10 Alternatives To Apple AirPods.
Apple AirPods are undoubtedly a great product. You can expect long battery life, a super convenient wireless charging case, and even active noise canceling if you can afford AirPods Pro.
But what if you can’t afford AirPods? Or maybe there are not enough checkboxes in the feature list? Luckily, there is a whole market out there that has great alternatives to Apple AirPods, and we’re going to showcase some of the best solutions.
We’ve made it as simple as possible – for all of the earbuds featured, we’ve listed the price, key features, and potential drawbacks compared to Apple AirPods so you can quickly see if it’s worth reading more about each option.
Samsung Galaxy Buds + – 2020 Newest Wireless Earphones ($ 149.99)
Samsung is back with a tougher set of earbuds, and they certainly deserve our attention as an AirPods alternative.
Why should I buy them?
As with previous versions of the Galaxy Buds, you can expect a well-balanced soundstage that plays songs with some effect. You’ve got noticeable mids, highs, and lows, but they’re not as strong as some of the bass-focused headphones mentioned below.
You get 11 hours of battery life on a single charge, and with the charging case you can get another 11 hours. Wireless charging is available and you can even remove the battery from your Samsung smartphone if it supports PowerShare. A three-microphone setup provides excellent call quality, cheaper options are not suitable.
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What am I missing?
For $ 100 less, we can’t complain, but you don’t get Active Noise Cancellation like with the AirPods Pro, which can also be used on Android.
Sony WF-1000XM3 – Best Alternative to Apple AirPods Pro ($ 228)
Sony WF-1000XM3 are expensive, but they are the best experience you can find compared to Apple AirPods Pro as they surpass the most important features.
Why should I buy them?
There are three main reasons why you would like to buy the Sony WF-1000XM3 headphones: comfort, sound quality and active noise canceling. The WF-1000XM3 have superb sound quality capable of providing a fresh experience for most genres of music – it delivers punchy bass, but doesn’t skimp on the mids and lows.
Sony’s main feature here is active noise canceling – the WF-1000XM3 earbuds are considered some of the best for this, and they are one of the few true wireless earbuds to offer this feature.
The WF-1000XM3 also fits snugly and comes in a variety of bud sizes. You also get a wireless charging case that’s rated for 18 hours of use. A full charge of the headphones alone will give you approximately 6 hours of battery life. Voice assistant support is also available.
What do I have to lose?
The WF-1000XM3 doesn’t have a volume control, and you don’t have wireless charging with a charging case, which you can skip if you’ve used Apple AirPods. Call quality is decent but not perfect, which is the only drawback of these Sony headphones.
Beats Powerbeats Pro – Best for Workouts and Battery Life ($ 249.95)
If you care about battery life, you can’t go wrong with Beats Powerbeats Pro.
Why should I buy them?
If you care about high quality sound during your workout, you will be interested in Powerbeats Pro instead of AirPods Pro. These headphones are equipped with adjustable ear hooks that stay securely on your head, even during your workout. The earbuds are also sweat and water resistant, and the 9 hour listening time is definitely a bonus for these very long marathons.
What do I have to lose?
You lose wireless charging with the Powerbeats Pro, as well as active noise canceling in the headphones. The sound quality of the Powerbeats Pro is certainly superior to standard AirPods, but they don’t quite match the more powerful bass and greater dynamic range of the AirPods Pro.
Jabra Elite 75t – Standard upgrade to Apple AirPods ($ 179.99)
The Jabra Elite 75t are expensive, but they are a great alternative to AirPods in terms of sound quality and design.
Why should I buy them?
You will appreciate the sound quality of the Jabra Elite 75t. The sound profile is much more impressive than the Airpods. Although that means a lot of bass, which can be a little overwhelming for some. Luckily, you have more control over how things sound with the affordable Jabra Sound + equalizer app.
You also get 7.5 hours of headphone battery life, and the charging case can extend that time to 28 hours. The Elite 75t are also very comfortable and have an IP55 rating against water and dust.
What do I have to lose?
You’re missing out on a more balanced soundstage – we mean the bass on the Jabra Elite 75t might be too strong for your taste. Also, there is no wireless charging in the case.
JBL Reflect Flow – More affordable alternative to workout ($ 149.95)
A pair of true wireless earbuds designed for the sportier type at a more affordable price point.
