Everyone loves the idea of wearing true wireless earbuds. Well, who wouldn’t? The convenience of wearing it without the wires wrapping around your neck is an exciting and liberating experience. That’s why when Apple AirPods debuted in 2016, many people were eager to get their hands on the said device. However, if you’re not an iPhone user, you’ll miss out on the majority of its stellar features. Thankfully, there are many AirPods alternatives you can check out in the market. A lot of them offer a streamlined listening experience that’s equal with or even much better than AirPods.
10 Best AirPods Alternatives to Get Your Money’s Worth
From the premium to the most affordable AirPods alternatives, the market is brimming with viable options to choose from. To save your time from scouring the web, we’ve compiled all the best AirPods alternatives that will surely give you your money’s worth.
Adore
- – Outstanding noise canceling
- – Fully charged battery that lasts up to seven hours of playback time
- – Ergonomic design to fit in your ears perfectly
- – Stylish earbud design and casing
dislike
- – High-end prices
- – Unstable Bluetooth connectivity occasionally
- – Doesn’t come with touch control
For years, Sennheiser has been producing incredible headphones. All of the products are with stellar quality that could either equal or top Apple products. And Momentum True Wireless 2 is no exception to the feat. All of the products are equipped with top-of-the-line hardware. For its features, it’s no doubt that this device is the best AirPods alternative you can buy now.
Momentum True Wireless 2 touts a whopping seven hours of listening time with ANC enabled. That’s 2.5 hours longer than the AirPods Pro. It can also extend up to 28 hours if you include the charging case. Moreover, these wireless earbuds provide solid sounds with good bass and clear mids that you’ll definitely enjoy.
As for the appearance, Momentum True Wireless 2 takes on a flashy design with metallic tips that fit snugly in different shapes of ears.
Adore
- – Exceptional noise canceling
- – Outstanding bass and sound quality
- – Intuitive touch control
- – Elegant design with matte finishes on earbuds
- – Flexible equalizer adjustments to complement your preference
- – Long-lasting battery life
Dislike
- – Not waterproof
- – No wireless charging
- – High-end pricing
Sony WF-1000XM3 is another great choice when it comes to the best AirPods alternatives. Not only does it boast a myriad of cool features but it also performs almost synonymously to Apple AirPods Pro.
WF-1000XM3 boasts six hours of audio playback with Active Noise Cancelling enabled. That’s 1.5 hours longer than the AirPods Pro. When it comes to sound performance, the device renders a decent ANC and transparency mode. Also, it gives the users a solid yet darker sound signature. The upshot? You can customize your preferred sound equalizer through its Sony app on your mobile.
WF-1000XM3 is comfortable when worn. You won’t feel distraught wearing it. However, common feedback from its users is it has the tendency to fall out of your ear especially if you execute sudden jolting movements.
Adore
- – Comfortable in-ear
- – Compatible to a wide array of devices
- – Affordable price range
- – Good call quality
- – Superb long-range connectivity
- – Earbud case capability of up to four recharges
Dislike
- – Poor noise cancelation and lackluster bass
- – Sweat-resistant but not waterproof
- – Cheap casing design
- – Battery life below average
When it comes to the best AirPods alternative, Google Pixel Buds 2 remains to be an ideal candidate. Launched in October 2019, this pair of earbuds gave Google a slot in the “true wireless” earbuds competition.
The most notable feature of these wireless earbuds is the design and build. Unlike AirPod’s toothbrush-like stem, Pixel Buds 2 employs a white mentos-like circular form. It’s also flush with your ears so it doesn’t look like you’re wearing one. As for the build quality, the device is covered with solid matte plastic. This is made from high-quality materials so you’re assured that it doesn’t easily break even with regular use.
For the sound quality and performance, Pixel Buds 2 has a custom-designed 12mm dynamic speaker. It delivers an excellent listening experience. Also, it uses silicon ear tips to seal the ear and prevent outside noise from coming in. Akin to Apple AirPods’ Siri, it also comes with a hands-free Google Assitant and Translation feature. That said, you can use the buds for translating foreign languages in real-time so it’s perfect to use while on travel. It’s also possible to wear the buds while working out since it has an IPX4 rating and a battery life of up to five hours.
