AirPods volume are louder on Apple Watch than iPhone

Question

Level 1

4 points

AirPods volume are louder on Apple Watch than iPhone

I have noticed that for some reason that when I connect any AirPods to the Bluetooth on an Apple Watch, it is so much louder than connecting them to an iPhone. I have also noticed that this applies for some reason when you use anything but an iPhone for Bluetooth; it almost feels like they use a lesser bluetooth chip in the iphone than other products or there something in the code of IOS that reduce the audio of AirPods I don't know. If this is true, it feels like the iPhone OS might be the problem. I have noticed no matter if it was my iPhone 12, 14 Pro Max, or 16 Pro Max, they all seem to only deliver half the sound profile compared to other Apple devices, and it kind of sucks because AirPods and iPhones are built for each other. I don't know if anyone else has noticed this before, but I just wanted to see how many other people seem to think the same.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: AirPods audio volume

iPhone 16 Pro Max, iOS 26

Posted on Dec 3, 2025 7:14 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Ingo2711

Level 10

80,025 points

Dec 3, 2025 7:48 AM in response to j524h

Which AirPods are you using? Just testet my AirPodsPro 2 with my iPhone 12mini and compared it to the Ultra 2.

Same volume, the song sounded even a bit better on the iPhone, the title has not been downloaded onto the watch.

Reply

Answer 2

j524h Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 3, 2025 9:01 AM in response to Ingo2711

I have noticed it on both my pro 2 and 3 I have a Apple Watch 10 and I used to have a 8 and it was the same with the difference in the sound the only thing I found is that apple make the Bluetooth chips on Apple Watch in house and the watch might have a better chip then most things because apple design team has optimized there chips for there devices. That the only thing I can think that causes it to sound so much better on Apple Watch. This all might be in my head to be honest maybe I just think it sounds better.

Reply