not even notice them. So even though the iPhone 15 has Bluetooth, you won’t get the best quality audio.
How to Get the Best Quality Audio with iPhone and Bluetooth
If you live within the Apple ecosystem, the answer is obvious: a dongle. Yes, if you want the best quality audio from your iPhone, you need a digital to analog converter. This is just one of the variables to resolve. Plus there’s network quality, Bluetooth interference, the quality of the streaming platform, and more.
That’s not to say Android is perfect, but if you’re not up for listening to everything on a high-quality audio receiver playing FLAC files via a wired headphone connection, it’s a step up from the iPhone.
With all this, how can you trust what you’re putting into your ears? Lossless, Bluetooth, compression rates, different operating systems, it’s all a mess.
Just listen to the song
Just because Android can handle high-res audio files a little better than the iPhone, does that mean you need to switch operating systems to become a premium audiophile worthy of appearing on the cover of Sterophole magazine? Not at all. It’s merely a notable technical issue, and doesn’t force you to move from one OS to another.
Plus, if you’ve met as many iPhone users as I have, you know no one would switch iPhones just because of a questionable Bluetooth connection, but there’s no denying the benefit of having a spare Android phone on hand for those times when you want to get the most out of your Bluetooth headphones.
It’s entirely possible that Apple could make the necessary changes if enough consumers realize that audio performance over Bluetooth is middling. I mean, there was a time when it was unthinkable that the iPhone would have USB-C, but now it’s a reality.
The next iPhone could provide a permanent solution to Bluetooth woes, whether it’s connectivity issues or dealing with high-res compression. If enough consumers realize that audio performance over Bluetooth is middling, it’s entirely possible that Apple will make the necessary changes. I mean, there was a time when it was unthinkable to see an iPhone with USB-C, but now it’s here.
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It’s taken time, but Apple is finally listening to its users. Bluetooth audio is slightly better on Android phones, which is not a surprising finding, but it does exist. It’s a problem that exists, and this will probably be the last time we consider it a problem, because the iPhone 16 handles the Hi-Red codec well.
