There are a number of different types of headphones on the market, so it is important to do some research before making a purchase. Here are some of the best apple headphone alternatives.
What Are The Best Apple AirPods Alternatives?
We chose the Jabra Elite Active 75t as the finest Apple AirPods replacement because it is the undisputed king of wireless earbuds in general.
For a little more than the cost of the cheapest AirPods bundle, you get a set of buds that sound better, are more useful for fitness enthusiasts, are more pleasant to wear, and last longer between battery charges. You also receive active noise cancellation (ANC), something the existing AirPods do not have.
The Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus comes in second. This does not have ANC, but it does have
is less expensive than the AirPods, sounds better, and boasts a more amazing feature set. If ANC is vital to you, you should consider the new OnePlus Buds Pro, which has a ton of fantastic features and costs somewhat less than the AirPods Pro.
The Beats Fit Pro is a sporty twist on the Beats Studio Buds that incorporates some of the AirPods Pro’s key features, including as ANC, head-tracking technology, and Spatial Audio. It also includes integrated wingtips that were developed for a perfect fit.
Although we haven’t given the recently introduced Sony LinkBuds S a solo review, we’re convinced they’ll be a worthy addition to the Best Airpod alternatives when the time comes. Meanwhile, check out our Sony LinkBuds vs. Sony LinkBuds S comparison to see how they compare and learn more.
Best Alternatives to Apple Headphones: Top Earphones And Earbuds
[amazon bestseller=”Alternatives to Apple Headphones” items=”6″ template=”table”]Jabra Elite Active 75t – The best Apple AirPods alternatives
Pros
- Audio that is clear and well-balanced
- Waterproof and sleek design
- Long-lasting battery life
- Noise canceling, both active and passive
Cons
- The maximum volume level exceeds the acceptable listening level.
In addition to being one of the finest wireless earbuds and best running headphones, the Jabra Elite Active 75t are an excellent all-around option for those looking for Apple quality without the constraints of the AirPods.
On almost every parameter, Jabra’s Elite Active 75t outperforms the AirPods. Impeccable sound quality, superb noise cancellation, a comfortable and adaptable fit, IP57 waterproofing.
Best of all, they are frequently reduced to about $100. Even at full price, they cost $180, which is far cheaper than Apple’s ANC-equipped airpod pro alternatives, making them a fantastic steal and our favorite AirPods alternative to find.
Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus – The best Apple AirPods alternative for costs
Pros
- Additional dynamic expression
- Excellent clarity
- App support is excellent.
Cons
- There is no noise cancellation.
Given the success of the original Melomaniac (which can be found higher down this list), the Melomania 1 Plus has some large shoes to fill. But we’re happy to report that the updated version of those AirPods alternatives is excellent.
They include app support, customizable EQ settings, and come in white and black. The primary selling factor, like with the originals, is the battery life. The 1 Plus will keep you occupied for up to nine hours on a single charge. With four more charges from the carry case, the overall run duration is 45 hours. There is no noise cancellation, but at this price, it is a tiny price to pay.
The Melomanias’ musical presentation is open and strong. They sound clearer and more dynamic than the original Melomaniac, with a bit more detail as well. If you want an economical and capable pair of AirPods replacements, the 1 Plus should be one of your options.
OnePlus Buds Pro – Best sound alternative
Pros
- Sound is rich and well-balanced.
- The powerful ANC
- Elegant, opulent design
- Innovative charging technique
Cons
- Inadequate ANC playtime
- Some features are unannounced or only available on OnePlus smartphones.
The OnePlus Buds Pro are a sleek pair of earbuds that look amazing, are pleasant to wear, and come with a premium charging case that enables exceptionally fast Warp Charging to provide up to 10 hours of playing from a 10-minute charge.
It also sounds amazing, handling a wide range of sources and styles with ease and providing a plethora of options to customize your listening experience. But the true outstanding feature is its active noise cancellation capabilities, which, while not quite as good as the greatest noise-canceling headphones, outperforms the AirPods Pro.
Extra perks for OnePlus users include a gaming mode and rapid pairing, so if you own a OnePlus phone, this is an excellent option to consider.
