Skip to Content

If you buy something from the links on this page, we may earn a commission. Why Trust Us?

10 Best Apple AirPods Alternatives That Are Just as Good as the Original

You can find them for as low as $50.

Headshot of Stefan VazharovBy Stefan Vazharov
blue soundcore noise cancelling earbuds
Best Products; Soundcore

The AirPods and the AirPods Pro are among today's most popular wireless earbuds thanks to their great sound, seamless ergonomics, and superb performance during phone calls. However, their magic works best with Apple's hardware — you need an iPhone, an iPad, or a Mac to get the best experience.

Luckily, there are a lot of solid alternatives to Apple AirPods, AirPods Pro, and even the AirPods Max for Android, PC, and Chromebook users, or if you're looking for a more affordable option, too. To determine the best ones worth buying, we scrutinized products from leading brands like JBL, Samsung, and Soundcore, to name a few. The process involved sifting through and comparing specs, reading consumer and expert reviews, and doing real-life product testing.

The Best AirPods Alternatives

  • 1
    Liberty 4 Wireless Earbuds

    Best Overall

    Liberty 4 Wireless Earbuds

    Shop at Amazon
    Read more
  • 2
    Live Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds

    Runner-Up

    Live Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds

    Read more
  • 3
    Life Note 3S Wireless Earbuds

    Best Second-Generation AirPods Alternative

    Life Note 3S Wireless Earbuds

    Read more
  • 4
    Life P3 Wireless Earbuds

    Best Budget

    Life P3 Wireless Earbuds

    Read more
  • 5
    Aero Wireless Earbuds

    The Comfiest

    Aero Wireless Earbuds

    Read more

    What to Consider

    Form Factor

    The most important thing to consider is whether you need an AirPods or an AirPods Pro alternative. The iconic AirPods, just like Apple's timelessly cool EarPods, have an instantly recognizable, one-size-fits-all design that doesn't require fiddling with ear tips to find a set that works for you. But although they're convenient, this setup will not fit as securely and isolate ambient noise as a set of silicone ear tips. If you plan to use your buds in louder spaces and during workouts, you should consider a pair with swappable ear tips like the AirPods Pro.

    Noise Cancellation

    Speaking of louder spaces, many of our favorite alternatives to the AirPods and the AirPods Pro, besides good audio quality and reliable performance during calls, have onboard noise cancellation. Once reserved for pricey wireless headphones and earbuds, the feature is now available on affordable offerings. We highly recommend that you opt for this feature because it will make your buds more travel-friendly than those that don't have it.

    Spatial Audio

    Today’s best AirPods rivals also can deliver immersive spatial audio with or without dynamic head tracking like Apple products. This earbuds feature was strictly reserved for AirPods until not too long ago, so seeing it enter the mainstream is encouraging.

    If you are an iPhone user looking to experience enhanced audio on earbuds that support it, you should switch Dolby Atmos to be permanently on in your device’s Apple Music settings. Setting Dolby Atmos to automatic is also suitable for iPhone. However, in Apple Music for Android, you can only choose between switching it on or off. For the time being, Apple Music is the streaming service to get if spatial audio is a priority.

    Durability

    The latest AirPods and the AirPods Pro have an IPX4 rating for water resistance, and that's the bare minimum an alternative should offer. However, if you are not planning to exercise with your buds or expose them to water, this is not a must-have feature. After all, the second-generation AirPods are not officially water-resistant.

    Additional Features

    You should also look for products with futureproof Bluetooth 5.0 (preferably higher) connectivity and a USB-C connector for charging. All the products we picked have these features. Like active noise cancellation, convenient wireless charging has also made its way to lower-priced true wireless earbuds, so you should also keep an eye out for it.

    Now that you know what to look for, learn more about today's best Apple AirPods alternatives worth your attention.