Why should I buy them?
JBL has established itself as a great option for the training enthusiast. Enjoy comfort with these true wireless earbuds thanks to the optional earbuds and earhooks. JBL Reflect Flow has a very sharp bass that will resonate with those who need heavy melodies for everyday life.
The earbuds are IPX7 certified for sweat and water resistance. The battery life is excellent: 10 hours in headphones alone and another 20 hours in the charging case, which can be charged either via cable or wirelessly.
What do I have to lose?
You won’t lose much – JBL really hit the ball with this AirPod alternative. Our only concern is that the charging case is quite large compared to the AirPod case.
Anker Soundcore Life P2 – Affordable In-Ear Headphones ($ 59.99)
A pair of true wireless earbuds for just $ 60. Moreover, they are from the respectable Anker brand.
Why should I buy them?
Price is obviously the main reason. Plus, you get a great charging case that holds 40 hours of battery life. Only the buds have 7 hours of battery life. You even get IPX7 protection, voice calling, Siri or Google Assistant support, and if you’re using one earbud, the sound profile automatically switches to mono.
What do I have to lose?
You won’t get amazing sound with them. They definitely fall short when compared to the AirPods. However, they are not bad. This is more of a pleasant listening experience than an impressive listening experience.
Jaybird Vista – Great Audio Experience ($ 168.99)
The Jaybird Vista earbuds are another high-end choice for those looking for better sound compared to Apple AirPods.
Why should I buy them?
You can expect very good sound quality with the Jaybird Vista headphones. The bass is strong, but you get crisp, noticeable highs. Overall, the soundstage is well balanced, but still impressive.
You can customize the equalizer settings with the Jaybird companion app. The design includes earhooks and IPX7 water and sweat protection, making them a good workout option. You can get 6 hours of battery life from the Jaybird Vistas, but the charging case can hold an additional 10 hours.
What do I have to lose?
The case does not have wireless charging, and 16 hours of full charge from the case and headphones combined is clearly not enough compared to the 24-hour battery life of Apple AirPods.
Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 – Accurate sound at a great price ($ 99.95)
First foray into true wireless headphones from a hi-fi audio maker.
Why should I buy them?
Buy the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 to get an accurate soundstage with well-represented mids, highs and lows. They won’t produce powerful bass, so they are more suited for audiophiles rather than those who like fun and energetic melodies. You do get 9 hours of battery life from the earbuds, and the charging case can provide 45 hours of battery life, which is a lot.
What do I have to lose?
You may be lacking in bass and lacking wireless charging in the case, but beyond that you have a very well thought out set of headphones.
EarFun Free – definitely fun and not completely free ($ 49.99)
An affordable set of headphones with excellent sound range and wireless charging.
Why should I buy them?
EarFun Free earbuds are perfect if you want true wireless earbuds with strong bass at a very affordable price. There is a bit of a lack of high and mid frequencies, which is why you use these headphones for a quick workout or to get through the dull moments here and there during the day.
You get IPX7 sweat-proof and water-resistant, 6 hours of battery life in the headphones and 24 hours in the charging case. You even get wireless charging in a case, which is rarely seen at the price.
What do I have to lose?
There are in-ear controls, but you have to press physical buttons that put a little pressure on the ears, and there is no physical volume control.
Amazon Echo Buds – Affordable Noise Cancellation ($ 129.99)
If voice control is an important feature to you and you like Amazon Alexa, Amazon Echo Buds can be a great option.
Why should I buy them?
You get hands-free Alexa voice control with Echo Buds, making it easy to ask Alexa questions and get quick answers. Thanks to Bose technology, there is noise cancellation, but there is no proper noise cancellation. This is still a huge advantage over other options at this price point.
Bose Noise Cancellation is different from the AirPod Pro or Sony WF-1000XM3, but it reduces background noise. Sound quality is decent, with a focus on mids for a more balanced sound profile.
What do I have to lose?
There is no wireless charging in the case and it uses micro USB, which seems outdated in today’s USB-C world.
Summary
Hope this roundup of the best Apple AirPods alternatives has been helpful. Which of these headphones are you interested in? Please share with us your thoughts or opinions on other alternatives in the comments section.
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