Adore
- – Superb battery life up to 11-hours
- – Qi-enabled wireless charging support
- – Improved call quality from its predecessor
- – Good price to sound quality
Dislike
- – No breakthrough in design
- – Lacks aptX
- – Sensitive touch controls
If longer battery life is your priority, then don’t forget to consider Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus. It’s the best AirPods alternative that provides a premium listening experience that can last for up to 11 hours. Frequent charging, no more! Not to mention, wearing it gives a more secure and comfortable fit compared to the AirPods Pro.
Here’s the thing: Galaxy Buds Plus doesn’t have an Active Noise Cancellation feature. However, it renders great sound quality that doesn’t get distorted. What’s more, you’re free to customize controls to your liking.
On the other hand, instead of IPX4 rating like AirPods’, Galaxy Buds Plus has an IPX2 rating, which means it can resist water splashes at a 15° angle or less. Exceeding that range will damage the device in one way or another so you need to be careful when bringing it during your workout sesh.
Adore
- – Small, compact, and convenient to carry around
- – Good battery life with up to 7.5 hours playback
- – Similar features to AirPods with auto-pause and play feature
- – Waterproof
dislike
- – Mediocre noise canceling
- – Does not support wireless charging
- – Distorted call quality
- – Sensitive buttons
Jabra Elite 75t is another great addition to our list of the best AirPods alternatives. Launched in February 2020. Elite Active 75t is a pair of true wireless earbuds that’s perfect for fitness enthusiasts who plan to bring their games to the next level.
Jabra Elite Active 75t comes with a superior design that fits well regardless of the ear sizes. It follows Jabra’s grip coating, ensuring that the device stays in place during your workouts. With the IP57 rating, it’s completely dust-resistant and waterproof for up to one meter. So you can freely bring it wherever you want — including when swimming.
To get the most out of the earbuds, it’s recommended that you download the Jabra Sound+ app. You can install the latest software updates, as well as other fun features to customize your experience such as using speech presets for podcasts and calls.
Adore
- – Excellent battery life
- – Most affordable wireless earbuds on the list
- – Superb wireless connection
- – Good price to quality ratio
dislike
- – Conventional and boring design
- – Does not have noise canceling
- – Not so responsive microphone
Everyone’s in a hunt for a pair of earbuds that offer a comfortable fit, premium design, incredible sound quality, and good battery life. Well, your search is over. With Cambridge Audio Melomania 1, these are all possible. Plus, you won’t have to shed a whopping amount of bucks.
Melomania 1 uses graphene-enhanced 5.8mm drivers to give users a solid sound quality. You’ll definitely hear each sound from the music with genuine clarity. As for the connectivity, it employs Bluetooth 5.0 to assure you with wider coverage and no drops of the signal.
Additionally, the battery can last up to nine hours of use. The charging case also carries enough juice (up to 36 hours) to power up your device whenever you need to recharge. What’s more, it has an IPX5 rating, which means it’s protected from water projected from a nozzle.
You can get Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 for less than $100. That’s almost one-third cheaper than the AirPods and Airpods Pro. But, you get what you paid for. So, don’t expect superb noise cancelation or the most stylish design.
Adore
- – Great sound quality
- – Fast charging
- – Comfortable on-ear
- – Affordable price
dislike
- – Looks like knock-off AirPods
- – Poor noise cancelation
- – Does not support volume controls
Huawei’s first attempt to the audio world is the Freebuds 3. At first glance, it looks pretty similar to Apple AirPods 2. From the charging case up to the extra features, telling the difference between the two is a challenging task. You’ll see the authenticity of the buds once you try it on.
Freebuds 3 employs a Kirin A1 chip with Bluetooth 5.1. This means that it has accurate proximity systems that can guess how far away is the device. It also comes with an Active Noise Cancellation feature to prevent outside noises from penetrating your ears. Moreover, it boasts a battery life that can last up to four hours of use or 20 hours with a charging case.