Beats Fit Pro – Best sporty alternative
Pros
- Soundstage that moves
- Modes of Strong ANC and Transparency
- AirPods Pro features at a cheaper cost
- Comfortable and safe design
Cons
- The Android app has relatively few goodies.
- The Eartip Fit Test should be improved.
The Beats Fit Pro outperforms the basic AirPods in various respects, and they’re not far behind the AirPods Pro in terms of performance. For example, both Pro models include the H1 chip, which enables a slew of iOS-related functions including automatic switching, music sharing, “Hey Siri” voice activation, and FindMy to retrieve missing buds.
These two models perform remarkably well in terms of active noise cancellation and transparency mode. Spatial Audio with head tracking has also made its way into Beats’ athletic earbuds, for the first time introducing immersive 3D music to a Beats product.
We can also confirm that the wingtip shape of the Fit Pro provides superior in-ear support than the AirPods Pro. On the other hand, Apple’s premium buds include the more accurate Ear Tip Fit Test, as well as other patented technologies such as Adaptive EQ, which automatically adjusts frequencies in real-time while listening to music.
Amazon Echo Buds 2 – alternative to Airpods Pro
Pros
- Alexa performs admirably.
- Excellent ANC and ambient modes
- Elegant carrying bag with wireless charging
Cons
- Battery life is average.
- The vocals might be clearer.
The Amazon Echo Buds 2 are a wonderful bargain set of earbuds that feature excellent noise cancellation, configurable ambient listening mode, and good overall sound quality. They are now priced at $50. Furthermore, they are IPX4 rated for water resistance, which is sufficient to withstand rain or sweat at the gym.
The Echo Buds 2 also works well with the Alexa digital assistant. You may issue completely hands-free commands by merely calling it by name, with surprisingly high voice recognition accuracy. The Echo Buds 2 work with both Apple’s Siri and Google’s digital assistants.
Sony WF-1000XM4 – A more durable AirPods Pro alternative
Pros
- Sound that is well-balanced
- Excellent ANC efficacy
- increased battery life
Cons
- Fit may not be secure for everyone.
- Expensive
At the time of writing, the Sony WF-1000XM4 was available for $248 on Amazon. It normally costs $280 (a little more than the AirPods Pro), which does not augur well for an AirPods replacement.
But it’s occasionally worth spending a little more to get a little more, and Sony hasn’t held back on the features in its XM series formula.
As a consequence, the sound quality and ANC efficacy are among the finest in their class — on par with earbuds better than airpods — and the IPX4 designation ensures that these Sony earbuds are equally as robust as Apple’s top model.
The WF-1000XM4’s battery life is a clear winner, with 7 to 8 hours of playing in noise canceling mode available after every charge.
Google Pixel Buds Pro – Best Voice-Assistant Earbuds
Pros
- Effective noise cancellation
- A rich, powerful sound
- Controls that are dependable
- AirPods Pro have a longer ANC playtime.
- Excellent Google Assistant integration
Cons
- The fit is loose.
- There are no USB-C charging best cordless earbuds for iphone included.
- When compared to competitors with better features, the price appears to be expensive.
- There is no support for third-party digital assistants.
The Google Pixel Buds Pro is an excellent AirPods replacement for Android customers who have several devices and want the greatest Google Assistant experience. They feature robust sound best earbuds with iphone a reasonably wide frequency range, as well as decent ANC performance that doesn’t degrade quality or pleasure.
Google has boosted the battery life of the Pixel Buds Pro to up to 7 hours with ANC turned on and 11 hours with ANC turned off. When listening at high volumes and using Google features, these playtimes are reduced by 1 to 1.5 hours.
Our main complaint is that certain ears may find the fit too loose and unsafe, and there is no third-party digital assistant support. Despite this, their diverse functionality makes them a really intriguing earphone alternative with an unrivaled Google experience.
Google Pixel Buds A-Series – Appropriate to Android enthusiasts
Pros
- Excellent materials and construction.
- Touch controls that are simple to utilize
- Capable Assistant Google
Cons
- The audio quality is a mixed bag.
- The app presently has various issues.
Some of us prefer Google Helper to Siri as our native digital assistant. If you fall into this group and desire wireless earphones that are linked to Google’s vast ecosystem, the Pixel Buds A-Series are unrivaled.
