When the iPod was released in 2001 it completely changed the way we listen to music. Gone were the huge walkmans and portable CD players which were uncomfortable to carry and instead were replaced by an ever shrinking digital music player. However, all portable music devices need a pair of headphones and there is now a huge variety available to purchase. From cheap £1.99 headphones at Argos to a pair of £260 Dr Dre headphones which a friend at work has recently purchased which are bigger than his head, there is something for everyone. For me, it's always been the iPod earphones which come as standard with all Apple music devices including the iPod and the iPhone.

The earphones are small "earbuds" which fit inside the ear at the end of a wire which connects it to the music device. They are lightweight and stylish in the standard white and grey that Apple often use. For me they fit inside the ear perfectly, better than any other earphones I've had, and are comfortable for at least half an hour of listening to music. After that my ears begin to ache, but in comparison to other earphones I've used this is quite a long time! I can walk along a street listening to my music without the headphones falling out which has been common with other pairs of earphones and on the irregular occasion that I run, they will stay in unless I accidentally knock the wire!

The sound quality is good without being excellent and for a standard pair of earphones it is as good as I would expect. I do not find that the music distorts as I turn it up loud, although these headphones won't actually allow music to play very loud anyway. This is fine for me but if you're one of those people on the tube with a huge set of headphones covering your whole head and music on full blast so that everyone can hear, these probably aren't the earphones for you! Even though the sound is good, these earphones do not block out all external noise and I can still hear announcements from the tube driver telling me there is a signal failure or a passenger alarm delaying the journey. I actually quite like this but again, they would be no good for those who like to engross themselves in the music and tune out completely.

I have gone through a few pairs of these headphones as I have owned an iPhone and two iPods over the last 6 years or so and have noticed that the standard earphones have changed each time. The second set seemed to have smaller earbuds that the first which were a better fit for my ears. The pair that I am using at the moment are again similar but they have a remote control on the right hand side of the wire. Using this you can keep your music device in your pocket and alter the volume without needing to touch the device itself. I use this feature if I go for a jog so that I can strap the iPod to my arm and you can actually press the middle of the remote to pause a song or press it twice to skip to the next track. It also works as a microphone when using the iPhone which again is useful as you don't have to hold the phone to your ear.

The iPhone earphones are the white headphones that you often see people wearing on public transport or as they walk down the street. Since I started writing this review I have been paying attention on the tube to how many people are wearing them on my commute to work and there are at least three on each journey! The white and grey colours make this particular brand easy to identify, which is great for thieves who can spot a possible iPhone or iPod from metres away.

The great thing about these earphones is that you can use them with any portable music device or a stereo at home or a computer or laptop, not just Apple products that they were designed for. One issue that I along with a lot of others find is that these headphones, while comfortable, do not always last! I have needed to buy a couple of pairs online when one of the earphones has stopped working or if the sound is intermittent and starts to fade in and out.

The earphones currently retail at £26.00 on the Apple website which I think is absolutely ridiculous. They are a good pair of earphones but I would never consider paying this much. Luckily you can purchase a pair for much cheaper online. I would recommend them to anyone, but don't think I have to as a lot of people already have a pair!