As for the design, it has an open-fit design similar to AirPods 2. It’s very comfortable when worn, making you forget that you’re actually wearing one. What’s more, it’s lightweight yet well-made so the quality is guaranteed good.
Freebuds 3 is IPX4-rated and it comes in three colors: white, black, and red. Prices vary depending on the colors.
Adore
- – Sporty design
- – Designed for sports and comfort
- – 100% waterproof
- – Ability to use earbuds independently
- – Excellent sound quality
dislike
- – Pricey
- – Doesn’t come with an auto-pause feature
- – Needs improvement on the microphone
When it comes to the best sport earbuds, Jaybird Vista reigns at the top of the list. Comes with robust build, elegant design, and remarkable in-ear stability. It has a great design for both the earbuds and charging case. Thus, the device is surely a notch above others on this list.
Jaybird Vista delivers a solid and fairly balanced sound to pump you up during work out. If by any means you’re not liking what you’re hearing, then you can adjust the EQ settings on the Jaybird app. You can also sort it either by song or by genre. The battery life lasts up to six hours of listening time plus ten hours with the charging case.
Unlike the AirPods Pro, Jaybird Vista is IPX7-rated, which means it can be submerged in one meter of water for a maximum of 30 minutes. Jaybird Vista comes in two colors: black and white, and you can buy it on Amazon for $160.
Adore
- – Suitable for sports
- – Good phone call quality
- – Water and sweat resistance
- – Superb battery life
- – Good design not compromising the sound quality
dislike
- – Not a universal fit for all ears
- – Does not have wireless charging
- – Slightly pricier than AirPods
If you’re looking for the best AirPods alternative in the market, then why not settle for something that’s affiliated with Apple? Beats Powerbeats Pro is a pair of true wireless earbud geared towards hardcore athletes or people who love to go on great adventures.
Released in March 2020, Powerbeats Pro has adjustable ear hooks. Here you can customize to further stabilize the device. It also touts a crisp and balanced audio quality, thanks to its redesigned acoustic system.
You can also talk to Siri wherever you are without pressing any buttons. Just say, “Hey Siri” and you’re good to go. The battery can last up to nine hours or even 24 hours with a charging case. What’s more, it employs fast Bluetooth capabilities so you can with almost any kind of device.
Adore
- – Good noise canceling
- – Sporty design with unique colors
- – Comfortable to wear
- – Sturdy construction
- – Water-resistant
- – Outstanding connectivity even in long-range
- – One of the best sound quality
dislike
- – Large earbuds
- – High price tag mainly for its brand
Bose is one of the pioneer bands when it comes to audio technology. They have been producing the best noise-canceling headphones for the longest time in this market. If sound quality is your concern, Bose Soundsport guarantees a superb playback experience. When Bose jumps into the true wireless trend releasing Soundsport Free, everyone had high hopes for the product. So, is it a good AirPods alternative? The answer is a big fat YES.
Soundsport Free boasts a playback time of up to five hours, the same with Apple AirPods and Jabra’s. The charging case carries enough power to support charges for up to 15 hours. The earbuds are IPX4-rated, so you can basically bring them while working out. Also, connecting the earbuds to your phone is very easy; all you need is to download the app. Turn on your Bluetooth and drag down the earbuds on the screen.
As for the sound quality, Bose Soundsport Free performs well for bass-driven music. It comes in four different colors: black, blue, bright orange, and ultraviolet.
Bottom Line
As promised, we’ve listed down all the best AirPods alternatives you can check out right now. If you’re still wondering how to choose the best AirPods alternatives. Then reading this, try to analyze your needs and see which features are your priority. Do you want to have a pair of earbuds with excellent ANC? Or do you prefer something that offers incredible sound quality even without the extra features? The reason why you have to choose others over AirPods Pro is pretty simple. Usually, other brands offer the same quality without the hefty price tag.