    1
    Best Overall

    Liberty 4 Wireless Earbuds

    Editor’s Choice
    Liberty 4 Wireless Earbuds
    1
    Best Overall

    Liberty 4 Wireless Earbuds

    $130 at Amazon
    Pros
    • Fantastic sound quality
    • Best-in-class companion app
    • Sleek and comfy
    Cons
    • Not sure why the heart rate sensor is necessary

    The Soundcore Liberty 4 true wireless earbuds are an outstanding AirPods and AirPods Pro alternative that costs less. Available in black or white, the feature-packed buds have a sleek stem design and an in-ear fit with silicone tips. Remarkably, the right bud also packs a heart rate sensor that you can enable via the Soundcore app.

    Impressively, the Liberty 4 supports Hi-Res audio wireless streaming and spatial audio with head tracking. Their sound, noise cancellation, and call quality are among the best in class, and so is their companion app. The latter will allow you to customize the sound and create a sound profile that’s tailored to your hearing by completing a short test.

    Key Specs

    SoundDual drivers, support for spatial audio with dynamic head tracking
    DurabilityIPX4 water-resistant
    Battery LifeUp to 9 hours (28 hours with charging case)
    2
    Runner-Up

    Live Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds

    Live Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds
    2
    Runner-Up

    Live Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds

    Now 33% Off
    Pros
    • Great sound and noise cancellation
    • Lightweight and comfy
    • Long battery life
    Cons
    • Maxing out the noise cancellation reduces battery life

    A follow-up to a stellar JBL product, the Live Pro 2 wireless earbuds are among today's best alternatives to the third-generation AirPods and the AirPods Pro. The buds offer a supremely comfy fit, a tougher build, and longer battery life at a lower price point. Their high-quality sound and noise cancellation are customizable via a companion app.

    Thanks to Google’s Fast Pair tech, the Live Pro 2 earbuds are super easy to pair with an Android phone. Like its Apple rivals, the product also has a wireless charging-compatible storage case. You can order a black, blue, silver, or pink set.

    More: Our Review of the JBL Live Pro 2

    Key Specs

    Sound11-millimeter audio drivers, adjustable noise cancellation
    DurabilityIPX5 water-resistant
    Battery LifeUp to 10 hours (40 hours with charging case)
    3
    Best Second-Generation AirPods Alternative

    Life Note 3S Wireless Earbuds

    Life Note 3S Wireless Earbuds
    3
    Best Second-Generation AirPods Alternative

    Life Note 3S Wireless Earbuds

    Now 17% Off
    Pros
    • Sleek and durable
    • Great design for the money
    • Battery case has large capacity
    Cons
    • Battery life could be longer

    The Life Note 3S wireless earbuds are a stellar alternative to the second-generation AirPods with a more durable build, identical battery life, and a much lower price.

    Like the original AirPods, the buds lack noise cancellation and silicone ear tips. Their comfy open design will allow you to stay connected to your surroundings while listening to content and taking calls.

    Sound-wise, the buds deliver a powerful and entertaining experience that belies their price category, powered by large audio drivers. You can tune the sound to your liking via the excellent Soundcore app. The earbuds are available in black or white with a matching wireless charging-compatible case.

    Key Specs

    Sound13.4-millimeter audio drivers
    DurabilityIPX4 water-resistant
    Battery LifeUp to 5 hours (35 hours with charging case)
    Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
    4
    Best Budget

    Life P3 Wireless Earbuds

    Life P3 Wireless Earbuds
    4
    Best Budget

    Life P3 Wireless Earbuds

    Now 26% Off
    Pros
    • Colorful design
    • Fantastic battery life
    • Entertaining sound and good noise cancellation
    Cons
    • Touch controls have a learning curve

    The Soundcore Life P3 wireless earbuds are the best AirPods and AirPods Pro alternative for shoppers on a tighter budget. Priced well below $100, the buds offer everything an excellent pair should: cool design, tough build, good sound, reliable noise cancellation, great call quality, and outstanding battery life.

    There are many Soundcore P3 colors to pick from: black, white, coral, and two shades of blue. Each color option has a matching case compatible with wireless charging. The bundled accessory holds several additional full charges.