This sub-$100 choice is one of the more appealing devices in the market, matching the intelligibility of the AirPods with outstanding Google Assistant connectivity. Speaking the wake-word phrase “hello Google” automatically enables the function, allowing you to send forth spoken enquiries that the AI bot properly reads and answers to swiftly.
When traveling, cool features like Google Interpret to translate foreign languages come in useful, and Fast Pair immediately connects the buds to your Android devices.
Even for the price, the sound quality isn’t great, and the software might be troublesome at times.
Beats Studio Buds – The best Apple AirPods alternative that Apple makes
Pros
- Reduces the cost of ANC
- Design is compact.
- Water/sweat proof
Cons
- Call quality might be improved.
- There is no wireless charging.
There’s a lot about these Beats Studio Buds that makes you assume Apple, which owns Beats, had nothing to do with their design. For example, they work well with both Android and iOS, and while having complete ANC, they’re quite inexpensive — in fact, they undercut the basic AirPods on MSRP, much like the noise-canceling AirPods Pro.
But who’s complaining? The Studio Buds are a nice surprise all around, with superb features and high-quality sound. While they’re a suitable AirPods replacement, they might still be a low-cost solution for iOS fans: like the AirPods, they pair easily with Apple devices and enable spatial audio playing in Apple Music.
How We Test Apple AirPods Alternatives
As with every pair of headphones, we put the finest AirPods alternatives through a battery of testing. For example, to assess sound quality, our evaluators listen to a variety of musical genres. These aren’t quick, isolated testing, though, with each reviewer wearing each pair for many hours to evaluate how comfortable they are over time.
Learn what we look for throughout our testing and how to achieve the finest headphone sound for you.
Our prolonged usage method also allows us to assess how well each set of earphones matches the manufacturer’s battery life claims. They frequently fall short, therefore we’ll provide our experiences in each thorough review.
Similarly, we’ll put voice call quality and waterproofing promises to the test in real-world scenarios and publish our findings.
Following testing, we rank headphones on a five-point scale (1 = worst, 5 = best). An Editor’s Choice is given to a product that is genuinely exceptional.
FAQ
Can I update the firmware of older Bluetooth headphones?
If you’re like me, you have a few pairs of older Bluetooth headphones lying around. While they may not be the newest or most popular model on the market, they still work perfectly fine. However, there may come a time when you want to update the firmware on these older headphones. Whether it’s for new features or to fix a bug, updating the firmware can be a simple process. Here’s how you can do it.
Is Beats owned by Apple?
The music industry has changed a lot in recent years, and one of the biggest players in that transformation has been Beats. The company was founded in 2006 by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine, and it was acquired by Apple in 2014. Beats is best known for its line of headphones, but the company also produces other audio products and services.
How To Choose The Best Apple AirPods Alternatives For You?
You’re probably looking for AirPods alternatives because you enjoy something about Apple’s buds but are put off by other elements. Consider what those desired features are – is it sound quality? What about the design? Spatial Audio, airpods for iphone?
Once you’ve decided what you want from an AirPods replacement, you can look at the alternatives above with greater clarity. For example, the Samsung Galaxy Buds virtually replicate Apple’s spatial audio capability but best airpods for android. If you just want to look good, the white Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro is a close second.
But it’s not simply about copying Apple. Some features, such as battery life, are shared by all Apple wireless earbuds. Consider how long and how frequently you’ll want to use your headphones; if you’re a frequent traveler, it may be worthwhile to choose a pair with a longer battery life, either per charge or in terms of how much the supplied charging case gives.
All wireless earbuds must be comfortable; all of the pairs on our list are suitable for wearing for at least a couple of hours, but some are better suited to longer usage than others. You might also desire waterproofing or sweat resistance if you’re looking for earphones to use while exercising.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for the best alternatives to Apple headphones, there are a few great options out there. Beats by Dre and Bose both make excellent headphones better than airpods that are compatible with Apple devices, and they offer superior sound quality.
If you’re looking for something a little cheaper, Skullcandy also makes great headphones that are compatible with Apple products. Thanks for reading this article!