Apple EarPods with Lightning Connector (MWTY3AM/A)
Comfortable Lightning earbuds with a good call mic, held back by weak bass and a fragile cable.
We bought iDARS Lightning Headphone Earbud, Apple MFi Certified In-Ear Wired Headset with Mic (Red). It's no longer documented anywhere, so this page reviews the closest well-covered match. Apple's own Lightning earbuds are the best documented wired earbuds with a Lightning plug, mic and remote, the same kind of product at a similar price.
The short version
- Owners of a Lightning iPhone or iPad who want wired earbuds for calls
- People who dislike in ear silicone tips
- Anyone who wants a spare pair that never needs charging
- Your phone or tablet has a USB-C port
- You want strong bass or noise isolation
- You want earbuds that stay put while running
What owners like
- Clear call quality from the inline mic
- Comfortable for long sessions since nothing pushes into the ear canal
- Reliable three button remote
- Low cost and nothing to charge
Common complaints
- Loose bass, recessed mids and rolled off treble
- Let in outside noise, so listeners turn the volume up
- Can shift or fall out during workouts
- Cable joins at the plug and earpieces feel fragile
- Lightning plug limits them to older iPhones and iPads
Based on A hands on review at Expert Reviews, a SoundGuys assessment of the EarPods design, the Wikipedia summary of critical reception and a retailer spec sheet..
Research scores
Scored from the maker's specs and what owners report. Drew's own notes and photos will refine these.
Ownership
Drew's hands-on notes for this product are on the way. Long-term updates will be added to this timeline.
What it does
Apple's wired open fit earbuds with a Lightning plug, inline remote and microphone; reviewed here in place of the iDARS Lightning earbuds it resembles.
- Plugs straight into a Lightning port, so no pairing or charging
- Inline remote handles volume, playback and calls
- Built in microphone for calls
- Contoured shell rests in the outer ear rather than sealing the canal
- Apple markets them as having added protection from sweat and water
A low cost, simple choice for anyone with a Lightning iPhone or iPad who wants wired earbuds with a dependable call mic and nothing to charge. The trade-offs are soft bass, almost no noise isolation, a loose fit during exercise and a cable that reviewers describe as fragile near the ends.
How it compares
Specs
- Connector
- Lightning, with a digital to analog converter built in
- Type
- Wired, open fit earbuds with no silicone tips
- Controls
- Inline remote for volume, playback and answering or ending calls
- Microphone
- Built in, on the remote
- Compatibility
- Apple devices with a Lightning port running iOS 10 or later
- Model numbers
- MWTY3AM/A, earlier MMTN2AM/A
- Warranty
- 1 year, per retailer listing
Worth knowing
- Requires a Lightning device running iOS 10 or later.
Questions
Do Lightning EarPods work with iPhone 15 or later?
Not directly. iPhone 15 and later use USB-C, so the USB-C EarPods are the matching version.
Do Lightning EarPods work with Android phones?
No. They need an Apple device with a Lightning port running iOS 10 or later.
Are EarPods good for calls?
Expert Reviews rated the inline mic's call quality highly.
Do EarPods block outside noise?
Very little. They sit in the outer ear and do not seal the canal.
Are EarPods waterproof?
Apple markets added sweat and water protection, but SoundGuys notes there is no formal ingress protection rating.
Sources
- Abt: Apple EarPods with Lightning Connector in White, MWTY3AM/A
- Expert Reviews: Apple EarPods review
- SoundGuys: Are Apple EarPods the best wired earbuds for most people in 2026?
- Wikipedia: EarPods
Researched 2026-10-02. We bought this product; our page is built from the maker's details and what owners report across reviews and forums. We never copy Amazon customer reviews.