    Key Specs

    Sound11-millimeter audio drivers, multi-mode noise cancellation
    DurabilityIPX5 water-resistant
    Battery LifeUp to 10 hours (50 hours with charging case)
    5
    The Comfiest

    Aero Wireless Earbuds

    Aero Wireless Earbuds
    5
    The Comfiest

    Aero Wireless Earbuds

    Pros
    • Lightweight and comfortable
    • Sleek and characterful design
    • Quality sound for the price
    Cons
    • Unimpressive battery life with noise cancellation

    The 1MORE Aero wireless earbuds are a reliable AirPods Pro alternative that costs significantly less than Apple’s range-topping earphones. The earbuds are insanely lightweight and well worth their Aero name. Each earbud weighs under 5 grams — less than the supremely comfy AirPods Pro — without skimping on essential features like noise cancellation and support for spatial audio with head tracking.

    The Aero earbuds deliver a sonic experience that defies their agreeable price, thanks to large audio drivers and an elaborate set of customization tools via an app. You can order the product in black or white.

    Key Specs

    Sound10-millimeter audio drivers
    DurabilityIPX5 water-resistant
    Battery LifeUp to 7 hours (28 hours with charging case)
    6
    Best AirPods Pro Alternative for Android

    Galaxy Buds 2 Pro Wireless Earbuds

    Galaxy Buds 2 Pro Wireless Earbuds
    6
    Best AirPods Pro Alternative for Android

    Galaxy Buds 2 Pro Wireless Earbuds

    Pros
    • Great sound and smart noise cancellation
    • Seamless pairing with Galaxy phones
    • Solid battery life
    Cons
    • Some features are only available on Samsung Galaxy phones

    Samsung's Galaxy Buds 2 Pro wireless earbuds are the best AirPods Pro alternative for Android, offering a stylish and durable design, impeccable comfort, top-tier audio performance, reliable touch controls, and a wireless charging-compatible case. You can order the noise-canceling earbuds in black, white, or purple.

    The earbuds deliver a well-balanced sound with support for immersive 360-degree audio with head tracking. You can customize the sounds, adjust the noise cancellation, and modify touch controls via a companion app. The buds are designed to pair seamlessly with Samsung's Galaxy smartphones — the experience is similar to connecting AirPods with an iPhone.

    More: Our Review of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro

    Key Specs

    SoundDual audio drivers, adjustable noise cancellation
    DurabilityIPX7 water-resistant
    Battery LifeUp to 8 hours (18 hours with charging case)
    Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
    7
    Best AirPods Max Alternative

    MW75 Wireless Headphones

    MW75 Wireless Headphones
    7
    Best AirPods Max Alternative

    MW75 Wireless Headphones

    Pros
    • Beautiful design and impeccable build
    • Amazing sound quality
    • Best-in-class retail package
    Cons
    • Pricey

    When it comes to AirPods Max alternatives, the Master & Dynamic MW75 wireless headphones are the best worth your attention. The over-ear cans have a captivating design, a luxurious build that includes metal, genuine leather, and tempered glass, convenient button controls, and longer battery life.

    The headphones deliver sound and noise cancellation with outstanding quality over a wireless or wired connection. Their retail package includes a felt-covered hardshell case, braided cables, two audio adapters, and a USB-A adapter. The bundled accessories make the MW75 worth the $50 premium over the AirPods Max.

    More: Our Review of the Master & Dynamic MW75

    Key Specs

    Sound40-millimeter audio drivers, adaptive noise cancellation
    DurabilityN/A
    Battery LifeUp to 32 hours
    8
    Apple Find My App-Compatible

    SoundForm Freedom Wireless Earbuds

    SoundForm Freedom Wireless Earbuds
    8
    Apple Find My App-Compatible

    SoundForm Freedom Wireless Earbuds

    Now 67% Off
    Pros
    • Good sound and call quality
    • Find My app compatibility
    • Understated and durable design
    Cons
    • No noise cancellation

    The Belkin SoundForm Freedom wireless earbuds, in addition to rocking a design a la AirPods Pro, are fully compatible with Apple’s Find My app and network. This means that, just like the AirTag tracker and other Apple products, you can track the buds by tapping into a network of almost a billion devices. You’ll receive a notification with map whereabouts the moment the buds come within the range of a participating Apple device.

    The comfy SoundForm Freedom wireless earbuds deliver good sound, reliable call quality, robust battery life, and a wireless charging-compatible case. You can order the product in black or white.

    Key Specs

    Sound2-layer audio drivers
    DurabilityIPX5 water-resistant
    Battery LifeUp to 7 hours (28 hours with charging case)
    9
    For Bass Heads

    Tune 230NC Wireless Earbuds

    Tune 230NC Wireless Earbuds
    9
    For Bass Heads

    Tune 230NC Wireless Earbuds

    Pros
    • Bass-forward sound
    • Excellent battery life
    • Affordable
    Cons
    • Case lacks wireless charging

    JBL’s Tune 230NC wireless earbuds are a great AirPods alternative for those who like powerful bass. The earphones deliver a seriously entertaining sound that's great for rocking out, gaming, and watching action-packed content. Their noise-canceling capabilities and call quality are stellar for an under-$100 product.

    The Tune 230NC has excellent battery life that can reach double digits if you disable noise cancellation. We only wish the earbuds’ case were compatible with wireless charging. You can order a set in black, white, or blue.

    Key Specs

    Sound 6-millimeter audio drivers, active noise cancellation
    DurabilityIPX4 water-resistant
    Battery LifeUp to 10 hours (40 hours with charging case)
    Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
    10
    For Germaphobes

    TONE Free FP9 Wireless Earbuds

    TONE Free FP9 Wireless Earbuds
    10
    For Germaphobes

    TONE Free FP9 Wireless Earbuds

    Now 48% Off
    Pros
    • Charging case with onboard sanitizer
    • Good sound and call quality
    • Sleek design
    Cons
    • Charging case could use bigger capacity

    The most remarkable feature of the LG Tone Free FP9 wireless earbuds is their charging case with a built-in UV light. The latter can eliminate up to 99.9% of the bacteria on the buds’ speaker mesh in a matter of minutes. The ear gels of the comfy earbuds are made from hypoallergenic, medical-grade silicone, too.

    Available in black, white, or gold, LG's earbuds deliver customizable sound tuned by the audio pros from Meridian Audio and dependable noise cancellation. Their excellent performance during calls includes a mode that will make your voice clear even when whispering. Their carrying case is compatible with wireless charging.

    Key Specs

    SoundMeridian Audio tech, active noise cancellation
    DurabilityIPX4 water-resistant
    Battery LifeUp to 10 hours (24 hours with charging case
    Headshot of Stefan Vazharov
    Stefan Vazharov
    Senior Technology Editor

    Stefan is the senior technology editor for BestProducts.com, where he’s been covering the tech industry and testing the latest gadgets since 2015. He has more than a decade of experience covering consumer tech products, especially smartphones, tablets, laptops, and audio gear. He was previously the US editor for GSMArena.com; his work can also be found on Popular Mechanics and other Hearst publications.In the rare moments when he’s not playing with a new gadget, Stefan likes to watch live Premier League games or hang out with his cat and rabbit. He’s also an espresso snob.

    Watch Next
     
    preview for HDM All sections playlist - Best Products

    Tech

    person with headphones listening to music on floor

    35 Awesome Gift Ideas for Music Lovers

    best waterproof speakers

    These Waterproof Speakers Don’t Slack on Sound

    apple wallet on iphone

    How to Add a Gift Card to Your Apple Wallet

    lenovo 2022 ideapad flex 5i, acer chromebook spin 311 convertible laptop, microsoft surface go 3, ideapad duet 3 chromebook, microsoft surface laptop go 2

    8 Cheap and Reliable Mini Laptops to Shop Now

    Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
    Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
    Logo
    twitter icon
    youtube icon
    facebook icon
    instagram icon
    pinterest icon
    Hearst Lifestyle and Design Group - A Part of Hearst Digital Media

    A Part of Hearst Digital Media

    We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.

    ©2023 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Privacy NoticeCA Notice at CollectionYour CA Privacy Rights/Shine the LightDAA Industry Opt OutTerms of UseSite Map